We had no idea before we planned our trip that the NEW Star Wars Rise of the Resistance Ride would be open during our visit. What a great surprise to learn opening weekend was the weekend before our visit.
With the excitement around the NEW ride and Star Wars Land, we were not sure we would be able to actually experience the attraction. Our trip was right after opening weekend, I was concerned the parks would be packed from every social media post I had seen. On the Wednesday we visited, the parks were not packed at all. I am shocked and very happy to report we obtained one of the hard to get digital boarding passes, to top it off we landed in Boarding Group 4.
I made two YouTube videos, one that shares the process of us getting our Digital Boarding Pass, it includes the step by step phone screen recording. I will share that at the bottom of this post. I also made a complete step by step video which includes the entire ride so if you are okay with spoilers that will be at the very end of this post as well.
You see even if you do obtain a Boarding Pass you are not guaranteed to ride. It all depends on the crowds and how many boarding groups they get through. Many people were unable to ride because the ride broke down throughout the day. Some people ended up with backup boarding groups who only if they get through the first boarding groups will receive a window of time to ride.
In Boarding Group four we were able to get in line for the ride at 9:23 AM, on the day we visited, the park officially opened at 9 AM. We went through the gates at 8:11 AM, we first stopped at the Disneyland Starbucks to get coffee and walked over to a rope drop area near Tomorrow Land and the Walt and Mickey Mouse Statue. The Starbucks line went very quickly, I was prepared to get out of line if 9 AM approached, although you can join the digital virtual queue from anywhere in the park. I wanted to be in the middle of the excitement and experience the cheers near the Castle. I also wanted to be near a machine to try the manual option for a boarding pass in case the digital option did not work. There are machines near the Buzz Light Year Astro Blasters Ride and near Splash Mountain similar to the Fast Pass machines.
It was fun to chat with people in the Disneyland Starbucks line about the new ride, others just like us were excited and hoping to ride for the first time. Two ladies in front of us had already experienced the ride the day before and were happily sharing what worked for them.
The excitement about the new Rise of the Resistance was in the air, it was a feeling I cannot put into words. Right at 9 AM on the dot we went through the digital process to obtain a virtual Boarding Pass. We stopped and took a picture near the castle, proceeded to walk through the castle on our way to Galaxy's Edge.
We did not even yet know our time frame to ride, as we were walking towards Star War's Galaxy's Edge at 9:10 AM is when the Disney App notified us we could ride before 10:09 AM.
We entered the stunning Galaxy's Edge, taking in all the details, it is breathtaking. We took a few pictures and stopped to check out those souvenir style coke bottles (thermal detonator's) as we were making our way to the new Rise of the Resistance attraction. Also good to know there was a TSA Ban on these thermal detonators, a Disney cast member told us the ban was lifted. I was able to travel home with them in my carry on, empty of course.
Upon arriving at the ride the sign outside said Now Boarding Groups 1-11. We got in line at at 9:23 AM. The line queue is an experience all in itself. You go through different rooms, different areas, the cast members do a fantastic job of being in character. We were boarding on the actual ride portion at 9:55 AM and finished at 10 AM, the actual video I took of being on the ride was 4 minutes and 50 seconds. Our entire experience was 37 minutes long and every portion was AMAZING. Do not think you are in line doing nothing, there are so many details all around you, each space, room, cell is part of the entire experience.
This ride so intrigued me because I had read it was a trackless ride. In my opinion it definitely lives up to all the hype and is so worth the wait. We were so grateful we were able to ride first thing in the morning, this was our first ride of the day. I will admit after experiencing the Rise of the Resistance, all the other rides just don't compare. I love all the rides, but all I could think about was riding this one again.
The next day while shopping at Downtown Disney one of the employee's shared with us how the employee's were able to ride before it officially opened but for the next six months or so they cannot enter the parks until after 10 AM to help with crowd control. I appreciate the thoughtfulness in allowing out of town guests the opportunity to experience the ride. A Disney Vacation Club employee was shocked that we got in Group 4 and shared with us how Disney plans on building a new hotel that will have a private entrance right into Batuu, how amazing is that. Similar to how Disney's Grand Californian has a private entrance to California Adventure.
I find it quite amazing how Disneyland makes great use of every space. Quite amazing to think of the tunnels, the new parking structure that is being built now and the plans for growth, I'm excited to see it all unfold.
I made two YouTube videos, one that shares the process of us getting our Digital Boarding Pass, it includes the step by step phone screen recording. I will share that at the bottom of this post. I also made a complete step by step video which includes the entire ride so if you are okay with spoilers that will be at the very end of this post as well.
