(Updated 3/20/21) All about Rise of the Resistance including information on how to ride, what to expect, and more:
Rise of the Resistance is one of the biggest new rides Disney has seen in a long time. Even though it first debuted in December 2019, it remains the most popular ride at Disney World. It’s revolutionary, an amazing experience, and of course it’s Star Wars! So it’s no surprise that it’s been extremely popular since opening in Disney World on December 5th. I was lucky enough to be there opening day, so I figured I would share some information/advice if you’re planning to try and ride it within the next month or two.
I’m not going to include any spoilers of the plot or effects of the ride – this is more about the logistics of getting on the ride, joining the virtual queue, and answering questions about how the ride works (i.e., will it cause motion sickness?).
Suffice it to say the ride was amazing. It’s very impressive and was so much fun. It’s a great addition to Galaxy’s Edge and I hope Disney can get the technology down so that it doesn’t experience too many delays and downtime.
I will be updating this post as things change or we get more information!
Getting on Rise of the Resistance
What is a virtual queue?
This is Disney’s current system of getting guests on Rise of the Resistance. You must join the virtual queue from your phone, at which point you will be assigned a boarding group number. Throughout the day groups will be “called” to ride the ride (you will get a notification to your phone when it’s your turn to ride, or you can check what groups are currently called from the app). Once they reach your boarding group number you have 1 hour to return to the entrance of the ride. This is a way for Disney to handle the crowds and long lines that would otherwise occur at this attraction.
How do I get a virtual boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance?
Currently guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can attempt to get a virtual boarding pass at 7am every morning. To get a virtual boarding pass you will need to have an active park ticket and a park pass reservation for Hollywood Studios. You need to download the My Disney Experience app and be on exactly at 7am. I have an accurate watch that counts the seconds, but you can also check an official the official time at time.gov. If you miss the first round, more boarding passes are released at 1pm. You must have used your ticket to enter Hollywood Studios prior to 1pm to try for one of these afternoon boarding passes.
Top tips to get in the Rise of the Resistance virtual queue
- Be ready on the app EXACTLY at 7am. You can open the app a few minutes prior and keep refreshing. Virtual boarding passes are often gone in a matter of seconds.
- Because time is of the essence, close all other apps and things on your phone that might slow it down.
- Run a speed test to see if your internet connection is faster on WiFi or data.
- Make sure the Disney app is updated.
- If you have multiple people in your group, everyone can attempt to try and join the queue for their whole party (make sure you select everyone who is riding, otherwise you might end up with different boarding groups!)
How early do I have to be at Hollywood Studios?
If you successfully got a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance you can head to Hollywood Studios anytime you want, as long as you’re in the park by the time your boarding group is called.
What if I have a dining reservation when my boarding group is called?
You may still have time to make your Rise of the Resistance boarding group since they give you an hour to return. If you are running out of time you can ask a cast member at the attraction or at guest experiences for assistance. Bring your receipt showing your dining time with you.
Can I get a fastpass for Rise of the Resistance?
Fastpass+ is currently not being used at Disney World due to COVID-19. Even prior to that Fastpass+ has never been available for Rise of the Resistance.
Will Rise of the Resistance have Fastpass in the future?
This is a complicated question because it also asks if fastpass+ will definitely be back in the future. My personal belief is that Disney will introduce a new, similar system (possibly with the same name and possibly called something else). Depending on how that works we may or may not see Rise of the Resistance as part of it. If the fastpass+ system returns the way that it was, it will probably still be some time before Rise of the Resistance is added to it – with the virtual queues still filling up almost instantly it will be difficult for them to switch to a different system. Perhaps once some larger, headliner attractions such as TRON Lightcycle and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind open and take some of the focus off of Rise of the Resistance.
Can’t I just line up?
No, as of right now there is no standby line. The virtual queue is the only way to get on the ride.
When will Rise of the Resistance stop boarding groups?
Disney has not made any announcements on how long this will last, but so far it has been happening since opening day. There is no word on when it will end, but it seems likely they will keep it around for at least another year, or until they figure out how they are going to revamp the system.
Can I get on the virtual queue from home/my hotel?
Yes. As long as you have a park ticket and a park pass reservation you can attempt to join the virtual queue from your hotel room, the lobby, at breakfast, or wherever you happen to be.
Once the boarding groups are gone am I out of luck?
Disney is currently offering a second round of boarding passes available at 1pm. You have to have entered Hollywood Studios with your park pass prior to 1pm to get one. There are a smaller amount available in the afternoon so you’ll want to be quick and use some of the same tips mentioned above.
I’ve heard the ride has been going down a lot – how will this affect my chances of riding?
Yes, the ride has had a lot of downtime. It may mean that not all boarding groups get to ride, your ride may be delayed, or you’ll spend more time in the queue. Disney has been doing everything they can to make it up to people when the ride goes down. In the past they’ve given out free water/snacks, giving fastpasses to come back if it’s going to be down for awhile, and even giving free park tickets and fastpasses for another day. That being said, the ride is very technologically advanced and it does seem to have a lot of issues, and has been down more often than usual for a ride since it opened.
Can I get a second boarding pass on the same day?
No, you are limited to joining the virtual queue once per day.
Will it be better if I go during extra magic hours?
Disney has discontinued extra magic hours. However, they did announce that it will be replaced by “early theme park entry.” This will get resort guests into any of the Disney theme parks half an hour early every day. Since you are able to get your virtual boarding pass from outside of the park if doesn’t matter for Rise of the Resistance if you attend during the early entry.
Will Rise of the Resistance open early?
Not any earlier than other attractions at Hollywood Studios. Typically the park has been opening at 10am, and guests are being let in early – they often start running the rides before the 10am start time to try and get as many people on as possible. Either way you will not be able to ride until your boarding group is called.
About the Rise of the Resistance Ride
What type of ride is Rise of the Resistance?
It’s hard to explain what this ride is just in one sentence because it’s really an “experience” that is a combination of a couple of different ride techniques. There are “show” elements as well as a trackless dark ride that uses a combination of screens and audio-animatronics. It’s not a straightforward track (there are times where you’ll go backwards, drop, etc.).
Who can ride Rise of the Resistance?
Anyone who meets the height requirement of 40 inches is welcome to ride if they get a virtual boarding pass. If you have a child under the height requirement or who doesn’t want to ride, rider switch is available – but everyone who wishes to ride must still have a boarding pass. Those is a wheelchair must be able to transfer to a ride vehicle. Expectant mothers should not ride. Disney also warns about those with high blood pressure, heart, back, or neck problems.
Can you ride Rise of the Resistance pregnant?
Expectant mothers should not ride Rise of the Resistance. There are drops, jerky movements, and other things that may not be safe. Many also don’t realize that it’s not always just the ride itself that can be a danger but if the ride breaks down – the placement of safety bars and safety breaks can be dangerous to expectant mothers.
Does Rise of the Resistance cause motion sickness?
Everyone’s reaction to motion and motion sickness is different so this is hard to answer. While it does use screens at times, they are integrated really well into the ride and I didn’t even notice when it was a screen or when it was “real.” There are no 3D glasses or anything involved, and it’s more of a car on a track than a motion simulator, so nothing like Star Tours. I would guess that most people would be totally fine on this, unless you are super super sensitive to anything with movement.
I’ve heard there’s a “drop” and I hate rides that drop. Can I handle this?
There is a drop on Rise of the Resistance but it’s pretty minimal. It is a “straight down” drop in the style of Tower of Terror but nowhere near the length or height. It’s over so quickly you don’t even realize it’s happened until it’s over. The way I described it was that I just had a moment to say “oh!” and then it was done. It’s nothing like what you normally think of when you hear a “drop” – nothing like Tower of Terror, Splash Mountain, or even Pirates. If you don’t like drops I wouldn’t let that deter you.
Is it scary?
Again, this is very subjective. I’m a pretty big chicken (it took me several rides to even keep my eyes open during the Haunted Mansion!), but I didn’t feel scared at all. You are trying to be captured by Kylo Ren and the Stormtroopers, so there might be a little element of fear, especially for young kids.
Is there a chicken exit?
Yes, you can still exit the attraction prior to getting in the main ride vehicle. If you are hesitant to ride due to motion sickness I would highly recommend going through the attraction up until that point. Half of the attraction is actually going through different show rooms and experiencing the story before you get in the car, so if you get a boarding group it’s worth going through at least part of it.
Can you use DAS on Rise of the Resistance?
DAS is Disney’s Disability Access Service, and the answer is yes, you can use your DAS pass for Rise of the Resistance. However you will still need to obtain a virtual boarding group. Once your boarding group number is called you will be able to go through the currently unused fastpass queue to skip much of the line and get on the attraction.
