You walk through a tunnel of rough-hewn rock in Galaxy’s Edge, and suddenly, the ambient sounds of the park vanish. There’s a specific kind of hum in the air—the sound of 5,000,000 lines of code and massive hydraulic systems working in tandem. When Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland first opened in early 2020, people were skeptical that Disney could actually deliver on the "trackless" promise. Most modern dark rides feel like high-tech dollhouses. This feels like a tactical insertion.
It is weirdly intense.
Honestly, the scale of this thing is hard to grasp until you’re standing in a Star Destroyer hangar with fifty Stormtroopers staring you down. It’s not just one ride. It’s essentially four different ride systems stitched together by a narrative that starts the moment you enter the queue. You aren't just waiting in line; you're being recruited, captured, and interrogated.
The Logistics of Chaos: What You’re Actually Facing
Look, the "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland" experience is a logistical beast. If you haven't been to Anaheim lately, the old "fastpass" system is dead and buried. Now, you're dealing with Lightning Lane Multi Pass or, more specifically for this attraction, the Individual Lightning Lane (ILL). It costs extra. Usually between $15 and $25 per person depending on how crowded the park is that day.
Is it worth the money?
If you only have one day at Disneyland, yes. Absolutely. Without question. The standby line can fluctuate from 60 minutes to over three hours, and since the ride has a reputation for technical downtime, you don't want to be the person who waited 140 minutes only for the ride to reset right as you hit the interrogation cell.
👉 See also: Something is wrong with my world map: Why the Earth looks so weird on paper
Disney uses a complex A1000 animatronic system here. These aren't the clunky robots from the 60s. They move with a fluidity that is honestly a little unsettling. When Kylo Ren turns to look at you, his movements are calculated based on sub-millisecond response times. Because the ride uses trackless vehicles (which rely on RFID pucks in the floor and local sensors), the room for error is tiny. One sensor goes out of alignment, and the whole show stops. This is why you see "technical rehearsals" or mid-day closures so often.
Why the Trackless System Changes Everything
Traditional rides follow a slot in the floor. You know exactly where you’re going. In Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland, the transport vehicles—officially called First Order Fleet Transports—act like they have a mind of their own. They can pivot 360 degrees, reverse, and "dance" around each other.
There’s a moment where you’re trying to escape two AT-AT walkers. They are full-scale. They are massive. Your vehicle scoots between their legs, retreats, and then darts into a lift.
The sensation is totally different from a roller coaster. It's more of a "glide." Because there is no track, your brain has a harder time predicting the next move, which amps up the immersion. Scott Trowbridge and the Imagineering team spent years perfecting the "dead reckoning" navigation. Basically, the cars know where they are relative to the walls, not just a fixed path.
The Mid-Ride Twist
Most people think of a ride as: sit down, move, get off. Rise breaks that.
✨ Don't miss: Pic of Spain Flag: Why You Probably Have the Wrong One and What the Symbols Actually Mean
- You start in a briefing room with a holographic Rey.
- You board a literal shuttle (the I-TS) that actually shakes and moves.
- You get "captured" by a Star Destroyer.
- You are marched through a hangar.
That hangar scene is the money shot. It’s 100 feet wide. It features a TIE Fighter docked on the wall. The cast members here aren't "Disney-level" nice; they are First Order officers. They will tell you to "stand against the wall" and "keep your mouth shut." It’s a jarring shift from the bubbly service at the churro cart ten minutes prior.
The Common Misconceptions About Getting On
People talk about "Boarding Groups" like they’re still a thing. They aren't. At least not right now. Disney retired the virtual queue for Rise of the Resistance a while back to simplify the morning rush. Now, it’s a straight choice: wait in the sun or pay the "Star Wars tax" for the Individual Lightning Lane.
One thing people get wrong is the "Best Time to Ride." Everyone rushes there at "Rope Drop" (when the park opens). This is usually a mistake. You’ll be fighting 5,000 other people with the exact same idea. Often, the shortest wait times are actually during the first showing of "Fantasmic!" or late at night right before the park closes.
Also, keep in mind the height requirement is 40 inches (102 cm). It's not a "scary" ride in terms of drops—there is only one small vertical drop toward the end—but it is loud, dark, and psychologically intense for younger kids.
The Tech Under the Hood
The ride’s "brains" are housed in a massive server room that coordinates the position of every vehicle simultaneously. If one car gets delayed—maybe a guest took too long to buckle their seatbelt—the entire fleet has to adjust. This "block zone" logic is what prevents collisions.
🔗 Read more: Seeing Universal Studios Orlando from Above: What the Maps Don't Tell You
When you see the lightsabers cutting through the ceiling, or the blast marks appearing on the walls, those are physical effects timed to your vehicle’s specific position. It’s a symphony of timing. If the car is two inches off, the illusion breaks. Thankfully, it rarely is.
The drop at the end uses a high-speed elevator system that pulls you down faster than gravity. It’s short—maybe 20 feet—but because it happens in total darkness with a screen in front of you, it feels like you're falling from orbit.
Maximizing Your Mission
If you want to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland without losing your mind, you need a tactical approach. Check the Disneyland app the second you enter the gate. If the ride is "Temporarily Closed," don't panic. That usually means a minor sensor reset. It’ll likely be back up in 30-45 minutes. That is actually the best time to linger nearby; when it reopens, the line is effectively zero for a few glorious minutes.
Don't forget to look up. Imagineering spent a fortune on the ceilings. In the Star Destroyer hallways, the lighting and architectural detail go all the way to the top. It makes the space feel infinite.
Actionable Steps for Your Visit
- Download the Disneyland App Early: Make sure your credit card is already linked. If you decide to buy an Individual Lightning Lane, those spots can disappear by 11:00 AM on busy days.
- Check the Weather: If it's over 90 degrees, the outdoor portion of the queue is brutal. There are very few fans and a lot of concrete. Aim for a morning or evening slot.
- Single Rider is NOT an Option: Unlike Space Mountain or Matterhorn, Rise does not have a single rider line. The ride vehicles are configured in two rows of four, and the narrative flow makes single-rider loading too complicated for the staff to manage without breaking the "story."
- Battery Life Matters: You will be tempted to film everything. Between the low light and the constant searching for signal in the "bunker" queue, your phone battery will die by noon. Bring a portable charger.
- Engage with the Cast: When the First Order officers tell you to move, move. But also, if you’re wearing Resistance gear, expect some snide remarks. It adds a whole different layer to the experience.
The ride is a massive achievement in engineering, but at its core, it’s just a really good story. You start as a tourist and end as a hero. Even if you aren't a die-hard Star Wars fan, the sheer audacity of the set design is enough to justify the ticket price. Just remember to breathe when the doors to the hangar open. It’s a lot to take in.