Updated April 2026. Everything you need to know about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland — what the ride is like, height requirements, how to get on with the shortest wait, Lightning Lane strategy, and tips for first-timers.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the most ambitious ride Disney has ever built and the most in-demand attraction at Disneyland Park. It opened in Galaxy’s Edge on January 17, 2020, and has held the top spot for wait times at the resort ever since. The full experience runs about 18 to 20 minutes — including pre-show sequences — making it one of the longest theme park attractions in California. It combines four different ride systems, over 100 animatronic figures, full-scale First Order set pieces, and an immersive storyline that puts guests directly inside the Star Wars universe in a way no other attraction does.
If you are planning a Disneyland visit and Rise of the Resistance is on your list, here is everything you need to know.
The Basics
Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Disneyland Park
Opened: January 17, 2020
Total experience: Approximately 18-20 minutes including pre-shows
Height requirement: 40 inches (102 cm)
Age restriction: Children 7 and under must be accompanied by a guest 14 or older
Ride type: Trackless dark ride with multiple ride systems including a drop segment
Scare level: Intense but not a traditional thrill ride — no high-speed coaster elements
Lightning Lane: Single Pass only — not included in Multi Pass
Single rider line: Available on select days
What the Ride Is Like
Rise of the Resistance is unlike any other theme park attraction. The experience begins in the queue, which takes you through the Resistance base on the planet Batuu — past weapons storage, rock tunnels, and equipment rooms filled with props from the films. The storytelling starts here, before you board anything.
The first pre-show features a holographic briefing from Rey and BB-8 about your mission with the Resistance. From there, guests board a transport ship — a large room that holds about 50 guests at a time — which then appears to launch into space and immediately gets captured by a First Order Star Destroyer. The transport doors open to reveal the interior of a massive Star Destroyer hangar bay with a full-scale AT-AT walker visible in the distance. This moment alone consistently stops guests in their tracks on their first ride.
Captured guests are then marched through the corridors of the Star Destroyer by First Order Stormtroopers — live performers who stay completely in character — and brought before Kylo Ren himself in a full-size recreation of his command chamber. This section of the experience is entirely on foot, no vehicle, and is one of the most effective moments of immersive storytelling in any theme park anywhere.
After the Kylo Ren encounter, guests board the actual ride vehicles — small trackless pods that seat eight guests across two rows. The ride moves through the bowels of the Star Destroyer, past AT-ATs, turbolaser blasts, First Order soldiers, and key Star Wars characters including Finn and the pilot Poe Dameron as the Resistance attempts to rescue you. The ride culminates in an escape pod drop back to Batuu — a 23-foot controlled drop that is the most intense physical moment of the experience.
The whole thing is extraordinary. First-time riders are reliably stunned by the scale and detail of what Disney built here. Even guests who are not particularly Star Wars fans consistently rate it among the best theme park experiences they have ever had.
Is Rise of the Resistance Scary?
Rise of the Resistance is intense but not a traditional thrill ride. There is no high-speed coaster, no inversions, and no extended airtime. The ride vehicle moves smoothly with some bumping and sudden direction changes — the trackless system means the pod can spin or stop without warning. The 23-foot drop near the end is controlled and relatively brief but will catch unprepared guests off guard.
The experience that most affects children is not the drop but the overall intensity of the First Order encounter. The Stormtroopers are loud, commanding, and authoritative — played as genuinely menacing rather than comedic. Kylo Ren’s scene involves flashing lights, loud sound effects, and an animatronic that is impressively large and threatening. Children who are sensitive to loud noises, darkness, or authority figures acting in a scary way may find the Kylo Ren sequence more frightening than any part of the actual ride.
The practical guidance: most children who meet the 40-inch height requirement and have experience with other Disneyland thrill rides like Big Thunder Mountain or Indiana Jones Adventure will handle Rise of the Resistance without issue. If your child is nervous, watch a full ride-through video before your visit so they know what to expect. Knowing the Kylo Ren scene is coming makes a significant difference in how children experience it.
Guests with motion sickness concerns should note that the trackless system produces sudden movements and the simulator-style drop may affect those who are sensitive. The ride is not recommended for pregnant guests or those with heart, back, or neck conditions.
How to Get on Rise of the Resistance with the Shortest Wait
Option 1 — Rope Drop
The single most effective free strategy is rope drop. Rise of the Resistance does not open at the same time as the rest of the park — it typically opens 30 to 60 minutes after official park opening as the Galaxy’s Edge area fills in. Arrive at Disneyland at least 45 minutes before the posted opening time, enter as soon as the gates open, and walk directly to Galaxy’s Edge through either the Fantasyland or Frontierland entrance. The Frontierland entrance near Big Thunder Mountain is slightly closer to the ride.
On a typical day, rope drop guests who move directly to Rise of the Resistance can expect waits of 20 to 40 minutes. By 10am that same day the wait is often 75 to 90 minutes or more. The difference between arriving at rope drop and arriving two hours later is frequently over an hour of waiting.
Option 2 — Lightning Lane Single Pass
Rise of the Resistance is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction — it is not included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Single Pass gives you a one-hour return window to use the Lightning Lane entrance, bypassing the standby queue entirely. Pricing runs $15 to $35 per person depending on the day, with busier days costing more.
Single Pass goes on sale at 7am on the day of your visit through the Disneyland app. On busy days inventory sells out quickly — have the app open and ready before 7am if you plan to purchase. Single Pass for Rise of the Resistance is also included in Lightning Lane Premier Pass.
Option 3 — Single Rider Line
Rise of the Resistance offers a single rider line on select days when the standby queue is particularly long. Single rider means you will be separated from your group and seated with strangers to fill empty spots in ride vehicles. The wait in the single rider line is typically 30 to 50 percent shorter than standby. This is not a good option for a first ride — you want to see it together — but it is a solid option for repeat riders comfortable with the experience.
Option 4 — Late Evening
Wait times for Rise of the Resistance tend to drop in the final 60 to 90 minutes before park close. On days where you cannot rope drop, heading to Galaxy’s Edge in the last hour of the evening is the second-best free strategy. Waits in this window are often 30 to 50 minutes versus 90 minutes midday.
Tips for Riding Rise of the Resistance
On the transport ship, stay near the doors you entered through. The transport room rotates before the doors open to the Star Destroyer hangar. Guests who entered last and stayed near the entry doors will be first out when the doors open — giving the best unobstructed view of the hangar bay reveal. This is the most spectacular single moment on the ride and worth positioning for.
Look up in the hangar bay. The full scale of the Star Destroyer interior is best appreciated by looking up at the ceiling and across the full width of the space. Most guests are so focused on the AT-AT at ground level that they miss how enormous the environment actually is.
Watch for the escape pod countdown. Just before the drop sequence, screens show a countdown. Knowing it is coming makes the drop less startling and more enjoyable — especially for kids.
Check the app for wait times before committing to standby. Rise of the Resistance has one of the most variable wait time profiles of any Disneyland attraction. The same day can have a 25-minute wait at 9am and a 100-minute wait at noon. Always check the live wait time in the Disneyland app before joining the standby queue.
Rider Switch is available. If you have a child who does not meet the 40-inch height requirement, ask a cast member at the entrance about Rider Switch. One adult can wait with the child while the rest of the group rides, then the waiting adult gets to ride without rejoining the full queue.
Planning your Galaxy’s Edge visit? Download the Enchanted Insider Disneyland Itinerary Guide — updated for 2026 with day-by-day plans, ride priorities, and Galaxy’s Edge strategy for both first-timers and returning guests.