Buckle up fellow Star Wars fans. This one’s for you!
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
I think we can all agree that the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a pretty epic experience. The fact that we can pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy is like we’re living the dream. But here’s the thing about this ride. Maybe (just maybe) it’s time for Disney to consider making a change to the rules. Let’s talk about it!
So what am I talking about? I’m suggesting that it’s time Disney institutes a minimum-age rule for those wanting to sit in the pilot’s seat at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Let’s fly the Millennium Falcon!
Let me set the stage for you. (Gather ’round because it’s story time). Picture this: You’ve been dreaming of piloting the Millennium Falcon since you first saw Han Solo swaggering around in that vest. You’ve waited over an hour in the line at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and finally, it’s your turn. You step into that iconic cockpit and your heart’s racing. And then, you find out your pilot is a five-year-old kid.
Millennium Falcon
Don’t get me wrong. I love kids. Kids are the future. They’re adorable. But let’s be real. They should not be piloting the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy, and it’s not just my inner Star Wars geek talking here. It’s about the experience for everyone on board. Trust me, I’ve been there and lived it. Talk about pure chaos.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Here’s an example of what can happen: There we were, ready to channel our inner scoundrels. But when the ride began, our pint-sized pilot could barely reach the controls. We’re scraping the ship along the ground, crashing into walls, and causing all sorts of havoc. Hmm…maybe it’s like letting your dog drive your car which is adorable in theory, but disastrous in practice.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Look, I get it. Kids should ABSOLUTELY get to enjoy the magic of Star Wars. But maybe, we need a minimum age rule for the pilot’s seat on Smugglers Run. Because let’s face it, most five-year-olds aren’t quite ready to channel their inner Han Solo or Rey. They’re still mastering how to tie their shoelaces, let alone piloting the most iconic spaceship in the galaxy.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
I’m NOT suggesting we boot the kids off the ride. I’m suggesting that we let them be gunners or engineers. Those roles are still super fun and interactive. Plus, it means us “older” kids can finally live out our childhood fantasies without fear of crashing every few seconds.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
So, Disney, if you’re listening, I wouldn’t mind if you did me a solid and consider making this little tweak! Until Disney gets back to me, make sure you keep it right here for all the latest Disney news!
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Agreed! They always put a baby in the pilot seat and you spend the whole ride just scraping the wall -_-“
Agreed.
I would agree with you,as I have been many times and never had the chance to pilot this big piece of junk. But on the other hand we were on recently and the parents had the kids piloting the ship.and yes they crashed into everything. All said and done it was the best flight I have ever done.we were laughing and cheering the kids who were having great time. Did I mention we never knew this family
I’m not sure. We had an adult piloting our first trip and… Well, I hope they didn’t have a real car to drive home. They managed to hit *everything* and some things twice.
So totally get where you’re coming from, but on our most recent trip to HS, we brought two friends, ages 15yrs and 20 yrs who had never been to Disney before. We let them fly the Falcon while the rest of my family (four of us) who had done SR quite a few times, did the engineer and gunners – i have to say their lack of piloting skills was so hilarious we could not stop laughing the entire time – it definitely a memory we will not forget any time soon!
Agree! Kids and people who don’t have a clue either.
I don’t agree. My 6 year old at the time was pilot. Yea there were a few bumps and crashes but it’s a ride we all waited in line and was given equal opportunity to the positions and that’s what she chose. To this day we still laugh about it. Maybe you can just ride it again and ask to be the pilot.
lol It was probably me.
It would be nice to be given the chance to be the pilot. The pilot is always the kids.
Totally agree. It’s not just a matter of waiting in the line, but a lifetime. For us bigger kids at heart, we deserve a chance too. Maybe the could have a couple pods for adult only riders.
I usually travel solo so I often wind up as engineer. Even if I access via LL or wait out the regular standby (vs single rider line).
It would be pretty nice if there was some system that made easy for other single riders or small groups to intentionally pair up to create a full crew of folks who are actually good at the game.
My sister In law flew it like she was a five year old. It was actually fun because we all yelled at her because she was doing the opposite. So if we get to yell at the five year old then let them pilot but since we can’t, I agree with you
I unfortunately have to agree…I rode it well over a dozen times and honestly, got tired of, as a single rider, getting stuck as a mechanic. Would have been nice to at least once been in the pilots chair.
