When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in Disneyland California and Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World last summer, there were a lot of things for folks to explore in this new “land”, including the new attraction Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run. However, the “big” ride – Rise of the Resistance – did not open when Galaxy’s Edge premiered. Instead, this ride – that has had everyone who’s been able to preview it raving about it – opened just a couple of weeks ago at Hollywood Studios (and will debut in Disneyland in January). Now that it’s opened, and we are hearing from folks who’ve ridden it, we know a lot more about what to expect – and most importantly, what you need to know if you want to ride it.
First, is it worth all the hype? From nearly every review that I’ve read, and from what I’ve heard from colleagues that have experienced it, the answer is YES! It is unique and Disney’s most ambitious attraction to date, and one that even if you are not a Star Wars fan, you will enjoy. Word has gotten out – both from bloggers and others who have reviewed it, as well as from those vacation Guests who’ve ridden it in the past few weeks – about how incredible this state-of-the-art attraction is. So what does that all mean if you have plans to check this out on your Disney vacation in the next few months? That’s what we are going to discuss today.
(Note: This discussion will NOT be about the attraction in any way, other than the process to ride it. So this is a “spoiler-free” Rise of the Resistance article. Read on worry-free if you want to be surprised when you ride. 🙂 )
To start, it is important to note that both Smuggler’s Run and Rise of the Resistance do NOT currently take FastPasses as of this writing. Whether that will change in the future is hard to say, and Disney is not saying. So for now, Smuggler’s Run is stand-by lines only. On the other hand, Rise of the Resistance uses a new process for the Disney parks: a virtual queue, in this case, known as “Boarding Groups”. The only way to ride Rise of the Resistance is by joining a boarding group, there are NO standby lines for this attraction.
Joining a boarding group can only be done once you are physically in the park and everyone who plans to ride has had their ticket/Magic Band scanned. Once everyone is in, you can open your My Disney Experience app, and request a boarding group. If you do not have a smartphone, you can reserve a boarding group with the Guest Experience team Cast Members just inside the park entrance.
Now here is the part that, at the moment at least, is VERY important: there are a limited number of boarding groups available each day, and once they are all booked for the day, that’s it. There are no more for that day, and remember, there is no way to just “wait in line” instead. No boarding group, no ride. (Note that Disney *does* currently have a system for *possibly* riding later in the day….more below on this.)
If you’re thinking at this point that you need to plan to be at Hollywood Studios early to make sure you get a boarding group, you’re right……but let’s define “early”. This is what Disney is currently saying as to when you are able to start requesting a boarding group:
- Virtual queue will be available at the published park opening time. We may welcome Guests onto Hollywood Boulevard prior to opening the rest of the park, and limited nearby locations will be open for their convenience.
- At the park’s published opening time, the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens along with offerings throughout the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests must be in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access virtual queue in the My Disney Experience app.
In addition, Disney is advising the following:
Due to the incredible popularity of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, we will continue to distribute backup boarding groups after the initial planned groups have been filled. Backup boarding groups will only be called if all of the initial planned boarding groups have been called back and there is capacity for more riders that evening. If we are able to accommodate boarding groups that evening, Guests will be notified through the My Disney Experience app by a push notification (if enabled).
While the process for riding this attraction is still being worked out, we have been able to see that so far, all regular boarding groups (not Backup groups) are generally filling for the day within an hour of official park opening time. People are arriving significantly before the park opens, being admitted to the park about 30 minutes prior to scheduled park open, and are in and ready to request their boarding group the minute the park officially opens. And this is super important, because again, you must be within the park gates before you can request a boarding group. So if your plan is to just be getting to the park around the posted opening time of around 7 a.m. you’ll likely end up being disappointed, because by the time you get through security and get your ticket scanned, all the regular boarding groups would be gone. You may still be able to get a Backup boarding group, but remember those are not guaranteed, so chances are good that you won’t be able to ride.
If you really want to make sure you experience Rise of the Resistance, the best way to do so is to make sure you are in the park gates before the scheduled park opening time in order to get a confirmed boarding group. Hence the large crowds early in the morning, as everyone has the same idea. With all of this in mind, the best current advice for at least through the end of the year (and maybe longer) is to plan to be at the gates of Hollywood Studios about 60 minutes before the posted opening time.
Now assuming you do this, and you get into the parks and are assigned a boarding group, you’ll want to make sure notifications are enabled on your My Disney Experience app, so that you know when your group is called. Once it is, you’ll have 2 hours to get to the ride. In the meantime, your day is free to do what you want while waiting. If you have a fairly early group #, you can do other rides in Hollywood Studios. Or you can get breakfast. If you’ve got a later #, you really have lots of options. You can go to another park (Epcot would be a good choice as it’s closest). You can even go back to the resort and take a nap if you want to recover from that early morning! Just make sure your notifications have sound so you don’t miss your 2 hour window to get back to the ride!
Will this system change in the coming months? We will have to see once we get past the busy holiday season. Once the crowds are lower in January, Disney may change the process, and it may not be necessary to get up in the wee hours to make certain you get to ride this attraction. For now though, this should be your plan and if Rise of the Resistance is important to you on your Disney vacation, the best advice I have is to be prepared for a super early morning!
May the Force be With You!
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