Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is less like a traditional Disneyland ride and more like walking into the middle of a Star Wars movie.

Guests begin as Resistance recruits on Batuu before boarding a transport ship, getting captured by the First Order, encountering stormtroopers and eventually escaping aboard a trackless ride vehicle. The attraction uses multiple ride systems, large physical sets, Audio-Animatronics, projection effects and a small drop to create one of Disneyland’s most elaborate experiences.

Riders must be at least 40 inches (102 cm) tall. Disney currently classifies Rise of the Resistance as a Small Drops, Thrill Ride, Dark, Loud and Scary attraction.

For families, however, the most important thing to understand is this:

The physical ride is not especially extreme.

The story and atmosphere are what can make Rise of the Resistance feel intense.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Live Wait Time

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at a Glance

Ride detail	Information
Park	Disneyland Park
Land	Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Height requirement	40 inches / 102 cm
Attraction type	Immersive multi-system thrill attraction
Experience	Walk-through scenes, transport, trackless ride and drop
Approximate experience time	About 18 minutes once the main experience begins
Thrill level	3 out of 5
Scare level	4 out of 5
Drop level	2 out of 5
Motion-sickness risk	2 out of 5
Sensory level	5 out of 5
Physical effort	1 out of 5
Lightning Lane	Single Pass and Premier Pass
Lightning Lane Multi Pass	Not included
Single Rider	Not offered
Rider Switch	Yes
Accessibility	Transfer from wheelchair/ECV required
Best for	Star Wars fans, school-age kids, tweens, teens and adults
Disneyland With Dad rating	5 out of 5 Mickeys
Recommended maximum standby wait	About 60 minutes

Rise of the Resistance is currently Disneyland Park’s Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction. It is not included with Multi Pass, although Premier Pass includes it.

Dad’s Verdict

Rise of the Resistance is one of Disneyland’s best attractions.

Period.

The scale is enormous, the story begins long before you sit in the final ride vehicle and the line between “queue,” “preshow” and “ride” eventually becomes almost meaningless.

For kids, however, this attraction deserves more preparation than the 40-inch height requirement might suggest.

Best for: Star Wars fans, adventurous school-age kids and families who enjoy immersive attractions.

Dad’s strategy: Make this one of your highest priorities. Rope drop can work, but attraction reliability can complicate that strategy. Lightning Lane Single Pass can be worth considering if Rise is a must-do and you want more certainty.

Worth repeating? Absolutely.

Skip it for now when: A child is frightened by stormtroopers, interrogation scenes, darkness, loud battles or the feeling of being captured.

Plan Your Mission

Overview | Height Requirement | Kids | Is It Scary? | The Drop | Motion Sickness | What Happens | Best Time to Ride | Lightning Lane | Rider Switch | Accessibility | Parent Tips | Smugglers Run Comparison | History & Trivia | FAQs

What Is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance?

Rise of the Resistance is a story-driven attraction that places guests directly inside a conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.

You are not simply boarding one ride vehicle.

The experience includes several distinct stages:

• A Resistance base on Batuu
• A mission briefing
• A transport ship
• Capture by the First Order
• A massive Star Destroyer hangar
• First Order interrogation
• An escape
• A trackless ride vehicle
• AT-AT walkers
• Kylo Ren
• A space battle
• A small drop
• Escape back to Batuu

The attraction’s greatest trick is that these pieces feel like one continuous story rather than a collection of separate ride systems.

What Is the Ride Like?

Guests can expect:

• Extensive indoor and outdoor queue areas
• A Resistance mission briefing
• A standing transport experience
• Motion during the transport sequence
• Stormtroopers
• First Order officers
• A Star Destroyer hangar
• Walking between show scenes
• An interrogation sequence
• An eight-passenger trackless ride vehicle
• Sudden turns
• Backward movement
• Loud blaster effects
• Large AT-AT walkers
• Kylo Ren
• Darkness
• A brief drop
• Simulator-like movement during the finale

The actual trackless ride portion is relatively smooth.

The overall experience feels much more intense because so much happens around you.

Watch the Full Ride

Rise of the Resistance is physically manageable for many younger riders, but the First Order scenes, darkness and loud effects can feel intense. Watch the full experience first if you are unsure how your child will react.

What Is the Height Requirement for Rise of the Resistance?

Guests must be at least 40 inches (102 cm) tall.

That puts Rise of the Resistance at the same minimum height as:

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Space Mountain
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
• Star Tours

But height alone is not a good measure of whether a child is ready for Rise.

