Facts and Myths About Acquiring a Boarding Group for Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars Rise of the Resistance has been opened for 3 months, creating unprecedented demand at Disney’s smallest park and sparking controversy and debate at the mere mention of Virtual Queue and Boarding Groups.

As a huge Star Wars fan and a contributor to this site I have been following the developing situation with the manner of getting into the virtual queue and all the tips and tricks on how to snag a spot in the coveted boarding groups. I have also read plenty of opinions on what to do and not to do, and personally have been able to get into boarding groups for myself and for my friends and family 6 times, so I decided it is time to dispel some of the misinformation that’s out there.

MYTH: you need to be at the park at the “crack of dawn” very early in the morning to be able to join a boarding group

FACT: the truth is you have to be inside the park a minute before park opening to have a chance, meaning give yourself time to travel, go through bag check and the tapstiles. To be on the safe side make sure you are at the park entrance by 7:45 am for an 8 am opening.

MYTH: All boarding groups go super fast, in less than a minute.

FACT: Disney has made 2 distinctions in boarding groups, there are regular ones and backup ones, and while the regular ones do go in about a minute (usually the first 60 bg) the backup boarding groups are open a while longer. With the exception of Presidents week and some scattered days here and there the backup boarding groups have stayed open well past 5 minutes, and as in the case of today actually a full hour and a half. Remember you are not guaranteed a ride for either boarding group, obviously the lower the number the better the chance.

MYTH: If I get a backup boarding group I won’t ride.

FACT: Aside for a handful of days boarding groups have been loaded past the regular ones, most days past 90 bg. Obviously the better chance to ride is to be inside the park at opening and unless something catastrophic happens (it has a total of 5 days) you will board even with a backup.

MYTH: I can only snag a boarding group if I am in the park.

FACT: in fact, everyone that wants to ride needs to be in the park, BUT, you can share your My Disney Experience account info with friends and family back home and they can help you join a boarding group. Just make sure they are selecting the people on your MDE that are inside the park. I have done this 4 times for friends and family and have been able to secure a boarding group for them, from my home.

MYTH: If I don’t have a phone I won’t be able to join a boarding group

FACT: Disney has Guest Experience Team Cast Members all around the park, look for the blue umbrellas and CM in blue shirts, and they will help you join a boarding group when you don’t have access to a phone.

MYTH: The boarding group system will be the only system used to ride Rise of the Resistance.

FACT: as soon as the ride becomes more reliable they will open the more traditional standby queue and fastpass option. But for now this is the only system that works with the unique situation this attraction has.

I hope this has eased your mind and relieved some pressure when attempting to get a boarding group. I know many people want the attraction to go the more traditional standby system but Disney just can’t have that system open when the attraction is not reliable enough.

If you have any tips, tricks or questions about joining a boarding group please be sure to share.

And as always…May The Force Be With You