Disney World pauses Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue; wait initially jumps to 3 hours
As Disney World continues to prep for its 50th-anniversary celebration that starts next week on Oct. 1, a significant change to the boarding process for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has begun. Beginning today, Sept. 23, the popular ride at Galaxy’s Edge within Hollywood Studios no longer uses the virtual queue system that required both a little skill and luck to secure a ticket to ride.
With this change came a traditional line that quickly jumped to more than three hours this morning, according to the wait times posted on the My Disney Experience app. However, those times have dropped to under two hours as the day has gone by.
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When the ride first debuted in 2019, a new boarding system was also implemented that kept visitors from spending half their day lined up for one attraction. In recent months, instead of a traditional standby queue, guests had to log into the My Disney Experience app at one of two time periods (7 a.m. or 1 p.m.) to secure a boarding group in a virtual queue. Thousands of guests waited with bated breath in the minutes that led up to each slot, constantly refreshing until they were able to confirm their party and attempt to secure a spot.
Within seconds of the virtual queue opening, all boarding groups would fill — which makes the experience feel a bit like a lottery. And once you have your boarding group, you pretty much have to plan your entire morning or afternoon around when your number might be called.
On a July trip to Disney World, I was unsuccessful in snagging a slot at 7 a.m., but I was able to get into a boarding group at 1 p.m. Because of that, my entire afternoon game plan was shifted to accommodate. The attraction was great, but the virtual queue process — which was first rolled out to help guests have more flexibility in their day — ended up being more constraining on my schedule than anything.
Related: Disney makes it easier to secure a spot on its most popular rides
With the 'new' way of experiencing the attraction, you no longer need luck, just good standing shoes and some patience. Rather than racing to the app first thing in the morning, guests will have to actually race to snag a spot in line if they hope to avoid longer lines.
It may take a few days for the line wait to get more predictable for this attraction, but based on day one, it looks like you should either "rope drop" this attraction and head there as soon as guests are let in the park (which may be well before the posted opening time) or wait to experience it until the wait has decreased later in the day.
When you aren't enjoying Rise of the Resistance, there is also the ancillary benefit to a likely lessening of waits for the other Hollywood Studios attractions as some guests are now spending some of their time in this line when before they were instead increasing the waits for the other rides and shows.
It’s important to note that Disney isn’t discarding the virtual queue process altogether.
According to the Disney Parks Blog, “Virtual queues continue to be helpful with attraction access, merchandise launches, grand openings and more, and guests should continue to check the My Disney Experience app for the latest on how we’re using virtual queues across Walt Disney World Resort including its potential use at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at a later date, or from time to time.”
In fact, the virtual queue process that had been in place for Rise of the Resistance will debut once again with the opening of the Ratatouille attraction in Epcot on Oct. 1.
It's also worth noting that Disney World will soon introduce Genie+ “Lightning Lanes” that allow guests to bypass lines at an extra cost, which should help mitigate long wait times for guests who have the extra budget for the passes. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is set to be a top-tier attraction that will cost an additional fee for Lightning Lane on a per-ride basis beyond the cost of Genie+. But for now, pack those masks and comfortable shoes as one of Disney's most advanced attractions is back to an old-fashioned line.
Additional reporting by Summer Hull.
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.