I agree – after the wait and possibly paying extra to ride one way or the other, it’s not cute for everyone to take their maybe one ride in years (or maybe ever) with someone who can’t pilot the thing. Although plenty of adults can’t do it either. I am not great at video games, but even I can pilot halfway decently. If it matters to you, the cast members are usually very nice about letting you wait to be pilots or at least ride with other adults who say they can handle it. People around you are normally open to chatting about it if you ask. Getting in line late in the day can also be a solution.
As a parent who’s kid always ask to be the pilot I don’t agree. So many times I’ve been pilot or watched another “adult” do so only to spend the same amount of time hitting walls and crashing.
The last time I went on Smugglers’ Run, I single-ridered. The people in the pilot seats were a family, and they put their young elementary kids in the driver’s seats.
Almost immediately, “Go left!” “She doesn’t know the difference between left and right!” 🙄
If an adult still needs to help you drive an Autopia car, you shouldn’t be piloting the Millennium Falcon.
I don’t agree, if you don’t want to go on with a 5 year old kid, speak to a cast member and switch with the next in line or something. It’s not an “adult” ride, it’s for everyone, and it’s fun! Encourage the kids! Cheer them on, they’re the next generation of galactic smugglers!
Former cast member that worked Falcon at Disneyland. We didn’t have time for all that. They want max body’s in the pods at all times.
I have been forced to pilot this ride on three occasions. I asked my fellow riders if anyone else would like to be pilot. No volunteers. I don’t play a lot of video games and I crashed into everything. This is not an easy ride to pilot even for a 50 year old. Although I am getting better!
Some adults like to imagine they’re better pilots than they actually are. On two different trips years apart, my four kids ranged from 5 to 19 yo, as well as my spouse and I having turns. The piloting skills did not vary as much as suggested by this article. Bumping, scraping, and full-out crashes appear to be a feature of most runs.
If you really want to pilot, you could politely ask your fellow riders, or suggest that maybe the 9yo will be better suited than the 6yo.
You could also make some new friends so your group is six and you have full control over who gets what role.
It’s just a ride, and it sounds like some folks are taking it, and themselves, too seriously.
10000% No. I once waited 90 minutes for the ride and my son didn’t get to be the pilot on that trip. So we got back in line and waited another 2 hours and he was selected to be the pilot this time. As we sat down, 2 adult passengers kept asking if he rather be a engineer so they can pilot and he respectfully declined. Well those two adults kept making these passive aggressive comments about him until I had enough and told them we are going to talk right after the ride ends. Cowards booked it the second the door opens. If you don’t like the situation, wait again but don’t keep adding rules to your benefit.
Disagree strongly, it is not about the age of the person but the ability to practice and understand how the controls work. Our last flight had two 40+ individuals piloting and it was the worst flight ever. Disney needs to put in practice controls through the que so people can understand how the controls work.
My in-laws went and experienced the same thing, then I went and my husband and I got pilot and I crashed a couple times but we mostly flew. They should have some override in the system so once it goes below a certain accuracy it takes over so it can salvage the ride and kids get to be pilot. I’m sure disney will figuring it out without leaving anyone out.
Agreed. However, I have been on some with adults in the pilot seat who just don’t want to play and sit there screaming or covering their eyes the whole time. If we have to wait for several groups to go ahead of us, so we can “play”, I wouldn’t mind that one bit.
You’re crazy. My kids will be pilots every time. If you are waiting as a single rider, sit in the back and watch my kids drive. If you want your own ship to drive, wait in standby or pay the genie 😛
Absolutely agree especially if it is a split group. If it’s your family, okay, you can figure out who drives. Kids have so many other rides they can “pilot”.
We had a young couple piloting our first ride – and they were so busy filming themselves they only touched the controls for hyperspace because we were yelling at them to do so! So age is t the only issue…
There is nothing more fun than a kid in the pilot seat. I didn’t come for a smooth ride. I want a trip that shakes, rattles, and rolls. I love sitting in the back as an engineer and bouncing around. The scores don’t matter, the experience does. And, in my opinion, there’s no better experience than a bumpy ride.
