Smugglers Run Is Getting a Fortnite Twist

Published August 15, 2026 · Updated September 30, 2026

The practical takeaway: do not rebuild your whole Hollywood Studios plan around this yet, but absolutely keep Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run on your radar if you have a gamer, Star Wars fan, or Batuu completist in your group.

Disney has announced that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge will connect with a new Star Wars and Fortnite adventure. The interesting part is not just “Fortnite at Disney World.” It is that Smugglers Run may become more than a one-and-done cockpit simulator. If this update gives the attraction a stronger reason to repeat, it could change how you value the ride inside a very crowded Hollywood Studios day.

That matters because Hollywood Studios is already the park where bad sequencing hurts the most. Between Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania!, Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Smugglers Run, you can burn a shocking amount of your day walking between headliners and waiting in lines that spike fast.

What This Actually Means For Your Park Plan

For now, treat this as a future-watch item, not a reason to make Smugglers Run your top priority today. Disney has announced the connected Star Wars and Fortnite adventure, but the details that matter to planners are still the operational ones: when it is running, how it changes the queue, whether it creates new demand, and whether the experience is meaningfully different enough to justify repeat rides.

The smart move is to keep your Hollywood Studios skeleton the same: prioritize the rides that are hardest to recover later. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is still a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, while Smugglers Run is part of Lightning Lane Multi Pass. That distinction matters. If you are buying Lightning Lane, Rise of the Resistance is handled separately, and Smugglers Run competes with the rest of your Multi Pass strategy.

If your group cares most about Star Wars, your morning still usually revolves around either getting to Galaxy’s Edge early or using Lightning Lane intelligently. But if you have younger gamers or Fortnite fans, Smugglers Run may move from “nice bonus if the line is reasonable” to “must-do once, maybe twice.” That is the planning shift.

Do Not Confuse This With Rise Of The Resistance

This update is tied to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, not Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. That is the first thing to get straight, because the two Galaxy’s Edge headliners play very different roles in a day.

Rise of the Resistance is the big, cinematic, high-stakes Star Wars attraction. It is also one of Hollywood Studios’ toughest rides to fit cleanly into a plan, partly because it is a Lightning Lane Single Pass ride and partly because waits can stay stubbornly high when demand is strong.

Smugglers Run is different. It is interactive, cockpit-based, and heavily shaped by the roles your party gets. Pilots usually get the most obvious hands-on job, while gunners and engineers can feel more like button-duty depending on your group. That is exactly why a connected adventure could matter: if the mission feels more variable or more tied to something guests recognize outside the park, repeat rides become easier to justify.

For families, that is a real planning point. If one kid gets the pilot seat and another gets engineer, you may be asked to ride again. Build that possibility into your expectations instead of treating Smugglers Run like a single checkbox.

The Hidden Planning Issue: Repeat Demand

The biggest impact may not be the first ride. It may be the second.

Smugglers Run already has a built-in repeat-ride argument because the experience changes depending on your role and how well your crew performs. A Fortnite-connected layer could make that stronger, especially for kids and teens who want to see how the in-park mission connects to the game side.

That creates a trade-off. Re-riding Smugglers Run can be fun, but Hollywood Studios is not the park where you casually spend 60 extra minutes without consequences. Every repeat ride has an opportunity cost. You may be giving up Toy Story Mania!, a second Tower of Terror ride, a show break, or a better dining window.

Here is the move: decide before you enter Galaxy’s Edge whether Smugglers Run is a one-and-done or a possible repeat. If it is a possible repeat, do the first ride earlier, then watch for a lower-wait return window later. SupaPark’s live wait tracking and best-time forecaster are useful here because this is exactly the kind of ride where a well-timed second lap can feel like a win instead of a time sink.

Lightning Lane Strategy For Smugglers Run

Smugglers Run being a Lightning Lane Multi Pass attraction makes it more flexible than Rise of the Resistance, but that does not mean it should automatically be your first pick.

Hollywood Studios Multi Pass planning is all about scarcity. Slinky Dog Dash tends to be one of the most important advance selections because strong return times can disappear quickly. After that, your best choices depend on your party: thrill groups may value Tower of Terror or Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster; families may lean toward Toy Story Mania! or Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

So where does Smugglers Run fit? Usually, it is a strong mid-tier Multi Pass target for Star Wars-heavy groups, especially if standby waits are elevated. But if you only have one perfect early selection, you probably do not spend it on Smugglers Run unless the Fortnite connection is the main reason your group is visiting.

