After a fairly good run during the busy holiday season, Disney’s luck seems to have run out with their new ride, Star Wars: Rise of Resistance at Hollywood Studios. Boarding group reservations, the virtual queuing system for the ride ran out in record time this morning, leaving many guests who had made the trip to the park unable to ride the attraction.
To make matters worse, Rise of the Resistance broke down several times throughout the day. Guests complained of being stranded on the ride or stuck in line for several hours. Riders also had to wait in queues to exit the ride after it broke down. They were then directed to Guest Relations where they had to wait in yet another line. Reports from stranded riders indicate they received a Fastpass for their troubles.
Line for Rise of the Resistance on January 3, 2020
The Jotter happened to be in the park at the time. We saw lines stretching out of the Rise of the Resistance queue, beyond Galaxy’s Edge and through the tunnel to Grand Avenue, the land where Muppet Vision 3D is located. Guests we spoke with towards the end of the line said their boarding group had yet to be called as of 6:37 pm. They were group 89. As I write this three hours later, groups 88-94 are just being called. A cast member directing park goers along the path near the line was telling guests they will call their boarding groups as they become ready. At the front of the park, Disney’s Guest Relations was inundated with guests. The lines for Guest Relations both inside and outside the park extended beyond the ropes for the queue.
Guest Relations
Guest Relations
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, the latest ride to launch at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, opened to praise. The accolades were not only for the ride, but for the queuing system that limited the amount of time guests had to wait in line. Upon entering the park, guests reserve a spot in a virtual line using the Disney mobile app. Guests receive a boarding group number and can check the app throughout the day to see which groups are currently boarding. When their boarding group is called, a notification appears in the app to alert guests that they can take their place in line. They can even leave the park as they wait and return up to two hours after being called.
Despite the delays, guests are still raving about the ride after experiencing it. For those unable to ride and posting about their experiences on social media, Disney is apologizing and directing them to speak with Guest Relations Cast Members for assistance.