Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Disney's Hollywood Studios · Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge
Overview
The AT-AT walkers inside Rise of the Resistance's Star Destroyer hangar scene are full-size physical props, not projections — which is part of why the sequence lands as viscerally as it does, and why no written description quite prepares first-time riders for the scale of it. Getting there takes an 18-minute chain of distinct set pieces — a transport ship, a prison escape, a trackless dark ride through the ship's corridors — stitched into one continuous story that required Imagineering to build ride technology with no prior precedent. Kylo Ren and Rey both appear, in physical and holographic form.
ParksLog Verdict
Lightning Lane Premier is effectively mandatory — standby waits regularly clear two hours for an experience that runs eighteen minutes, and it's worth paying for. Every Hollywood Studios visitor should ride this at least once regardless of Star Wars fandom; the technical achievement is the draw as much as the story. Guests with claustrophobia should know about the enclosed transport and prison segments going in.
About this experience
Join the Resistance in an unforgettable battle against the First Order on this exciting ride.
Best For
- Star Wars fans
- Theme park enthusiasts who appreciate technical achievement
- Families with children 40" and taller
- Guests seeking Hollywood Studios' most immersive experience
Tips
- Rise of the Resistance requires Lightning Lane Premier (the premium paid tier) — standby waits frequently exceed two hours; plan accordingly.
- The experience includes enclosed transport and prison segments before the ride vehicle section — guests with claustrophobia should be aware.
- The AT-AT hangar scene is one of the most impressive theatrical moments in any Disney ride — take a moment to absorb the scale before moving forward.
Details
History
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened at Hollywood Studios on December 5, 2019, as part of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. The attraction required Disney Imagineering to develop new ride and set design technologies to execute its multi-phase immersive format, and it has been cited as one of the most complex projects ever undertaken by the team. It was designed to be the centerpiece experience of Galaxy's Edge.
Fun Facts
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance combines at least four distinct ride systems and room-scale set pieces into a single 18-minute experience — an unprecedented level of technical complexity for a single Disney attraction.
- The AT-AT walkers in the Star Destroyer hangar scene are life-size physical props, not projections or screens — their scale is a significant part of what makes the sequence viscerally impressive.
- Disney Imagineers developed entirely new ride technologies specifically for this attraction, which required systems and effects that had no prior precedent in theme park design.