Walk into Galaxy’s Edge at high noon and you’ll see it immediately. The "Disney Stare." It’s that look of utter exhaustion on a parent’s face as they realize the standby line for Rise of the Resistance has just ballooned to 110 minutes while the Southern California sun beats down on the spires of Black Spire Outpost.
Is it worth it?
Honestly, the answer depends entirely on how much you value your time versus your love for a galaxy far, far away. When people talk about Star Wars rides at Disneyland, they usually focus on the shiny new stuff in Batuu, but there’s a whole legacy of Force-adjacent attractions scattered across the park that most tourists totally overlook or, worse, get completely wrong. I’ve spent more hours in these queues than I care to admit, and if you're planning a trip, you need to know that not all "Star Wars" experiences are created equal. Some are technical marvels that redefine what a theme park can be. Others are basically fancy motion simulators that haven't changed much since the 80s—though that isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're a sucker for nostalgia.
The Beast of Batuu: Rise of the Resistance
Let’s get the big one out of the way. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn't just a ride; it’s a twenty-minute immersive experience that basically functions as a mini-movie where you're the main character.
It's massive.
The ride utilizes four different ride systems. You've got trackless vehicles, a motion simulator, a drop tower element, and walk-through segments where Cast Members—dressed as First Order officers—will literally bark orders at you. It’s intimidating. It’s also the most complex attraction Disney has ever built, which means it breaks down. A lot.
If you see the ride is "Temporarily Closed" on the Disneyland app, don't panic. This is standard operating procedure for a ride that relies on thousands of sensors and dozens of synchronized animatronics. Usually, the tech team gets it back up in an hour or two. The real pro tip here? Don't jump into the line the second it reopens unless you’re already standing right there. Everyone else has the same idea, and the Lightning Lane backlog will make that "45-minute" posted wait feel like three hours.
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The technical wizardry you might miss
While you’re being shuffled through the Star Destroyer hangar—which, by the way, features 50 Stormtroopers and a 100-foot-wide view of space—take a second to look at the floor. Those trackless troop transports use RFID local positioning. They aren't on a set path in the traditional sense; they're essentially smart robots navigating a giant room. This allows for that "dancing" sensation during the AT-AT scene. It’s expensive tech that makes the motion feel eerie and fluid, unlike the jerky movements of older dark rides.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a glorified video game (and that’s okay)
If Rise of the Resistance is a cinematic masterpiece, Smugglers Run is an arcade game on steroids. You sit in the cockpit of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy. You have a job. You’re either a Pilot, a Gunner, or an Engineer.
Here is the cold, hard truth: being the Pilot is the only way to get the full experience.
If you're stuck in the back as an Engineer, you’re basically just hitting buttons that light up on the side wall while trying to peek over the Pilot’s shoulder to see what’s actually happening out the front window. It’s still fun, but it lacks that "I’m actually flying" adrenaline. If you have kids, let them pilot. If you're a solo traveler, use the Single Rider line. You will wait ten minutes instead of sixty, though you will almost certainly be assigned the Engineer seat.
One detail most people miss is the "Chewie Mode." It’s a specific sequence of button presses you have to do before the ride starts—a sort of "Konami Code" for Disney fans. If you pull it off, Hondo Ohnaka disappears and you get Chewbacca screaming at you for the entire mission. It’s chaotic. It’s loud. It’s glorious.
Why Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is still the GOAT
Everyone forgets about Tomorrowland. While everyone is sprinting toward Galaxy’s Edge, the original Star Wars rides at Disneyland are sitting right there near the park entrance. Star Tours: The Adventures Continue is the elder statesman of the group, and frankly, it holds up better than most modern attractions.
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The ride is a flight simulator. You wear 3D glasses. You get bumped around.
But the brilliance is the randomization.
Disney recently added scenes from the Ahsoka, Andor, and The Mandalorian series. Because the ride sequences are randomized, there are something like 250 possible story combinations. You can ride it five times in a row and never see the same planet twice. You might end up on Crait dodging AT-M6s, or you might find yourself underwater on Naboo. It’s the most "re-rideable" attraction in the park.
