Being the first person at Hollywood Studios won’t help you snag a spot on Rise of the Resistance anymore!
Rise of the Resistance
Since the opening of Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the process to actually RIDE the new attraction has been a unique one and a bit of a work in progress. Hollywood Studios has been opening at indeterminate times and guests have been arriving in the wee hours of the morning to try to get a spot in one of the ride’s early boarding groups — which still doesn’t even guarantee a chance on the attraction! BUT NOW showing up at Hollywood Studios hours before the park actually opens won’t be all that helpful anymore!
Boarding groups will now only be available AFTER Hollywood Studios published opening time. What does this mean? Well, recently Hollywood Studios, for the most part, has had a 7AM or 8AM scheduled open. Guests have been let in usually around 6:30AM, though this has varied some. From the moment they use their ticket to get into the park, guests could access a boarding group. Now guests will have to wait until the ACTUAL open to jump in a group, regardless of what time they can physically enter. You’ll still be able to virtually queue-up for Rise of the Resistance using either the My Disney Experience app or Cast Members stationed on Hollywood Boulevard.
Rise of the Resistance Crowds
Since Rise of the Resistance opened on December 5th, people have been showing up SUPER early and getting in virtual queues BEFORE the park opened. This meant that boarding groups were often unavailable before the park was even “officially” open for the day.
Hollywood Studios Entrance
Now, guests aren’t able to get further than Hollywood Boulevard before the set opening hour. On top of that, rides are no longer opening early in other areas of the park, AND Rise boarding groups can’t be officially joined until the park opens! Does this mean the crowds of early EARLY risers will die down? We can’t say for sure, but we wouldn’t bet on it. You still have to be there at open to get a group, meaning we’d expect most eager guests wanting a spot will still plan to be there well before posted opening to ensure they’re ready to go.
Rise of the Resistance Sign
BUT, this seems like a step in the right direction. After all, they couldn’t keep opening Hollywood Studios at seemingly random times forever! We totally get them wanting to give all guests a fair shake at getting into a group for the day (without having to set an alarm for the wee hours!) but we wouldn’t bet on being able to show up at park open and just walk on in. Expect heavy crowds just getting INTO the park and plan accordingly!
Click here to learn more about Rise of the Resistance boarding groups!Â
Rise of the Resistance Crowds
Disney has also announced they will distribute “backup” boarding groups which they’ll call after the initial boarding groups have been filled. If all the regularly planned boarding groups are called and there’s time for “backup” boarding groups to ride the attraction, you’ll receive a push notification via the My Disney Experience app informing you it’s time to return to Galaxy’s Edge for you turn on Rise of the Resistance — so make sure you have that feature enabled on your phone!
We’ll keep you updated with any additional boarding group changes we hear about, but for now, try to enjoy those couple hours of extra sleep!
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Are you disappointed or happy with this change? Let us know in the comments!Â
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It seems to me that it would have been better if Disney had offered Fast Passes at ONLY the 30 day mark, or maybe even a 7 day mark, to make it fair for everyone.
I’m trying to plan an evening boarding group time. Does MDE app allow you to pick a time or change a time?
Recently there, last week, and entered the park before 8:00 and was told no availability. They had begun to let people in at 6:30. The person taking my “ticket” said that something had to be done as the signs that all was gone were being put out earlier and earlier. Guests were not happy people when the entered to find all availability was gone. Went to Guest Service where the outside person kept saying all was gone. I said I would need to speak to the lead on duty. He came out and we had a chat about how ridiculous the system was and that it needed to change. Of course he could not agree or disagree, just got the Disney polite responses, but he got the point. Glad to see some changes. Walked through the dirt rubbed concrete land – you have to be a fan of the series to understand why it is so special. I didn’t get why it is so special, but I did see massive crowds of people walking around the new land. Sure hope it is a work in progress.
I’m not sure about the new version, but prior to now, you just got assigned a group based on the next available group. You can’t predict the time you will get.
I am glad as it wasn’t fair to reward people early on for getting there super early before official posted opening time. I saw quite a few upset people who upon arriving at stated opening of 9am saw the ride was full sign already out front! I like the fact the boarding group window only opens at official park start times! Should have been that way since day 1. I was there Dec 6 at 7:40 for 9 am opening and got group 67 and got boarding call at 4:50 pm!
How long will boarding groups last? I will be there and of April, so you think it will be over by that time?
Thanks 🙂
We went yesterday and it was a smooth process. Arrived at 6:45, in the park around 7:15, and we were in group 83. Our group was called around 1:50 pm, with a two hour entry window.
Do backup groups get fast passes for another time if their group isn’t called?
