Virtual Queue Procedures at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios

Unless you've been off the grid for the last two months, you know that Rise of the Resistance is now open at Disney World's Hollywood Studios. This is THE attraction everyone has been waiting for, and the crowds are proving how popular it is!

One big question we keep getting is how to experience Rise of the Resistance because it has NO stand-by line! Unlike Flight of Passage and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train where people waited for hours in line (hours and hours and hours), Disney is using a virtual queue to allow as many people to ride as possible without the need to stand in line for hours.
While we keep seeing improvements and updates to the procedure, this information is as up to date as we have it (February 2020).

First rule of thumb is to expect the unexpected. Disney seems to be changing how they handle this ride opening from one moment to the next. It is important to keep checking your app and speaking to your travel planner and Cast Members during your trip, so you have the most current information.   

Here are some tips to help you plan:

• Disney is using a virtual queue to ride Rise of the Resistance. You must sign up using the My Disney Experience app once inside the park. That means once you have gone through the turnstile--not simply when you arrive at the park. 
• You can only sign up for a boarding group once INSIDE Hollywood Studios. All members of your party must be in the park to be added to your boarding group. Every park ticket or Magic Band must be tapped at the park entrance in order to add them to your group.
• When you join the queue, you will be given a boarding group and will be notified of an assigned return time window. You may remain in the park or leave and return at your boarding group time. If you arrive too late when initially entering the park, you will be told boarding groups are gone for the day; you may have the option to join a backup boarding group which are only utilized at the end of the day if they can accommodate more people.  

Hollywood Studios has been opening the gates earlier than advertised times; however boarding groups do not open until the advertised park opening time. You will want to be there early to get through security and be inside the park at the park open time.  

The latest status that attractions and dining inside Hollywood Studios are not opening until the advertised park opening time. 

We recommend arriving well before park opening—perhaps as much as an hour prior. We are seeing the boarding groups fill within 15-30 minutes of park opening. If you arrive at 7:00am for a 7:00am park opening, you will miss the window to get a boarding group! Plan to arrive early and factor in bus commute or drive time, parking, security check, AND the long line of people waiting to enter!

Have the My Disney Experience app open on your phone; we recommend using cellular and not Disney’s wi-fi. The main page of the app has the link to get a boarding group. Make sure you do this the second everyone in your party is through the turnstile! 

Close the app and reopen it if you get weird errors!

Bottom line…be flexible!  Be patient. We don’t know what to expect from day to day with this attraction opening, and it will impact your visit to Hollywood Studios. We are trying to stay up to date on the latest changes!

Susan Burks is a military wife and a homeschooling mom to a 15-year old "junior Disney expert"! In addition to many Disney World trips, Susan has done eleven Disney cruises, two Disneyland trips, two trips to Aulani (Disney Resort & Spa in Hawaii), and stayed at Disney's Vero Beach and Disney's Hilton Head Island! You can contact Susan at susan@wishdrawals.com.