'Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance' Ride is Now Open at Disneyland

The much anticipated ride Star Wars ‘Rise of the Resistance’ opens at Disneyland today!

Located at the Disneyland park’s ‘Galaxy’s Edge’, the new ride is one of Disney’s most ambitious and immersive attractions to date and arguably tops the classic Star Tours ride in Tomorrowland and the more recent Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride.

As part of a complimentary media preview, we were able to check the ride out prior to opening day. Here, you’re part of the Resistance on a mission to escape from the First Order and their leader Kylo Ren. One of Disney’s longest ride yet, the full experience for this epic ride clocks in at around 15 minutes as it takes you through several immersive scenes to a final ride sequence at the end.

Something Disney Imagineering does more and more is making the line experience also part of the entertainment. From the highly detailed cave like structures to a locker room filled with Resistance gear, the attention to detail is top notch. Moreover, a portion of the ride has you entering a special transport ship with a fully animatronic Mon Calamari character named Lt. Beck and the classic original trilogy favorite Nien Nunb as your pilot. Normally, this looks like a glorified room, however, this transport ship also simulates movement as it shakes and turns as if it’s actually flying through space.

From there, you are captured and taken aboard a First Order Star Destroyer ship. The first thing you see as you enter the ship is one of the most epic, a humongous room filled with First Order Stormtroopers and a life-sized Tie Fighter ship. However, the highlight of this part of the ‘ride’ are the ‘cast members’ dressed up as First Order officers who are completely in character as they look at us ‘Resistance’ fighters with complete disgust as they bark orders at you.

From there you’re whisked away to a very claustrophobic detention room where resistance fighters break you out. This is where the actual “ride” part begins! The rest of the ride takes you on a transport that whizzes you through the First Order destroyer as you make your way to an escape pod.

Overall, the ride almost serves as a technical achievement showcase of all of Disney Imagineering’s accomplishments and innovations. From cutting edge animatronics (like Pirates of the Carribean), cool hologram effects (like Haunted Mansion), trackless ride cars (like Ratatouille Ride), amazing immersive video sequences (like Star Tours), and even an unexpected surprise at the end makes you feel like this ride is a synopsis of all the rides Disney has to offer.

The ride marks the completion of ‘Galaxy’s Edge’ located inside Disneyland Park, joining Disney World in Florida which opened ‘Rise of the Resistance’ a few weeks ago.

In conjunction with the ride’s official launch, the park is offering a few new merchandise items including shirts and escape pod toy ships along with a few new drinks and snacks. Also, in case you missed it, the cast of Star Wars, who are heavily featured on the ride, actually checked out the ride back in December.

Be sure to check out ‘Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance’, now open at Disneyland in California.