Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a land like no other at Walt Disney World; the fully immersive land truly makes you feel like you are in a Galaxy Far, Far Away and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance takes this immersive experience to a whole new level! Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a 20-minute experience utilising the most incredible ride technology to create a whole new ride experience for guests.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is located at Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – you’re thrown into the centre of the action when you begin your experience as the Resistance requires your help for a top-secret mission against the First Order as you aim to escape the Star Destroyer. Familiar faces from your favourite Star Wars films will pop up, like Kylo Ren and Rey, and you’ll have the chance to speak to other interactive cast members as you make your way through the pre-ride (queue) section.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was the first ride to offer ‘Boarding Groups’ (virtual queue) to avoid long queues but the ride is now operating with stand-by and Lightning Lane lines – you can read more about the Lightning Lanes on our Disney Genie page! When the stand-by lines are being used, Boarding Groups are not and vice versa. Wait times for the stand-by line are known to range between 60 to 160 minuets, so I would recommend booking a Lightning Lane slot for this ride or getting to it early/ late. The Lightning Lane access for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has so far been $15 per person (which is subject to change), but I think this is a small price to pay to skip a sometimes 2+ hour queue! If the Boarding Groups are being used for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, then you won’t have the option to use the stand-by queue, but you will still be able to book a Lightning Lane slot!
Riding Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a little more complicated than other Walt Disney World attractions when Boarding Groups are being utilised and simply showing up early to Disney’s Hollywood Studios isn’t always enough to ensure you can ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. On the My Disney Experience app you will have the opportunity to join the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue at either 7am or 1pm but both tend to sell out extremely quickly, so you have to be on the ball!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a sensory overload (the good kind!) filled with audio animatronics, screens, light shows, massive set builds, practical and special effects, and cutting-edge technology. It’s certainly worth visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios multiple times just to re-ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance as each time will be a whole new experience, trust me! It’s difficult to compare Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance to any other ride at Walt Disney World simply because of its technological advances and immersive quality…I might even go as far as saying it is (currently) a one-of-a-kind ride at Walt Disney World!
If you happen to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios on a day that Boarding Groups are being used for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, then why not spend some time in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge where you can really dive into the world of Star Wars as you will be thrust onto the Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu. Whilst on Batuu you can have a bite to eat at Oga’s Cantina (be sure to make a reservation on the My Disney Experience app beforehand), build a lightsabre at Savi’s Workshop (reservations required) or Droid Depot (walk-ins available). If you have enough time, Batuu is also home to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run where you can pilot the one and only Millennium Falcon! If the stand-by line is operating you’ll want to get a place in line as soon as possible and enjoy all the immersive and interactive scenes before you actually begin your journey on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance!