Believe it or not, the Star Wars franchise has a long history with Disney – and it dates back to long before Disney’s acquisition of LucasFilm. And good thing too, because without their relationship, we wouldn’t be enjoying all of the Star Wars rides at Walt Disney World.
The Disney-Star Wars relationship gifted guests with multiple rides, new characters to meet, lightsabers to buy, and an entirely new land to explore. Lucky for you, we’re massive Star Wars fans who visit the Walt Disney World theme parks regularly and love to share what there is to know. Let’s go over the Star Wars rides at Walt Disney World and give you a guide on the big Star Wars rides at Disney World to experience: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Star Tours: The Adventures Continue.
In this article:
The Ride That Started it all: Star Tours
George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars, has been a Disney fan ever since he was a child. In fact, he first visited Disneyland during its opening week in 1955. So it was no surprise that after Star Wars became such a big hit in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Lucas partnered with Disney CEO Michael Eisner to develop a Star Wars-themed ride for Disneyland, and eventually Walt Disney World.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue opened in December 1989 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Located between Grand Avenue and Commissary Lane, this was Disneyland’s and Walt Disney World’s first modern simulator ride where guests can ride in a flight simulator modeled after the ones used for training pilots and astronauts.
The Ride Queue: It’s Like Walking on Endor!
In true Disney fashion, the ride queue takes guests out of Walt Disney World and through the forest of Endor, with an Ewok village overhead. Guests even get to walk right under a massive AT-AT! The queue inside the show building gives off an airport feel (or a “Starport” in the Star Wars universe). Next to the life-sized Starspeeder, a large video screen displays a list of arrival and departure times to familiar Star Wars destinations.
In the ride queue, guests also get to see a small droid examining luggage moving through an x-ray machine. Stay sharp, because you never know what familiar things you might see in that x-ray machine! Just before boarding your Starspeeder, pay attention to another droid who takes body scans of guests in line. That droid will sound oddly familiar if you’ve ridden Soarin’ over the World over at EPCOT (or Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove!).
Similar to other rides at Walt Disney World, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. While the standby queue for this ride has a lot to fun details to experience, Star Tours does offer Lightning Lane via Genie+ so that guests can save time. This ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park opens every day for Walt Disney World resort guests only.
Star Wars Rides at Disney World: Why You’ll Want to Ride Again and Again
The pre-boarding video overhead shows a series of mishaps that causes your Starspeeder to launch too soon, with our familiar Star Wars friend C-3PO finding himself in the cockpit of your starship. A droid on the video then gives guests the necessary safety precautions before boarding the ride.
Soon after your Starspeeder takes flight, guests find out there is a Rebel spy on board. Make sure to keep your eye on the small video screen to the right. No spoilers here, so ride the attraction to see what we mean!
The beauty of this Walt Disney World ride is its re-rideability factor. With 54 different ride combinations, guests never know what they might experience. Possibilities include visiting popular Star Wars destinations like Hoth, Naboo, and Tatooine and encountering characters like Boba Fett, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader.
After landing (as safely as possible under C-3PO’s piloting), guests exit through the Tatooine Traders gift shop, which contains enough Star Wars merchandise for your heart’s content.
Star Tours: Important Information to Know When Riding
Since the ride is a flight simulator that features jolting action, Disney recommends that guests who are expectant mothers or are dealing with back or neck problems should avoid riding. Star Tours also features digital 3D video (requiring 3D glasses) and various special effects that may affect guests who are sensitive to motion.
The height restriction is 40 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who travel to Walt Disney World with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Star Tours does offer a “Ride Switch” option, which allows one adult guest to take turns riding while the other waits in line with their child.
If using an ECV at Walt Disney World, guests must be able to transfer into a wheelchair for the queue and then transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning available. Finally, service animals are not allowed on this ride.
Free Disney World Vacation Quote
Our favorite Disney-approved re-seller, Get Away Today, can get you a no obligation Disney World vacation quote for free! In addition to great discount prices, their customer service and easy support is absolutely fantastic. They have an entire department dedicated to making sure every order has a wonderful experience and they are on-call to help you during your vacation if you need them.
And at no additional charge, you get FREE concierge Walt Disney World services! These services include having Get Away Today's Walt Disney World expert Brooklyn take care of all your reservations and price monitoring for your trip. This really takes all the stress out of planning a Walt Disney World vacation. Rather than waking up at odd hours of the night to book all your reservations, why not let their travel agents take care of it for you- for free!
Get A Free Vacation Quote Now!
Galaxy’s Edge: The Mecca of Star Wars Rides at Walt Disney World
Thirty years after the opening of Star Tours at Walt Disney World, guests were able to expand their own adventures into the far reaches of space at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. According to the Walt Disney Company, “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney Park” and is “one of the most ambitious, advanced, and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.” Both Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike can step foot into this land and can easily understand why.
