Star Wars Rides at Walt Disney World- Rise of the Resistance, Star Tours + Tips on How to Ride

There are three Star Wars rides at Disney World located in Hollywood Studios! We'll dive into all of them today as we discuss our top tips to ride and what to see.

“In a galaxy far, far away….”, you'll find the planet of Batuu. This planet is the location of Walt Disney World's Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. When visiting, you'll be blown away by the land's storytelling, details, attractions, and cuisine. Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge features two attractions but did you know there is also another Star Wars attraction inside Walt Disney World's Hollywood Studios? Our guide is going to cover all the Star Wars rides at Disney World including the newest attractions and classic favorites. 

I always make sure to visit Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge on my trips to Walt Disney World. Nothing quite matches the immersive nature of the land and these rides. In this article, I will showcase details about different parts of the land as well as all three of the Star Wars rides at Walt Disney World – Star Tours: The Adventures Continue, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

At Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, you'll feel like you're in your own Star Wars story. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, exotic architecture, and creatures from across the galaxy, you'll forget that you're still in Disney's Hollywood Studios. On Batuu, you'll find dining, shopping, and experiences that you won't be able to find anywhere else.

Star Wars Disney World Dining Options

At Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, there are five dining locations. Each location has its own menu of unique eats. While on Batuu, you'll be able to find drinks, light snacks, and savory food. Let's take a look at what each location has to offer.

• Milk Stand – Are you Team Blue Milk or Team Green Milk? The Blue Milk is my favorite! If you haven't tried either one yet, head over to the Milk Stand. Both milks are a plant-based blend of coconut and rice milk Blue Milk has a fruity taste and Green Milk has a citrus/tropical taste. There is also an alcoholic version available of each one.
  • Currently, there is a special version of Blue Milk (while supplies last). This specialty drink is called Tenoo Swirl Crunchies Cereal – Blue Milk topped with raspberry jelly and rainbow crunchy candies.

• Kat Saka's Kettle – This dining location is a perfect place to stop for a quick pick-me-up. You can grab a simple snack as well as a drink. Kat Saka's Kettle is most commonly known for two things, popcorn and cold brew. Here you can get (blue) buttered popcorn, called Buttered Blue Grains. If you're feeling a bit adventurous, you can try their specialty popcorn, called Outpost Popcorn Mix. This is an exotic mix of sweet and spicy flavored popcorn. For a caffeine boost, you can get a Cold Brew Black Caf. This is Joffrey's Coffee cold brew topped with sweet cream cheese and chocolate puffs. This cold brew is also available spiked with chocolate liqueur for guests ages 21+.

• Ronto Roasters – This location is known for its Ronto Wraps. A standard Ronto Wrap is a grilled sausage and roasted pork wrap. Different wraps are available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There are also plant-based and allergy-friendly wraps!
• Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo – Savory dishes such as Stir Fry, Poke, Pork Ribs, Salad, and Tip Yip are available for purchase here. There are also plant-based options available. Younger travelers can enjoy options from the kid's menu!
• Oga's Cantina – Oga's is arguably one of the most sought-after dining locations in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. While reservations aren't required, they are highly recommended. The vibe at Oga's Cantina is out of this world. With beats spun by a local droid, DJ R-3X, light bites, and drinks for all ages, Oga's is a location that they whole family can enjoy. (Please note that a reservation to Oga's Cantina does not guarantee you a table with chairs. Your reservation will guarantee your entrance and you may then be at a standing table or directly at the bar.)

Experiences at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

While on Batuu in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, there is no shortage of immersion. Part of this includes hands-on experiences. You can get to work at Savi's Workshop or Droid Depot to build your very own custom lightsaber or droid. I have yet to experience a lightsaber build, but my family and I have built a number of droids! All of my family members who have participated (children, parents, and grandparents) have had a fun time with the droid build. A nearby playpad provides an area for you to take your new droid out for a spin!

If you don't want to build your own, both droids and lightsabers are available for purchase. At Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, you can even find legacy lightsabers. These are lightsabers of special Star Wars characters such as Asoka Tano, Rey, Anakin Skywalker, Ben Solo, Darth Vader, Yoda, and more.

Another experience that you can find on Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is character experiences! On Batuu, there aren't set spots or schedules to meet characters. The characters roam the land, along with the rest of us travelers, which makes the experience even more surprising and exciting! Stormtroopers may stop and question you. You may even see Rey and Chewbacca out on a quest. Other characters that have been spotted at Galaxy's Edge are The Mandalorian with Grogu, Boba Fett, Fennec Shand, Kylo Ren, R2-D2 (who is very rare), Vi Moradi, and General Syndulla with Chopper.

