This is your chance to pilot the ship that made the Kessel Run in Less Than 12 Parsecs
Hey, have you ever wanted to be like Han Solo and pilot the famous YT-1300 Corellian light freighter Millenium Falcon (yeahhh, I like Star Wars)? Now is your chance! Smuggler’s Run is a motion simulator that makes you part of the crew of the most famous spaceship in all fiction (sorry, Enterprise). Six guests board the Falcon to fill the positions of pilots, gunners and engineers.
The fun thing about this ride is that there are several interactive elements, way above what you would find at Epcot’s Mission Space. The pilots will need to guide the Falcon through the scenery and basically dodge obstacles and make sure to not hit any walls. Gunners shoot down Tie Fighters and any obstacle in their way. Engineers have the arduous job of fixing the Falcon and preventing damage caused by our skilled pilots.
Is it as complex as a modern video game you can play at home? No, and it doesn’t need to be. People of all ages and skill levels need to come here, after all! Pilots will be responsible for moving the ship, with the guest on the left seat responsible for moving the ship left and right, and the guest on the right side moving the ship up and down. Gunners shoot down enemy Tie Fighters and obstacles, while engineers repair the ship and blame the pilots for hitting everything in front of them.
One of the best things about this ride is how immersive it is. Disney went all out with Galaxy’s Edge, and it shows in every detail here. The queue might not be as jaw-dropping as Rise of the Resistance, but once you step into the Millennium Falcon, it's like you're right in Han Solo's ship.
The ride itself is pretty fun. Just remember that this is supposed to be an interactive experience. What do I mean by that? If you just sit there and watch the movie, it won’t be as impressive as something like Avatar Flight of Passage. The movie itself isn't as interesting and the visuals are also not as good. Smuggler’s Run thrives on the concept of guests pressing buttons and actively participating in the action ahead. Don’t worry if you don’t want to do much, though. There is some degree of system override that creates setpieces and “controls” the ship a bit even if you do nothing, which makes a lot of sense.
So, what set pieces do you actually see? You will be firing at TIE fighters and pursuing enemy ships to snatch their cargo. You will also navigate through intricate mazes of obstacles, dodging concrete barriers and other hazards. Sometimes it can feel a bit chaotic with so much going on, and it’s also pretty hard for pilots to guide the ship together.
With all that said, Smuggler’s Run can be compared to an interactive Star Tours. I do wish that the visuals were a bit better. If this had the same visuals as Avatar Flight of Passage, this would have been amazing. The good news is that they can update this in the future and even create new movies just for you.
I also think that the pilot is by far the most engaging role, since you are following the storyline and actually controlling the ship. The gunner comes in second place: you aim at stuff and shoot them down, pretty straight forward. The engineer is a bit underwhelming for a couple of reasons. First, you're just pressing buttons as they light up. And second, being in the back row can make it tough to keep up with the action happening on the screen up ahead.
At the end of the ride, there's a neat touch. The hallway will either be blinking and showing signs of destruction if your mission didn't go so well, or it'll look perfectly fine if you managed to avoid most obstacles in your path.
Will Kids enjoy it?
Kids can now live out their dreams of piloting the Millennium Falcon! And teens? They'll likely eat this up. Smuggler’s Run is an interactive ride that blends video games with one of fiction's most iconic ships, a winning combo for sure.
I'd probably let them take the pilot's seat since it's the most interactive role. You get to maneuver the Falcon in a 3D space, always in a first-person view. It's not as free-roaming as a flight simulator video game, but you can definitely see the ship responding to your commands as you go up, down, left, and right.
It's a blast for all ages. Little ones can have a good time pressing buttons, while older kids might get competitive, trying to navigate the Falcon through the safest routes.
Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run FAQ
Where is Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run located?
Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run is located in Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.
What is the height requirement to ride Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run?
You must be at least 38″ to ride Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run.
Is Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run too scary for children?
Not really. There are some unexpected light and sounds when firing the canons, but there aren't any scary visuals or sudden movements.
Do we recommend Millenium Falcon Smugglers Run?
Yes! This is your chance, after all, to be Han Solo. Book a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for this one.