The Star Wars Offerings are Truly Endless
Shortly after entering Batuu (the name of this Star Wars planet), guests feel like they leave Walt Disney World and truly immerse themselves in the Star Wars universe. Guests can grab a bite to eat at Ronto Roasters, where a pod racer heats up their food. For more food options, Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo offers a variety of Star Wars themed food inside of a cargo loading area. Guests looking for an alcoholic beverage can mosey into Oga’s Cantina (with a dining reservation) to enjoy drinks in an atmosphere similar to the Mos Eisley Cantina. For an even funner experience, guests can try blue or green milk from the Milk Stand.
If Tatooine Traders didn’t give you enough Star Wars merchandise, dive deeper into Galaxy’s Edge with absolutely everything Star Wars-related, including Sabacc, the popular Star Wars game, Jedi or First order clothing, or lightsabers modeled after the ones used by popular Star Wars characters.
Need something more interactive at Walt Disney World? Interact with popular Star Wars characters walking around the land. Play interactive games on your data pad (Star Wars lingo for the Play Disney Parks app on your mobile device). For those yearning for more, build your own droid at the Droid Depot or better yet, build and customize your own lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop. The possibilities are endless!
Enough about these offerings though! You came here to read all about the two major attractions in this land as part of the best Star Wars rides at Disney World.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
The first of the two Star Wars rides at Disney World that opened in Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run gives guests the chance to fly Han Solo’s legendary Millennium Falcon, the “fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy,” on a mission for the pirate Hondo Ohnaka. Located between Oga’s Cantina and Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo, this ride is hard to miss. The life-sized Falcon greets Walt Disney World guests and makes for a stunning photo backdrop.
While the entrance to both the standby and Lightning Lane queues is right next to the Millennium Falcon, don’t hesitate to stick around the Falcon. You never know who might show up to tinker around with this hunk of junk!
The Ride Queue: It’s all in the Details
Straight away, the queue for this ride is lengthy – be prepared to walk and stand around a lot! However, Imagineers at Walt Disney World made up for the length of the queue with its immersiveness. Guests get to walk through an engine room, mechanic shop, and get wonderful views of the Falcon from above. It’s a wonderful experience for both Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike. Don’t forget to take advantage of the interactive queue that guests can experience through the Play Disney Parks app!
Similar to other rides at Walt Disney World, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. Smugglers Run does offer Lightning Lane via Genie+ as well as a Single Rider line so that guests can save time. Keep in mind that even if your whole group joins the Single Rider line, you will all likely be separated when it comes time to board. This ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park open everyday for Walt Disney World resort guests only.
Toward the end of the queue, the pre-show takes place in Hondo Ohnaka’s command center, where Hondo explains the mission he has for you. So his story goes, Hondo cut a deal with Chewbacca to use the falcon for some… sketchy… transportation business.
After the ride pre-show, guests enter the Falcon through an umbilical bridge and are assigned to a flight crew of up to six people. While waiting for your turn, you can explore the ship’s main hold – a life-sized recreation of the beloved Falcon from the Star Wars movies!
The Ride is a Supersized Arcade Game
When called, your flight crew heads toward the Falcon’s cockpit. Your mission: steal supplies from the First Order to sell on the black market. Each rider receives their role: the pilot and copilot steers the ship and activates hyperdrive, two gunners shoot down enemy fighters, and two engineers repair the ship when needed.
While similar to the flight simulator that Star Tours uses, Smugglers Run is different from other Walt Disney World rides in that it uses buttons, switches, and levers to make for a more interactive experience. Think of it like an arcade game on an astronomical level! When riding, watch for the indicator rings to light up around key controls to clue you in on when to use them. Additionally, the ultra-HD domed video screens in front of the cockpit aren’t attached to the ride vehicle, making the ride seem more realistic and reducing the potential for motion sickness.
Smugglers Run: Important Information to Know When Riding
In the end, since the ride is a flight simulator with intense high speed moments, Disney recommends that guests should be “in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.”
The height restriction is 38 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who traveled to Walt Disney World with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Smugglers Run does offer a “Ride Switch” option just like Star Tours.
Guests using an ECV or wheelchair at Walt Disney World can use their assistive device for the queue and then must transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning available. Finally, service animals are not allowed on this ride.
The (Not so Secret) Mode to Unlock: Chewie Mode
One final feature about this fun ride: Many Walt Disney World guests heard of Chewie Mode, which when unlocked, will allow guests to hear Chewbacca’s voice during the entire ride instead of Hondo’s voice. To unlock this mode, guests must do the following before the Cast Member leaves their cockpit to start their ride:
- Pilots must push their controls to the extreme left/right or up/down, hold that position, and then hit their activation button.
- Gunners must press and hold one of the white buttons directly next to their display and then press their activation button.
Let’s move on to the final (and arguably the most exciting) Star Wars ride at Walt Disney World.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Tucked into a scrubland forest soon after entering Galaxy’s Edge from Grand Avenue is a mobile Resistance gun turret marking the entrance of the ride. Set some time during the Star Wars trilogy sequel, this ride fully immerses guests in a battle between the Resistance and the First Order, featuring popular Star Wars characters such as Rey, BB-8, and Kylo Ren.