The smarter play is to book your highest-demand Multi Pass picks in advance, then keep refilling through the day after you redeem a selection or its window passes. If Smugglers Run availability comes back at a good time, grab it in My Disney Experience. SupaPark can help by watching Lightning Lane availability and alerting you when a useful refill appears, but the actual booking happens in Disney’s app.

Who Should Care Most About This Update

This is most interesting for three groups: Star Wars fans who already spend real time in Galaxy’s Edge, Fortnite players who may suddenly care more about Smugglers Run, and families with kids who need a clear “why this ride matters” hook.

If your child knows the Millennium Falcon but does not care about flight controls, the Fortnite angle may make the ride easier to sell. If your teen is only mildly interested in Disney rides but very interested in gaming, this could become one of the rare attractions that bridges both worlds.

But if your group is full of non-gamers, do not assume this automatically changes your priorities. Smugglers Run is still a motion simulator with assigned cockpit roles. Some guests love the interactivity; others walk out feeling like they were too busy pressing buttons to absorb the story. The best plan is honest: ride it if the wait, Lightning Lane timing, or fandom makes sense. Do not force it just because it is tied to a big brand.

The Galaxy’s Edge Timing Move

Galaxy’s Edge is easiest to enjoy when you are not trying to do everything at peak crowd pressure. If you want photos, shopping, snacks, and both Star Wars rides, give the land room in your day instead of sprinting in and out.

A strong pattern is to hit one major Star Wars ride early, leave before the land eats your whole morning, then return later when you have a better read on waits and Lightning Lane availability. Smugglers Run can work well as that return visit, especially if the connected adventure increases curiosity but not enough to justify a long standby wait.

Also remember that Hollywood Studios punishes zigzagging. Galaxy’s Edge sits near Toy Story Land, which makes it sensible to pair Smugglers Run with Slinky Dog Dash, Toy Story Mania!, or Alien Swirling Saucers rather than bouncing repeatedly to Sunset Boulevard. Your feet will notice the difference by dinner.

What To Watch Before Your Trip

The planning details that matter are not just the announcement. Watch for whether Disney confirms timing, whether the updated experience affects normal operations, and whether demand jumps once guests can actually try it.

If it launches before your trip, check current wait behavior instead of assuming old Smugglers Run patterns still apply. New or updated attraction experiences can create temporary demand spikes, especially when they involve a major crossover audience. That does not mean the ride will be impossible. It means you should be more intentional.

Use SupaPark to watch live waits, operational status, and best-time patterns as your date gets closer. If Smugglers Run drops into a good window or a Lightning Lane refill appears, SupaPark can ping you so you can make the move in My Disney Experience.

The Takeaway

The Fortnite connection makes Smugglers Run more interesting, but it should not outrank Hollywood Studios’ hardest-to-get rides unless your group is specifically excited about Star Wars gaming crossover energy.

Book the scarce stuff first, watch Smugglers Run wait patterns, and be ready to pounce if the line dips. The win is not “doing the new thing at any cost.” The win is fitting it into your day without sacrificing the rides your group would regret missing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run getting a Fortnite update at Disney World?

Disney has announced a connected Star Wars and Fortnite adventure tied to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Check current status before your trip, because operational timing and availability can change.

Should Smugglers Run be my first Lightning Lane Multi Pass pick?

Usually, no. Most Hollywood Studios guests should prioritize harder-to-get Multi Pass attractions first, unless your group specifically cares more about Smugglers Run because of Star Wars or Fortnite.

Is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance part of this Fortnite announcement?

No. The announced connected adventure is tied to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains a separate Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction.

Will this make Smugglers Run more crowded?

It could increase demand, especially when the connected adventure is active and still fresh. The smart move is to watch live waits and Lightning Lane availability instead of assuming older crowd patterns will hold.

Can SupaPark book Smugglers Run Lightning Lane for me?

No. SupaPark watches waits and Lightning Lane availability and can alert you when there is a useful opening, but you book and confirm in Disney’s My Disney Experience app.

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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.