Credit: DisneySomething finally happened with one of Disney World’s most famous Star Wars rides, but fans aren’t exactly celebrating — in fact, some might even call it a step backward.
Over in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the land is as busy as ever, with guests packing in for a full day of food, photo ops, and Force-filled adventures. Whether it’s your first visit to Batuu or your tenth, there’s an undeniable pull here. It’s not just the rides, though; they’re a massive part of the draw. It’s how the entire setting feels like a living, breathing movie set where you and every other guest are part of the story.
Yet amid all that excitement this past week, something happened with one of the famous attractions, and fans were less than thrilled.
Immersing Yourself in Batuu
Galaxy’s Edge is one of Disney’s most ambitious themed lands. The outside world disappears once you cross under the stone archways and onto its winding paths.
Food is a significant part of the experience. Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo offers inventive dishes like Batuuan Beef Pot Roast and Tip-Yip Chicken. Ronto Roasters’ smells lure guests with its famous Ronto Wraps, while the Milk Stand dares you to try the divisive blue or green milk.
Characters roam freely here. Rey might be seen working on her speeder, Chewbacca could be scouting for Resistance recruits, and First Order stormtroopers never pass up the chance to interrogate an unsuspecting guest.
Elsewhere in the park, Star Wars Launch Bay has offered more formal meet-and-greet opportunities with Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and BB-8. However, it’s set to close soon, marking the end of a quieter, indoor spot for fan photos.
For those who want to take a piece of Batuu home, there’s Savi’s Workshop, where you can build your custom lightsaber in an intimate, story-driven experience. You can assemble a working astromech unit at Droid Depot, choosing from BB- or R-series parts.
The shops, from Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities to the marketplace stalls, are packed with unique Star Wars merchandise you won’t find anywhere else.
The Rides That Keep Guests Coming Back
When it comes to attractions, Galaxy’s Edge has two big hitters. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run puts you in control of Han Solo’s iconic ship. Every ride differs depending on your role — piloting through asteroid fields, firing lasers at enemy ships, or scrambling to repair systems mid-flight.
Then there’s Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, arguably the most ambitious ride Disney has ever built. It’s a cinematic journey that blends trackless ride technology, massive set pieces, and live actors to create a seamless story from start to finish. The First Order captures guests, escapes with the help of the Resistance, and comes face-to-face with Kylo Ren himself.
And while it’s not part of Galaxy’s Edge, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue still draws fans in Echo Lake. The simulator has stayed fresh thanks to updated destinations and cameos from newer films, making it a nice bonus for Star Wars fans outside the main land.
The Number That Turned Heads
Now for the news that’s been quietly making waves among fans — and not in a good way. Rise of the Resistance posted a wait time this week that crossed into the triple digits, hitting over 100 minutes.
For longtime parkgoers, this is a bit of a flashback. The ride was notorious for huge waits when it first opened, but in recent months, times have often been more reasonable — especially on off-peak days or with careful planning. Seeing that dreaded “1 hour, 40 minutes” again made some guests groan and rethink their day’s itinerary.
There are a few possible reasons for the spike: heavier-than-expected crowds, a stretch of downtime that caused a backlog, or even weather pushing people toward indoor attractions. Whatever the cause, it’s a reminder that this is still one of the most in-demand rides at Walt Disney World.
Disney Wait Times and the Guest Dilemma
Wait times are part of the Disney experience, but certain rides always seem to top the list. Attractions like Avatar Flight of Passage and Slinky Dog Dash regularly pull 90-minute-plus waits, and Rise of the Resistance is right there with them.
What makes Rise different is its complexity. The ride relies on multiple ride systems working in perfect sync, which means even minor malfunctions can cause significant downtime — and every minute it’s closed, the standby line gets longer.
Lightning Lane access is available, but it’s an individual purchase outside the standard Genie/Lightning Lane package. On busier days, the price can climb over $20 per person, which adds up fast for a family of four. For some, paying is worth it; for others, the standby line feels like part of the “earn it” experience.
The reality is, unless you’re willing to rope drop the ride right at park opening, stay until close, or time it during the fireworks, you’ll likely face a significant wait. And as this week proved, even with the best strategies, you can still get caught in a triple-digit line.
Balancing Magic and Patience
The latest milestone for Rise of the Resistance isn’t precisely the headline Disney would put in a press release. Still, it shows just how enduring this attraction’s popularity is. Guests are willing to wait far longer than they planned to experience what many call the most immersive ride Disney has ever created.
For first-time visitors, the wait is often worth every second. For returning guests, it becomes a decision of value versus time. Is it better to stand in line for nearly two hours, or use that time to explore the rest of Galaxy’s Edge, grab a Ronto Wrap, and take the Falcon for another run?
One thing’s for sure: Batuu remains one of the world’s most impressive theme park lands. Whether you’re building a lightsaber, piloting the Millennium Falcon, or joining the Resistance against the First Order, there’s no shortage of ways to feel like part of the saga. But if you’re hoping to face Kylo Ren without a massive wait, you might need to channel your inner Jedi and plan accordingly.