Teamwork Tips on Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is a fantastic new attraction at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Who wouldn’t want a chance to take over the Millennium Falcon!
The success on Smuggler’s Run requires working together as a team. You may know the entire crew, or you may not know anyone else aboard. But let’s look at some tips and ideas for making your next mission on the Millennium Falcon a successful one–especially as a team!
Know Your Mission–Know Your Purpose
One of the challenges with Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is that there are two agendas. Chewie has given over the Falcon so that the Resistance can get much needed coaxium and supplies in their quest to fight the First Order. Hondo Ohnaka wants to do the same, but he’s doing it largely for the profit he will earn. One mission–two purposes.
The same applies to you. Your mission is to get the coaxium. But what is your purpose? To get as many points as possible? To be better than anyone else on the team? Or is it really to have fun while making memories that last a lifetime. Experience the happiness of a Disney Star Wars attraction and being in that world. Be sure that your purpose when riding this attraction is to enjoy the experience, more than having a perfect score.
Message: Know Your Mission–Know Your Purpose.
Embrace Your Role–As a Leader
There are different roles. You may not get the role you want. But embrace the role you get, because each role plays an important part. Know that if you have waited in the extended line you could ask for a given role that you prefer, and they will try to accommodate you. If you go for the Single Rider queue, you will be asked to accommodate a role that hasn’t been filled, and that role is back in the last row of seats as an Engineer.
More important than the role your assigned, is the role you play. You can be a cheerleader, an advocate, a teacher and a support in any position on the ship. Being a leader on board doesn’t require you to be in the pilot’s seat. It does require you being aware of and being supporting of others.
Message: More important than the team role you are assigned is the role you play as a leader.
The Duties For Success
There are different duties to these roles, so let’s talk about the duties you have for success. Much of what will make you successful as a team is knowing your duties and how important you are to the team’s success. Let’s look at each role and how they make a difference to the entire team.
Right Pilot
This is perhaps the most coveted position in the cabin. That’s because you not only get to be one of the pilots, but when it’s time to “punch it” to light speed, you’ll pull down on the lever. This opportunity happens as you exit Batuu and upon your return.
Right pilot also controls the ship, but only vertically. This may seem strange as you soon will realize you have no direct control for going right or left. That means you have to work effectively with the other pilot.
Message: Even the best team position has its limits. You cannot do it on your own.
Left Pilot
Perhaps the more critical of the two piloting roles is left pilot. It’s simply because you have the responsibility to move left or right. Know that whatever role you get, “less is more”. This means it doesn’t take much pull on the controls for your ship to go up, down or sideways. You want to be sensitive, otherwise you’ll be hitting walls as you go through.
Most people don’t realize that the left pilot also is responsible for the brake. Look for the red break light in the console. When it lights up, take immediate action to hit that button. Hondo also tells you to do so, but by then it may be just too late. So be aware. Look for the red blinking light.
Message: Less is more sometimes as a team member. And, you have to be on the lookout for things you are uniquely responsible for.
Gunners
Gunners shoot at objects. Much of the time that will consist of Tie fighters. But occasionally you’ll be instructed to shoot at other objects as you go through your journey.
Gunners have two options: Automatic and Manual. If you are someone who is not really into video games, the Automatic function may be your best bet. In this instance, all you will need to do is press the button every time you need to fire–and that’s quite often. You’ll be busy doing that.
If you choose to go to Manual mode, you’ll have three options to choose from. The top button allows you to aim high. The bottom button allows you to aim low. And the middle button puts you right at the center. If you think you’re good at video games, you could probably utilize manual role.
You know your strengths as someone who enjoys video games. Play to those strengths.
The good news is that you never run out of ammunition, so you’ll be able to hold down your button and constantly fire. But it won’t mean as much if you’re not aiming. Consider placing and keeping three fingers (left hand if you’re the left gunner, right hand if you’re the right gunner) throughout the experience on the three options for high, middle and low. Doing so will allow you to watch the screen while you are in flight.
Message: Great team members know their strengths and play to it.
Engineers
Here’s another important important role, but not necessarily how you envision it. Technically the responsibility of the Engineers is to keep the ship powered up, and to press flashing buttons that repair ship systems that are damaged largely by Tie Destroyers in hitting objects like meteors. Engineers also fire harpoons by pushing the round button, then reeling them in.
Since you have the last row of the ship, it’s easy to dismiss this position. Some even prefer it, because they think they won’t have to do as much. Just sit back and watch. Technically though, you actually have a bigger array of buttons to click on than the gunners. The gunners hit their buttons frequently, but your buttons are all over.
Furthermore, the role of an engineer is bigger than that. From your position, you can see the big picture. Many pilots come off of the Falcon so immersed in the very details of their own little assignment, they didn’t get a chance to get the necessary context. You can provide that, and offer feedback and support in a way others can’t.
Message: Great team members see the big picture.
Provide and Give Support
As you receive your roles and get lined up, inquire about everyone’s experience on the team. Consider the following sets of dialogue:
“Is this your first time?” If it is, assure them they are going to have a lot of fun. If they respond positively, provide a supportive piece of advice, like “One of the things I’ve heard from others who have been the pilot is that ‘less is more’. You don’t have to move the throttle very much to move it one way or the other.
Or, consider this scenario, where you yourself haven’t been on the Falcon before.
“Have you done this before? You have? Do you have any tips for me in my role?” Listen and thank them for their advice.
You have an opportunity before you get in the cockpit to get to know others, to interact with them and to set the espirit de corps before you board.
Message: Interact and Support Others on Your Team.
Recognize Others
At the end you’ll get a score individually and collectively. Below is the score for the engineer:
A maximum profit of 13,000 is technically possible. Of course, Hondo has to have his cut. And if there’s damage to the ship, then that’s taken off as well. Based on your total score you’ll also receive a ranking such as Pirate, Maurader, Hot Shot, and Scoundrel. But the fact of the matter is, it’s going to be difficult to get to the top score, because Hondo always wants his take.
Your first time out in the Millennium Falcon may not result in a good score. You’ll especially know that things didn’t go well when you walk out in the hallway and you see burned out circuits, or hear voices beyond talking about what a mess the Falcon is. How do you respond down that long exit to the attraction?
- Laugh at your own results
- Share how much fun you had
- Recognize the contribution of others
- Ask others what they enjoyed most
- Identify something you might do differently next time
Always be supportive. Remember to be positive. Hey! It’s Disney! Thank goodness Tie Fighters really aren’t coming after you in real life, and that there isn’t a bounty on your head. Enjoy the moment as a team while you experience the infamous Millennium Falcon.
Message: Enjoy the Moment!
What if the Golden Girls Piloted the Millennium Falcon?
Yes, this is a strange question. But we tackle it in our Disney at Work podcast/post. Make sure you check it out, as it offers further insights in working as a team. You can find that podcast here on Podbean and here at iTunes. You can also type in “Disney at Work & Play Podcast” when you visit Spotify. Be sure to subscribe!
