New details on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride experience and backstory

Dec 04, 2019 in "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance"

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Posted: Wednesday December 4, 2019 6:12am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

One of the most anticipated attractions in theme park history opens tomorrow at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the headline experience in the recently opened Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Disney has released a great overview of the experience and some of the unique elements that make this ride so special.

The Backstory

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away …

It is a dark time for the RESISTANCE. Following the devastating Battle of Crait, the freedom fighters have fled with General Leia Organa to an undisclosed location.

Meanwhile, hunted by the FIRST ORDER and Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, a band of Resistance supporters has established a temporary outpost on the remote planet of Batuu, thanks to scouting by Resistance spy Vi Moradi.

Here on the Outer Rim, the Resistance is rebuilding and searching for recruits to join the cause and help save the galaxy from tyranny …

Opening Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland Park in California, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance sets a new standard for what a Disney theme park experience can be, as guests become heroes of the Resistance in a climactic battle with the First Order. In one of the most immersive, ambitious and technologically advanced attractions ever created for a Disney park, guests launch into space aboard a transport shuttle, only to be captured by a Star Destroyer and pursued by Supreme Leader Kylo Ren as they frantically search for a way to escape the clutches of the First Order.

This new attraction inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge draws guests into a sprawling Star Wars narrative that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality, as jaw-dropping sights brimming with vivid detail create surprises around every turn. In one of the longest Disney attraction experiences ever, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance delivers thrilling action driven by cutting-edge technology and innovative design that gives guests the feeling of stepping inside a Star Wars film.

Join the Resistance

Guests exploring Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge find the Resistance’s temporary encampment in the forested area along the outskirts of Black Spire Outpost on Batuu.

The gateway to the encampment is marked by a large turret. From there, a pathway leads deeper into the forest toward towering cliffs and the crumbling remains of an ancient civilization. Guests weave through low stone walls, timeworn pillars and tight corridors as they progress farther into the base, hearing military communications chatter along the way.

In a makeshift briefing room, Rey – a hero of the cause – appears via holo-transmission alongside dutiful droid BB-8 to welcome the new Resistance recruits. She shares a plan to reunite with General Leia Organa at an off-planet location that must be kept secret from the First Order.
Guests then board a nearby Intersystem Transport Ship (I-TS) and have to make their rendezvous quickly to avoid a First Order Star Destroyer on its way to Batuu. They should have a bad feeling about this …

An All-Encompassing Attraction Experience

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance throws out the rulebook for traditional attraction design, eschewing and/or blending industry notions such as “queue,” “preshow” and “ride” to create a seamless, holistic experience full of rich details and breathtaking excitement on a cinematic scale.

When guests board the I-TS, they’ll feel as if they’re lifting off the surface of Batuu and blasting into space alongside Poe Dameron in his signature black-painted X-wing starfighter, Black One.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Before the I-TS can make the jump to lightspeed, it’s caught in the tractor beam of a Star Destroyer and pulled into a massive hangar bay.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Guests make their escape from the Star Destroyer aboard eight-passenger First Order Fleet Transports piloted by reprogrammed R5-series astromech droids.

The attraction features grand set pieces – including the hangar bay that is filled with 50 menacing stormtroopers and a docked TIE fighter. At various points, guests dodge blaster bolts from stormtroopers and AT-AT walkers, scurry past huge turbolaser cannons, and stumble into the Star Destroyer’s bridge.

Throughout their journey, guests are hunted by Kylo Ren, who uses the Force in an attempt to pry from their minds the location of General Organa’s secret base. Guests feel Ren’s tremendous malevolent power as they narrowly avoid his attacks.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Authentically Star Wars

Actors from the current Star Wars film trilogy reprise their roles for new scenes and dialogue in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, including Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) and Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux). Many scenes were filmed at the same time “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” and “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” were in production.

Poe Dameron’s X-wing is one of several vehicles from the Star Wars galaxy appearing in the attraction.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Disney cast members adopt personalities of First Order and Resistance troops throughout the attraction to further deepen the immersive experience for guests.

Walt Disney Imagineering worked hand in hand with Lucasfilm in writing the attraction’s script, ensuring characters and storylines were properly integrated into the broader Star Wars

The attraction introduces a new featured character: Lieutenant Bek is a Mon Calamari Resistance officer who helps guide the Resistance recruits through their harrowing journey.

Cutting-Edge Technology Powers Immersive Storytelling

Walt Disney Imagineering combined multiple ride systems to tell the story of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. In one sequence, a new simulator experience gives the sensation of falling from space to crash land on Batuu.

The trackless ride vehicles in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance are some of the most advanced ever used in a Disney attraction, with a sleek, low profile and the ability to move in all directions.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Disney A-1000 Audio-Animatronicsfigures appearing in the attraction provide a deep level of immersive storytelling through their lifelike and dynamic movements.

