Rise or Smugglers Run First? The Smarter Galaxy’s Edge Plan

Published September 30, 2026

The smart move is simple: prioritize Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance before Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run unless you are specifically protecting Rise with Lightning Lane Single Pass.

That does not mean Smugglers Run is skippable. It means Rise is the more fragile part of your Hollywood Studios day. It is longer, more involved, more in-demand, and more painful to miss. Smugglers Run is fun, especially if your group gets into the cockpit roles, but it is usually easier to fit around the rest of your plan.

Here is the practical Galaxy’s Edge call: if Rise matters to your group, build the morning around it. If flying the Falcon is the dream and your group cares more about hands-on Star Wars chaos than a cinematic headliner, Smugglers Run can go first. But for most Walt Disney World planners, Rise gets the first punch.

The Verdict: Do Rise First If You Are Using Standby

If you are choosing one Star Wars ride to chase early, make it Rise of the Resistance.

Rise is one of Hollywood Studios’ true day-shapers. When the posted wait climbs, it can eat a huge chunk of your morning. And because it is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, it sits outside the regular Multi Pass pool. That one detail matters more than people realize: you cannot treat Rise and Smugglers Run like equal Lightning Lane targets.

Smugglers Run is part of Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Rise is not. Rise is bought separately as Single Pass, along with the other top-tier headliners at Walt Disney World: TRON Lightcycle / Run and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Magic Kingdom, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, and Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom.

So if you are not buying Single Pass for Rise, your best protection is timing. Early is your cleanest shot.

The catch: do not assume you can rope-drop both Rise and Slinky Dog Dash cleanly. Hollywood Studios punishes split priorities. If you try to do both first, you are usually just choosing which long line you want second.

When Smugglers Run Should Actually Go First

Smugglers Run should go first only when the Falcon is the emotional priority.

That means you have a kid who has been talking about piloting the Millennium Falcon for six months, a Star Wars fan who cares more about being inside the cockpit than riding a bigger-budget attraction, or a group that already has Rise covered with Single Pass.

Smugglers Run is more interactive than Rise. Your assigned role matters: pilots steer, gunners shoot, engineers fix the damage. For some families, that makes it the better memory, even if Rise is the more impressive ride overall. A younger Star Wars fan may come off Smugglers Run feeling like they did the thing, not just watched the thing happen.

There is also a reride argument. Smugglers Run changes flavor depending on your role and how chaotic your crew is. Rise is more of a grand set-piece experience. Incredible the first time, still strong after that, but less variable.

So yes, Smugglers Run can be the right first move. Just be honest about why you are doing it: not because it is the harder reservation problem, but because it is the ride your group will care about most.

The Best Morning Plan for Galaxy’s Edge

If you are entering Hollywood Studios at open and Star Wars is a major priority, pick one of these plans.

Plan A: rope-drop Rise of the Resistance, then do Smugglers Run after. This is the best plan for most first-timers, especially if you are not buying Single Pass. Be at the tapstiles 30–45 minutes before official opening, and use Early Theme Park Entry if you are eligible as an on-site guest.

Plan B: buy Lightning Lane Single Pass for Rise, then rope-drop Slinky Dog Dash or another priority. This is the cleaner plan if Rise is non-negotiable and you do not want to gamble your morning on standby. The real question is not whether Single Pass is “worth it” in the abstract. It is what it protects: time, certainty, and the rest of your Hollywood Studios plan.

Plan C: rope-drop Smugglers Run because your group wants the Falcon moment first, then watch Rise carefully later. This is the more emotional plan, not the more efficient one. It can work, but you need a backup strategy if Rise climbs or has operational interruptions.

The mistake is wandering into Galaxy’s Edge and deciding at the fork. By then, the crowd has already decided with you.

The Lightning Lane Difference Most Guests Miss

Rise and Smugglers Run look like they belong in the same decision bucket because they are both Star Wars rides in Galaxy’s Edge. They do not.

Rise is Single Pass. Smugglers Run is Multi Pass.

That means your advance planning should treat Rise like a separate purchase decision and Smugglers Run like part of your broader Hollywood Studios Multi Pass puzzle. With Lightning Lane Multi Pass, guests buy for the day and make initial selections in advance: Disney resort and other eligible on-site guests can start 7 days before arrival for their trip, while off-site guests start 3 days before. The window opens at 7:00 AM Eastern on the eligible day. After you redeem one selection, or after its window passes, you can add another one at a time in My Disney Experience.

