Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run at Disneyland — Complete Guide
Pilot the Millennium Falcon at Disneyland — Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
At Disneyland in Anaheim, California, there’s a whole land where you can step right into the world of the Star Wars films: “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.”
One of the most popular attractions there is “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.”
Within Galaxy’s Edge, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance often draws the longer wait times, but Smugglers Run remains one of the major draws in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
In this article, we’ll walk you through what kind of attraction it is, what to expect, and a few things to keep in mind.
In 2026, the attraction received a major update with a new mission featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu, making the experience even more replayable for returning guests.
Below, we’ll cover both the original Hondo Ohnaka mission and the newer Mandalorian and Grogu version, so you know what has changed and what to look forward to.
Whether you’re a longtime Star Wars fan or just casually familiar with the series, this is a ride that many guests can enjoy — so it’s worth adding to your Disneyland plan.
1. What Is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run?
Located in “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” is a motion-simulator attraction set aboard the iconic starship from the Star Wars films — the Millennium Falcon.
When the attraction first opened in 2019, guests joined Hondo Ohnaka — a character known from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels — on a smuggling job to steal coaxium from a First Order transport train aboard the Millennium Falcon.
Beginning May 22, 2026, Disney introduced a major update featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu. The current official description focuses on a new mission in which guests join Din Djarin and Grogu while tracking down ex-Imperial officers and valuable cargo for Hondo.
The biggest draw in either version is that each guest plays a role — pilot, gunner, or engineer — and your actions shape the outcome of the mission in real time.
The ride system itself — a six-person cockpit with pilots, gunners, and engineers — stays the same; what changed with the update is the story, the visuals, and your objectives.
2. What’s the Attraction Like?
2-1. The Basic Ride System
“Smugglers Run” is a ride that combines a motion simulator with an interactive game.
The cockpit seats up to six (two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers), and each guest’s controls are reflected directly on the screen and in the ship’s movements.
Behind the scenes, the attraction uses advanced real-time rendering and motion-simulator technology so the cockpit can respond to each crew’s actions.
Part of the appeal is the way the screen, sound, and motion react to the pilots’, gunners’, and engineers’ inputs, making each flight feel a little different.
2-2. Guest Roles (Pilot, Gunner, Engineer)
What makes this attraction so popular and so much fun is that each guest’s actions have a real impact on how the mission turns out.
1. Pilots (2)
The two pilots split the controls — one handles up-and-down movement while the other handles left-and-right.
You can even hit the hyperspace switch and pull off the famous “jump to lightspeed” from the Star Wars films.
Too many piloting mistakes and you’ll crash into walls, racking up damage to the ship, which makes the ride shake harder and lowers your final score.
2. Gunners (2)
When enemy craft (such as TIE fighters) appear, gunners fire lasers to shoot them down.
Be careful — if you slack off, enemy damage piles up and the engineers’ workload grows.
3. Engineers (2)
Positioned at the rear left and right of the cockpit, engineers repair the damage the ship takes and respond to flashing buttons and levers throughout the mission.
In the newer Mandalorian and Grogu mission, the engineer role has become even more important, with added responsibilities such as helping choose the destination, collecting cargo, and interacting with Grogu during the flight.
It’s a crucial role that supports the whole crew — and in the updated version, it may be one of the most interesting seats on board.
2-3. How a Mission Unfolds
1. The Queue and Briefing
Partway through the queue, an advanced audio-animatronic of Hondo Ohnaka appears and lays out the basics of the job.
Hondo is a character from the animated series Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, so it’s a fun moment for fans.
You can also catch Chewbacca’s voice and the sounds of the Millennium Falcon taking off and landing.
2. Receiving Your Role Card
Once a group of six is formed, a cast member hands out cards designating pilots, gunners, and engineers.
In some cases you can swap within your group, so if there’s a role you really want, it’s worth asking.
The most sought-after role is probably the pilot, who sits up front and flies the cockpit.
Gunners and engineers are fun roles too, so it’s worth riding a few times to experience each one.
3. Boarding the Cockpit and Starting the Mission
Once the ride begins, the motion base starts moving in sync with the sweeping views of space and planets that fill your field of vision.
With good teamwork, you’ll fly smoothly, but sloppy controls pile on the damage, and warning alarms may start blaring mid-flight.
When the attraction first opened, the mission centered on stealing coaxium from a First Order transport train for Hondo.
In the updated mission introduced on May 22, 2026, the story begins on Tatooine, where you join Din Djarin and Grogu to track down ex-Imperial officers and valuable cargo.
The newer mission can branch to destinations such as Bespin, Coruscant, or the wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor, depending on choices made during the flight — so each ride can play out a little differently.
Dodge the hazards, secure the cargo you need, and make it back safely to come out on top.
