Around Disney’s Galaxy in 25 minutes Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance impresses with advanced ride systems, projection and animatronic technology, and cast member passion by Martin Palicki
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ince the opening of the game-changing and award-winning Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure attraction at Shanghai Disneyland in 2016, both fans and industry professionals have been anxiously awaiting the next Disney attraction that would achieve or surpass that level of complete immersion. Now, with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance (RotR) open on both US coasts, many are heralding the attraction as the pinnacle of what Disney does best: combining expertly crafted storytelling with state-of-the-art technology and media to create a captivating and thrilling experience. It’s also expanded the boundaries of what an attraction experience can be.
Start with the Basics RotR is the highly anticipated second attraction created for both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands at Disneyland (California) and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (Florida). The land places guests on the fictional planet of Batuu. Galaxy’s Edge and its debut attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, have already
been named to receive TEA Thea Awards for Outstanding Achievement [see sidebar]. RotR fits the narrative created for the land and expands upon it. After traversing a highly themed queue seeming carved out of the Batuu landscape, guests are recruited for a trans-galactic mission to assist the Resistance. It’s probably worth noting here that the attraction does not follow the standard theme park format of pre-show, then the main ride/show event, and then a post-show walk-through or retail exit. RotR has two distinct ride experiences, and multiple pre-show scenes. In many ways, the model looks like two connected back-to-back attractions. As such, the first pre-show featuring the spherical BB-8 and a hologram version of Resistance icon Rey gives guests information about their mission, and the space cruiser that will
Next gen animatronics are surrounded by detailed sets and specacular projection technology. All photos ©Disney
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