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!
Related Posts
This post is a quick guide to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, but we have related content that dives deeper into topics. Our Hollywood Studios Lightning Lane post covers Lightning Lane strategy in depth. 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.
And if you want to dive into more about the other rides at Hollywood Studios, we have guides to each:
Update: Changes Coming May 22, 2026
Smugglers Run will see substantial updates beginning May 22, 2026. Here’s how Disney describes the changes, in brief:
Beginning May 22, 2026, join Din Djarin, the mysterious Mandalorian bounty hunter, and his youngling Grogu on an exciting new mission—tracking down elusive ex-Imperial officers throughout the galaxy! As you take part in a perilous chase aboard the Millennium Falcon, you may see some familiar locales, including Tatooine, Cloud City and the ominous wreckage of the Death Star.
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
is a Tier 1 ride on Lightning Lane Multi Pass
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.
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.
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 isn’t one of most popular rides at the park, but in a park with fewer than ten rides you’ll always have to prepare for long waits. Here are some thoughts on how to fit Smugglers Run into your day…
Lightning Lane Multi Pass
If you buy Lightning Lane Multi Pass for Hollywood Studios (you should), then Smugglers Run is a tier 1 option on that service. You probably won’t want to use your initial tier 1 booking for it, though. Instead, plan to grab it once after you’ve tapped into your first Lightning Lane of the day—it usually has pretty decent availability.
Early Entry & Rope Drop
There are three situations in which I ride Smugglers Run during Early Entry. The first two are if I manage to finish either Rise of the Resistance or Slinky Dog Dash in time to get a second ride in, and Smugglers Run is a good option. The third is if Rise of the Resistance is unexpectedly closed at the start of Early Entry—then I head right to Smugglers Run.
The Single Rider Line
If you’re unable to find a short wait during the day, 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.
Punch It, Chewie!
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.
I’m pretty ambivalent on the ride as a whole. It’s interactive, but the interactivity and accompanying chaos can be too distracting. It’s immersive, but you’re immersed in some B-story about…I can’t even think of the thing you’re trying to collect because that’s how esoteric it is (it came to me—coaxium).
On the plus side, this is a good ride that Star Wars fans should really enjoy.
The ride is about 7 minutes long. Here’s a video:
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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Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides, Hollywood Studios rides, Epcot rides, and Animal Kingdom rides! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World.
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