Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run’s Hondo Ohnaka

We’ve already discussed the brilliance of Audio-Animatronics. Still, I must mention one of the latest models, as it feels like a higher level of AA. In fact, in the videogame parlance, Hondo Ohnaka stakes a claim as the AA’s final form.

When you reach the end of the line queue on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, you encounter a pirate named Hondo who must be okay. Otherwise, Chewbacca wouldn’t align with him, right? It seems that Hondo has a mission for you, as he covets some coaxium that doesn’t legally belong to him. You’re there to retrieve the illicit cargo and escape with your life.

You’ll never question Ohnaka’s existence during the encounter. This automaton comes with such immersive believability that you’ll fixate on his words, not his artificial movements.

To everyone that meets him, Hondo Ohnaka is real, an alien holed up on Batuu for his safety. You understand that he’s a bad guy, but your moral discomfort highlights the conversation, not the fact that you’re getting manipulated by a robot.

Peter Pan’s Flight magical queue

When you lack a FastPass, you'll wait at least 45 minutes to ride Peter Pan's Flight. The middle part of the line flies by, no pun intended, because you’re having so much fun that you’ll hate to leave the area.

A few years ago, Imagineers plussed the bedroom of the Darling children. It legitimately offers some of the greatest tricks anywhere on the Disney campus. In fact, this section delivers so much satisfaction that I couldn’t pick just one.

You’ll play with shadows on the walls. Disney has somehow created a technology that recognizes your hand movements and other gestures. When you wave your arms, you’ll attract shadow butterflies. Eventually, they’ll get bored and fly away, which somehow feels heartbreaking.

Tinker Bell joins you in the bedroom. You’ll know this when various objects grow noisier. The sights and sounds that you watch represent a tiny fairy frolicking mischievously. Later, you’ll know that it’s her when sparkling lights appear on the wall.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Darlings' bedroom provides so much entertainment that I'm always bummed to leave. Sure, I want to ride Peter Pan's Flight, but I'd be okay with spending an hour exploring the room thoroughly.