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Credit: Jeremy Thompson, FlickrThere was a time when stepping into Disney meant you could wander into the galaxy far, far away and live out your Star Wars dreams without thinking twice. But things have changed. One particular attraction has become so demanding that simply showing up isn’t enough anymore.
Guests are being warned that if they don’t pay extra, they may walk away from their Disney trip having missed one of the most talked-about experiences in the parks.
The Allure of Galaxy’s Edge
Before diving into the ride in question, it’s worth remembering what makes Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge a centerpiece of Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. The land is built to feel like you’ve stepped into another world—Black Spire Outpost on Batuu. Stormtroopers patrol the streets, Resistance fighters linger in the shadows, and every sound and sight is pulled directly from the saga.
Guests can grab a blue or green milk at the Milk Stand, savor a Ronto Wrap, or sip exotic concoctions inside Oga’s Cantina. Lightsaber enthusiasts line up to build their own custom saber at Savi’s Workshop, a bucket-list experience for fans. Others create droids at the Droid Depot, crafting companions to roll alongside them.
And of course, character interactions abound, with Rey, Chewbacca, Kylo Ren, and stormtroopers roaming about. It’s a fully immersive playground for franchise fans, offering something beyond just a theme park visit.
The Star of the Show
While Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run gives fans the thrill of piloting Han Solo’s famous ship, it’s another attraction that has cemented itself as the crown jewel. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has become the ride guests talk about most when planning their trips. Despite lingering backlash from the sequel trilogy of films, this attraction has captured nearly everyone’s attention.
The ride is unlike anything Disney has built, combining multiple ride systems into a single epic adventure. Guests find themselves captured by the First Order, face to face with stormtroopers, and eventually standing before Kylo Ren himself. The climactic escape sequence combines trackless ride vehicles, massive animatronics, and dazzling projections.
It’s an attraction that seamlessly blends story and technology, and that’s precisely why guests continue to flock to it in droves.
Wait Times That Don’t Budge
Here’s the catch: Rise of the Resistance has been open for years, yet the wait times remain stubbornly high. The average line hovers around 70 minutes, with peak times stretching far longer. Unlike other attractions that tend to see wait times drop as the novelty wears off, this one refuses to give in. Fans who want to experience it face a difficult choice—commit to a long wait or find another option.
It is frustrating that Disney doesn’t play the usual game of inflating the wait time to scare guests away. If the board says 70 minutes, expect 70 minutes, sometimes more. It’s one of the most honest posted wait times in the park, which ironically makes it even harder for guests hoping for a surprise shorter line.
Another Disney Cash Grab
Enter Lightning Lane, Disney’s paid skip-the-line service. While many rides across Walt Disney World offer it, Rise of the Resistance is in its own category. Guests can purchase a single-entry Lightning Lane pass for the attraction, which has become almost essential for many. Without it, you may spend much of your day waiting in one line, limiting how much else you can experience.
This isn’t a ride you can casually slot into your day unless you’ve planned carefully. Families who don’t want to burn two or three hours in line often feel they have no choice but to buy the Lightning Lane pass. It has turned into one of those rare cases at Disney where paying extra isn’t just a perk—it’s practically the only way to guarantee you’ll see the attraction and still enjoy the rest of the park.
Tips to Beat the Wait
That said, there are still strategies for guests who want to dodge the longest lines without spending money on Lightning Lane.
Ride During Meal Times: Lines tend to dip slightly while crowds sit down for lunch or dinner. This window can give you a shorter wait without paying extra.
Rope Drop: Get to the park before opening and make Rise of the Resistance your first stop. Early risers can sometimes walk right onto the ride with minimal wait.
Stay Late: Consider making it your last attraction of the night. Lines can shorten dramatically as the park winds down, especially once big evening shows begin.
Skip the Shows: At Hollywood Studios, Fantasmic draws massive crowds. If you can pass on the nighttime spectacular, you’ll often find reduced waits at headliner attractions during the show.
Each strategy requires trade-offs, but for those unwilling to pay the Lightning Lane fee, they can be the difference between experiencing the attraction and leaving disappointed.
The Cost of the Force
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance remains one of Disney’s most outstanding modern achievements, and its popularity hasn’t faded since opening day. Yet its demand has created a situation where guests are effectively warned—either pay extra or risk missing it entirely.
With Lightning Lane purchases becoming more common, the ride symbolizes a broader trend in how Disney manages access to its most popular experiences.
For fans, the choice is tough. Do you carve out hours of your day for a single attraction, or do you pay up to guarantee a spot? Either way, Rise of the Resistance continues to dominate the conversation at Galaxy’s Edge, cementing its place as an unforgettable but costly chapter in the Disney experience.