The newest attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney World has gotten off to such a popular start that Disney has made some new changes to its virtual queue system and boarding groups that they hope will make things run more smoothly.
“As more and more guests ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, we’ve been testing new ideas to make the overall experience the best it can be, according to Disney Parks Blog. “We’ve been learning so much and are focused on continuing to make the process of getting into the park and onto the attraction even better every day and want to ensure all of our guests know what to expect when visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios.”
Here’s what to know:
Virtual queue will be available at the published park opening time. We may welcome guests onto Hollywood Boulevard prior to opening the rest of the park, and limited nearby locations will be open for your convenience. This includes Trolley Car Café where you can pick up a beverage for your own personal “jump to lightspeed,” and if you need to grab a few galactic gifts, Keystone Clothiers will be available.
At the park’s published opening time, the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens along with offerings throughout the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests must be in Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access virtual queue in the My Disney Experience app.
Due to the incredible popularity of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney will continue to distribute backup boarding groups after the initial planned groups have been filled. Backup boarding groups will only be called if all of the initial planned boarding groups have been called back and there is capacity for more riders that evening. If we are able to accommodate boarding groups that evening, guests will be notified through the My Disney Experience app by a push notification (if enabled).
For anyone with questions or needing a hand with the virtual queue, the members of the Guest Experience Team are available throughout the park to assist. And while people wait for their turn to rise up with the Resistance, there’s plenty to do around Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Here are a few of our recommendations!
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance made its public debut Dec. 5, 2019, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and this is the Disney attraction you’re looking for!
After years of anticipation for this groundbreaking new attraction, guests will now become heroes of the Resistance in a climactic battle with the First Order.
During a special dedication ceremony Wednesday night inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek lauded the attraction’s immersive storytelling and technological innovation.
“Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance sets a new standard for what a theme park experience can be,” Chapek said. “Tonight, we’re welcoming the world to experience the Star Wars galaxy like never before, with the opening of the most ambitious, immersive, advanced, action-packed attraction we’ve ever created.”
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most ambitious attractions ever created for a Disney park. The thrilling action takes place in massive sets that give guests the feeling of stepping inside a Star Warsfilm as they elude the clutches of Kylo Ren and the First Order in a mad dash through a Star Destroyer.
The new attraction adds to the adventures that await inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the 14-acre land that opened earlier this year at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests become part of their own Star Wars stories as they take control of the fastest ship in the galaxy in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, sample galactic food and drink, craft their own lightsabers and build their own droids in interactive retail experiences, and encounter some of their favorite Star Wars characters.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the latest chapter in the collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland.
As a reminder, guests at Disneyland park in California can begin enjoying Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance when the attraction opens there on January 17, 2020.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is just days away from opening at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney has released a new video giving us another sneak peek inside the upcoming attraction.
Airing Thursday night during “The Wonderful World of Disney: Magical Holiday Celebration on ABC, the new behind-the-scenes footage included footage of passengers on the ride, droids, explosions, Kylo Ren and even new glimpses at the ride’s queue.
Disney Parks released some extra footage Friday which shows some of the the same scenes, but also features Disney’s “Volunteer Family of the Year,” which got to experience the attraction ahead of its debut as you can see in the video below.
As the story of the ride goes, riders will be recruited to fight the First Order. They will first board a full-size transport shuttle before being captured by a Star Destroyer and the First Order. From there, they’ll come face-to-face with Kylo Ren as they try to escape.
Trackless ride vehicles will transport rides through various scenes, where they’ll encounter Stormtroopers, TIE fighters, lightsabers and full-sized AT-ATs.
Rise of the Resistance is comprised of multiple ride systems, making it one of Disney’s most ambitious attractions.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is scheduled to open December 5 at Hollywood Studios and on January 17 at Disneyland in California.
The Force is strong today throughout Orlando International Airport with the debut of new décor that helps travelers feel as if they’ve stepped into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the new 14-acre land inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
Disney is the first organization the airport has invited to create artistic renderings that wrap shuttle stations within the airline terminals. It’s a creative first for Central Florida’s major transport hub that welcomes nearly 50 million passengers each year.
