Guests Explode as Disney Locks ‘Star Wars’ Ride Behind Pay to Ride System
For years, stepping into Disney meant you could drift into the Star Wars galaxy without much effort. That’s no longer the case. One ride in particular has become such a beast to conquer that guests are warned: pay extra or risk missing it altogether.
Life on Batuu
To understand why this ride is so important, you have to look at Galaxy’s Edge. Disney built the land to immerse fans in Black Spire Outpost on Batuu, where stormtroopers patrol, Resistance fighters hide in plain sight, and droids beep through the streets. It’s more than a themed section of Hollywood Studios—a living Star Wars environment.
Here, visitors sip blue and green milk, chow down on Ronto Wraps, or step into Oga’s Cantina for galactic cocktails. Those with deeper pockets can craft a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop or build a droid to take home. Characters like Rey, Kylo Ren, and Chewbacca roam the land, adding to the sense that you’ve stepped into the movies themselves.
The Ride That Rules Them All
While piloting the Millennium Falcon is fun, it’s Rise of the Resistance that guests can’t stop talking about. Despite mixed opinions on the sequel trilogy, this attraction has captured imaginations across the board. Disney combined several ride systems into one epic journey where the First Order captures you, stares down stormtroopers, and eventually encounters Kylo Ren himself.
The combination of animatronics, projections, and trackless vehicles makes it one of Disney’s most ambitious creations ever. It feels less like a ride and more like you’ve stepped into your own Star Wars story.
Why the Wait Never Ends
But even years after opening, the line remains brutal. The average wait hovers around 70 minutes, and peak days stretch far longer. Unlike other rides that settle into manageable waits after the initial hype, Rise of the Resistance hasn’t slowed down. Disney doesn’t inflate the numbers either—if it says 70 minutes, you’re in for at least that.
This leaves families with a decision: devote hours to one ride or find another way.
The Lightning Lane Dilemma
That’s where Lightning Lane enters. Disney’s paid line-skipping service is optional for many attractions, but it’s practically essential for Rise of the Resistance. The single-entry Lightning Lane pass ensures you can ride without sacrificing your entire day.
Guests who want to see more than a handful of attractions often feel forced to buy it, making this ride one of the clearest examples of Disney’s shift toward pay-to-play access.
Strategies to Outsmart the Crowds
Still, there are ways to experience it without handing over extra cash. You can head there at rope drop before most guests have entered the park, or make it the last stop of the night when crowds thin. Riding during lunch or dinner hours can shave off time, and skipping Fantasmic—Hollywood Studios’ nighttime spectacular—can also free you up for shorter waits.
Each strategy has trade-offs, but for those unwilling to pay, they’re worth trying.
The Hard Truth
Rise of the Resistance has become the crown jewel of Galaxy’s Edge, but it comes at a cost—either in money or in time. Guests are effectively warned that the only sure way to ride is to pay extra. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but it shows just how far Disney’s most popular attractions have come in shaping the guest experience.
