Though Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance got off to a rough start when it first opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last December, around the the holiday season we started seeing more stable operations at this attraction, with most regular boarding groups being called before the early afternoon, and guests with backup groups able to experience the attraction before park close.
However, it looks like this ride has been suffering from some technical setbacks in recent weeks, with the attraction seeing delayed openings and experiencing frequent downtime throughout the day, leading to long waits for guests in the park, and few (if any) backup boarding groups being called. Which is leading to some unfortunate changes for this attraction
Running a slimmed-down version of the attraction
Though there are several “B-mode” versions of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance that engage when an animatronic or other single component of the attraction isn’t working, lately Disney has been running a slimmed down version of the attraction that skips a lot of the actual experience (!Spoilers Follow!).
On several occasions over the last week, guests have reported experiencing a much shorter version of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance that completely skips both the Rey preshow and the shuttle transport part of the attraction, instead bringing guests through a backstage hallway that leads directly to the Stormtrooper room.
Of course, with no context from the first two parts of the attraction, the final “ride” part doesn’t make any sense, but in an effort to pack as many guests into the attraction at the end of the operating day after significant downtime, Disney has decided it is better to run guests through the final third of the attraction than risk not meeting the guaranteed boarding group threshold set every morning.
Disney is calling massive numbers of boarding groups after downtime, leading to long in-queue waits
Because there’s less time to call guaranteed boarding groups, Disney has been calling large numbers of groups at one time in the afternoon and evening hours, which has led to longer than normal waits in the physical queue of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. However, in an effort to keep guests happy while waiting in this line, Disney has been taking some interesting measures.
Guests who have been stuck in the line for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for long periods have reported having character interactions with Rey, Chewbacca and Vi Moradi, who will come through the queue, talking to guests about the mission and taking pictures. These characters are also often accompanied by PhotoPass photographers as well, who are on hand to capture special moments in the queue.
In addition, to prevent any “hangry” feelings, Disney has been coming through the queue with fresh fruit, chips, and bottled water for guests who have been stuck for awhile, especially during ride downtime.
Though long waits are a big of a nuisance, we’d rather wait a longer time in a queue and get the full Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance experience than just the final third “ride” portion of the attraction that many guests have been experiencing at the end of the operating day.