“We are constantly evolving the airport experience to make it more service oriented, passenger friendly and fun,” said Raymond Anderson, senior director of concessions and properties for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “This new installation provides a preview of what vacationers and business travelers alike can expect at Walt Disney World. It’s also the most recent in a long line of collaborations between the airport and Disney over the decades.”
“Our Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge art installation reflects how very special the Walt Disney World Resort and Orlando International Airport relationship is,” said Claire Bilby, senior vice president of sales, services and events for Walt Disney World. “We’ve had a string of fruitful projects with the airport, like having two supersonic jets land simultaneously to celebrate the opening of Epcot in 1982, creating the groundbreaking Disney’s Magical Express service in 2005, today’s first-of-its kind art installation and so much more. The airport is Central Florida’s ‘welcome’ to visitors from around the globe. We’re honored to put our Disney magic to work in making that welcome exciting and memorable.”
As travelers arrive in Orlando and prepare to board shuttles for the airport’s Main Terminal, they will see life-size depictions of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that look as if visitors could step right into the new land.
One scene creates a dimensional landscape that feels as if visitors are standing inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where travelers can see the iconic Millennium Falcon and other landmarks from the new land. In another scene, it appears as if First Order Stormtroopers are waiting to step off the shuttle as the train arrives in the station.
Combined, these artistic representations of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge stretch longer than eight full-size buses. They will remain in place into 2020.
More new fun and excitement from a galaxy far, far away can be had elsewhere inside Orlando International Airport. Also debuting today at the Magic of Disney store in the Main Terminal West Hall – available to all airport guests, with or without boarding passes – is a new photo location featuring droids from the Star Wars galaxy. When the airport’s second Magic of Disney store, in the Main Terminal East Hall, reopens Nov. 22, 2019, it will feature a 36-foot-long video screen on an exterior wall showing scenes from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This will be another ideal photo spot, giving visitors an enticing glimpse of the new land.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge invites guests to live their own Star Wars adventures at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. They can take control of the Millennium Falcon, build a droid or a lightsaber, sample galactic food and drinks and discover much more. A groundbreaking new attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, opens Dec. 5, 2019, inside the land, bringing guests into a climactic battle between the Resistance and the First Order in an experience of cinematic scale.
Disney PhotoPass Service is a perfect way to capture and relive your adventure inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, especially with creative new offerings like the new 360° Tiny World Magic Shot!
Available by visiting a Disney PhotoPass photographer near the Milk Stand, this unique photo puts you right in the center of Black Spire Outpost and its surrounding landscape with a single 360° image! Sometimes the world DOES revolve around you.
During your visit to Batuu, also be sure to check out two of our Super Zoom Magic Shots, which provide amazing angles from high above and a one-of-a-kind video.
The Tiny World Magic Shot is available exclusively during daytime hours in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and is available for download as part of the Memory Maker and Memory Maker One Day products. Or, you can purchase a digital download of the photo for $16.95 at Disneyworld.com/PhotoPass.
Don’t miss the chance to capture one of the most spectacular vantage points on the planet!
Hayden Christensen, who played the Jedi who became Darth Vader in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, recently brought his daughter Briar Rose to Disneyland in Anaheim, California to celebrate her fifth birthday.
The family has a special connection to Disney: Briar Rose is named after the adopted name of Princess Aurora in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty.
“There’s a Disney reference there, I suppose,” Hayden said in an interview on Hallmark Channel’s Home and Family a few years ago, according to Glamour. “The original Sleeping Beauty is called Briar Rose. Rachel—we both love Disney—but Rachel especially was very keen on the name.”
Over the past few months, there have been rumors that the actor will reprise his role of Anakin, specifically Anakin’s Force Ghost, in the upcoming movie Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, the third and final part of the current third trilogy starring main stars Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver, which is also the conclusion of all three trilogies. Walt Disney Studios and Lucasfilm have not commented on the rumors.
This will be a day long remembered at Disney World, as the grand opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is finally here!