You see even if you do obtain a Boarding Pass you are not guaranteed to ride. It all depends on the crowds and how many boarding groups they get through. Many people were unable to ride because the ride broke down throughout the day. Some people ended up with backup boarding groups who only if they get through the first boarding groups will receive a window of time to ride.
I find it quite amazing how Disneyland makes great use of every space. Quite amazing to think of the tunnels, the new parking structure that is being built now and the plans for growth, I'm excited to see it all unfold.
Below are some tips and information that I found were helpful in obtaining that hard to come by Boarding Group Pass to ride the NEW Star War's Galaxy's Edge Rise of the Resistance Ride.
Link all park tickets in the Disney App. Have loaded each ticket of everyone in your group that will be in the park and would like to ride the Rise of the Resistance. Have more than one person in your party trying as well, just in case one phone has to refresh or internet connection is slower. More than one person can have the same tickets loaded in their App.
Arrive to the Disneyland Park at least an hour before park opening, to get through security and get in line. We arrived 1 1/2 hours early, the lines at 8:03 AM went all the way back to the California Adventure entrance.
To help with crowd control they will open gates prior to park opening, make your way into the park. (We stood near Tomorrow Land, in case we needed to try using the manual machine boarding pass option, which is located next to the Buzz Light Year Astro Blaster's ride, another one is near Splash Mountain).
Arrive to the Disneyland Park at least an hour before park opening, to get through security and get in line. We arrived 1 1/2 hours early, the lines at 8:03 AM went all the way back to the California Adventure entrance.
To help with crowd control they will open gates prior to park opening, make your way into the park. (We stood near Tomorrow Land, in case we needed to try using the manual machine boarding pass option, which is located next to the Buzz Light Year Astro Blaster's ride, another one is near Splash Mountain).
Open your Disney App a couple of minutes before park opening. Disney does have free WiFi, check your device and see how many bars you have with and without WiFi. When we visited I chose to not use the Disney WiFi. I heard from others both things, some people said do not use Disney WiFi as so many people on it, will slow down your connection, others said the WiFi gave their phone more bars.
Exactly at park opening click on the Star Wars Rise of Resistance Find out More Button.
Have an extra person in your party counting down so you know exact park opening. There was a group of people standing next to us and one of the guys was counting down till 9 AM, (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) I think that helped to be quick. Breathe and click through those buttons.
Exactly at park opening click on the Star Wars Rise of Resistance Find out More Button.
Have an extra person in your party counting down so you know exact park opening. There was a group of people standing next to us and one of the guys was counting down till 9 AM, (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) I think that helped to be quick. Breathe and click through those buttons.
Click on Join Boarding Group. This button will not be available to press before park opening it will be light gray, once park opening it turns orange. Then click the continue button and you will see everyone in your groups names listed, I did not have to select each one, they were already selected and I just clicked join boarding group.
If you have success you will be assigned a Boarding Group Number. We were assigned Group 4! It took about 10 minutes for us to receive our actual window of time. Be sure to enable push notifications for the Disney App.
My notification said arrive before 10:09 AM. When we walked toward the ride, the sign outside the ride said Boarding Groups 1-11, while the App had just said now boarding group 2, so I would head to the ride a little early and check and see if you can board. Another thing when they scanned my pass, it would not scan with my screen protector, they tried multiple times, before we just had my sister open them up on her App.
The height requirement is 40" and children under the age of seven must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
My notification said arrive before 10:09 AM. When we walked toward the ride, the sign outside the ride said Boarding Groups 1-11, while the App had just said now boarding group 2, so I would head to the ride a little early and check and see if you can board. Another thing when they scanned my pass, it would not scan with my screen protector, they tried multiple times, before we just had my sister open them up on her App.
The height requirement is 40" and children under the age of seven must be accompanied by a person age 14 years or older.
Be kind to the cast members, this virtual queue is new for everyone and they are working out the system. The ride is amazing, it is an entire experience and totally worth arriving early and trying to ride. May the Force be with you!
Make sure to save time in your Disneyland visit to check out Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at night, the lights and views are beautiful. A Disney cast member shared with us the staff has to arrive crazy early to set up and turn on the new attraction Rise of the Resistance, I don't remember exactly but I believe he said it takes around five hours to power on this attraction.
To stay up to date with the most current processes, I highly recommend you follow Disney bloggers, and Disney Instagram peeps, here are some of my favorites.
Casey @disneylanddailycasey I have followed her website for tips for years at https://disneylanddaily.com/
Megan @our.happiest.adventures
Mondo @thecalibae
Shantelle @disneylandtourguide
Chris & Ashlie @itstheduoo
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