Rise of the Resistance Opening Dates

Disney has announced the opening dates for Rise of the Resistance:

Walt Disney World, Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Thursday, December 5th
Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Park: Friday, January 17th

Coincidentally, December 5th is Walt Disney’s Birthday, but this seems merely coincidental, rather than strategically aligned. Moreover, these announcements are curious as most people were supposing that if any version of the attraction opened first, it would be the one at Disneyland. The fact that Disneyland now has to wait for the one at Walt Disney World to open is interesting, but maybe not surprising.

We had heard through sources that the primary ride vehicles in California were having difficulty connecting and carrying through into the load lift vehicles. But we had also heard from other sources that the vehicles at Disney’s Hollywood Studios were cycling through without problem. And while there was still more testing to be completed, and more show elements to install, that there were no issues at the Studios. That may explain in part why the version in Florida is opening prior to Orlando. They may have figured out the bugs here, and are completing it before moving back to Anaheim.

Still, that’s months away before either park gets this signature attraction, which Bob Chapek, the head of Disney parks worldwide, has proclaimed to be perhaps the greatest Disney attraction ever built. Many guests are enjoying the simulator experience of riding Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, but there will be a greater number of guests wanting to experience this incredibly immense attraction.

Check out this amazing design:

*Disney Attraction Poster for Rise of the Resistance.*

The new attraction poster for Rise of the Resistance begins to give you a sense of the complex experience yet to come in this new attraction. Journeying through a forest outside of Black Spire, guests will be recruited at a secret base to help Rey and General Organa support the Resistance in fighting the First Order.

*Entrance to the Rise of the Resistance. Photo by J. Jeff Kober.*

It is a complex dark ride experience where guests are shipped to a Star Destroyer only to be captured by a First Order Star Destroyer. With the help of some heroes of the Resistance, they break out and must escape the Star Destroyer, protect the secret base, and stay one step ahead of Kylo Ren. All the while, the Star Destroyer they are on is being destroyed, so guest must get into an escape pod for a return to Batuu.

If you want to get great insights on Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, then you absolutely must check out our complete guide. It offers hundreds of photos, videos, and one-of-a-kind interactive maps that give you insight to this new land, and all that it entails. This land is not intuitive. You can’t just “happen” through it. There are no signs out front telling you where to go for this or that. You simply must understand all the possibilities before you visit in order to choose your own adventure knowingly.

*Check out our interactive map of the new land–one for each park. Map by J. Jeff Kober.*

This complete guide is not only complimentary when you sign up for our Disney at Play and Disney at Work site, it also puts you automatically in for a drawing to win a free DJ “Rex” droid, a $150 value. So join the resistance and sign up for our free guide today!