Yesterday at Disneyland: Rise of the Resistance

A little over two weeks ago the long-awaited second ride opened in Disneyland's Galaxy's Edge.

Rise of the Resistance was promised to be a game-changer, a relatively lengthy, immersive experience incorporating multiple ride systems, including simulators and trackless vehicles, along with Cast Member role playing. We rode it yesterday, and it was definitely a unique ride experience!

Actually getting a chance to ride is a challenge for park guests at this juncture. We were up a "dark o'clock" and in line to board the parking lot bus well before 7:00 a.m. so that we could be sure of being inside the park by 8:00 a.m., when what is essentially a ride lottery opens up on the Disneyland phone app.

Many guests had the same idea! Below is the line to enter the park at 7:10 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.

Disneyland traditionally opens the turnstiles a half an hour before "rope drop," when a rope at the end of Main Street closest to the Hub is literally dropped to allow guests to spread throughout the park's various lands.

Now, instead of everyone hurrying off to the most popular rides at 8:00 a.m., everyone huddles over their phones trying to secure a place in a Rise of the Resistance Boarding Group. Guests who want to ride together link their accounts prior to the boarding passes becoming available; if one person in the group successfully obtains the passes, the others in the party won't be able to get them but will instead receive a message that they are now part of a Boarding Group.

My husband got "in" first and we were fortunate to get Boarding Group 35, riding relatively early in the day. Only around 80 groups are guaranteed entry each day, with more visitors assigned to "backup" Boarding Groups who might be able to ride late in the day if things are running smoothly. Because of its complexity, the ride is prone to experiencing glitches and shutting down for periods of varying lengths. On the day we visited, the ride didn't even open for over two and a half hours after park opening.

Shortly before 2:00 p.m. we received the notification that it was our turn to report to the ride.

Once you receive the notice, you have two hours to arrive at the ride and scan in with your phone. This electronic sign announces the current Boarding Groups at the ride entrance.

SPOILER ALERT: I will keep my comments on what happens during the ride somewhat vague, but I will give brief descriptions and there are also some queue and ride photos following; anyone who hasn't yet been on the ride and wants to experience it "cold" should stop reading here.

The queue, seen above and in the two photos below, is quite long but atmospheric, setting the mood for the experience which follows. There are so many decorative details both preceding and during the ride that it will take many repeat visits to take it all in.

The experience kicks off with an impressive hologram in which Rey (Daisy Ridley) explains the mission to our group of Resistance fighters. More information is provided by Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) via a video screen.

We board a transport (a simulator) to take us off Batuu but we're caught by a tractor beam and pulled into an Imperial Star Destroyer. We're instructed to exit the transport, where we're greeted by this sight in the docking bay:

First Order officers instruct us to line up before eventually placing us in a holding cell. Cast members role playing in the ride is one of many new concepts which are part of Rise of the Resistance.

Eventually we're rescued from our prison (a spectacularly good moment), and we then hurriedly board a different type of transport vehicle, which takes us on a wild "dark ride" through the destroyer as we attempt to find a way to leave the ship. This journey is impossibly long -- I wondered if it's longer than the Pirates of the Caribbean layout -- and includes racing under a pair of AT-ATs, among other things!

We were quite impressed by the entire thing. Technically, I was especially wowed by the trackless vehicle entering a simulator for the last part of the ride, yet at the same time I was definitely immersed in the story.

I won't say anything more specific, but for those who would like further details, please visit Brady MacDonald's detailed review for the Orange County Register.

Todd Pickering's review of the entire Galaxy's Edge concept was published last Friday at MousePlanet.

For anyone who either can't visit or has already been on the ride, this is one of the better ride experience videos I've seen.

May the Force Be With You!

Previously: Today at Disneyland: Opening Day of Galaxy's Edge, Part 1. Links to three additional posts covering opening day may be found at the end of that post.