A 40-inch child may be physically tall enough while still finding the First Order portion terrifying.

Dad’s tip

Ask yourself two questions:

Is my child tall enough?

and

Will my child enjoy being captured by stormtroopers?

Those are very different questions.

Is Rise of the Resistance Good for Kids?

Disneyland With Dad kid rating: 4 out of 5

For adventurous kids, yes.

For nervous kids, this one deserves careful consideration.

Kids may love:

• Star Wars characters
• BB-8
• Resistance ships
• Stormtroopers
• Droids
• AT-AT walkers
• Blasters
• Kylo Ren
• Trackless vehicles
• Feeling like part of the story

Potential concerns include:

• Being “captured”
• Intimidating First Order officers
• Huge numbers of stormtroopers
• Darkness
• Loud battle sounds
• Kylo Ren
• Sudden effects
• The final drop

Dad’s kid verdict

For a Star Wars-loving seven-year-old, this may be the attraction they talk about for years.

For a sensitive four-year-old who has barely reached 40 inches, this can be a lot.

Is Rise of the Resistance Scary?

Disneyland With Dad scare rating: 4 out of 5

Disney officially categorizes Rise of the Resistance as Scary, and I think that is worth taking seriously with younger kids.

Not because the attraction resembles a haunted house.

It does not.

The intensity comes from how convincingly Disney makes the situation feel real.

Potentially scary moments include:

• Capture by the First Order
• Walking past rows of stormtroopers
• Stern First Order officers
• A dark interrogation room
• Kylo Ren
• Blaster fire
• Explosions
• AT-AT walkers
• Sudden vehicle movement
• The final escape sequence

Dad’s advice

If your child is nervous about Star Wars villains, do not tell them:

“It isn’t scary.”

Instead say:

“The bad guys pretend to capture us, and then we escape.”

That gives them the story in advance without ruining the attraction.

How Big Is the Drop on Rise of the Resistance?

Disneyland With Dad drop rating: 2 out of 5

The drop is short.

Rise of the Resistance does not have anything remotely comparable to the 50-foot plunge on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

Near the finale, the escape vehicle enters an escape pod and suddenly drops while the attraction transitions into a simulator-style sequence.

It happens quickly.

Dad’s comparison

Think: one brief surprise drop

rather than: drop ride.

For many kids, the anticipation is worse than the actual movement.

Does Rise of the Resistance Have Big Drops?

No.

Disney categorizes the attraction as having Small Drops.

There is one memorable vertical drop during the finale, but the attraction is not built around repeated falling sensations.

If your child can handle Big Thunder Mountain but dislikes giant flume drops, Rise may still be completely manageable.

Is Rise of the Resistance Bad for Motion Sickness?

Disneyland With Dad motion-sickness warning: 2 out of 5

Usually not.

Rise uses multiple ride systems, but most of the experience does not behave like a traditional simulator.

The trackless vehicle:

• Moves forward
• Turns
• Rotates
• Travels backward
• Accelerates briefly

The finale combines movement and projected imagery, but it is relatively short.

Dad’s advice

For most motion-sensitive guests, Smugglers Run and Star Tours are much bigger concerns.

Rise of the Resistance can still cause problems for particularly sensitive riders, but motion sickness is not usually the main reason people skip it.

The First Order Capture Is the Scariest Part for Kids

This deserves its own section because parents often worry more about the drop than they should.

The drop is over in seconds.

The First Order capture lasts much longer.

Guests leave the Resistance transport and suddenly enter an enormous Star Destroyer hangar filled with stormtroopers.

Then First Order officers begin directing groups toward interrogation rooms.

They stay in character.

For adults, it is incredible.

For a nervous five-year-old, being sternly ordered down a hallway by someone dressed as a First Order officer may feel considerably more real than Mom or Dad expected.

Dad’s tip

Prepare young children for the story, not just the ride mechanics.

Tell them:

• The stormtroopers are pretending
• The First Order will capture you
• Resistance friends will rescue you
• You escape at the end

Knowing what is happening can completely change the experience.

How Long Is Rise of the Resistance?

Rise of the Resistance is difficult to time like a normal attraction because the experience begins before the final ride vehicle.

Once the major show experience begins, plan on roughly 18 minutes, although the total time from entering the queue to exiting depends heavily on standby wait, operational pauses and boarding flow.

That makes Rise feel substantially longer and more complete than a conventional four- or five-minute ride.

Dad’s planning note

A posted 45-minute wait does not mean you will be back outside in 45 minutes.

You still have a substantial attraction experience after reaching the front of the queue.

