Skip to Content

Complete Guide to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios

Complete Guide to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is unlike any other attraction at Walt Disney World. Part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Hollywood Studios, this ride fully immerses you in a battle between the Resistance and the First Order, and you’ll run into some familiar characters (like Rey and the evil Kylo Ren) along the way.

Not only is it a Star Wars fan’s dream come true, but it’s also a truly amazing example of what Disney Imagineers can really do. After all, this is an attraction with multiple ride systems, and it’s hard to fully grasp what that means until you ride it for yourself.

Here, you will find some spoiler-free tips for this attraction. But if you’re looking for the full rundown before you defeat the First Order, keep reading for our guide to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Quick Facts

Location

You can find Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge. It’s on your left when you enter through the Grand Avenue area. Here’s the location on the map.

rise of the resistance location at hollywood studios
hollywood studios map
hollywood studios map

How to Ride Rise of the Resistance

Though this attraction once required guests to join the virtual queue before riding, it was discontinued in September 2021. Now, this popular ride offers both a traditional Standby Line and an Individual Lightning Lane purchase option.

rise of the resistance queue entrance

Individual Lightning Lane selections are not included with Disney Genie+ (the new paid FastPass service at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland). These are sold separately and are pay-per-use. Pricing for paid individual Lightning Lane options varies by date, attraction, and park.

If you’re planning to ride standby for Rise of the Resistance, you will want to head here first at park opening, since wait times quickly get up to one hour or more, and even two hours or more during the busiest times of the year. It’s also important to note that there is no Single Rider Line available at this attraction.

Do I Need To Use Genie+ at Rise of the Resistance?

If riding Rise of the Resistance is an absolute priority for your visit to Hollywood Studios, it’s wise to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane, which will give you a return window to ride with a minimal wait.

It can also be advantageous to have an Individual Lightning Lane for Rise of the Resistance because, thanks to the complicated ride mechanism that makes it such a fun and unique experience, the ride does go down pretty frequently.

rise of the resistance scanner

These delays can easily add 30 minutes or more to a standby wait time, which can cut into the time you can spend checking out other attractions in the park.

Individual Lightning Lanes for this attraction do go fast, though, so be sure to grab one as soon as selections open. For Disney World Resort hotel guests, that’s at 7:00 a.m. on the morning of your visit; all other guests can make their selection at park open.

Be sure to check out our touring strategies for Hollywood Studios for more Genie+ advice.

Rider Switch/Child Swap

You can use Rider Switch for Rise of the Resistance. Rider Switch is Disney’s system that allows guests with small children to take turns riding bigger rides, while another person/people wait with the little one.

There are plenty of ways to occupy your time that kids will enjoy while waiting for your turn to ride.

Star Wars characters are frequently roaming Galaxy’s Edge, and checking out the shops in Black Spire Outpost Market can be fun, too. This is also a great opportunity to grab blue or green milk from the Milk Stand!

What to Expect When You Ride

Queue

The queue for Rise of the Resistance is quite lengthy, so be prepared to walk. The first part of the queue is outdoors, and if you’re waiting in the Standby Line, there’s a good chance you’ll spend a long time out there, so bringing water or other bottled drinks with you isn’t a bad idea.

rise of the resistance outdoor queue

But even though you may end up spending a long time in the queue, it’s very immersive and full of details that Star Wars fans will definitely appreciate.

Inside, you’ll find yourself winding through a Resistance base, with plenty of artifacts to check out along the way — many of which will be very familiar to those who love the franchise.

rise of the resistance queue

There is an interactive queue that guests can enjoy courtesy of the Play Disney Parks app. Make sure your datapad (smart device) is charged and ready to go!

Ride Vehicles

Even though this attraction features multiple experiences in one, there is only one ride vehicle, which is trackless.

Rise of the Resistance ride vehicle

It can fit four guests in each row, for a total of eight guests per vehicle. Each guest will have their own safety belt.

Your ride vehicle will also include a droid at the front, who is there to guide you on your adventure.

Accessibility Information

Guests using a wheelchair or ECV will need to transfer to the ride vehicle. The entire queue and first part of the attraction is ECV and wheelchair accessible until you reach the part of the experience that requires you to board the vehicle. There is a small step up into the vehicle to get seated.