How long is the ride?
They are saying it is 18 minutes long, but due to the nature of the ride it can vary. You experience one part of the ride, then get moved to another part – sometimes there is a wait in between sections. From the moment our boarding group was called to when we got off the ride it took about 45 minutes, but I think that will vary based on how well the ride is running.
Is Rise of the Resistance worth it?
Obviously this is a really subjective question and only you will be able to decide after you ride it if it’s “worth it.” A lot of people really love the attraction, and it is certainly something that I was really impressed by. If you are a big Star Wars fan my guess is that you will love it. Even if you’re not hugely into Star Wars I would make the effort to try and get in the virtual queue to experience it yourself, because the technology and ride is amazing and the experience is really like nothing else at Disney World. That being said, I also wouldn’t stress or let it ruin your vacation if you miss out on getting a boarding group. At the end of the day it is just a ride and there are so many amazing things to experience at Disney World and in Hollywood Studios.
Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland
Will Rise of the Resistance be reopening with Disneyland on April 30th, 2021?
Yes, Disney has confirmed that Rise of the Resistance will open with theme park after their shutdown that was over a year long.
Will the virtual queue be used at Disneyland?
Most likely yes. The virtual queue was in place for the almost two months that Rise of the Resistance was open last year. Since the ride was not open very long before the shutdown it will be just as (if not more) popular than ever and use of a virtual queue will be necessary. At that time you had to be in the park to join the queue, but it’s certainly possible they will transition to a system more in line with what is now used at Disney World.
Do I need a park pass reservation to get on?
Yes, just like Disney World, Disneyland will be requiring both theme park tickets and a park pass reservation to get into the theme park. If you do not have a park pass reservation for Disneyland you will not be able to join the Rise of the Resistance virtual queue.
Will it be easier to get on at Disneyland due to limited to capacity?
This is one of those “we’ll have to wait and see” sort of situations. California is limiting capacity much more than Florida did even at reopening, and Disneyland will only be starting out at 15% of their normal capacity. Due to state guidelines only California residents can visit upon reopening. It will be interesting to see if the 15% capacity leaves a little breathing room for getting a boarding pass or not – it may turn out that getting your park pass reservation is the more competitive part of the process.
History of Rise of the Resistance
When did Rise of the Resistance open?
In Hollywood Studios at Disney World Rise of the Resistance opened to the public on December 5th, 2019. I was fortunate that I just happened to have a trip there that week and would be in Hollywood Studios for opening day. If you’re curious about my personal experience, here’s my story: we arrived at Hollywood Studios at 5am (the park was scheduled for an 8am opening). They let us in the gates by 5:30 and we were able to join a boarding group right away. The ride started operating at 6:15 and our boarding group was called at 7am. The ride went down and we were given a fastpass to return anytime. Got an alert around 8:30am that the ride was back up and we were able to get on at that time.
When did Rise of the Resistance open in Disneyland?
Rise of the resistance first opened in Disneyland on January 17, 2020. It was open for less than 2 months before the shutdown due to coronavirus on March 13, 2020. Disneyland is supposed to reopen on April 30, 2021, which should be the first time guests will be able to experience Rise of the Resistance there again.
Are there any differences between the ride in Disney World and Disneyland?
The attraction is identical in Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California.
Related Posts
If you have any other questions please let me know – I’m happy to answer as much as I can! Rise of the Resistance was a unique, impressive, and exhilarating experience and I hope everyone gets the chance to try it eventually!
Will you be riding Rise of the Resistance?
Feeling overwhelmed? A travel agent can help you book and plan your trip – and it doesn’t cost you anything! I’ve helped hundreds of people plan their magical vacations – contact me today to get started.
This is really cool more reason for me to start planning my disney trip with my boys.
This was a very helpful article for those of us who are cautious about going on new rides due to fears, health considerations, etc.
This ride sounds like a lot of fun! I like how you give info on the drop – I always like to know what I’m getting myself into with rides.
Okay, so honestly this ride sounds like a blast! Even if there’s downtime right now, I’m sure it won’t be long before it’s running smoothly and easy to board. Also I’ve never heard of virtual queues, so that’s fascinating to me. Such a cool article here!
It seems like it will be a lot of fun, especially once all the kinks are worked out. I didn’t expect it to be such a long ride (even when everything runs perfectly.)
Wow, this sounds absolutely amazing and so much fun. My kids would love to go, definitely need to look into it more!
Kileen
cute & little