The Best Time to Ride Rise of the Resistance

Rise deserves more strategy than almost any other Disneyland attraction.

Dad’s standby strategy

Posted standby wait	Recommendation
0–30 minutes	Ride immediately
30–45 minutes	Excellent
45–60 minutes	Very reasonable
60–75 minutes	Fine if this is a major priority
75–90 minutes	Consider Lightning Lane
More than 90 minutes	Usually look for another opportunity

Should you rope drop Rise?

It can be an excellent rope-drop strategy.

There is one major complication:

Rise of the Resistance is a complex attraction.

If it is temporarily unavailable at park opening, your carefully designed plan suddenly becomes a hike through Galaxy’s Edge.

Dad’s rope-drop strategy

If Rise is operating and you are near the front of the morning crowd, go for it.

If it is down, pivot immediately.

Do not stand outside refreshing the app for 45 minutes while everyone else rides Disneyland.

Does Rise of the Resistance Have Lightning Lane?

Yes.

Rise of the Resistance is currently a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction.

It is not included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Guests can purchase a separate Single Pass for Rise, subject to current availability and pricing. Lightning Lane Premier Pass includes one-time access to Rise.

Is Lightning Lane Single Pass worth it?

It can be.

I would consider it when:

• Rise is a must-do attraction
• Standby consistently exceeds an hour
• You have limited time at Disneyland
• You do not want to gamble on rope drop
• Someone in the family will be devastated if you miss it

Dad’s verdict

If you are going to pay separately for one attraction at Disneyland, Rise of the Resistance makes a stronger argument than almost anything else.

Does Rise of the Resistance Have Single Rider?

No.

Disney does not currently offer a dedicated Single Rider line for Rise of the Resistance.

Your normal choices are:

• Standby
• Lightning Lane Single Pass
• Lightning Lane Premier Pass
• Rider Switch when applicable

Does Rise of the Resistance Have Rider Switch?

Yes.

Disney currently offers Rider Switch for Rise of the Resistance.

This is particularly useful for families with:

• A child under 40 inches
• A child who does not want to ride
• Another qualifying circumstance under Disney’s current Rider Switch rules

Dad’s tip

Bring the entire group to the attraction entrance before splitting up.

A Cast Member will explain the current procedure and identify who is riding first and who is waiting with the non-rider.

Accessibility Information

Disney currently requires guests to transfer from a wheelchair or ECV to experience Rise of the Resistance.

Important considerations include:

• 40-inch minimum height
• Transfer into the final ride vehicle required
• Walking and standing during portions of the experience
• Multiple attraction environments
• Dark scenes
• Loud audio
• Small drop
• Trackless movement
• Rider Switch available
• Service animals may not ride

Because Rise involves several different phases rather than one simple loading platform, guests with specific mobility concerns should speak with a Cast Member before entering.

What Happens on Rise of the Resistance?

Spoiler warning: The following section describes the basic attraction experience.

Guests begin at a Resistance base on Batuu.

A mission briefing prepares recruits to leave the planet and rendezvous with Resistance forces.

You then board a transport vessel.

Things do not go according to plan.

The First Order intercepts the transport and pulls it aboard a Star Destroyer.

The doors open.

And this is where Rise of the Resistance goes from “great queue” to “what exactly did Disney build here?”

Guests step into an enormous hangar filled with stormtroopers.

First Order personnel direct prisoners toward detention cells.

Eventually, Resistance forces arrange an escape.

Guests board trackless transport vehicles and race through the Star Destroyer.

Along the way you encounter:

• Stormtroopers
• Probe droids
• AT-AT walkers
• Blaster fire
• Kylo Ren
• Starship combat

The escape eventually reaches a launch pod.

There is a brief drop.

Then the attraction transitions into a high-speed escape back toward Batuu.

Parent Tips

• Measure borderline kids before the trip.
• Remember that 40 inches tall does not automatically mean emotionally ready.
• Prepare nervous kids for being captured by the First Order.
• Explain that the First Order Cast Members are pretending.
• Tell kids there is one small surprise drop near the end.
• Do not describe Rise as a roller coaster—it is not.
• Motion sickness is usually less of a concern than on Smugglers Run or Star Tours.
• Use Rider Switch if someone is too short or does not want to ride.
• Consider Lightning Lane Single Pass if this is your family’s must-do attraction.
• If you rope drop Rise and it is down, pivot quickly.
• Allow extra time beyond the posted wait because the attraction experience itself is lengthy.
• Do not skip the preshow mentally—the story begins before the final ride vehicle.
• Let Star Wars-loving kids absorb the Star Destroyer hangar instead of immediately rushing forward.
• If a stormtrooper asks why you are smiling, remember that you are technically a prisoner.

