Jump aboard the ship that made the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs! Here are all the details about the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
As a mega Star Wars fan, I can tell you that the thing I’m most excited about doing at this new theme park is the chance to climb into the cockpit of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. Guests must be 38 inches or taller to ride.
Book your trip to Galaxy’s Edge today!
What we know about Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Guests will experience one of three unique and critical roles as the ship flies through space. Each guest will play a different function, depending on where they sit on the ride. Some will be pilots (2), some gunners(2) and some flight engineers(2), which means riders will need to ride Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run a few times to experience them all! Take the aspect of three different “runs,” six different seats and good pilots vs. bad pilots means there are so many ways to experience this great new ride.
Imagineers shared at Star Wars Celebration that as you interact with the ship, you will experience it as well. When you pull the lightspeed lever, you’ll blast off. But what was most intriguing, is that how well you fly and complete your run will also show at the end of your trip. For example, if you crash into a lot of objects or are hit by some Starships along the way when you walk off the ride, you will see and hear the damage! Crews need to work together to keep the Falcon running at top performance.
“They really are in control of the ship. It’s a completely interactive experience,” says Scott Trowbridge, the Imagineering creative executive in charge of the whole land. “If [gunners] don’t fire and hit that TIE Fighter, maybe you’ll get some shocks and take some damage on the ship and then you’ve got to fix it.” That’s the job of the flight engineers, seated in the back, who will have to push buttons to extinguish fires or redirect power. “And if [pilots] don’t fly right to avoid that oncoming mountain, your ship is going to smash into that wall,” Trowbridge says. “You’re truly in control of what happens on your mission.” -EW
From what I have gathered by watching the Disney Parks videos is that the control panel will light up green the highlight the buttons, levels, and objects you need to interact with to complete your mission.
There are blaster burns, and the thrusters are making a racket. “It’s a little worse for wear,” says Asa Kalama, the Imagineering creative director. “You’re going to hear the engines trying to turn over as they try to reactivate some of the systems.”
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Story
When you walk on to the Falcon, it will be after Han has passed. Chewie and his Porg buddies
Hondo Ohnaka (from The Clone Wars and Rebels) is looking for discreet flight crews to deliver a backlog of hard-to-find items to particular clientele—no experience necessary! I have a feeling that a unique acquisition for Don-Ondar’s rare antiquities may be on that list. See the story in Baiting the Hook.
Guess will get to experience Hondo the A1000 advanced animatronic during their visit. Hondo Ohnaka is voiced by legendary voice actor, Jim Cummings (Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Darkwing Duck). See the fantastic advancements in this video from Walt Disney Imagineering.
You are now free to roam about the cabin
We all know Walt Disney Imagineering is the best at queue lines. You aren’t just waiting to jump on the ship; you’re freelance smugglers signing up to work at Ohnaka Transport Solutions. You’ll pass the Millennium Falcon before climbing stairs to walk around a mechanics shop with other ship engines that are being repaired.
Make sure you have your Disney Play Parks app handy, so you can scan and see what is inside random cargo boxes and more.
Then, you’ll enter a control room where you’ll get to meet Hondo to get your mission. His assistant, an astromech droid R5-28, punches a few buttons to “call” the Falcon. There are windows (video screens) that show the Falcon rise up from its place in the courtyard and lower down into the interior docking bay. You’ll be assigned your flight group and docking number and head onto the ship.
After you board the ship, you’ll need to remember to “Let the Wookie win” in the chess room while you wait. A cast member will call out your flight group number, and it’s off to fly!
Here is a 360 ° look at the chess room aboard the Millennium Falcon.
After your smuggler’s run
The fun doesn’t stop there, as I mentioned you’ll see the damage to the Falcon when you leave, but your experience will also be saved in the Disney Play app. Stop into Oga’s Cantina for a post-flight Cliff Dweller, and the bartender might say something like, “Aren’t you part of the crew that wrecked the Falcon? Hondo’s pretty unhappy with you.”
This is all part of the fully immersive and interactive experience coming to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Visit Disneyland (May 31) and Walt Disney World Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Aug 29) to experience the ride for yourself!
Who is ready to PUNCH IT!?