Rise of the Resistance Accessibility Information

Handheld captioning and audio description are also provided for those with hearing and visual disabilities.

Expectant mothers are advised not to ride, and those with conditions including high blood pressure, heart, back or neck problems, or motion sickness are warned that this attraction could aggravate their symptoms.

Motion Sickness

The trackless ride vehicle for Rise of the Resistance goes both backwards and forwards. There are also short simulator segments, along with moments of spinning and (spoiler alert) a surprise drop that may catch you off guard.

It’s important to note that Disney has warned guests with motion sickness to proceed with caution on this attraction both online and on a board in front of the queue.

For more information and tips, check out our guide on motion sickness.

On the Ride

Some fans may wish for a fully unspoiled experience when they ride Rise of the Resistance for the first time, so if that’s you, be warned that there are many spoilers ahead!

After you’ve made yourself familiar with the Resistance base (possibly very, very familiar, depending on how long your wait was), you’ll enter the first pre-show room, which is where things really get going.

rey on rise of the resistance

BB-8 will appear, offering up some friendly beeps and boops, before you receive a transmission from Rey herself.

A Resistance group has infiltrated a First Order star destroyer, which is now threatening everyone on Batuu. You’ll have to board a transport to help them fight Kylo Ren, which is waiting outside for you.

rise of the resistance

On the transport (basically, a giant motion simulator with standing room only) piloted by Liuetenant Bek, everything seems to be going well… until you’re captured by the First Order, of course.

When the doors to your transport open, you’ll find yourself face-to-face with more Stormtroopers than you could count — this is one of the many major “wow” moments of the attraction. If you get the feeling you’re being watched, it’s because you are.

stormtrooper room on rise of the resistance

The next part of the attraction leads you into down a long hallway and into a prison cell, where you’ll be interrogated by Kylo Ren and General Hux. Just when all is lost, the Resistance comes through, freeing you from the cell and guiding you to an escape pod, which is where you’ll board the ride vehicle.

general hux and kylo ren on rise of the resistance

Your escape pod will travel through the ship and encounter a few close calls, including a brief run-in with Stormtroopers. You’ll have to dodge massive AT-ATs before you end up on the star destroyer, where Kylo will take aim at your pod with his lightsaber. Phew!

Just when it seems like escape is futile, a Resistance Tie Fighter comes to your rescue, and you’ll be launched with a brief (but impactful) drop to safety for a grand finale that you will probably never forget.

Is Rise of the Resistance Kid-Friendly?

Rise of the Resistance can be scary at times for kids, even ones who love Star Wars.

The interactions with Kylo Ren, Stormtroopers, and the First Order can be a bit intimidating. The ride itself can also be too much for some children, since some areas of the ride are dark and there is even a drop.

We have a full guide on several other things that might scare little ones at WDW to help you plan your visit.

Strollers

You won’t be able to take your stroller with you in the queue for Rise of the Resistance. You can park it in the designated stroller parking area across from the ride’s entrance.

stroller parking for rise of the resistance

Before walking away from your stroller, be sure to bring all of your valuables with you, including phones, wallets, and keys, and you may want to cover the stroller with a rain cover or poncho, since you’ll be inside the attraction for awhile and Florida rainstorms can be rather unpredictable all times of year.

History

Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5, 2019 after Galaxy’s Edge and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.

The land officially welcomed guests on August 29, 2019. According to The Walt Disney Company, “Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park.” It’s 14 acres!

rise of the resistance concept art

Rise of the Resistance is unlike any other attraction you’ve been on at Walt Disney World.

Even before the ride opened, Disney described it as “one of the most ambitious, advanced, and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.” It’s also one of the largest attractions Disney has ever created.

Other Fun Details

  • There are a lot of Easter Eggs throughout both the attraction and the land, but one in particular is that the anti-aircraft turret at the ride entrance is similar to the one used by the Rebel Alliance on Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.
  • Hidden Mickey fans will be pleased that there are some to be found on this attraction. In fact, you can spot one from the ride vehicle before you face Kylo Ren, so keep those eyes peeled.
  • There are 50 Stormtroopers in the Hangar Bay.
  • Your adventure on Rise of the Resistance takes place between The Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker.

Other Attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

VIDEO: Top 5 things you MUST do in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge