Let's talk all about Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Walt Disney World! I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to visit a few times and I love how each visit is a totally new experience! There is so much to do and explore on the planet of Batuu which is Disney's largest expansion ever!
This post will be all about the rides. There are two rides in this land: Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and the newly open Rise of the Resistance. Smugglers Run gives you the chance to pilot, be an engineer or be a gunner on the ship that made the kessel run in 12 parsecs! Once you make it through the queue you’ll enter a holding room where you are introduced to Hondo Ohnaka of Ohnaka Transport Solutions. Chewbacca has graciously lent the Millennium Falcon to Hondo to make a couple of deliveries and you’re hired to deliver! You’ll then make your way into the Falcon itself to the “Chess room.” [TIP: This room is great for pictures] You’ll be handed your credentials which will be a color and have either “pilot”, “engineer” or “gunner” written on it. When your color is called, it’s your turn to step into the cockpit of the Falcon! If you are a pilot you will either control the up/down movements or left/right movements. Left pilot controls left/right and Right pilot controls up/down. [TIP: If you want to pull the lever to jump into lightspeed, make sure you’re Right Pilot] Next up is the 2 engineers. If your pilots are not so great at navigating the galaxy, you’ll have a lot of work to do! When the buttons beside you light up green, press them quick to repair the Falcon! Finally we have the 2 gunners. You’ll be in charge of pressing buttons to fire at anyone who stands in your way. When your mission is over, hopefully you will have made it back safe and sound. Hondo will assess how much damage was done to the ship and you’ll be paid accordingly. Smugglers Run is so much fun and is a different experience each time you ride!
The newest ride is Rise of the Resistance and I can assure you there is absolutely nothing like it in the world! It is an incredible experience that will leave you speechless from before the ride even begins! The queue starts with you heading into the caves of the Resistance’s newest base on Batuu, you’ll head deeper in until you arrive at the armory which is where the Resistance keeps all its weapons, and flight suits. Once you’re through the armory you’ll be taken in groups for briefing. In the briefing room you’ll encounter BB-8 and a few other familiar faces who urge you to join the Resistance in fighting the First Order. You’ll receive your mission briefing and then head outside to your transport shuttle. [TIP: Make sure you look to you right before heading onto the transport] Take a look around and then hold on because you’ll be heading into space! Things take a turn for the worst when you transport gets intercepted by a First Order Star Destroyer! General Hux warns that your transport is about to be boarded. When he doors open you are inside the Star Destroyer and have a whole army of Storm Troopers with their blasters aimed right at you!
You are then brought to the detention block because you are now first order prisoners. You will be split into smaller groups to be brought into your cells, where you have stormtroopers keeping guard. Help arrives in the form of Resistance fighters who are here to break you out. This is where you’ll head out of the hole in the wall that your allies have created and board your vehicles each led by a droid. Then hold on as you make your way throughout the Star Destroyer searching for a way out! You’ll dodge lasers, race under AT-AT’s and even come face to face with Kylo Ren! If you make it out of there you’ll hopefully make it to your escape pod back to Batuu!
This ride is NOT to be missed. Even if you are not a Star Wars fan, this ride is unlike anything Disney has ever done and you will be severely missing out if you decide to skip it.
If you do make it to the parks to ride Rise of the Resistance, there are some important things you need to do to ensure that you’ll be able to ride. Rise does not have a typical standby line like Smugglers Run does. Rise uses boarding groups. How do you get a boarding group? Follow these steps below!
As of now, this is the only way to ride Rise of the Resistance, but we’ll be sure to update you if/when Fastpasses become available for this attraction!
I’d love to help you plan your next galactic adventure! If you’re interested in taking advantage of my free planning services, you can contact me at Chelsea@MarvelousMouseTravels.com