So we had no idea and our 3.5 year old son was the pilot. Now an adult couple was with us, who said they just came off the ride and got right back in line to do it again. So I felt bad at the situation as we hit EVERYTHING – but they also didn’t give us any heads up. If we knew, we wouldn’t have had him sit as pilot.
I do not agree. I just put my 8 and 5 year old in the pilot seat a couple weeks ago. I have a hard time accepting that anything at Disney World should be taken away from kids because adults think they can do it better.
Oh no, please don’t feel bad! This article was very tongue-in-cheek. I’ve had kids pilot for us before and we couldn’t stop laughing because it was so bumpy and we were crashing into everything and we thought it was so funny! Everyone has a different experience and it’s kind of a “you get what you get” situation going in. I’m sure your son had a blast!
I kindly disagree. We did this once with 2 adults who were pilots too busy on their phones and made it miserable and non stop scraping, despite our coaching. They literally did nothing. With little kids it’s way more fun as they at least are trying and having a fun time. I love disney like a 5 year old, and have 2 teenage kids, but disney is also for little kids too. I don’t think a toddler should be a pilot but it’s fun to see little kids light up from the magic of it all!
Unless the other 5 people are with me, I will NEVER pilot. I have seen and heard to rumblings when the pilot is “challenged” with the mission. I haven’t piloted for this very reason. I’m a 5 star engineer and will get your coaxium (sp?) every time, but I won’t fly that hunk of junk.
5 Star Engineers are just as important as pilots! You are crucial to the mission as well, Denise.
This is actually a thing that happens a lot by design at Disney. Disneys supervised child rule has the parents sit behind the kids so if you are a family of 4 with 2 younger kids then the kids are going to end up being the pilots a lot of the time. Now obviously if you are pair up with two additional people then parent can sit in the far back with the kids in the middle and someone else can pilot.
Totally agree. I have done the pilot seat. And it is definitely too complex a thought for anyone under the age of ten. I prefer the gunner and engineer seats because for whatever reason they make me less nauseous. Prob aly distance from the screen.
Mostly agree. We have never had a good flight. I think they need an auto pilot takeover for when the pilots are clearly not engaged. My first time on, the pilots were 20somthing girls who giggled the whole time and never even tried to pilot.
Disney is for the kids. Adults should be mindful of the children. If you absolutely must drive to experience the ride ask to wait for the next ship. Seems easy enough instead of running things for kids.
I agree. Not because I’d be doing a better job but would just like to try it once. As an adult, you’re always getting guilted into letting a kid pilot and never get a chance to do it yourself. Yes, kids are the future blabla but my time on earth is much shorter and the ability to still see what I’m doing even more so, and I’d like to do it once before I die.
I absolutely agree!!!! 15 yrs old at a minimum!!
Hilarious! I usually go with a group of six people I know and our granddaughters refuse to pilot. I wish they would pilot! I can say I would be happy to go on a flight with someone’s four year old piloting…..kids make life better,…even when they aren’t yours! The only real benefit to having an adult pilot…especially one you personally know…..is that you can give them a hard time about their piloting skills. It’s obvious that hunk of junk is hard to handle. I, too, have no desire to pilot, but I do think a toddler is prob too little to even appreciate the experience right up front.
No matter who “pilots,” this is the most overrated ride in all Disney parks.
Agreed! Albeit my 5 year old grandson didn’t crash us into anything on our voyage!
I agree but also agree that I shouldn’t be a pilot either haha. I think maybe it would be good if there was something to let you know what the pilot position is like so you can decide if your child or yourself should be in that spot or if somebody else should take the spot. The issue is that position impacts everybody in your group. The only time i did the pilot role was during Covid when my husband and I were alone and didn’t impact anybody else.
We had a guy who put his 3- or 4-year-old in the pilot seat and then managed both pilot positions. My son-in-law really wanted one of those seats. Makes me not want to ride this ever again.
I get it, but I have a 4-year-old granddaughter who flies it with my 15 yr old autistic child and they do better at it than I did..lol
We are passholders so we can go whenever we want, so it’s no big deal (we are a family of 6, so it’s just us on the ship).
You can request to pilot the ship with one of the cast members (my son has in the past when we were not all together), so if it is something you really want to do, just ask!