How to Reserve a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance

UPDATED 10/29/2020

Disney has announced a NEW BOARDING GROUP RESERVATION TIME for the first attempt at obtaining a Boarding Group!  Read below for more details.  The process of joining a boarding group hasn't changed - it's still done the same way.  BUT!  The window now opens at 7am EST & you don't have to be in the park!  You must still have a park pass reservation for Hollywood Studios on that day, however.  There's also a second chance at 1pm.  But you MUST be in the park to reserve your spot at the 1pm time. Read below!

It’s clear the Force is strong with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since its debut last year, this spectacular experience inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has proven to be one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort.  

To better help guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios plan ahead for their day at the park, we’re piloting a new approach to the virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Starting Nov. 3, 2020, here’s how it will work: 

• Guests with a valid ticket or annual pass and a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before the guest leaves their Disney resort hotel, or wherever else nearby they might be at that time. 

• Just as we do today, the virtual queue will reopen daily at 1 p.m. for anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. Note: Guests must be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access this second virtual queue opportunity, and access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed.  

We’re hoping this new approach will make a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios more enjoyable and relaxing, as guests no longer need to be inside the park each morning to request a boarding group for the first virtual queue opportunity. As a reminder, they do need to be inside the park to request the 1 p.m. boarding groups. 

To try to maximize the number of boarding groups we’re able to accommodate while adhering to current health and safety guidelines, we recently added a clear barrier between the two rows of seats on each First Order Fleet Transport vehicle inside the attraction. This enables us to invite more guests to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance each day.  

The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience mobile app. To maximize your opportunity to secure a boarding group, here are some tips we recommend you check off your list prior to your day at the park: 

• Register an account in My Disney Experience

• Download the My Disney Experience mobile app on your smart device or ensure you’re using the most updated version of the app before you arrive at the park. 

• Link and assign all park tickets in your party to a My Disney Experience account

• Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day you’re visiting

• Select one member of your party to access the virtual queue for everyone in your group; if multiple people in your party try to join the virtual queue simultaneously, that may complicate your ability to secure a boarding group

• Remember, virtual queue boarding groups are limited and subject to availability  

This new pilot approach to the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue is designed to give guests the best possible experience during a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

If you want to ride the Rise of the Resistance in Disney's Hollywood Studios, you will need to join a "Boarding Group" once you enter the park.  Our best advice is to arrive at the park's entrance at least an hour before opening, in order to physically enter the gates ahead of the majority of the crowd.  

But, since the crowd capacities have decreased due to COVID-19, the Virtual Queue has been modified

• Based on availability, guests can join at either 10am or 1pm EST (updated to 7am EST on 10/29/2020 for 11/3/2020 & beyond- read above!!)

• Be ready to snag the Boarding Group within the My Disney Experience App before these set times

• The virtual queue will not open until the park is officially open (updated to 7am EST on 10/29/2020 for 11/3/2020 & beyond- read above!!)

• Joining the virtual queue does NOT guarantee you'll be able to ride Rise of the Resistance

• The groups will be assigned a number & the "boarding group numbers" will be posted on the attraction marquis

• If you receive a "backup boarding group" you're placed in a waiting list in the event they get through all assigned boarding groups

• The ride is prone to breaking down throughout the day so this can lead to frustrating circumstances of not being able to ride

• You will receive a push notification within the My Disney Experience app when it's your turn to return to the attraction

• You will have one hour from the time they release your boarding group number to return to ride the attraction

TIPS:

• Turn off your WiFi & use cellular data

• Force close the app prior to the joining time

• Turn off all app notifications

• Make sure there are no other apps running in the background

• Open the virtual queue screen

• At 6:59:59 hold down the screen & release exactly 1 second before 7am

• Click to join the queue PRIOR to 10am (updated to 7am EST on 10/29/2020 for 11/3/2020 & beyond- read above!!) or 1pm & wait on the "second screen" & begin refreshing right at 7 am or 1pm

• This puts you slightly ahead of everyone else attempting right at the exact time

• Choose your party & attempt to join a boarding group

• If you are park hopping to Hollywood Studios, you will NOT be able to join a 1pm Boarding Group, since you must be inside the park in order to reserve a time at 1pm.  Hopping does not begin until 2pm.

We have found these steps to help:

-reboot phone

-turn off all app notifications

-make sure all other apps are completely cleared out and not running in background

-use the world clock 

-open the virtual queue screen 

-at 6:59:59 hold down the screen and release exactly 1 sec before 7. 

-Click Join immediately, the screen will ‘think’ as it finds your family and friends, and then click Join immediately at the bottom of the screen. 

-Don’t look at your FF list, just click that Join button!