Jenn D — Thanks for sharing your experience!
Mailys — There’s really no way of knowing. They’ll probably be around as long as the ride is epically popular like it is now.
Sean, as far we know, they do not.
Sean, no, you just get what you get.
We were they last week & entered the park about 7:45. We were able to get a boarding pass in group 76. Was on the ride around 4:30. The app kept us updated on the groups that were boarding. We did not have any problems & we were a group
If 7.
We got to the park at 1030 and were able to get into group 135. We were called at 5pm. We used a DAS and walked right on. The standby line wasn’t long, either, probably because many had given up on it.
The groups board quickly and efficiently. It appeared any bugs have been pruned out. We DID wait near the entrance for our text for about an hour, but that probably wasn’t necessary.
Once inside, there will be a time of standing on feet (the DAS does not remedy this) for about a half hour or more. That was unexpected. Be prepared to stand for quite some time. I did not see a work-around for that yet. Maybe one of the tripod chairs from Cabela’s to use during the standing part…..
It was worth it and an amazing ride.
Not worth it to me truly..most people cant structure their day around one ride especially if you have health problems..I wonder why people put up with this..me I’ll wait for awhile and wait for this new ride mob to go the next new thing..lol
I appreciated the boarding pass process. I was prepared to spend an entire day in line for the ride, but instead, I got to play at the other parks until it was my turn. The two-hour window is plenty of time to get there. We rode the ride twice: once Dec 6th (the day after opening) and once a few days later. The day after opening we got to the park around 7am, got right into the park for boarding passes and were on the ride around 2pm. My daughter even arrived at the park from the airport 45 minutes after we booked and guest services were able to add her to our boarding pass! We popped over to the Magic Kindom for a while before returning to the ride. The second time, we did get in line at 6am because we had to leave for the airport that afternoon. THIS RIDE IS WORTH IT! We got in the park at 6:30am for boarding passes and were on the ride at 9:15 (end of our two-hour window). We even had enough time to go back to the hotel for a quick nap!
Well that’s all well and good for you But most don’t want to spend one day on one ride..It’s ridiculous honestly! It will NEVER be worth it to me til they do it like all other rides..with a fp I can make in advance and know when I can ride it..lol anyone who wants to make their whole day around one ride is welcome to it..me nana!!
I was there last week ad boarding group 101 which was called about 645 and by the time i got through the line and finished the ride the park was closed and missed my FP for slinky dog.
We were there last week. We were lucky enough to get on Rise of the Resistance. However, to do so we had to get up at 5 AM & get to the park. Then as soon as both our Magic bands went through quick hit the button on My Disney Experience app. Even then we were in Group 88. So were in the park at 7:30 & our group was not called until 4:00. Wow! But it is an amazing ride & like I said we were thankful to have even gotten on it. We even scored getting on Slinky Dog. Good day!!!
We have a group of 4 going in Feb. First time trip for two so I want it to be GREAT for them. All four are linked on my DEA, so do all of us have to be at HS at opening to get into a boarding group or can I go alone and select the four of us from my app?
Linda, all four need to be in the park.
Just want to make sure I’m correct. Once you have your boarding pass, you can park hop and then come back when its time for your window. Is that right? Or do you have to stay in the park the whole time?
Lisa, you can do/go wherever you want during the day as the app shows where they are in groups progress and then when get to your boarding number you have a 2 hr window to complete the ride.
Lisa, you can leave the park. You’ll get a notification via the MDE app when your boarding group is called, and you’ll have two hours to get back to Galaxy’s Edge.
Has anybody trialled rider swap? Does the second parent have to do the 30 minute queue or can you go through the fast pass line? Thanks
Georgie, as far as we know, rider swap users (just the second, as you mentioned) are sent through the FP line.
Does it help to have a character breakfast in the park before the park opens?
Greg, technically you’d beat the crowds INTO the park and be scanned in. So it might help in that respect. But you’ll still only be able to access the virtual queue when it opens along with the park.
Tried to get a boarding pass on 1.31.20 got group 79 a back up group. Ride broke down so no back up groups were called.
Tried again on 2.6.30 and again got group 79! Luckily got to ride this time.
People all around me seemed to get passes before I did but had followed all advice I have an iPhone 11 max pro , used my data not WiFi & cleared browsing history.
People are getting passes to ride on consecutive days . To make it fairer maybe Disney should only let people get a boarding group once every 5 days.
I also logged onto MDE to get a fast pass 30 days out as soon as it went live and all tier 1 passes were gone . Again people are getting 2 or 3 fast passes for these rides which really does not seem fair.