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HOLY SNOKES! 5 Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Facts

by | May 20, 2021 | Hollywood Studios, WDW Blog

Ready to escape from the First Order? Equip yourself with these Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance trivia facts and set a course for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

One of the coolest additions to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in recent years is undoubtedly Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This immersive ride is a true accomplishment by Walt Disney Imagineering in scale and design. 

Set in the midst of the war against the First Order, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance engrosses you in the intergalactic action as you join the Resistance and have to escape from inside a massive Star Destroyer.

This attraction surrounds you with so much spectacle that it’s impossible to notice all the details. Here are some Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance facts to prepare you for your next visit to Galaxy’s Edge.

1. You’re Part of the Universe

Stormtroopers in the Star Destroyer's hangar on Disney's Rise of the Resistance

Photo by Laurie Sapp

The Star Wars universe isn’t in a galaxy far, far away anymore– it’s right in front of you! 

The ride’s events take place right after the Battle of Crait, which occurred at the conclusion of Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The First Order is hot on your heels, and characters from the movie are present to help you escape. 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn’t a one-off, isolated story from the rest of the franchise’s episodes. The attraction’s multimedia components were created through a special collaboration with Lucasfilm, which allowed actors from the movies to reprise their roles.

That technically makes this new footage canon to the Star Wars timeline, and you’re now a character in your favorite science-fiction series!

2. Out-of-This-World Tech

Lieutenant Bek looks over some consoles during the Rise of the Resistance

Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the resort’s most technologically advanced attractions ever. 

This groundbreaking extravaganza is a trackless dark ride that also utilizes walk-through sections, motion simulation, rotating rooms, and even a drop shaft!

Force fanatics are sure to geek out over the realistic sets and props seamlessly merged with projection mapping and screen-based media on OLED displays. 

The First Order Fleet Transport you ride during your adventure is a rechargeable vehicle that uses RFID tracking technology for positioning. And let’s not forget about the 60+ different Audio-Animatronics! 

I don’t want to spoil all the technological magic tricks, so let me just say that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a 360-degree spectacle that will make you forget you’re still on Earth– and not in a galaxy far, far away.

3. Join a Boarding Group, You Must … Not

The sci-fi interior of the line queue for Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Photo by Cliff Wang

For posterity, we’ve kept the language below so you can see what a pain it used to be to ride Rise of the Resistance. Today? You can ride using the good-old standby line.

Here’s some important ride information: Instead of using the usual FastPass+ system, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance requires a different method for reserving your place in line. 

You have to use the My Disney Experience app to reserve your slot in a boarding group that same day.

Each day offers two opportunities to reserve your place on the ride: at the very beginning of the day and again in the afternoon. 

These openings fill rapidly, so be ready, or you could miss out. You’ll receive a notification when your boarding group is called to the gate, and you can enter together. 

Read our in-depth guide on how the boarding system works.

4. It Isn’t a Short Ride

An imperial droid watches a ride vehicle pass by on Rise of the Resistance

Photo by Courtney Reynolds

Even if you have to wait a while to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the ride is definitely worth the wait. This isn’t some two-minute ride that’s practically over by the time you board. 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has one of the longest attractions experiences you’ll find at any Disney park in Orlando — a full 18 minutes! 

How does that compare to other rides? To give you some perspective, Star Tours is only five minutes long, and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run is just under five minutes as well. 

That means you could experience both of those other Star Wars rides twice over in the same amount of time you’ll spend on Rise of the Resistance. That’s definitely getting your money’s worth!

5. Recreate Your Adventure at Home

Guests exiting the Rise of the Resistance at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Photo by Rich Ramos

Thanks to the wonder of merchandising, you can recreate the events of your ride at home.

An exclusive Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance playset is available nearby at First Order Cargo within Galaxy’s Edge and includes a replica First Order Short-Range Evacuation Vehicle — just like the one you rode in!

This miniature version –which lights up and produces sounds– has become a hot collector’s item, so get your hands on one when you visit!

Walt Disney Imagineers continues to outdo themselves with every new addition they make to Galaxy’s Edge. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is indeed the park’s piece de resistance, and this fascinating trivia certainly proves that– but who knows what else is on the horizon for this galactic playground?


Is Rise of the Resistance your new favorite ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know over on our Facebook page!


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Written by Aaron Widmar

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Aaron Widmar is a lifelong fan of the artistic and emotional power of animation to tell stories. He was raised on Disney VHS tapes as a child and even as an adult still loves re-watching his favorites. Aaron is a professional writer in a variety of fields, including the automotive industry. Although he and his wife Vicki don’t travel to Walt Disney World as often as they’d like, he can escape to the Disney-themed room of their house whenever he needs creative inspiration.
Aaron Widmar

Written by Aaron Widmar

Aaron Widmar is a lifelong fan of the artistic and emotional power of animation to tell stories. He was raised on Disney VHS tapes as a child and even as an adult still loves re-watching his favorites. Aaron is a professional writer in a variety of fields, including the automotive industry. Although he and his wife Vicki don’t travel to Walt Disney World as often as they’d like, he can escape to the Disney-themed room of their house whenever he needs creative inspiration.