The Resistance is now recruiting guests in both Walt Disney World and, as of today, Disneyland as well. The Rise of the Resistance opened at Walt Disney World on December 5th of last year and today (January 17, 2020) at Disneyland. Rise is a blockbuster attraction on a scale Disney has never before attempted. We attended cast member previews, media events, and waited in line with regular guests on both coasts.
UPDATES FROM OPENING DAY
By 1am on opening day, hundreds of people were already queued in the esplanade for a chance to get a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance. However, it didn’t matter how early they arrived. Group numbers are determined by how quickly your phone responds to the Disneyland app once boarding opens for the day.
Within seconds of boarding groups opening at 8am, all primary boarding groups had been booked. Additional groups are being told that they are “Backup” groups that may not gain access to the attraction at all. Those groups are numbers 82 and above.
Some important quirks of the system that you should be aware of if you are attempting to ride this weekend.
- The Disneyland App will not necessarily recognize that you have entered the park right away. Since you must be in the park to schedule a boarding group upon park official opening, this could be an issue for some. Simply exit out of your app completely and reopen it. You should now be recognized as being in the park.
- Don’t allow multiple people in your group to attempt getting a boarding group at the same time. If multiple people are attempting to schedule a group, it will likely split your party and result in multiple boarding times.
- Each guest can only be added to one boarding group for the day.
- Don’t attempt going to a kiosk to book a boarding group. By the time you get there, most of the spots will already be booked for the day. Many furious guests without a smartphone or who couldn’t figure out the app were disappointed to find that all boarding groups booked in the first minute, so nothing left at the kiosks. Only a tiny handful of guests were able to get a pass this way. USE THE APP!
On opening day, there were so many people waiting outside the park that Disney had to open the front gates very early at 5:45am to start queuing up guests on Main Street. Attractions opened early at 7:45am, but Rise of the Resistance boarding groups opened on time at 8am.
The new attraction did not open with the park. D23 was filming live from the attraction at 8am, so the attraction didn’t begin calling boarding groups until approximately 8:50am.
With all those people waiting early for Rise of the Resistance, you might expect the park to be PACKED today, but it isn’t. Many of the folks who waited but didn’t get a boarding group left the park early. An hour after opening, wait times were quite reasonable for most attractions and the park does not feel busy. That could change later today, and Lunar New Year starts today at Disney California Adventure. But don’t be scared away from visiting the parks now that the early morning madness is over.
We share our opinions and some important info about the new ride below. There may be a few small spoilers below, but we’ll warn you before clicking on any videos or links that may contain deeper spoilers.
Everything You Need to Know About Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the second attraction to open for both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge locations (at Disneyland and Walt Disney World). On this exciting new ride, you’ll be placed in the middle of the action when you are captured by the First Order and receive help from the Resistance to break free from the grip of Klyo Ren himself.
Rise of the Resistance Premise
Rise of the Resistance is not your ordinary attraction. It’s actually several entertainment experiences all combined together under one mountain range at the far end of Galaxy’s Edge. The climax of the attraction employs a revolutionary trackless ride system, with never-before-seen special show effects, animatronics and holograms of favorite Star Wars characters from the latest trilogy. End to end, you’ll spend 20 minutes (or more) in the attraction from the first pre-show room until you exit. Along the way, you’ll experience multiple ride-systems, walk-through experiences, special effects, and lots of interaction with both the Resistance and First Order.
Is this Disney’s most ambitious attraction ever created? Most of our staff feel that this is Disney’s best attraction in one respect or another. But all of us agree that it’s on a scale and ambition that’s going to create a lot of well-deserved praise.
Disney’s ride description offers a look into Rise’s backstory:
The Resistance needs your help! Hidden in the forest outside Black Spire Outpost, the Resistance is gathering recruits for a secret mission.
With the First Order desperate to extinguish the spark of the Resistance, the mission is bound to have unexpected twists and turns. When your transport is captured by an imposing First Order Star Destroyer filled with legions of stormtroopers—and even Kylo Ren!—you’re going to need all the help you can get. Fortunately, a covert team of Resistance fighters—including Rey and BB-8—is at the ready to give you a fighting chance to escape… and a chance for the Resistance to rise.
We take that a step further with our own look at the backstory of the various characters and locations you’ll see in the attraction. While almost all of it is from the final trilogy of the Star Wars Skywalker Saga, not everyone is going to know all the characters and themes. While the ride absolutely stands on its own without knowing any of that, we think it’s more fun if you have at least a passing knowledge. You can find that article below:
Prepare Yourself for Rise of the Resistance: The Star Wars Backstory You Need to Know
Rise of the Resistance Opening Dates and Locations
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened last year at both of Disney’s U.S. resorts, Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort of Anaheim, CA, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World of Orlando, FL. Both of the lands’ layout and experience offerings are identical, with the exception of a few minor cosmetic differences.
Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5th, 2019 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and January 17th, 2020 at Disneyland.
Ride Restrictions
Disney considers this to be a thrill ride with sudden stops, sharp turns and sudden drops. There is a 40″ height requirement, and children under 7 years must be accompanied by someone 14 years or older. But we’d like guests to know that the ride is not extreme by any measure. Most folks should be able to handle the small drop and minimal motion sections. It’s the somewhat scary theme that is more likely to impact some riders. Though, we’ve yet to meet anywho who told us the ride was too extreme for them.
