Disney’s Hollywood Studios is looking ahead with new additions on the horizon, including a Monsters of Monstropolis area and The Magic of Disney Animation experience. But for now, many visitors remain drawn to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run continues to offer its interactive missions aboard the famed starship.
The attraction invites guests to step into Black Spire Outpost, encounter a life-size Millennium Falcon, and meet Hondo Ohnaka before taking flight. Each ride crew takes on roles as pilots, gunners, or engineers, tasked with smuggling cargo and fending off threats. The results vary with each team’s performance, ensuring repeatability and surprise with every boarding.
Even so, the Falcon has encountered a few unplanned stops recently. In one case reported by Kenny the Pirate, riders were nearly finished with their mission when the simulator shut down unexpectedly. Lights flickered on, the screen went dark, and the only figure keeping them company was Hondo Ohnaka, whose dialogue began looping on the display.
Guests remained belted into their seats for about 20 minutes while cast members worked behind the scenes. Eventually, a crew member entered the cockpit to manually unlock seatbelts and lead the group out. Those on board later shared that the cast acted quickly but appeared equally surprised by the malfunction. Disney apologized and offered every guest a Lightning Lane Multi Pass as compensation.
Another incident quickly made its way through online communities after Reddit user CaptainGibb posted about the Falcon’s unusual “landing.” The rider shared an image of the cockpit view showing an empty field—an environment not typically seen by guests. “It was at the very end, so it didn’t matter too much, but they never got their scores,” the post read. “The cast member looked very confused and immediately called someone on the phone.” The story collected more than 1,600 upvotes and hundreds of comments within a day.
Community responses helped explain the glitch. One commenter with decades of simulator research experience noted that many systems keep a plain background environment hidden underneath, visible only during crashes or reboots. Others compared the moment to seeing Space Mountain with the lights on—a rare treat, even if unintended.
Looking ahead, Star Wars fans can expect something new from the Falcon itself. On May 22, 2026, a mission tied to The Mandalorian and Grogu will launch, coinciding with Jon Favreau’s upcoming feature film.
Disney Parks Blog teased: “In this new thrilling storyline, Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates. There’s a generous bounty for their capture, so you’ll borrow the iconic ship and team up with Mando and Grogu to track them down and explore the galaxy.”
This refreshed storyline will send riders to Coruscant and Endor, ensuring new adventures for those eager to return. Even with its rare technical hiccups, Smugglers Run continues to anchor Galaxy’s Edge, alongside beloved park offerings such as Toy Story Land, while anticipation builds for the future expansions still to come.