Rise of the Resistance vs. Smugglers Run

These are the two major rides in Galaxy’s Edge, but they do completely different things.

Choose Rise of the Resistance when:

• You want the biggest Star Wars experience
• Story and immersion matter most
• Your family prefers physical sets to simulator screens
• Motion sickness is a concern
• You only have time for one Star Wars attraction
• Star Wars villains and battles sound exciting

Choose Smugglers Run when:

• Flying the Millennium Falcon is the priority
• Kids love interactive rides
• Your family wants assigned jobs
• Repeatability matters
• Single Rider is useful

Dad’s verdict

Best overall attraction: Rise of the Resistance.

Best interactive attraction: Smugglers Run.

Best plan: Do both.

Rise of the Resistance vs. Star Tours

Both involve Star Wars battles, but they are dramatically different experiences.

Rise of the Resistance

• Multiple ride systems
• Physical sets
• Walk-through portions
• Trackless vehicle
• Small drop
• 40-inch minimum
• Lightning Lane Single Pass
• Much longer experience

Star Tours

• Traditional motion simulator
• 40-inch minimum
• Randomized destinations and characters
• Higher motion-sickness risk
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass
• Shorter experience

Dad’s verdict

Better overall attraction: Rise.

Better for quickly getting a dose of Star Wars: Star Tours.

Better for motion-sensitive riders: Usually Rise.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance History

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened at Disneyland on January 17, 2020, several months after Galaxy’s Edge itself debuted.

Smugglers Run had opened with the land in May 2019, but Rise followed later because of the attraction’s extraordinary complexity.

That complexity is easy to understand once you experience it.

Rise does not rely on one ride system. It combines multiple environments and forms of transportation into one continuous narrative.

It also represents an important shift in Disney attraction design.

Instead of simply telling guests a story while they pass scenes, Rise makes guests participants in the story.

You join the Resistance.

You are captured.

You escape.

The ride vehicle is almost secondary.

Rise of the Resistance History and Trivia

• Rise of the Resistance opened at Disneyland on January 17, 2020.
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge had opened several months earlier in May 2019.
• The attraction uses multiple ride systems.
• Riders must be at least 40 inches tall.
• Disney currently classifies the attraction as Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark, Loud and Scary.
• The experience includes a Resistance transport ship.
• Guests are captured aboard a First Order Star Destroyer.
• The Star Destroyer hangar includes a large formation of stormtroopers.
• The final ride portion uses trackless vehicles.
• Guests encounter AT-AT walkers.
• Kylo Ren appears during the escape.
• The attraction includes a brief vertical drop.
• Rise currently offers Rider Switch.
• It does not currently have Single Rider.
• Rise is currently Disneyland’s Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction.
• Lightning Lane Multi Pass does not include Rise.
• Lightning Lane Premier Pass does include Rise.

What Is Near Rise of the Resistance?

Nearby attractions and experiences

• Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Guide
• Star Wars Datapad Guide
• Fire of the Rising Moons
• Shadows of Memory: A Skywalker Saga

Nearby food

• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo
• Ronto Roasters
• Milk Stand
• Oga’s Cantina

Dad’s planning suggestion

For a first visit, give Galaxy’s Edge time to breathe.

A strong sequence is:

Rise of the Resistance → explore Black Spire Outpost → eat or snack → Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Do not experience one of Disneyland’s most detailed lands entirely while speed-walking between two ride entrances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Check Current Attraction Information

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance currently requires riders to be 40 inches (102 cm) or taller. Disney classifies the attraction as Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark, Loud and Scary and currently offers Rider Switch.

Rise is currently a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction and is also included with Lightning Lane Premier Pass. It is not included with Lightning Lane Multi Pass.

Guests using wheelchairs or ECVs must transfer to experience the attraction.

Official attraction details checked: August 14, 2026
Last personally ridden: August, 2026

About Disneyland With Dad

Disneyland With Dad helps families plan more enjoyable Disneyland visits with practical ride advice, parent-focused tips and firsthand park experience. Our ratings consider young children, multigenerational groups, wait-time value, scare factors, sensory concerns, physical demands and the realities of navigating Disneyland as a family.

Disneyland With Dad is an independent planning resource and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by The Walt Disney Company. Attraction information, height requirements, operating procedures, Lightning Lane offerings and accessibility policies can change without notice.