Fireworks exploded overhead during the land’s dedication ceremony on Wednesday morning as Bob Chapek, chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, was flanked by the mighty Chewbacca and other Star Wars characters and today it’s officially open to the public..
“With the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, we’ve set a new standard for the most immersive storytelling in the galaxy,” said Chapek. “Every experience in Batuu – from piloting the Millennium Falcon to building your own droid – puts guests deeper into their own Star Wars story.”
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which opened at Disneyland Park in California on May 31, 2019, is the largest and most technologically advanced single-themed land expansion ever in a Disney park. The 14-acre land transports guests to the remote planet of Batuu, full of unique sights, sounds, smells and tastes.
Guests become part of their own Star Warsstories as they experience galactic food and beverages, such as iconic Blue Milk and Green Milk. They can craft their own lightsabers or build their own droids in immersive, interactive retail experiences. They can explore an intriguing collection of merchant shops and may even come across iconic Star Wars characters.
In one of the land’s signature attractions, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, guests take the controls of the most famous ship in the galaxy as pilots, gunners or flight engineers in an exhilarating experience that responds in real time to the actions they take. A second anchor attraction, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will debut Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Jan. 17, 2020, at Disneyland. In the most ambitious, immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined, guests will become part of the action during a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance in an experience that will blur the lines between fantasy and reality.
The new land builds off decades of collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland Park in California.
If your looking to board your flight after your trip to Disneyland or Disney World then this is NOT the souvenir you’re looking for. The Transportation Security Administration has banned the Star Wars-themed Coke bottles from flights because it looks like an explosive.
The bottles are one of the many exclusive items sold at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Even though they are just a bottle to hold a refreshing soda, they still resemble the grenade-like explosive seen in the Star Wars movies — specifically in Return of the Jedi when Princess Leia, disguised as the Ubese hunter Boushh, threatens to blow up Jabba the Hutt’s barge with one.
In response to a question, the TSA indicated on Twitter that Star Wars-themed Coke bottles are banned from checked and carry-on luggage, saying, “Replica and inert explosives aren’t allowed in either carry-on or checked bags,” as you can see in the post below:
Thanks for asking! Replica and inert explosives aren't allowed in either carry-on or checked bags.
Fans became enamored with these plastic bottles even before the California iteration of Galaxy’s Edge opened in May. Many have collected the bottles and brought them home from the park to display on shelves or, in some cases, turn into Christmas tree ornaments.
At $5.49, the bottles are one of the cheapest souvenirs available at Galaxy’s Edge — and popular: Disney has limited guests to three bottles per transaction to prevent hoarding. But with the TSA’s new policy, that may no longer be a problem. Disney PR declined to comment on the TSA decision; Cola-Cola and TSA could not be reached for comment.
Disney Dorks was invited to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Grand Opening Ceremony two days before it opened to the public and the details are just amazing.
As a Star Wars lover this was the chance of a lifetime for me, so I jumped on it! I am all about the details; and with a million hidden gems to discover, I personally felt like Black Spire was an amazing place to explore. I wanted to share my visit, and delve deeper into all the behind the scenes details with you.
First off, let’s talk about the location of Black Spire Outpost (BSO to the natives). It is located on Batuu; “a far-flung destination along the galaxy’s Outer Rim, on the frontier of Wild Space – the uncharted region beyond all known star systems.” It’s a rough and tumble kind of place, full of smugglers and other unsavory elements, many of them looking for a place outside the reach of the First Order. Batuu’s landscape is dotted with tall petrified tree trunks, which hint at this planet’s ancient history. Black Spire gets it’s name from a trunk in the center of the village that is darker than all the others.
Millennium Falcon
As any diehard fan can tell you, the Star Wars galaxy has a very specific design esthetic, which includes round buildings, a rough lived-in feel, and a muted color palette. The Imagineers took special note of this when designing Black Spire, so as soon as you walk in you feel like you’re “Home.” They visited George Lucas’ private archives in California to study original concept art created by Ralph McQuarrie (the artist responsible for shaping the look of the Star Wars galaxy) and took 360-degree digital pictures of original movie props and costumes, to recreate them for the land.
