Guests Shocked as Disney Slaps $40 Upcharge on Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Families already budgeting hundreds of dollars for a day at Disneyland were met with an unexpected sight this month: a $40 fee to skip the line for one ride. For some, the figure felt like the tipping point in Disney’s steady move toward premium pricing.

The Lightning Lane system, long controversial among parkgoers, has become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how much a theme park visit should cost. Fans are accustomed to rising admission prices, but paying extra once inside the gates has proved harder to swallow.

And nowhere has the discussion been more intense than around Disneyland’s crown jewel, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Sets a Record

Disneyland guests discovered the limits of that answer earlier this month when the cost to bypass the line for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance reached $40 — a record high for the attraction in 2025.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has long been one of Disney’s crown jewels. Debuting within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it drops visitors into a cinematic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. Featuring multiple ride systems and sprawling set pieces, it’s celebrated as one of Disney’s most ambitious attractions.

Fans experience everything from stormtrooper interrogations to near-misses with Kylo Ren before being rescued by the Resistance. The attraction’s nearly 20-minute runtime has helped cement its reputation but has also contributed to frequent downtime and maintenance struggles.

Those complications haven’t slowed demand. The ride consistently posts wait times of 90 minutes or longer, often topping the charts at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That popularity makes Lightning Lane an alluring option for those unwilling to queue.

Traditionally, a single Lightning Lane pass for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance has cost around $28. But on October 18, amid heavy crowds, Disneyland raised the price to $40 before later dialing it back to $29 on subsequent days.

Reactions were swift. “Not worth it, unless you’ll never come back and it’s your only time to ride it,” one X, formerly known as Twitter, user wrote. Another added, “They may as well start selling ride tickets again.”

Some fans pointed out the irony of paying more for a ride known for occasional breakdowns. “For $40 they better have Kylo Ren in A mode,” one user wrote. Others saw value in the change. “In all seriousness, though, I welcome the [increased] cost … increasing the cost reduces the people in it,” wrote another, arguing it preserves efficiency for both Lightning Lane and standby guests.

$40 for a single ride is pretty wild.

$40 for a single ride is pretty wild. pic.twitter.com/pJJ7GuIalf

— RyanTheme Park (@Ryanthemepark) October 19, 2025

A Growing Debate Over Upcharges

The controversy reflects a larger trend across the theme park industry. Disney’s removal of the free FastPass system marked a turning point, introducing Lightning Lane and, at some international parks, its equivalent Premier Access.

At Tokyo Disney Resort, guests can now reserve parade and fireworks viewing through Premier Access. Disneyland Paris uses the system for its rides and shows like TOGETHER: a Pixar Musical Adventure, highlighting how once-inclusive experiences are becoming premium add-ons.

Disneyland and Disney World have also taken upcharges to the next level with Lightning Lane Premier Pass, an all-inclusive option that bundles multiple attractions — including Disneyland’s Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — into one higher-priced package (which still routinely sells out, despite its hefty price tag). While the Premier Pass is marketed as a way to simplify the experience, it arguably just adds yet another tier of exclusivity to an already fragmented system.

The problem isn’t isolated to Disney. Over at Universal Orlando Resort, the company tested Express Single Attraction Access on October 16 for Skull Island: Reign of Kong and Revenge of the Mummy, priced at $24.99 each.

Fans speculate that Universal may soon expand the program to marquee attractions like Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.

The tests echo Disney’s approach — creating smaller, more flexible upcharges while preserving high-priced all-day passes. Supporters argue the changes give guests choice and make premium lines faster. Critics see them as eroding the value of already costly vacations.

For Disney, the debate circles back to Rise of the Resistance. Its $40 Lightning Lane price point has been framed as both outrageous and necessary, depending on perspective. What’s certain is that the company’s boldest attractions are also its most expensive to access quickly, pushing guests to weigh time against cost.

Would you pay $40 to ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance?