Here's What Visitors Need to Know About the New Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Ride
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Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is now welcoming travelers from across the galaxy at Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios and at Disneyland Park. While we love being able to fly the Millennium Falcon and to enjoy Blue Milk, there's something else on the horizon for Batuu. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be making its debut on Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most ambitious, technologically advanced, and immersive attractions ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering. With a little help from our friends at Disney, we went behind the scenes at the ride while it was under construction and got a sneak peek at all the cool stuff to come!
After the tour, my initial reaction was complete shock, excitement, and awe. Guests are in for a real treat — and we can't wait to see the full ride in action. Get ready to make the jump to light speed, and keep reading for more information about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
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Where in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Will Rise of the Resistance Be Located?
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is located in the Resistance base of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Near the entrance to the attraction, you'll see X-Wing ships and a few communication towers.
If you're traveling to Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World, you're going to want to enter the land at the Grand Avenue entrance for quickest access. If you're visiting at Disneyland, you're enter Galaxy's Edge from the Critter Country entrance.
Families visiting Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge should be aware that kids riding will need to be at least 40 inches tall to experience the attraction.
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What Happens on the Rise of the Resistance Ride?
While on our exclusive tour of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance with Scott Trowbridge, portfolio creative executive for Walt Disney Imagineering, we learned more about the storyline of the ride. Guests will enter an old Resistance base where they will pass by Poe Dameron's ship from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and meet up with General Organa and other beloved characters from the Star Wars films and TV shows. Seeing favorite Star Wars friends is sure to be a highlight for kids who have always dreamed of coming face-to-face with the likes of Rey or Kylo Ren.
Then riders will enter a sort of transport ship that will launch them into space, but things go awry and the transport is intercepted by the First Order and diverted into a hangar bay of a Star Destroyer. After being caught captive by Kylo Ren and the First Order officers, you're going to need to find a way out of the Star Destroyer and back to the Resistance Base. Guests will board trackless ride vehicles and search through the destroyer to find the escape pods to crash-land back on Batuu.
In all, guests will have four separate ride systems, see old and new Star Wars characters, and be fully immersed in a massive Star Wars story that will transcend beyond the typical theme park attraction. Yeah, we're geeking out.
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What's the Level of Detail on the Rise of the Resistance Ride?
While on our tour of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, we were told there was something for us just beyond the doors of our transport. After getting very close to the doors of the transport, they whooshed open in typical Star Wars fashion to reveal the hangar bay in the Star Destroyer!
The back of the hangar bay is a screen that looks out into space: there are legions of Storm Troopers armed with their blasters, massive TIE Fighters up on the wall, glassy black flooring, and First Order officers telling you what to do next. This reveal is one that many Star Wars fans will remember for years to come!
This is where you'll enter your trackless ride vehicle that is operated by a droid who might not be as smart as the other droids in the Star Wars galaxy. Kids will love meeting this new R5 droid and scurrying around the First Order with them.
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Are There Any Special Features on the Rise of the Resistance Ride?
While inside your ride vehicle, you will encounter full size AT-ATs, and they might just try to blow your transport system up. And there's even more thrills and reveals to come from the ride that we cannot wait for it to open to experience it in its entirety.
While the whole ride seems to be geared toward families being able to enjoy it together, we know seeing into a full-size AT-AT will be a major highlight for kids as these giant walkers tower over them.