3. How to Enjoy It Efficiently (Paid Options and More)
3-1. The Standby Line and Wait Times
Wait times vary widely by day, time, and season, so check the official Disneyland app before your visit for the current wait.
As a general tip, heading over right after the park opens or just before closing at night can help you catch a shorter line.
3-2. Using Lightning Lane to Skip the Standby Line
At Disneyland, “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” can often be reserved through Lightning Lane Multi Pass — the paid service that replaced Genie+ in 2024 — letting you book a return time and skip the standby line.
For some of the most in-demand attractions, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disneyland may sell a Lightning Lane Single Pass separately. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is usually handled through Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but availability can change, so always check the official Disneyland app on the day of your visit.
3-3. Getting the Most Out of the Experience
Watching the Star Wars films and series beforehand makes the setting and characters easier to follow, which adds to the fun.
And if you’re going with a group of six or more, it helps to talk over the roles in advance.
If you have time, it’s worth riding more than once so you can try different roles and possibly experience a different route in the updated mission.
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4. The Setting and Story Behind the Attraction
4-1. Batuu, a Planet on the Galaxy’s Edge
“Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge” is set on Batuu, an outer-rim planet that doesn’t appear in the films themselves.
Its Black Spire Outpost is a trading hub where smugglers and bounty hunters gather — a rough-and-tumble town where the shadows of larger galactic conflicts loom.
4-2. Original Mission: Hondo Ohnaka and the Coaxium Job
When the attraction first opened, the story centered on Hondo Ohnaka and Ohnaka Transport Solutions, his “transport company” that doubles as a front for smuggling.
Hondo is a familiar face from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels — a cheerful, cunning pirate who’s always looking for a profitable deal.
In that original mission, he recruited guests as his “rookie crew” and sent them aboard the Millennium Falcon to steal coaxium from a First Order transport train.
This version helped establish the ride’s original appeal: every guest had a role, and the crew’s performance affected the outcome.
4-3. New Mission: The Mandalorian and Grogu
Beginning May 22, 2026, “Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run” introduced a new mission featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu.
In the updated storyline, Hondo recruits the crew to work alongside Din Djarin and Grogu as they track down ex-Imperial officers and valuable cargo across the galaxy.
The mission begins on Tatooine, but the route can branch to locations such as Bespin, Coruscant, or the wreckage of the second Death Star near Endor.
The update also gives engineers more to do, including helping select the destination, collecting cargo, and interacting with Grogu during the mission.
4-4. Where It Falls in the Star Wars Timeline
The original version of Galaxy’s Edge was set in the sequel-trilogy era, between Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
With the newer Mandalorian and Grogu update, the land and attraction now feel more connected to a wider range of Star Wars storytelling, including the Disney+ era of the franchise.
For casual visitors, you don’t need to know the full timeline to enjoy the ride — but fans will notice how the updated mission brings in characters and locations from across the galaxy.
5. Things to Keep in Mind
5-1. Height Requirement
Guests must be at least 38 inches (97 cm) tall to ride, so families with younger children should check the requirement before getting in line.
5-2. Risk of Motion Sickness
Some people may feel queasy from the shaking that’s typical of motion simulators and from keeping in sync with the visuals.
If you’re prone to motion sickness, you may want to consider your usual motion-sickness precautions before riding. During the ride, looking toward the distance instead of focusing too hard on the screen may also help.
5-3. Teamwork Is Essential
Because each role’s controls are interconnected, repeated mistakes from other members can leave the ship with heavy damage.
Even among strangers, calling out to one another as needed can make for a smoother, more enjoyable ride.
5-4. Crowded Lines, Indoors and Out
Star Wars attractions are especially popular, and the standby line can stretch all the way outdoors.
With summer’s blazing sun and winter’s chill in mind, pay attention to staying hydrated and dressing for the weather.
5-5. The Ride Is Easy to Follow
The audio and on-screen text inside the attraction are in English, and the control panels use flashing buttons and color-coding, so the whole thing is intuitive to operate.
Even if you’ve never seen a single film, the prompts guide you through each step, so first-timers can jump right in.
5-6. How Performance Changes the Show
If you handle the hazards well and keep damage to a minimum, the dialogue and finale change, and it even affects the ship’s exterior and sound on the way out.
Rack up too many mistakes and Hondo will roast you good-naturedly at the end.
The charm of this ride is that even after a rough flight, it leaves you thinking, “I’ll do better next time.”
6. Wrapping Up
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run lets you experience the world of Star Wars through an interactive flight-simulator ride where your role actually matters.
With the newer Mandalorian and Grogu mission, the attraction now offers even more variety, from branching destinations to expanded engineer gameplay.
If you have time, it’s worth riding more than once so you can try different roles and possibly experience a different route in the updated mission.
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