If we’re being honest, we all know that Disney World’s lines can get VERY long.

Especially when school vacations like spring break and summer hit, crowds in Disney World can get pretty intense. So when it comes to deciding if a ride is worth the wait, we’ll we’ve put together some info to help you out.

Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge is undoubtedly one of the most popular rides in Disney World right now and has been for a while.

This ride sees consistent wait times of 80+ minutes, and on really busy days, we’ve seen it over 200 minutes! You can purchase an Individual Attraction Selection for this ride to help significantly cut down your wait time, but there is no single-rider line.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a headliner attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at both Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park. Disney has stated that Rise of the Resistance is “one of the most advanced and immersive experiences ever undertaken by Walt Disney Imagineering.”  The attraction is a 20+ minute experience featuring multiple levels, 4+ ride systems, and over 300 animatronic figures.

You’ll find Rise of the Resistance in a wooded area near Black Spire Outpost. Here, the Resistance is hiding out in a military outpost to avoid detection by the First Order. We won’t spoil it for you, but if you want to check all of the ride details, we’ve got them ALL here.

Accessing Rise of the Resistance

Guests hoping to ride Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios may gain access to the attraction in THREE possible ways:

1. A traditional Standby line;
2. Through Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selection — Disney World’s pay-per-ride option;
3. A Virtual Queue may be utilized from time to time.*

We’ll explore each option below:

Traditional Standby Line

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance offers a traditional Standby line like most attractions, whereby guests simply enter the queue if they are willing to wait the amount of time posted on the Wait Time sign. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is also open to Disney World Resort Hotel guests during Early Theme Park Entry — a benefit which allows guests to enter ANY of the four theme parks 30 minutes early EVERY DAY to get a head start on their day in the parks!

Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selection (Optional Pay-Per-Ride)

Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selection (IAS) launched in tandem with the new Disney Genie and Disney Genie+ services in Disney World, and guests who opt for the IAS pay-per-ride service can bypass the Standby Line and enter the “Lightning Lane.” Individual Lightning Lane Attraction Selection (IAS) offers pay-per-ride access to this and other select in-demand attractions in Disney World. Guests can buy a maximum of 2 pay-per-ride selections per day.

To purchase the Individual Attraction Selection reservations, you’ll head to the My Disney Experience app and go to the Genie section to begin the process. 

Enter Virtual Queue for a Boarding Group*

On especially busy days or times of day, Disney shared that they may choose to open a Virtual Queue for attraction access. *Please be aware that we have NOT seen this method in use since the Standby Line option opened, and Disney has since removed the mention of using the Virtual Queue from time to time for Rise of the Resistance. Currently, the language on the Disney website states that “Virtual queues continue to be helpful with the launch of popular attractions and the debut of new experiences and offerings, so we may use them again from time to time for select experiences in the future.” (For instance, a Virtual Queue is currently in use for the newest attraction in EPCOT, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.) 

Guests are advised to check the My Disney Experience app for Disney World at 7AM and throughout the day on the day of their visit to see if a Virtual Queue is in use. (Find out how to register for an account and learn more about the free app for both iPhone and Android devices here.) Remember, if a Virtual Queue is in use, the traditional Standby line will NOT be available. Even though we have not yet found this to be the case, you can still prepare yourself for any potential use of a Virtual Queue by clicking THIS LINK to our Virtual Queue page. 

The Wait Could Be Worth It If…

How do you know if waiting between 80-200 minutes will be worth it to you? Well, that’s hard to measure, but we’ve put together some insight to help you determine if the attraction payoff will be worth the wait for you.

First-Time Disney World Visitors

If this is your first visit to Disney World and you want to make sure you see the latest and greatest Disney attractions, then Rise of the Resistance definitely checks that box. This may often be one of the attractions that folks back home will question “if you even went to Disney World if you didn’t ride Rise of the Resistance.”

Guests Who Don’t Visit Disney World Often

Haven’t been to Disney World in a while? If you’re an intermittent Disney visitor and only visit every 5-10 years, then there are likely a lot of attractions you haven’t experienced. So you have that challenge of fitting in all of your nostaglic favorites and all of the new and exciting attractions as well! You’ll want to get Rise of the Resistance into your plans, but you’ll have to be smart not to spend your whole day in line!

Die Hard Star Wars Fans

Do you have a Sith lord or Jedi in your group? Whether you’ve loved Star Wars from its first introduction to the world in 1977, or a more recent convert finding the fun of the Star Wars universe through The Mandalorian and other recent Star Wars releases, you should plan to spend plenty of time in Galaxy’s Edge. Rise of the Resistance is truly like stepping into the movie, and the Cast Members enhance that experience by playing the roles of First Order devotees with perfection.

Guests Who Like Immersive Attractions

You don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to appreciate the detail, the immersion, and the absolute thrill of Rise of the Resistance. The Imagineers dedicated tireless hours to create this immersive experience is in a category on its own beyond the details of Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror, Avatar: Flight of Passage, and Expedition Everest. For those with an appreciation of Imagineering details, Rise of the Resistance is a can’t-miss attraction.

Could NOT Be Worth the Wait If…

Frequent Disney World Visitors/Locals

If you visit Disney World several times a year (or even several times a week!), you might bypass the long queue to experience other attractions or just the atmosphere and ambiance of the Disney parks. Since you have the flexibility to return often, you can always ride this popular attraction when the wait times are lower.

Guests Who Don’t Care for Star Wars

Rise of the Resistance really has an appeal for everyone, but if you or someone in your group just doesn’t care for Star Wars that universe or its characters, then waiting 80-200 minutes for this attraction will not have the pay off for them as it would a Star Wars fan. But if you can squeak in a ride waiting 45 minutes or less, then you should still give it a whirl.

Guests Who Don’t Meet the Height Requirement

Needless to say, if you can’t ride the attraction, then waiting around only to be turned away will not only be a huge disappointment, but also such a waste of valuable park time. Make sure you check the height requirements for attractions ahead of time and measure those kiddos ahead of time to prepare anticipating youngsters for what they can and can’t ride during your trip.

Guests Who Are Prone to Motion Sickness

In the same vane as above, if experiencing this attraction will result in you being ill for the rest of the day, that definitely won’t make for a fun experience and could end up in a pretty miserable day in the park. If your not certain, make sure to bring some Dramamine with you, or just avoid the attraction entirely, just to be safe.

Planning for Your Wait Time

The wait time will fluctuate throughout the day and from season to season, so there’s no universal way to say exactly what you’ll experience. But here’s what we know based on crowd trends. For the lowest wait times, plan to ride Rise of the Resistance during the first 30 minutes of park opening, during Early Park Entry, if you’re a Disney Resort guest. You can also expect ride times to drop between 2PM-4PM when there can be an afternoon lull, and finally, after 7:30PM.

You’ll experience the highest wait times between 10AM-12Noon. We recommend you keep an eye on the My Disney Experience App to get the most accurate wait times during your day in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Since summer is approaching and crowds are going to steadily increase until school starts back up across the country in September, be sure to stay tuned to DFB for all the latest crowds news and tips!

Here are 50 ways to avoid the crowds in Disney World!

What ride will YOU always try to ride in Disney World no matter the line? Tell us in the comments!