Disney’s Warning for this attraction states: For safety, you should be in good health and free from high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, motion sickness, or other conditions that could be aggravated by this adventure. Expectant mothers should not ride.
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD!
Rise of the Resistance Review
You’ve been warned: from here until the next section, there are spoilers about this ride. But that’s why you’re reading this article, isn’t it?
After walking through the attraction entrance, you start on an elaborate queue journey through the ruins of an ancient civilization – think Indy or Flight of Passage – where the Resistance has set up a secret base. From there, you are recruited by Rey and BB-8 to join the Resistance. You are sent into a Transport for a rendezvous with General Leia Organa.
While in transit, your ship is captured and you end up on a First Order Star Destroyer, now under the thumb of General Hux and the Supreme Leader, Kylo Ren, himself. It’s up to you and the Resistance to escape from the First Order and save the galaxy.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a combination of pre-shows, show-scenes, ride vehicles, simulators and more. Projection mapping, audio-animatronics, screens, and a trackless ride vehicle (that seats 8 guests) that makes this incredible attraction completely unpredictable. It is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced in a Disney park, and you’ll want to ride multiple times to take it all in.
Was this the best Disney attraction ever built? Our adrenaline is still pumping, so our immediate answer is . . . YES! We’ll see if repeat visits and time settle our feelings a bit.
Does Rise of the Resistance complete Galaxy’s Edge? Sadly, no. Our overall opinion of the land has not changed. If anything, the brilliant new ride further highlights what’s lacking elsewhere. There is still too much dead space in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a lack of roaming aliens, a complete lack of kinetic energy (few moving props, water, or vehicles), and only two attractions for a massive land. We continue to feel that Galaxy’s Edge suffers from a lack of background music. There are plenty of sounds piped into the land, but they don’t really convey a “Star Wars” feeling the way John William’s glorious and iconic score does. Ironically, the new Rise of the Resistance attraction uses Star Wars music brilliantly. Too bad the rest of the land has been left as an aural dead zone.
Rise of the Resistance certainly improves the land, but we’d still like to see attractions added for younger riders, shows, music, a dinner-theater experience, a lightsaber training facility, Jedi Training Academy, roaming droids (they have recently added a single R2D2 roaming droid), and more characters everywhere. Galaxy’s Edge still feels incomplete and we sincerely hope that Disney can address these issues sooner rather than later.
To understand more why Rise of the Resistance isn’t a total cure for Galaxy’s Edge, check out the article below. We love the new attraction, but there’s so much more that the land needs before it really “feels” like Star Wars to us.
That having been said, We’ll absolutely be spending more time in Galaxy’s Edge now that this jaw-dropping new attraction has opened at long last.
Visiting Rise of the Resistance
Rise of the Resistance is considered to be the flagship attraction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, but did not open with the land’s initial launch. Many guests have delayed their visit to the land until both attractions have opened. Now that the attraction is open, we expect much longer waits for everything.
The attraction will require a “Boarding Pass” on opening day and for the foreseeable future. A Boarding Pass is a virtual queuing system that allows you to enjoy the park without waiting in a physical queue for hours. At WDW, the Boarding Passes for Rise of the Resistance sell out right away upon the opening of the park each day. We expect the same at Disneyland. There is no FastPass for this attraction yet, nor will it be included in Extra Magic Hours at either Disneyland or Disney World.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting a boarding pass:
Everything You Need to Know About Getting a Boarding Pass for Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland
If you’re planning on experiencing this brand-new attraction, we recommend getting to the park before opening and waiting it out. Additionally, be prepared for unscheduled downtime. This attraction is a technical marvel, but that’s a lot of stuff that can break down. They are still working out the kinks. Trust us, it’s worth the wait!
Want the full spoiler video? Join Dusty on a Facebook LIVE journey through the entire attraction during yesterday’s press event:
Visit Disneyland for Less Right Now – The Southern California Resident Ticket Deal is Back!
3-Day Disneyland Resort tickets for travel now through May 21, 2020 are available at a $106 savings on each adult ticket and $86 savings on any child (ages 3-9) ticket! It is only valid for residents who live in ZIP codes 90000-93599. Residency will be verified at time of booking and government photo ID is required to use the tickets at the parks.
Here’s the best part . . . we have them cheaper and can be combined with hotel discounts and an additional $10 off using the “micechat” discount code (on 3 night stays) – Shop the SoCal Resident Special HERE
Not a SoCal resident? Our partners at Get Away Today help you save money on Disney theme park tickets and travel packages. For Discounted theme park tickets and travel packages to Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Universal, Knott’s Berry Farm and other family vacation destinations, always start HERE: Get Away Today (When calling, mention MiceChat so you get your special rates and deals!).
Let’s Hear From You!
Are you ready to take on the First Order? Looking forward to something new in Galaxy’s Edge?
We have two polls below. One for those of you who have been on the attraction in either Disney World or Disneyland and one for those of you who have NOT visited yet. Please vote only in the poll that’s appropriate for you.
You must be logged in to post a comment.