Smugglers Run Ride Que
While Galaxy’s Edge is set during the current trilogy, it feels like Han or Leia could walk around a corner any minute, or Obi-Wan and Luke may have driven by in their Landspeeder a few minutes ago. There are hints of the past everywhere you look.
Landspeeder in the shop for repairs
In Dok-Ondar’s Den of Antiquities, you’ll be awed by all the treasures he has collected from across the Galaxy. There are even some that he is willing to part with… for a price! As you enter this legendary antiquities dealers shop, the first thing you see is a bas-relief mural depicting an ancient battle between the light and dark sides of the Force. The original of this mural can be seen in Chancellor Palpatine’s office in Revenge of the Sith.
There are many pieces of jewelry for sale, including Quira’s necklace from Solo and the beacon bracelet worn by Rey in The Last Jedi.
Beacon Bracelet by Rey in The Last Jedi
You might notice the necklace worn by Princess Leia Organa at the end of A New Hope. Disney actually contacted the original European designer, who still had the mold, four decades later! They used that mold to re-create this amazing necklace. You know this one’s on my wish list.
Leias Necklace from A New Hope
This is also the place to find Kyber Crystals, those elusive stones used to power Jedi Lightsabers, which are available in blue, green, purple, red, yellow, and white. Then there are Holocrons; box-like objects where Jedi and Sith alike have stored information about the galaxy and the Force. These can be unlocked and accessed when paired with a Kyber crystal.
Red Holocron and Kyber Crsytals
In this shop make sure you look up for more hidden gems. You might spy a four eyed Nexu head mounted on the wall – one of the beasts set loose in the Genosian arena to kill Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Padmé Amidala at the climax of Attack of the Clones. Or blasters from some of the most iconic Star Wars characters. Those aren’t for sale though, they’re part of Dok-Ondar’s private collection. There are endless Star Wars Easter Eggs in Dok-Ondar’s Den, so keep your eyes peeled.
Mounted Trophy Heads
After all that exploring you might want to head over to Oga’s Cantina for some refreshment. Oga Garra is the Boss of Black Spire, and you won’t see her at the Cantina because she’s most likely out collecting payments, but she runs a tight ship.
Entrance to the Cantina
Since it’s an outpost on the edge of the galaxy, things here are pieced together from whatever the residents could salvage, or steal. While I was visiting the Cantina the hyperdrive in the middle of the Cantina broke down! But don’t worry, the employees here know how to gently coax *bang* it back into working order!
The Bar inside Ogas
Oga serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments, and the music you’ll hear while enjoying your drink was collected from musicians and composers from around the world to give the Cantina a galactic playlist. One of my favorite parts of the Cantina was DJ R-3X, otherwise known as DJ Rex. He’s there all day, singing and mixing tunes for you to enjoy. You might recognize him as the former pilot for Star Tours, before it was updated.
Here you can also take home a unique souvenir in the form of a Tiki inspired mug. They are made to have a hand carved look to them, like something you might buy at a craft fair.
Yub Nub Mug
Another layer of the storytelling in Black Spire are the costumes, which Disney Imagineers spent three years developing. Cast Members can personalize their costume each day with many options; including tunics, vests, scarves, hats, and necklaces. They are encouraged to come up with their own persona or character, be it a Smuggler or a Batuu Native. I would really encourage you to interact with Cast Members as they play a large part in the story of Batuu. If you take the time to talk with them they have ‘trinkets’ they may entrust you with; like trading cards of Resistance Spies!
Residents of Batuu
You will be greeted with salutations of “Bright Suns!” or “Rising Moons!” depending on what time of day it is, and “May the Spires Keep You” or “Good Journey” as you leave a shop. If you’re looking for the restroom you might be directed toward the “Refresher,” and you’ll have to park your “youngling transport,” AKA stroller, before you get in line for Smugglers Run. All of this makes it even easier to immerse yourself in your chosen role of Resistance fighter, First Order loyalist, or Scoundrel.
