We are still blown away by how the Rise of the Resistance has taken us to a galaxy far, far away in the INCREDIBLE 20 minute attraction!
Rise of the Resistance Queue
First we took you with us to a preview of the attraction, and now we’ve given you a few of our thoughts after our FIRST RIDE on the newest must-do in Galaxy’s Edge. Now that we’ve escaped from the clutches of the First Order (phew!), we’re gonna let you in on a few secrets about what to expect during your galactic adventure!
Although we are digging the state-of-the-art ride systems and animatronics in the Rise of the Resistance, we are amazed by the attention to detail in the attraction.
Rise of the Resistance
One of the coolest parts at the beginning of the attraction is the space battle that occurs while you’re in the transport ship. The entire vehicle moves while you watch the battle outside the “windows.” It seriously feels like you’re in the middle of a Star Wars movie (that Disney magic, you guys!!).
We got the deets from the Imagineer in charge of Visual Media, who also happened to create Star Tours (!!!), about how they were able to develop the window scenes while the vehicle is moving.
Rise of the Resistance Transport Ship
Since Rise of the Resistance expands on some of the original Star Tour’s concepts, the Imagineer told us that they had to update the screens to fit the new attraction. Basically, all of the scenes are contoured and set to move with you during the ride. If you just watched the movie on a regular screen, it would jump and move around with weird angles (almost like the moving version of a 3-D film).
Rise of the Resistance Transport Ship
If that effect isn’t awesome enough for you, then you can spot the physical bullet holes appearing in the walls and “gun fire” laser and light projections as you try to escape the First Order! Where did they come from!?
As you make your way through Stormtroopers, AT-ATs, and Kylo Ren, you can watch the ship take actual damage as you bust out of the Star Destroyer.
So, if you think about the effects in Muppet Vision 3D or the Haunted Mansion, imagine those times a hundred on Rise of the Resistance. Amazing, right?!
Kylo Cutting the Ceiling
Buuut, if you’re looking for something a little bit different each time you ride the attraction, you should know that there are two ride “types!” (Wait, whaaat?) As you load into the transport vehicle with the adorable R5 Astromech Droid in the rescue room, you can have two unique vantage points in the front and back “droid mobiles” (as we so lovingly call them here at DFB).
Transport Vehicle
If you board the front droid mobile, you’ll go to a separate elevator in the AT-AT room where you’ll see the Finn animatronic in his Stormtrooper suit AND two Stormtroopers inside the AT-AT! You’ll also end up on Kylo’s left when you encounter him throughout the ride.
Rise of the Resistance
The back droid mobile switches things up slightly, taking you to another elevator in the AT-AT room where guests can spot a DIFFERENT Finn animatronic in a different position as well as a Stormtrooper and First Order guard on the screen!
The two vehicles experience the probe droid differently as well, with the front vehicle getting a much better view!
Rise of the Resistance
The difference between the two different vehicle experiences kind of reminds us of sitting in the first row versus the second in Soarin’ or riding the left side versus the right in Space Mountain (which is a neat little trick for some attraction variations!). The experience is largely the same, but there are slight differences and you may prefer one to the other.
At the end of the epic ride, you’ll board an escape pod with that surprisingly fun (but only about 2 seconds long) Tower of Terror style drop. While you’re waiting for your “launch,” you can see the outside of Star Destroyer as well as the other escape pods being released! So, if you love that feeling of anticipation before the drop, this is the BEST way to get you hyped up for the end of Rise of the Resistance!
Escape Pod
So, the next time you join the Resistance, be sure to keep a lookout for all these details! And, you can be the first to know if we spot any more by subscribing to our newsletter!
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Have you been on Rise of the Resistance yet? Let us know in the comments below!
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When we went on the ride on day 2 of opening, the AT-AT’s were just parked to left side together and not “active”. Has anyone gone on the ride and had them active during that scene or ride? You see all the ads with them lit red as if interactive yet on our ride they were inactive to left. We were seated in front row on front car so were excited for that scene and nothing happened with AT-AT’s.
Dave, our AT-AT’s weren’t moving either. We rode on 12/19, and they just seemed static, unlike in the ads where they seem like they are going to shoot at you. I don’t know if that’s something that works infrequently, or maybe a change was made to the ride, between the time the ads were produced, to now.
Bob, i just saw the new Star Wars movie yesterday, and the previews at the theater showed many different Disney Galaxy Edge commercials. Every one showed the AT-AT’s lit red and firing along with Stormtroopers also in the room above them engaging in shooting. So I am curious to read if anyone has seen them in action or if that technology rollout has yet to occur??
Dave — After riding several times, the AT-ATs don’t move. They do have screens in them showing characters (first order soldiers and stormtroopers) and they may have lasers, but the AT-ATs themselves are stationary.
AJ- that is weird as both were side by side to left against wall ( as if parked/inactive) when I rode on day 2 yet I see Disney commercials where they are spread apart and in center of room active with firing going on and Stormtroopers above? I watched videos of trackless cars riding in between AT-AT legs yet our ride made a left into room in front of them? Must have been out of commission.
What I haven’t read about is how cool the cast members running the ride play the part of First Order officers! All stern faced, called out and told us “rebel scum” to walk single file onto your numbers lol. Someone next to me was carrying a BB-8 unit and guy said, “that will make nice scrap metal!” Really adds to the ride aura.
When we rode, I was standing next to my granddaughter & the guy says to me in a loud commanding voice, ‘I said single file!’. I got back behind her & we were laughing, as it was so “in character”, but he never cracked a smile. It was so cool & one of best parts.