Rise Of The Resistance And More At Galaxy’s Edge

It’s finally here…Rise Of The Resistance has opened at Galaxy’s Edge in Hollywood Studios. Get the scoop on Disney’s newest attraction! From height requirements, how to score boarding passes and what to do while you wait, here’s all you need to know.

Thanks so much to Disney for providing tickets and accommodations so I could experience Rise Of The Resistance. All opinions are 100% my own.

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What Is Rise Of The Resistance

The opening of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge at Disney World and Disneyland this year was already epic and that was before it was entirely finished. Now with the debut of Rise Of The Resistance in Hollywood Studios, Galaxy’s Edge is complete. The Disneyland attraction opens January 17th, 2020.

This is Disney’s most technically advanced attraction ever so I was pretty excited to check it out! With multiple ride systems working together, riders not only get to witness the action, they become a part of it. After hearing about it for so long, I couldn’t wait to see if it lived up to the hype (Spoiler Alert: It totally does!)

Experiencing Rise Of The Resistance

When you enter Rise Of The Resistance, you’ll wind your way through the caves of Batuu where you come across BB8 and a hologram of Rey.

This is where you’ll receive mission orders before climbing aboard a full size transport shuttle.

This part was really cool! It moves just enough to feel like you’re flying but since everyone is standing, not so much that you’ll fall over. As the transport shuttle heads out, it gets spotted by the First Order.

The shuttle is pulled in with a tractor beam and when the doors open, you’re in a hangar filled with Storm Troopers! Be sure you have your camera ready because this is a photo op if there ever was one!

In the meantime, Disney cast members are in full First Order mode, barking orders as they tell you what to do. This is another reason why I love Disney. They don’t overlook a single detail. Having cast members assume the role of First Order officers just added to the experience and keeps the momentum going as you wait to move on.  

After that, you’re placed into a holding cell where you’re guarded by a stormtrooper until Kylo Ren and General Hux show up to further intimidate you.

Once they leave, the real fun begins. The resistance “blasts” through the wall to rescue you and escorts you to one of the ride vehicles.

Led by R5 droids, these vehicles are trackless so you don’t know exactly which way you’re going to go. This sense of not knowing only adds to the excitement! As you move through the attraction, you’ll get shot at by stormtroopers, ride by giant AT-AT vehicles, witness space battles and get threatened by Kylo Ren!

I rode it twice but still feel like I need to ride it several times more just to see everything.   It was such an awesome experience that our group cheered when the ride was over.

What characters appear in Rise of The Resistance

As you go through the ride, you’ll recognize plenty of characters from the Star Wars movies. Here are the ones to look for…

• Rey
• Poe Dameron
• Finn
• BB-8
• Kylo Ren
• Nien Nunb
• General Hux
• Vi Moradi
• Hundreds of Stormtroopers

More about Rise Of The Resistance

What is the height requirement for Rise Of The Resistance?

Riders must be 40″ or taller.

Can You Get A Fast Pass For Rise Of The Resistance

While the plan is to offer fast passes eventually, there will be no fast passes available for Rise Of The Resistance for the time being. It will also not be open during extra magic hours, though you can still spend that time in the rest of Galaxy’s Edge.

However, you can score boarding passes each day through Disney’s Virtual Queue System. This is genius because it eliminates waiting for hours in line. Once you have your boarding pass, you can wander through the park until your group is called. Just be sure to download the Disney app ahead of time and once you’re in the park, you can sign up for a boarding group.

You’ll still have to arrive early at the park to snag one (maybe an hour or so before opening) and they disappear pretty quickly. However, waiting an hour for the park to open versus three or more hours in line doesn’t sound so bad.

What Is There to Do At Galaxy’s Edge

The good thing is that even if you have to wait all day, there’s so much to do in Galaxy’s Edge that you won’t care! Of course, you can always explore the rest of the Hollywood Studios (scroll to the end for all my Toy Story Land tips) but if you’ve never been to Galaxy’s Edge, you’ll want to stick around awhile!

