In this post we give an overview of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, a thrill ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Walt Disney World. We cover the basics of the ride, how to ride it, and our thoughts on the experience before closing with an FAQ. Read on to learn more!
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This post is a quick guide to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in deep. The Hollywood Studios Rides and Entertainment Guide gives brief introductions to all the park’s offerings. For putting together your day at the park, we have a One Day Plan for Hollywood Studios.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Basics
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a thrill ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. The ride
offers rider switch
has a Lightning Lane that is a part of Genie+
is about 7 minutes long
Disney warns that persons not in good health and expectant mothers should not ride. You’ll also want to think twice if you’re prone to motion sickness or claustrophobia.
Where is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run located?
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is located in the Galaxy’s Edge land of Hollywood Studios, all the way in the back of the park.
To get to it, you’ll enter the park and head straight to the hub (where the Chinese Theater with Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is). From there, you can head either left, past Star Tours and then into Galaxy’s Edge, or right, through Toy Story Land and into Galaxy’s Edge. Once inside Galaxy’s Edge, walk until you spot the Millennium Falcon spaceship.
How to Ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run has a Lightning Lane that is part of Genie+. It’s a good second priority, after Slinky Dog Dash. The ride is one of the most popular in the park, so getting there early is a good option if you don’t have Genie+.
We don’t recommend it be your very first ride if you have Early Entry because it is so far in the back of the park. It’s a long walk and isn’t close to any of the rides that are good second option in the park.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run also has a single rider line, and I’ve found it to be one of the more efficient single rider lines in the park. If you use the single rider line, you’ll be able to choose between two staircases at one point—go up each and pick the shorter one.
The single rider line has two downsides—you’ll miss the pre-show (not a huge loss in my opinion) and you’ll almost always have the engineer role. If you don’t use the single rider line, there’s still a chance you’ll be engineer. Some people don’t like engineer because rather than flying the ship (pilots) they’re pushing buttons. Unlike the buttons of the gunners, the engineering buttons require you to occasionally look to the side to see which to hit when.
If you’re visiting Hollywood Studios with small children, you’ll need to mind the 38 inch height requirement. If you have to use rider switch, Alien Swirling Saucers (32 in requirement) and Toy Story Mania (no height requirement) aren’t too far. Alternatively, your little ones might just enjoy the shops and food in Galaxy’s Edge.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Ride Experience
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a simulator ride that puts a six-person team in the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon spaceship. Two pilots steer the ship (actually), two gunners hit buttons to protect to ship, and two engineers hit buttons to repair the ship.
As discussed a bit in the single rider section above, generally the pilot is the favored role and the engineer the disfavored role. Gunner isn’t much better engineer, but you’re a row closer and basically only hit the same few buttons the whole time, while engineers have to keep looking at their panel to see which buttons to hit.
Personally, I find piloting fun but stressful. From either of the other two roles, I can mostly just enjoy the ride, even if I have to occasionally look away from the screen. When I ride as a pilot, I sort of ignore everything that’s going on to focus simply on not crashing.
The ride is about 7 minutes long.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run FAQ
Is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Scary?
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is an intense simulator ride, but it isn’t scary.
Does Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run have drops?
This isn’t a coaster so it doesn’t have traditional drops. There are some simulated drop moments though, but nothing too intense.
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