Snagging a boarding group for Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios is luck of the draw. BUT, there are a few things I can suggest to help you hopefully grab an earlier boarding group number!
See my full Rise of the Resistance blog post here that talks through how to join the virtual queue, Hollywood Studios suggested arrival times, etc.
Use Data if You Can
My daughter and I arrived to Hollywood Studios bright and early this morning to snag a coveted boarding group for what is easily Disney’s most impressive attraction ever.
Once we were inside the park, I wanted to test out whether the free Disney wifi or my cell data was faster (we have AT&T).
I used Google’s free speed test on my phone and found that the cell data speeds were reading almost 3x as quickly as the Wifi speeds.
Find an Empty Area
On top of that, I tested the speeds in a very crowded area (like where everyone queues for Toy Story Land or Galaxy’s Edge rope drop) vs an area where no one else was really gathering.
In the crowded areas, I found that BOTH the wifi and data were SO sluggish, it was barely even registering. Once I moved over to a bench in a nearly empty area of the park (near the Disney Jr Dance Party entrance), my data speeds jumped much higher! The wifi was still very slow.
I definitely suggest using your cell data and finding an empty area of the park when grabbing your boarding pass.
If you’re traveling with someone else, I’d suggest still finding an empty area of the park but both of you being prepared to grab a pass, one on data and the other on wifi (just in case one is moving more quickly than the other).
Clean up Your Linked Friends and Family
Another suggestion I have is to remove anyone from your friends and family list that is no longer necessary. When grabbing your boarding group, you have to check the box next to each name who’s in your party. Everything is moving so quickly (and believe me, you will be stressed at this point) and it would be a very easy mistake to click on the wrong name during that selection process (which would cause an error and could be the difference between group 25 and group 125).
I hope these suggestions are helpful and I hope a ride on Rise of the Resistance is in your future! I’d love for you to chime in in the comments if you’ve ridden! Did you use Wifi or data when grabbing your boarding pass? What boarding group did you get? Any other tips and tricks to share?
Thank you! These are the exact things I had questions about. This post is so helpful!
We used these tips today & I agree! We used data vs. WiFi and grabbed boarding pass 57 right at 7 am. We got in the park about 6:40 am & were located near the gas station where the stroller pick up is. We had 3 in our party & all of us were ready to try if the first person wasn’t successful. Once the stress of getting that boarding pass was over it was an awesome day! Thank you for all your tips!
Thank you for the post about the new Star Wars ride. We’re going on May and my husband is obsessed with all the updates so I had him read this.
We went the Saturday after Christmas and I used Data(Sprint) and we got boarding group 87. The app recognized my daughters scan into the park a lot faster than mine and my sons so I had to completely close out the app and open it back up for it to recognize my son and I. We boarded the ride around 3:42 that afternoon.
I went last week. I used data and got group 9. The ride was so good! Thanks for your tips!
Great tips! Now, would you recommend leaving the MDE app open to book your boarding group or staying off of the MDE app and waiting until park open time to open the app back up? If that makes any sense lol.
We used data this morning and got group 26. My only other experience was opening week and we used WiFi that time and got 70 something. I do think it makes a difference. Especially with the way they’re currently doing things.
Thanks so much for all your info on Rise it the Resistance! I have so much anxiety about it lol! Just to be 100% sure…everyone that is riding the ride has to be scanned into the park to join a boarding pass right? I can’t leave my parents at the resort with my kids and my husband and I go and just add them since they are linked to our app? Thanks!
We were there in December 12-17 like a week after the ride open. The first time we had 3 people, used data and got group 60 The second time we had 5 people used date and got group 67. It wasn’t a bad experience for us, had to be up very early but it was still enjoyable! Hope that’s helpful!
What time did you get there today? An hour before opening? Are they still opening early with no posted time. Trying to get my game plan for March! Also… rider swap! Do you know how that is working?
Thank you as always for your great tips, hard work, Deb’s Mullet and being you!
We were there this morning. We used data and were standing with the group at toy story land. We got group 42
So a different type of question, so we are going the morning we have the princess expo for the run, we plan to get a boarding group and leave to go to the expo, and hope to ride after, would you still get one right at 7am or would you wait until like 7:05am? Thanks!
A friend of mine was there 30 minutes before opening one day during New Years week 😳 he used Disney WiFi and got boarding group 8! Another person in his group used data at the exact same time and got boarding group 50 something!
We were there last Wednesday – Jan 15th. Husband used WiFi and I used cellular data (AT&T). He beat me and snagged group 38. We hung out by Toy Story with a huge crowd when getting boarding group. Totally worth getting up for!!
I used data. Got boarding Group 82.. at 7:05. (App opened 7am) went jan 13th.
We were there on Jan 12 and used data. I sat on sunset Blvd right in front of the Pandora store. We got boarding group 12! We rode and were out the park by 8.
We used data on December 30th and got boarding group 33. No issues. The people sitting next to us on the curb, used WiFi and got boarding group 94! Data for the win!
Hi! We were right by you and Collette snagging our boarding passes! Family of 3 with red stroller. Got in the park about 6:35 used data my husbands phone worked faster and got boarding group 75 just a few steps away from you.
I was there same day as you and got into an empty area, (restrooms by frozen theater) closed my app, checked at 6:56, 6:57 and finally 6:59 just as it was turning to 7 (there was a guy counting down from 10! It’s very exciting!). I got group 24 on data. They guy next to me used WiFi and got 27. He was also testing which was faster and used WiFi.
I just wonder if it’s actually random.
On a different day, we opened at 7:02 and got group 130. It was much less busy that day.
Thank you for all the things you do, Shannon! I would have loved to see you today!
Thanks so much for the info!! I’m planning a trip for my sisters and myself in March and it takes my planning stress way down to feel super prepared for Rise of the Resistance.
I didn’t think to clean out my friends list! That’s an excellent idea!!!
Hello! I’m from Canada and didn’t want to risk not getting a boarding group, so I used data even though it costs extra for me out of Canada!
Glad I did though, got group 48!
Left our resort at 6:10am got through bag check and turnstiles by 6:36am. We used data and stayed right under the souvenir store right when you walk in (on the right side near Oscar’s) we got group 52.
Great idea on cleaning up list. We had malfunctions with ours and only were able to get boarding pass for like 2 or 3 at a time but we had 7 people in our group (2 had boarding 52, one 58, 3- 111, and 1 114) but the cast members along the street were very very helpful and were able to get us all in the same boarding group of 52!
I may have an unfair advantage. My husband had AT&T first net for being a first responder, which is supposed to give him priority during high traffic networks. I used his phone, on data and were group 19. They were calling us before we finished breakfast at Ronto Roasters.
Question… if I’m trying to grab a boarding pass for myself and one person in my party… does that person have to be in the park also or just me? I haven’t been able to find any examples of that.
For Lauren: everyone has to be scanned in to the park and you must be connected on the app.
I used data because speed tests showed it was significantly faster. I too waited near the front of the park.
Based on my experience not having the boarding group button come up as useable, I’d advise having two phones ready to go if possible. The Join Group button was greyed out for me far past the point we opened the app on my husband’s phone and got our passes.
We used data and got group 12!! We’re in and out by 9am
We go in a few weeks and I get on the app at 8 just to practice. My app is taking at least 10 seconds to open and then more to click boarding group. My phone is updated and the app. Have you had those problems?