Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is without a doubt the most popular attraction at Walt Disney World during the current time. Located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll find that this addition to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge draws huge crowds each day. As one of the most technologically advanced attractions Disney has ever created, it’s no surprise that the lines aren’t getting any shorter as time progresses. Keep reading as we share our complete guide to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and whether it’s worth your time waiting for it during your next vacation.
Ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance?
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is located in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. There are two attractions in this area, both of which are incredibly popular. There’s also a replica of the attraction in Disneyland in Anaheim, so West Coast visitors can join in with the fun too. The ride requires kids to be a minimum of 40 inches to ride, and some parts of the ride may be a little scary for younger children. As the ride primarily features the Dark Side, expect drops and sudden movements throughout.
For many Disney park guests, this ride is one of the best attractions they’ve ever been on. While we won’t completely spoil the experience, keep in mind that it’s a multi-part attraction. Even the queuing experience is much more enjoyable than you’ll find elsewhere, and you’ll be ushered into various interactive rooms and vehicles before you even get to the main part of the ride. The ride vehicles use a trackless system to navigate through the storyline, creating a smooth but thrilling ride experience.
How Do You Get To Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance At Disney World?
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance can be found in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. If you aren’t familiar with this part of the park, it’s towards the back of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. You’ll find that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the first attractions you see on the left-hand side when you approach the area. Expect long queues here throughout the day, but keep in mind that you could opt to use the Lightning Lane to ride as well. After your ride, make sure you take some time to explore the rest of this land. There are some fantastic dining and shopping opportunities, and you’ll feel you’ve been transported to any world thanks to the hard work of the Disney Imagineers.
Read Also: Everything You Need To Know About the Disney Skyliner
Using the Lighting Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance now uses a paid Lightning Lane option if you don’t want to wait in line. It’s not unusual for the queues here to stretch to two to three hours at a time if you are just waiting in the regular line. Instead, you can opt to try and book a Lighting Lane first thing in the morning on the My Disney Experience app. If you are a Disney resort guest, you can try to do this at 7 am. One thing to note is that these passes usually sell out within minutes or seconds for this ride. It’s undoubtedly the most popular attraction to secure a pass for, and guests are willing to do anything they can to ride. If you aren’t staying on-site, you may find that by the time your window opens up, there’s nothing left.
The ride usually costs around $15 per person to reserve via the Lightning Lane. While this is certainly quite a costly addition to your park day, it can save you hours of park touring time. If you don’t manage to get a Lightning Lane pass first thing in the morning, keep refreshing the app for the next few hours. You never know, you may be lucky to find another pass appears later on, as this is something many guests have reported seeing. When it’s your time to ride, simply head to the Lightning Lane entrance, where you’ll scan your park tickets or MagicBand ready to ride. It’s important to note that Disney no longer uses the free virtual queue for this ride. This has now been discontinued and replaced with a traditional standby line and the Lightning Lane.
Read Also: Guide to Rope Dropping Hollywood Studios in Disney World
Is Rise Of The Resistance Worth It?
Whether Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is worth the time and effort to secure a pass is a very subjective question. If you have any Star Wars fans in your family, absolutely do not miss this attraction on your next vacation. We’d encourage you to either get here first thing in the morning or secure a Lightning Lane pass to avoid disappointment. From time to time, the attraction does break down, which means it can be a challenge to get on during some days. If you have a Lightning Lane pass, they’ll allow you to return at any time during the day, but the standby line may be waiting a lot longer. One thing we love about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is that the queue is very immersive. There are lots of different rooms and experiences before you even get to the main attraction, so the time passes quicker than it would elsewhere.
For non-Star Wars fans, or those who are indifferent to the series, we’d still highly recommend doing this attraction once. It’s like nothing you’ve ever experienced before in the parks, and you’ll be fascinated by the trackless ride system. If you are staying on-site, try to get here during the early opening hours in the morning. This is one of the best times to join the standby line if you weren’t able to get a Lightning Lane pass. Although it can seem like quite a time commitment, it’s so worth it when you get to the final part of the ride. For anyone with multiple days in Orlando during their next vacation, definitely make plans to try and experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at least once.
Read Also: Best Places to Eat in Hollywood Studios
How Scary Is The Drop In Rise Of The Resistance?
We know that many adults and children like to know what they are getting themselves into when they are trying a new attraction for the first time. You might have heard that the ride has a drop, but it’s important to note that it’s nothing like the one you would find at The Tower of Terror. Instead, the final drop is between 10 and 20 feet in height. Due to the special effects around you, it can feel like more, but it’s generally not too intense for most riders. We find that this ride is also very smooth throughout, so it’s unlikely to give most visitors motion sickness. The drop is probably the roughest part of the ride, but the rest of the attraction is thrilling without being too frightening for kids and teens.
Even if you consider yourself a bit of a wimp when it comes to rides, don’t let the drop put you off this attraction. Unless you are incredibly sensitive to any motion or have a medical condition that may prohibit you from riding, you are likely to have a great time on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. You’ll find that you are so immersed in the storyline of the ride that you don’t even feel frightened when the drop does happen. The rest of the ride is very smooth, so it’s nothing like other coasters or drop rides you may have been on in the past.
Also Read: How to Build a Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop
Is Rise of the Resistance a Roller Coaster?
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is not a roller coaster, but it’s still one of the most thrilling attractions in the park. The main part of the ride uses a trackless system. The ride may look like it’s operating without a track, but it uses magnets to guide you around the various rooms. It’s set during the time between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker, but the attraction has its own unique story that was created by the Imagineers. As you go around, you’ll meet some of your favorite Star Wars characters and actors, such as Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, and John Boyega. Keep your eyes peeled around every corner, as there’s so much to see on your first ride. It really is a spectacular experience like none other, and one everyone needs to try for themselves.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has been a huge hit for the team at Disney since its opening day. The popularity of this ride still hasn’t decreased, with huge lines forming day after day for this attraction. We highly recommend trying to secure a Lightning Lane pass if you are staying on-site. This can save you two to three hours in lines and make a huge difference to your day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As long as your child meets the height requirement, we recommend letting them have a go at this immersive attraction, which will thrill both Star Wars fans and casual visitors during their next Walt Disney World trip.