Smuggler’s Run – This should be very next thing on your list after Rise Of The Resistance. The beauty of this attraction is that depending on which “job” you get, it’s a different experience each time. My favorite position was the pilot, where I was up front controlling the action and occasionally sending us into hyperdrive. 

You can also be the gunner, who shoots the bad guys, or the engineer, who “repairs” the ship when it takes a direct hit. I love the new direction that Disney is taking where they put you right in the middle of all the action.  

Oga’s Cantina -You can’t go to Galaxy’s Edge without popping into Oga’s Cantina for a drink. I was fascinated by how the bar was styled. Once again, Disney’s design team had gone into overdrive.

Because it’s Disney, it’s a kid friendly bar with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The atmosphere was awesome and the drinks were unique and fun. My favorite was the Bespin Fizz, a cocktail that bubbles and fizzes, with dry ice for a cool, smoky effect.  

Droid Depot – Build your very own droid at the Droid Depot. Parts come out on a conveyor belt and you combine them to get your own look.

You can even have your droid programmed with it’s own unique personality. We ran out of time and went home droidless but I’ve promised my girls one for next time (mostly because I want to play with it).

Savi’s Workshop – If you’ve ever wanted an authentic Star Wars light saber, it doesn’t get much more authentic than this!

At Savi’s Workshop, you’ll build your own light saber and half the fun is in the experience. However, it doesn’t come cheap. Light sabers run about $200, but you’ll be getting a souvenir like no other!

Eat All The Food – Eating at Disney is always an experience, whether you’re eating your way around the world at Epcot’s Food And Wine Festival or dining with Cinderella in her castle. Dining in Galaxy’s Edge is no different. Each dish has it’s own Star Wars theme and there’s something for everyone.

Disney has really outdone itself with these selections! From the Smoked Kaadu Ribs to the Batuu-Bon desserts, everything was delicious and fit perfectly with the theme.

One of my favorites was the Felucian Garden Spread, a vegetarian dish that doesn’t taste at all vegetarian…SO good! The only one I didn’t love was the Fried Endorian Tip-yip. It was good but it was the most “normal” of the foods and if you’re eating here, you’ll definitely want to branch out (though this is a great choice for picky eaters).

Just hungry for a little snack? Grab a bag of the Outpost Popcorn Mix (described as a blend of sweet and spicy flavors popped in coconut oil) and something to drink. Everyone (including me) is obsessed with these cool Coke bottles that double as souvenirs. 

Don’t forget to try the milk (though it tastes a lot more like a smoothie than actual milk). There’s a big debate over whether the blue or green is better but I’m team blue all the way! I do NOT recommend the green, but that’s just me.

That’s not all there is to do though. Just walking though Galaxy’s Edge is an experience in itself. Stroll through Batuu, check out the souvenirs, hide from Stormtroopers and find all the photo ops. My family and I couldn’t get enough!

Though Galaxy’s Edge at WDW is complete (for now), there’s still more to look forward too. I got a sneak peek at the Galactic Starcruiser and it’s going to be crazy cool!

Essentially, you check in and spend two days and nights completely immersed in all things Star Wars. There will be characters roaming around, light saber training, passenger cabins with windows that look out into “space” and lots more.

You’ll even be able to take a special “space shuttle” to Galaxy’s Edge. It doesn’t open until 2021 but I have a pretty good feeling that it’ll be worth the wait!

For even more fun, print out these Galaxy’s Edge Scavenger Hunts and see if you can find all the characters and vehicles in Batuu!

Have you experienced Galaxy’s Edge yet? What did you love most about it?

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While you’re waiting to board Rise Of The Resistance, head next door to Toy Story Land to have fun with Woody and his friends.

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While you’re there, you’ll want to take pictures!

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Don’t forget to look for these as you walk through Andy’s backyard.

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