Everything you need to know about the new standby line at Walt Disney World's Star Wars Rise of the Resistance

Sep 23, 2021 in "Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance"

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Star Wars Rise of the Resistance first day of standby queue operation

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Posted: Thursday September 23, 2021 9:19am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World's Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is operating a standby queue for the first time since it opened in 2019, dramatically changing how guests experience the attraction from its original virtual queue with boarding groups.

Standby queue is now the only way to experience Star Wars Rise of the Restistance

As a reminder, the Virtual Queue is no longer available, with the standby line being the only way to experience the ride. For a quick look at the rope drop, watch the video below.

Here is a rundown of the new arrival process at Disney's Hollywood Studios and how entry to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is organized.

The parking plaza opened to cars at 7:45am, with guests passing through security and entering the park immediately.

Cast Members direct guests heading for Star Wars Rise of the Resistance to the left-hand side of Sunset Blvd, passing alongside Hollywood and Vine.

8:45am at the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue

The rope drop is located just before the Backlot Express Restaurant, across from the Mickey Shorts Theater.

Rope drop took place at 8:30am at the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue

The actual rope drop takes place at 8:30am, with guests then moving in a heavily congested pack toward Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.

In the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue at 8:35am

Today, the scene resembled that of opening day in 2019.

The Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue at 8:37am

Looking back along the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue at 8:40am

Opening day in December 2019

The first guests were entering the main ride queue under the marquee today at 8:50am.

In the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue nearing the ride entrance at 8:45am

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue at 8:45am

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue at 8:50am

Extended queues have been setup around Star Wars Galaxy's Edge.

Extended area for the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance standby queue

The posted wait time at 8:50am was 120 minutes, moving to 180 minutes by 9:15am.

120 minute wait at 8am

During the first hour of operations, the line for Rise of the Resistance began at Star Tours. Guests wishing to visit Galaxy's Edge for anything other than Rise of the Resistance use a line on the left side and bypass the busy line.

Entry to Galaxy's Edge is not possible from Toy Story Land at rope drop, but does open shortly after.

Access to Galaxy's Edge via Toy Story Land is blocked

By 10am today, the queue was largely being contained in the expanded overflow queue areas that uses part of the MuppetVision queue.

Overflow queue in use at 10am via the Muppet queue area

Overflow queue in use at 10am

150 minute posted wait at 10:10am

At 11am, the wait was a very manageable 75 minutes, and was entirely contained in the indoor space of the Rise of the Resistance queue area. The actual wait time was more in the region of 20 minutes, despite the posted 75 minutes.

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance first day of standby queue operation

75 minute wait at 11am

Overflow queue empty at 11am

The opening of the 2pm park hopping window did not appear to cause any spike, with waits at 3pm falling to just 50 minutes as of 3:15pm.

We'll be monitoring the situation at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance throughout the day, so check back for more coverage and photos.

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plawren2Dec 03, 2021

key seems to be to take advantage of the 1/2 hr early entry, be at gates 1/2 before that time, and you will be right into short line; using that 1 hr could save you an addition 60-90 minutes if you wait even a little later

TrainsOfDisneyDec 03, 2021

So about the same as a normal Disney E-ticket?

choco chocoDec 03, 2021

I went on twice this week, once in the morning and once in the evening. I would say in the AM lines average about two hours plus and drop considerably the later it gets. My evening ride I only waited about 30 minutes.

tancDec 03, 2021

Seems to be what I expected, pretty crazy.

J4546Dec 03, 2021

I was at DL today and the line for RISE went to the hungry bear and looped back into GE but was stated only a 90 min wait. Luckily my GF has DAS so we could just walk right on, but 90 mins isnt too bad of a wait

HauntedPirateDec 03, 2021

Early last week - 4 hours.

tancDec 03, 2021

Bumping this sorry for the slight necro, was wondering after a while how the lines are now?

plawren2Oct 16, 2021

we are staying on site, so could simply take bus from resort at 7am

DKampyOct 15, 2021

I find if you get line. 15 minutes before park closing…you will wait less than 15 minutes

RoadiJeffOct 15, 2021

Unless you have an Uber dropping you off they will not even let you into the parking lot before 7:30am. We discovered that the other morning as we had to circle around and stop 1/2 mile up the road from the parking toll gate with our flashers on, acting like we had car trouble, until 7:30. Several other vehicles were doing the same thing. Yes, RotR could go down at 9:30am but it has a much better chance of coming back up sometime later in the day than if someone waits until 2 hours before the park closes before jumping in line and having it go down then. I personally wouldn't (and didn't) risk it. The other 6 people in our group had never experienced RotR and they thoroughly loved it.

plawren2Oct 14, 2021

we will see, also could go down at 930a while in a two hour wait... if it goes down later in day and we missing riding, so be it...nothing we can do about that.... but I don't see us getting to park gate at 7am for a 830a opening, fighting mass of hundreds to the entrance while hoping not to still have 90 min wait.

RoadiJeffOct 14, 2021

Good luck with that. I was in the park all day yesterday and saw the standby line go from 80 minutes at 8:45 all the way up to 160 minutes, which wasn't that far off our actual wait of 155 minutes at 9:10. I also saw RotR go down several times in the early evening. It came back up but I've seen it go down and stay down once it goes down in the evening. Evening hours were 90+ minutes when it was running.

plawren2Oct 13, 2021

nope, we get access into park at 830a but already seeing immediate wait of 2 hrs, willing to take chance we can ride in early evening with one hr or less wait

RoadiJeffOct 12, 2021

It's only a 2 hour wait if you're toward the back of the initial crowd rush. We are going to be standing at the gate by 7:30am tomorrow for the 9:00am opening. I know the early opening resort park guests will already be in there but it won't be as bad as if we waited until the park opens to everyone before showing up. We stood in line at 4:00am the first week when RotR initially opened, so I'm used to early morning waits for this fabulous attraction. Whatever it takes to get it done.