Ever wanted to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance WITHOUT a Boarding Group?
Rise of the Resistance
We’ve seen Rise of the Resistance open to guests without a boarding group very rarely, but other than that boarding groups have generally been required. Soon, however, things will be changing. How will these upcoming changes potentially impact the situation with the NEW, paid FastPass-like systems Disney will be rolling out soon? Here are our thoughts.
First, let’s go over what’s changing. Recently, Disney shared that as they approach the 50th Anniversary celebrations, they’ve been “continuing to enhance experiences” thanks to the feedback they’ve received from guests. It appears one of these enhancements has to do with Rise of the Resistance.
According to Disney, starting on September 23rd, they will be pausing the use of virtual queues (boarding groups) for Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Instead of trying to get a boarding group, guests will simply be able to use a traditional standby queue to ride the attraction.
Rise of the Resistance
But, Disney has noted that virtual queues are useful, and that guests should look at the My Disney Experience app for updates about virtual queues, including the potential use of virtual queues once again at Rise of the Resistance at a later date or from time to time.
So, boarding groups may not be gone for good. Starting September 23rd, Disney will pause the virtual queue system at Rise of the Resistance, but it appears that the system could return in the future, or could be put in place from time to time.
Rise of the Resistance Queue
So, now let’s talk about Disney Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection. Disney has announced that NEW, paid FastPass-like systems will be coming soon to Disney World.
First, there’s Disney Genie+ and second, there’s Individual Attraction Selection. With Disney Genie+, you’ll pay a set amount ($15 per ticket, per day) and you’ll get to select the next available time to skip the standby line at a ride and instead use that ride’s Lightning Lane (a.k.a. the FastPass lane). These Genie+ selections can be made for 1 attraction at a time throughout the day, and over 40 attractions in Disney World will be available through this system.
Lightning Lane Sign at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
But, select, highly popular rides (including Rise of the Resistance) will NOT be included in Genie+. Instead, if you want to skip the standby line and use the Lightning Lane at those popular rides, you’ll have to pay to access each ride’s Lightning Lane individually through what Disney calls Individual Attraction Selection. Guests can buy a maximum of 2 Individual Attraction Selections per day.
Lightning Lane at Rise of the Resistance
So, what does this all mean? Well, to ride Rise of the Resistance at the moment your only option is to join the virtual queue.
Once Individual Attraction Selection launches, your main choices would have been (1) try to join the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance, or (2) buy an Individual Attraction Selection for Rise of the Resistance.
Rise of the Resistance
Starting September 23rd, however, if you want to ride Rise of the Resistance you’ll use the ride’s regular, standby line. BUT, you’ll want to watch My Disney Experience to see if virtual queues pop up from time to time for this ride, or if the virtual queue returns at a later date.
After September 23rd and after Individual Attraction Selection launches, your main choices will essentially be (1) use the standby line OR virtual queue, if a virtual queue returns or pops up during your visit; (2) pay for the Individual Attraction Selection for Rise of the Resistance.
Rise of the Resistance
If you don’t like waiting in long lines, then purchasing an Individual Attraction Selection might have just become a slightly more attractive option for you. You may have previously been okay with the idea of simply trying to get a boarding group and then only having to wait in the line from the time your boarding group is called to the point when you can physically get on the ride.
Soon, however, it appears you’ll just be waiting in a standby line. That standby line could end up being quite long, especially considering how popular the attraction is. Once Individual Attraction Selection is available you’ll have to weigh standing in a potentially very long line against a paid opportunity to ride the attraction quicker.
Rise of the Resistance
On the other hand, if you strongly dislike virtual queues and are perfectly happy to wait in a standby line no matter how long it is, then Individual Attraction Selection might not be something you’ll consider. In fact, Individual Attraction Selection might now be something you’ll consider even less.
You may have previously considered getting an Individual Attraction Selection for this ride because it could guarantee you the chance to ride, rather than having to deal with the chance of not getting a boarding group. But now, because you’ll no longer have to worry about the risk of not getting a boarding group (provided boarding groups don’t return or pop up during your trip), Individual Attraction Selection may be even less attractive.
Rise of the Resistance
Keep in mind that Disney hasn’t shared a set date for when Individual Attraction Selection will be available. We know that Disney Genie (the free planning service) is set to launch this fall, and we expect Genie+ and Individual Attraction Selection will launch then too. Also, Disney hasn’t shared how much Individual Attraction Selections will cost, but we do know the cost will vary by date, park, and ride.
We’ll be on the lookout for more updates.
Click here to see how the virtual queue will work for Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
All About Disney Genie, Genie+, and Individual Attraction Selection
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Click HERE to See More About Disney Genie
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What do you think? Are you interested in buying the Individual Attraction Selection for Rise of the Resistance? Or will you stick with a standby queue? Tell us in the comments.
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Oooh clever Disney. Take away the virtual line option in the hope that people will pay to skip what will be a very long queue. A cunning plan! One that will work? Certainly. As long as you have the money to pay for it and are not with a family who can’t afford to pay the big bucks. Happy days for the wealthy and the introduction of a lovely little class system. Go Disney.
Minnie Moo is bleeding from the udder. Give her a break Disney.
For years Disney has reaped tremendous profits by being able to increase prices repeatedly, by large increments, and not dissuading people from flocking thru the gates. The new slogan for Disney management is “These suckers will pay anything we want”. Sure, Rise of the Resistance is clever, but not the best in the world. Some day I hope we all wake up and say, Disney, you’re good…but not THAT good!
This is definitely a move to get more people to pay to ride. On the plus side, maybe standby queues for other rides will be shorter? We shall see…
Could it possibly be that guests are growing tired of this attraction and the gamed being played and hoops that you have to jump thru to get it. I have been once, a few months after it opened with a 30 minute wait. Never again, I did not think it was worth the wait. Now I just skip Star Wars land and Pandora land and visit the rest of the park instead.
This makes me so glad that I am going to WDW next week. It cost enough as it was.
I’m sure the potential extra income is a factor, but I think the timing of this decision points more to a crowd control strategy. With the 50th starting soon and COVID number rapidly dropping, I think we will soon see enormous crowds descending on the parks, particularly DHS. If there is a standby line for this popular attraction, that will keep hundreds (thousands? I don’t know queue capacity) inside the queue area, which will help to relieve massive congestion in the park. I would think that will help a lot with crowding in Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story areas, which until now have been full of people killing time while waiting for their boarding group to be called.
This is one reason my families trip toWDW are a thing of the past. Prices we have paid in the past are pretty steep but this is nothing but extortion it seems to me. Just wondering how much is enough for Disney. Seems nothing more then an ATM for them lately trying to make up loses from covid
They can’t make money with virtual queues, so it’s obvious they are only doing this to cash in and not about crowd control.
My husband and I DO NOT RIDE ROLLER COASTERS. We are limited in Genie Plus to ONE TIME RIDES. What is Disney doing to help us? Can we go on certain rides MORE THAN ONCE using Genie Plus?
Blanca, Disney policy at this point is only one experience per attraction using Genie+. You could get in Standby to ride things more than once, but otherwise, you’d just have to accept the limitations of the service given that you don’t want to use it for roller coasters.