Plus, the queue is a masterpiece of 1980s-era Imagineering. Seeing C-3PO and R2-D2 bickering in the maintenance bay is a core memory for any Gen X or Millennial fan. It’s also air-conditioned. In July, that is worth more than any fancy trackless tech.
The "Secret" Star Wars Experiences
Most people think "rides" and stop there. You’re missing half the point of Galaxy’s Edge.
Batuu was designed to be "lived" in. If you download the Play Disney Parks app, your phone turns into a "Datapad." You can scan crates, translate Aurebesh signs, and "hack" droids. It’s an interactive layer that turns the entire 14-acre land into a massive, low-stakes RPG.
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Then there’s Savi’s Workshop. Is it a ride? No. Is it a performance? Yes. You pay about $250 to build a custom lightsaber. It sounds like a ripoff until you’re in that room, the music swells, and Yoda’s voice starts echoing through the walls. I’ve seen grown men weep. It’s a 20-minute theatrical ceremony that hits the same emotional beats as a top-tier attraction. Just make sure you book your reservation 60 days in advance, or you’re not getting in. Period.
A note on the Cantina
Oga’s Cantina is technically a bar, but it functions like a Star Wars ride for your taste buds. It’s cramped, it’s standing-room only, and the droids are DJing 80s-style synth-pop. If you want to feel like you’ve actually stepped into a hive of scum and villainy, this is it. Order the Fuzzy Tauntaun; the foam is made with "Buzzz Button" flowers that literally numb your lips. It’s weird, it’s immersive, and it’s one of the few places in Disneyland where you can get a stiff drink.
How to actually manage the lines
You can’t just wing it anymore. The days of "just showing up" died around 2019.
- Rope Drop is a myth (mostly). Everyone thinks they’re a genius by running to Rise of the Resistance at 8:00 AM. Guess what? Two thousand other people had that same thought. You’ll end up waiting 90 minutes anyway. Instead, head to Tomorrowland and hit Star Tours and Space Mountain first, then wait for the mid-afternoon "lull" (usually around 2:00 PM or during the parade) to head to Galaxy’s Edge.
- Individual Lightning Lane. If you can afford the extra $20-$25 per person, just buy the entry for Rise of the Resistance. It’s the price of a mediocre burger and a soda, and it saves you two hours of standing on hot concrete. Your feet will thank you.
- The Single Rider "Hack." Smugglers Run has a dedicated Single Rider entrance. Use it. You won't get to see the pre-show with the Hondo animatronic, but you’ll save an hour.
- Check the Weather. Believe it or not, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is partially outdoors (the queue, anyway). If it starts raining, the line actually gets longer because people use the covered portions as shelter.
The Reality of Disney's Galaxy's Edge
Batuu isn't Tatooine. It’s not Hoth. It’s a specific planet called Batuu, set in the sequel trilogy era. This means you won't see Darth Vader walking around near the Falcon. You’ll see Kylo Ren and Rey. For some "Original Trilogy" purists, this is a dealbreaker.
But honestly? Once you’re staring up at a full-scale Millennium Falcon, the "era" doesn't matter much. The scale of these Star Wars rides at Disneyland is something you can’t appreciate until you’re standing there. The vents in the ground actually smell like ozone and grease. The "blaster marks" in the walls were made by Imagineers using actual shotgun blasts to get the texture right. It’s that level of obsessive detail that makes the high price of a ticket feel justifiable.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Trip:
- Download the Disneyland App now. Don't wait until you're at the gate. Practice looking at the "Tip Board" to see when wait times for Star Tours vs. Smugglers Run peak.
- Set a 60-day alarm. If you want to do the "hidden" experiences like Savi’s Workshop or Oga’s Cantina, you must book them the second the window opens (6:00 AM PST, 60 days out).
- Check your height. Rise of the Resistance and Smugglers Run both have a 38-inch (97 cm) height requirement. Star Tours is 40 inches (102 cm). Measure the kids before you promise them a trip to space.
- Bring a portable charger. Using the Datapad and checking wait times will kill your phone by lunch. You'll need it for the virtual queues and Lightning Lane bookings.