There are some key changes in store for any early bird ‘Star Wars’ visitors heading to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney has announced specific alterations to its virtual queue system, referred to as “boarding groups” since the new Rise of the Resistance attraction at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge debuted in early December.
The virtual queues will kick in at the theme park’s published opening time, according to a new post on the official Disney Parks Blog. That’s when visitors will be able to secure a cyberspace spot in line via the My Disney Experience app, and that’s when the rest of the Hollywood Studios attractions will open as well.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is currently scheduled to open at 7 a.m. through Dec. 26, and then at 6 a.m. through the end of the year, according to www.disneyworld.com.
Visitors may be allowed onto the park’s Hollywood Boulevard earlier than opening time, and a few locations may be open. Disney lists the Keystone Clothiers store and the Trolley Car Cafe (a.k.a. Starbucks) as examples.
The blog post also states that the park will distribute “backup boarding groups” after the planned groups have been filled.
Folks with backup passes will be notified through the My Disney Experience app by notification if capacity allows for more riders that day.
Since Rise of the Resistance debuted eager Star Wars fans have been arriving in the pre-dawn hours, and boarding groups typically have been filled for the day by 8:30 a.m.
Visitors could also experience other Hollywood Studios attractions such as Tower of Terror or Slinky Dog Dash while awaiting their turns on Rise. This change would appear to shift that time frame.
Rise of the Resistance is the second ride to open in Galaxy’s Edge; Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run debuted when the land opened.
A clone of the Rise ride is actually scheduled to begin operation in Disneyland in mid-January.