Inside the queue and ride of Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

To fully realize this Star Wars story, Imagineers created thousands of special effects, from slashing lightsabers and whizzing blaster bolts to exploding walls and massive star fields – just to name a few.

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networkpro9 days ago

It might make it worth riding again. We havent ridden it in the past two years as more than 30ish minutes waiting isn't worth it to us. The only variability in the ride is which vehicle you get assigned to which determines which elevator you go up. That said, its still much better than the button slapping coaxium ride.

JohnD9 days ago

My observations. 1. If you remember anything, if you want to be fully immersed, do NOT ride Single Rider. 2. You go down a walkway by the exit intended for CMs. 3. Your first stop point is by a standard door with a rectangular window. You have a hidden view of the starcruiser. Think C-3PO and R2 waiting to board the Falcon on the Death Star. 4. The wait is counter-intuitive. You're not immediately plugged in to board the cruiser. You wait about every 6 groups from the briefing room to allow the single rider group to collect. Maybe 10 min. 4a. You're figuratively taken "outside" the experience. By that I mean, you only hear the music as the guests exit the briefing until after they have entered the starcruiser and the doors shut. Its like an out of body experience. 5. When enough have collected, you're escorted through the normal door into a normal hallway which connects with the briefing room waiting area. 6. All simgle riders are escorted into the same briefing room then together into the starcruiser. 7. On the FO ship, single riders wait at the same collection point to be dispatched. This is where the single rider portion takes effect. One got put with another group. 10 others were sent to the same meeting room waiting point. Two from the "regular" queue joined. 8. The rest is the same after that. if you don't have single lightning lane, its a good option. Otherwise, I prefer Rise with LL.

JohnD10 days ago

They're still experimenting with it. I jusr rode LL. They told me about single rider as I exited. Will do later today.

Purduevian25 days ago

It all comes down to $$ Does this hurt ILL sales? How much extra does it cost to staff Does this improve the GS enough that they are more likely to buy something now that they aren't stuck in line?

G00fyDad25 days ago

I truly do hope this is a thing for us next September but I am not holding my breath. It sounds like it works and is very beneficial so that means Disney will come up with some reason for getting rid of it. But, here's to hope and as well all know.... rebellions are built on hope.

Nunu25 days ago

Ooops!, thought the testing phase was over. Hope it stays. 🤞

gerarar25 days ago

It's still currently in testing, so not sure if it will still be there come December as it seems to come and go. They are still doing daily changes, for example one day I've observed them handing a piece of paper to the FO saying the current batch is single riders/units. Another day they radio'd it in. Seems like they're still trying to figure out what's best basically. But hopefully it does stay and becomes permanent!

Nunu25 days ago

Sounds good to me! Can't wait to give Single Rider a try in December. Appreciate your report, thank you! :)

gerarar25 days ago

Got to try the single rider line over the past 4 days. And it's literally a dream come true. There's basically no wait for it (currently). You enter through the exit. They also promote the new single rider line at the main entrance with a sign, so not like it's a hidden secret anymore. You walk through a short path then stop at a door. This is the backstage entrance/exit for CMs to the outdoor area before the ITS preshow. You wait here for about 5-10 mins then they take you as a group into the area before the Rey preshow through a (unthemed) hallway where the CM break room is. From there on, everything is pretty much the same. I will say when you get intercepted by the First Order, they refer to y'all as "single units" instead. They even play on it, like one FO officer said upon entering the ITS – "...Your interrogation will be expedited, at the cost of your family and friends". Another said "Come this way single units, no one clearly cares for you as you got caught alone. How sad." I absolute love it. Adds a whole new dimension to the narrative and immersion. I was on and off in like 30 mins each time. I did the single rider line probably 10+ times throughout my trip. Did 5 in a row on Saturday (10/12). Hope this stays a thing because this is the best implementation of it thus far. I even voiced my feedback/praises when I saw a GR CM standing nearby the entrance the other day.

MisterPenguinOct 07, 2024

You're riding Fantasmic!? What character do you play on the river boat? :p

nickysOct 06, 2024

It’s a recent thing, a trial of a single rider line.

G00fyDadOct 06, 2024

I thought they didn't have single riders for this ride.

dmc493Oct 05, 2024

Sounds like they're putting Single Riders thru both preshows now too, which is an improvement for sure. Still curious if it'll be offered long term.

gerararOct 04, 2024

So this is interesting. This livestreamer went on the ride and the final Kylo AA was in B-mode. The wall that hides the AA wasn't down either. Then not even 15 mins later, the final Kylo AA was in A-mode. The ride did not go down or anything, it just simply switched show modes. For years the ride has to go down in order for A -> B-mode to happen (or vice versa), but apparently that's not the case anymore and can happen on demand. This is a big improvement imo. Also, the single rider line is back. According to CMs the test was successful. That's how the above streamer was able to get back on so quickly within 5 mins.