The Ride Queue: It’s all in the Details
Similar to the queue for Smugglers Run, this ride queue is also very lengthy. Additionally, the first part of the standby queue is outdoors, so be prepared to spend time in the Florida heat (and possibly rain). Despite its length, it’s also very immersive and full of details. Guests eventually find themselves inside a resistance base with plenty of Star Wars artifacts along the way. Just like Smugglers run, this is also an interactive queue that guests can enjoy courtesy of the Play Disney Parks app.
Similar to other rides at Walt Disney World, wait times tend to be best in the morning shortly after the park opens and in the evening after 6pm. Rise of the Resistance is far-and-away the more popular of the two rides at Galaxy’s Edge, so don’t be surprised to see standby wait times balloon past 60 minutes. Additionally, this ride is notorious for breaking down frequently, which can easily add 30 minutes or more to the standby wait time. Just like Smugglers Run, this ride is also Early Entry eligible, meaning it will open 30 minutes before the official park open everyday for Walt Disney World resort guests only.
Guests can also purchase an Individual Lightning Lane via Genie+ to save time, especially if this ride is a priority. Individual Lightning Lanes go fast, so grab one as soon as selections open. These times are 7am for Walt Disney world resort guests on the morning of their theme park visit and at park open for all other guests.
The Ride Pre-Show “Wows” Guests Every Time
Inside the Resistance military outpost, BB-8 rolls in to initiate the pre-show, accompanied by a hologram of Rey, who recruits you to fight the First Order. Guests then board a standing-room-only shuttlecraft piloted by Liuetenant Bek. All is well until a Star Destroyer captures your shuttlecraft in its tractor beam and takes you into its belly.
When your shuttlecraft reopens, guests truly feel like they’re inside of the massive spacecraft that took them prisoner, complete with an army of Stormtroopers, TIE Fighters, and a bay window looking into outer space. First Order officers (Cast Members) then herd their prisoners into holding rooms to await interrogation by Kylo Ren and General Hux.
The Most Technologically Advanced Ride at Walt Disney World
Just when all hope is lost, Resistance fighters come through and free guests from their cell, guiding them to an escape pod. This is where you board your ride vehicle. The entire ride then follows your escape from the Star Destroyer ship. Guests enter an 8-passenger troop transport with an animatronic droid driver, then set off on a thrilling ride full of animatronic characters and enormous sets with video projections making for an incredible ride environment.
Guests get to ride beneath the legs of two towering AT-ATs whil dodging laser fire, come face-to-face with Kylo Ren himself, and board an escape pod to crash land back to Batuu. This heart-stopping multi-story plunge enhanced by digital projections is not as intense as Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but it’s an incredibly exciting way to cap off this Star Wars Ride.
Rise of the Resistance is (and arguably will be for a while) the most technologically innovative ride at Walt Disney World. This ride integrates at least 4 different ride experiences of past Walt Disney world attractions: trackless ride vehicles, a motion simulator, walk-through environments, and an elevator drop. It’s difficult to truly grasp what this all amounts to until you ride it for yourself!
And yes, you read that right: an elevator drop! All-in-all, this ride can be scary at times for kids, even ones who love Star Wars. The elevator drop, darker areas, and character interactions (especially with the First Order) may be too much for some.
Rise of the Resistance: Important Information to Know When Riding
In the end, Rise of the Resistance is a simulator ride with intense high-speed moments and life-like sensations of flying and falling. Guests may experience motion sickness on this ride. Disney recommends that guests should be “in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.”
The height restriction is 40 inches for children and children under the age of 7 are not admitted onto the ride without a person age 14 years or older. For those who traveled to Walt Disney World with kids who cannot ride this attraction, Rise of the Resistance does offer a “Ride Switch” option just like Star Tours and Smugglers Run.
Guests using an ECV or wheelchair at Walt Disney World can use their assistive device on the entire queue and part of the attraction. They then must transfer into the ride vehicle. For the hearing impaired, audio and assistive listening as well as handheld captioning available.
Plan Your Walt Disney World Vacation
To get a head start to planning your Disney vacation, subscribe to our FREE Deals newsletter. Here you will have access to useful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. Find more information on planning your vacation here:
- Walt Disney World Genie+ Guide
- Finding Discount Walt Disney World Tickets
- Current Cost of a Walt Disney World Vacation
- Walt Disney World Packing List
- Walt Disney World Vacation Quote
Currently, there are 3 Star Wars rides in Walt Disney World: Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
The 3 Star Wars rides in Walt Disney World are Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. All rides offer a lot of fun and excitement for people of all ages, Star Wars fans and non-Star Wars fans alike.
To our knowledge, Galaxy’s Edge is not closing in 2023. Galaxy’s Edge is currently the most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park and a land loved by virtually every single guest that sets foot in it.
Every year, Walt Disney World closes certain attractions or experiences for refurbishment. However, for 2024, there are no Star Wars rides scheduled for closing at Walt Disney World.