So if you are using Multi Pass at Hollywood Studios, Smugglers Run competes with other Multi Pass choices. Rise does not. Rise is its own call.

That is why a strong day often looks like this: protect Rise with Single Pass if the budget makes sense, use Multi Pass for other Hollywood Studios priorities, and keep Smugglers Run flexible unless it is a top emotional ride for your group.

SupaPark can help with that exact judgment: live waits, Lightning Lane availability, sell-out patterns, refill predictions, and pricing intelligence can show whether the time saved is worth the extra spend for your specific day. SupaPark still does not book anything for you — it pings you when an opportunity appears, then you confirm in My Disney Experience.

What Families Should Know Before Choosing

Rise of the Resistance is the better “big Disney moment.” Smugglers Run is the better “we got to fly the Falcon” moment.

That difference matters with kids.

Rise is more cinematic and more intense in presentation. It feels like stepping into a Star Wars sequence, with multiple ride systems and big story beats. If your child is nervous around villains, loud moments, or darker scenes, prepare them before you commit your morning to it.

Smugglers Run is more playful but can still be stressful in a funny way. The cockpit is busy, the ride reacts to your crew, and some kids love pressing buttons even if they have no clue what is happening. If a child gets assigned engineer instead of pilot, though, expectations can matter. The Falcon fantasy is strongest for the pilots.

If you have a mixed group, here is the cleanest family read: do Rise first if the adults and older kids care about the headliner, but choose Smugglers Run first if the youngest Star Wars fan will measure the whole day by whether they “flew” the Millennium Falcon.

Don’t Waste Galaxy’s Edge Between Rides

If you finish one Star Wars ride and the other is not ready yet, do not just stand around refreshing wait times.

Galaxy’s Edge rewards people who look around. Near Smugglers Run, watch Hondo’s pre-show monitor area; there is a subtle hidden Mickey made from metal pieces that many guests miss because they are facing the wrong direction. Over by Droid Depot, look up at the moving droid parts. The spacing pattern nods to THX 1138, George Lucas’s first feature film.

Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities is also worth a slow lap if your group likes deep-cut Star Wars details. It is packed with props and references, and it gives you something fun to do while the land breathes between ride windows.

That is the veteran move: stack your headliners intelligently, then use the land instead of treating it like a hallway between queues.

The One Thing to Remember

For most Hollywood Studios days, Rise of the Resistance is the first-priority ride and Smugglers Run is the flexible follow-up.

Do Rise first if you are using standby. Buy Single Pass for Rise if missing it would wreck the day and the price makes sense for your group. Put Smugglers Run first only when the Falcon cockpit is the thing your group came to do.

That is the difference between reacting to Galaxy’s Edge and actually running the land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I ride Rise of the Resistance or Smugglers Run first?

Ride Rise of the Resistance first if you are using standby, because it is the harder attraction to recover later in the day. Choose Smugglers Run first only if flying the Millennium Falcon is your group’s top priority or you have Rise protected with Lightning Lane Single Pass.

Is Rise of the Resistance included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass?

No. Rise of the Resistance is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction at Hollywood Studios, so it is purchased separately. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is part of Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Can I rope-drop both Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash?

You can try, but it is usually not the cleanest plan because both are major morning targets. Pick one true rope-drop priority, then use Lightning Lane strategy and live wait tracking to manage the other.

Is Smugglers Run worth doing if Rise is better?

Yes, especially for Star Wars fans who want an interactive cockpit experience. Rise is the bigger cinematic attraction, but Smugglers Run can be the more personal memory if your group cares about piloting the Falcon.

What is the best backup plan if Rise has a long wait?

If Rise is too long and you did not buy Single Pass, pivot to nearby Galaxy’s Edge experiences, watch live wait patterns, and look for a better window later. SupaPark can help by tracking waits and alerting you when the opportunity improves.

Keep planning: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance · live wait times · is Lightning Lane worth it · Space 220 Works Best as a Guardians Buffer, Not the Main Event

Go deeper — the full guides: Brown Derby Lunch Works Best as Your Studios Reset · Disney Jollywood Nights 2026: The Honest Guide to Who Should Go and What to Skip

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.