In Black Spire there won’t be lines for traditional Meet and Greets. Character like Stormtroopers, Chewbacca, Rey, and Resistance spy Vi Moradi will be roaming Black Spire. This means it may be harder to get a good picture with your favorite character, but it adds to the authenticity of the Glaxay’s Edge. I had a chance encounter with Rey and we took some scans together!
Rey
Another one of my favorite spots was the open-air Marketplace. Imagineers traveled to places like Turkey and Morocco to find inspiration for this open air souk.
I was lucky enough to visit Black Spire during the day and at night, and at night all the lanterns are lit, giving it a beautiful glow. I am in love with all the lanterns!
Marketplace at night
Jewels of Bith is the shop to visit if you’re looking for small trinkets like pins and coffee mugs. I recommend this shop because it’s where I got my own pair of Han’s dice, just like the ones that hang in the Millennium Falcon! Black Spire Outfitters is the shop to visit if you’re looking for authentic Batuuan attire. My favorite part of this shop was the rainbow of fabric hanging from the ceiling. Many of them are labeled as ‘Sold’, or ‘On Hold.’ If you look closely, and you’ve been practicing your Aurebesh, you’ll see a bolt of fabric with Lando Calrissian’s name on it. There’s also a droid in this shop. A shop employee told me that it belongs to the shopkeeper, and sews all her creations, but it only works when she’s there.
Sewing Droid
Black Spire is full of amazing Photo Ops – I found this Speeder next to Savi’s Workshop. With different themed areas like Resistance and First Order encampments there are endless amounts of places to take pictures in your Disneybounds! I think next time I’ll go as Leia.
When Disney created this new land they planned for it to be completely immersive. At more than 14 acres – the largest single-themed land in Disney Parks history – there is room for you to roam, explore, and build your own story. That’s why Black Spire is a new place, on a new planet – so you can build your story here! You can be a Resistance Spy one day and a Loyal First Order subject the next.
The ‘Play Disney Parks Mobile App’ is a big part of that. By using the ‘Datapad’ in your pocket to collect credits the land becomes so much more immersive. The mobile app really draws you in, and makes you feel like part of the story. Using the app lets you interact with the land on a deeper level. The ‘Hack’ function lets you ‘slice’ door panels or interact with droids.
The ‘Scan’ feature enables you to scan crates to see what cargo is inside.
Scan QR Codes on Cargo
Using the ‘Translate’ option you’ll be able to understand all the languages from the Star Wars galaxy used in Galaxy’s Edge, and the ‘Tune’ function lets you tap into antenna’s and eavesdrop on secret conversations.
Intercept First Order Transmissions
When Galaxy’s Edge opens in Disney World I’ll be writing another in-depth blog on this feature, which I’m really excited about!
Batuu at Night
I found Black Spire to be magical – when you’re there you feel like you’re on another planet, and I didn’t want to leave at the end of the night! Just like Pandora, this land comes alive at night, with spectacular lighting and lanterns hidden in places you don’t see during the day. My advice is to take your time, interact with cast members, learn the lingo, and enjoy some out-of-this-world drinks!
Have you experienced Black Spire? Let us know how you felt about it, and if you haven’t gone yet what are you most looking forward to?
We’ve got some exciting news to share with the galaxy! Disney has announced the opening date for ‘Rise of the Resistance’ at Galaxy’s Edge in both Disneyland and Disney World.
You better brush up on your spy skills because Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will be opening on Thursday Dec. 5th, 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort, and Friday, January 17th, 2020 at Disneyland.
Guests visiting Galaxy’s Edge will be able to join the Resistance in a climatic battle against the First Order! Imaginers say it will be the most immersive and advanced attraction ever imagined in a Disney Park.
When it opens, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will blur the lines between fantasy and reality by putting Guests in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. You will be recruited to join Rey and General Organa at a secret base. Along the way, you will be captured by a First Order Star Destroyer, but with the help of some heroes of the Resistance, you’ll embark on a mission to escape, protect the secret base, and stay one step ahead of Kylo Ren.
Contact Kimberly at Enchanted Kingdom Vacations to plan your own trip to Batuu. I have lots of Disney trips and tricks that will make your trip even more magical; all at no extra cost to you!
