Rise of the Resistance uses a completely different boarding procedure than any other attraction in Walt Disney World. Since the pandemic, the logistics of getting a boarding group have changed. They currently release the groups at 10 AM and 2 PM (but that could change by your visit).
Because of the massive popularity of Rise of the Resistance, Disney is utilizing a virtual queue system with boarding groups. You’ll be assigned a random boarding group and with any luck, you’ll actually get to ride. Keep in mind it is possible that you go through everything and still don’t make it on the attraction.
Here’s how to book a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance:
- Get to Hollywood Studios and get through the turnstiles before the listed opening time. It doesn’t make any difference if you were the first Guest in the park or the 1,000th. The only thing that matters is that you are inside the park with your MagicBand/Ticket scanned by the opening time.
- Once you get in the park, your best bet is to find a secluded place away from the herd of people to wait to get your boarding group. Yes, this does mean missing out on some shorter lines for the attractions but I’ve discovered waiting with herds of people will affect your signal.
- At exactly the listed time, you can join a boarding group through the My Disney Experience app (find the option on the main page of the app). You can book it for everyone in your party who is in the park with you. If they didn’t get up and have their band/ticket scanned, they are out of luck.
- They will assign you your boarding group number and then you are free to do whatever you’d like until your group is called. You have 1 hour to return to the attraction during your boarding group window (the app will tell you that day how long you have to return). If you have a higher number, you can leave the park and come back. Just keep an eye on My Disney Experience as they update what boarding numbers they are currently on.
- When your boarding group is called, it works almost like a FastPass. They will check your boarding group number and then admit you to the attraction.
- They do not currently give you an estimated time on when your boarding group will be called.
- Once you are in the attraction, the queue can then take anywhere from 15-45+ minutes until you board the attraction.
Tips:
- Make sure you have the My Disney Experience app BEFORE you get to Hollywood Studios and your tickets are linked. 4
- Your party that is in the park with you will automatically be selected when you go to book the virtual queue pass. I love this update as it saves a ton of time.
- Turn OFF Disney Wifi and using your Cellular Data instead. Make sure you toggle off the wifi option.
- Animation Courtyard near Disney Junior Dance Party might have better cellular service than the rest of the park. Getting into hoards of people (such as waiting for Toy Story Land to open) might mean your data is slower. Standing away from people could be your best bet. We grab a table across from the The Trolley Car Cafe in the shade to wait.
- Close all the apps on your phone EXCEPT for My Disney Experience
- Hover your thumb above the “Join” button so that you can tap it the second your phone clock changes to the appropriate time.
- If you are using the DAS card or Rider Switch, you do need to secure a Boarding Group first before you can utilize these services.
- You can not get more than one boarding pass per day.
Let me know what boarding group you got and your tactics!