Shopping at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

There are six shopping locations on Batuu: Toydarian Toymaker, Dok-Ondar's Den of Antiquities, Black Spire Outfitters, Creature Stall, First Order Cargo, and Resistance Supply. Throughout these shops, you'll be able to find a wide variety of merchandise. You can get a full Star Wars outfit, a droid or lightsaber, creatures from around the galaxy, handmade toys from the locals, or other rare items.

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Star Wars Rides at Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World has three Star Wars rides. All of these rides are located at Hollywood Studios. They are not, however, all located at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. Two of the Star Wars rides are located at Galaxy's Edge while the third is not.

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue

The oldest of the three Star Wars rides at Walt Disney World is Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. Originally opening under the name Star Tours in December of 1989, the ride went under refurbishment in 2010 and reopened in 2011 with the new name Star Tours – The Adventures Continue. This is the one Star Wars ride that you won't find in Galaxy's Edge. While it's close to the tunnel that leads you into Galaxy's Edge, you can find this ride in the Echo Lake area of Hollywood Studios.

Star Tours is a 3D flight simulator ride. The familiar droid, C-3PO, will be the pilot of your Starspeeder 1000. Right off the bat, things don't go as planned and you'll be off on a mission throughout the galaxy. Is there a spy on your ship? What places or characters will you see while you're on your adventure?

There are numerous different ride sequences for this ride. You can ride it multiple times and have a different experience each time! I was pleasantly surprised during my most recent trip to Walt Disney World when we rode Star Tours. We went on an adventure that we had never experienced before.

Star Tours Queue

As most rides go at Walt Disney World, you enter into the story before you get to the ride itself. Star Tours is no different. Before you even enter the building, you will walk through the legs of an AT-AT walker in an area that looks similar to an Ewok village. This then leads you into an immersive queue that you'll walk through on your way to your Starspeeder.

If you've ever been to an airport, the queue will seem very similar to the terminals that you've been in for your flights. There are both security scans and luggage screenings. Flight status information is available for travelers along with planetary weather forecasts. You can also see posters advertising different voyages to entice travelers to make future plans!

Before you make it to your Starspeeder, you will pick up your pair of 3D flight glasses. Your next stop is the gate where you will soon board your ship. Prior to boarding, there will be a short pre-show video along with safety instructions.

Changes Made to Star Tours

Since the original ride opened in 1989, you can imagine that it was very outdated by the time it closed for refurbishment in 2010. Multiple changes were made to the story of the ride. These changes include a change of ship, pilot, and ride sequences. The physicality of the ride also underwent changes. The ride was enhanced with an updated ride system, a new screen, a higher definition video that was filmed in 3D, new effects, music, and a new audio-animatronic (your pilot).

Currently, the ship you take your adventure on is a Starspeeder 1000. Originally, you took your trip on a Starspeeder 3000. The droid that piloted the ship then was RX-24. This droid's name has been changed to R3X (also known as Rex or DJ Rex). You can now find this droid inside Oga's Cantina where he is the one spinning beats and keeping the party going.

When Star Tours was originally created, only the original trilogy of Star Wars movies existed. Because of that, there were a lot fewer stories and characters to work with compared to all that's available today. The first version of Star Tours only had one sequence. It wasn't until the refurbishment that different characters, locations, and storylines started being woven into the ride. Many new storylines have become available recently. Another change is set to be coming in 2024 when Ahsoka Tano is added into the mix.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

The next Star Wars ride at Walt Disney World that we're going to talk about is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. To get to this ride, we need to head back to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. You'll know you're in the right place when you see the life-size Millennium Falcon! On this ride, you have the chance to not only ride in, but take control of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

To fly the Falcon, you'll have a crew of six people. Two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers. (Don't worry if your party isn't this large. You can still ride! Other Guests may join you to complete your crew.) Speaking of your mission, you'll be transporting goods for Hondo Ohnaka. Chewie made a deal with him to let him use the Falcon. However, he needs a crew and that's where you come in!

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Queue

The entrance for the queue is right next to the Falcon. As you make your way inside, you'll soon come to a series of windows where you'll get a closer view of the Millennium Falcon. The mechanic shop will give you a first-hand look at ship repairs. You'll also go through the engine room. Again, you'll have a chance to see the Falcon, but this time from a higher level. You'll get an amazing top view of the ship as well as a nice view of Galaxy's Edge. Finally, Hondo Ohnaka will meet you at the command center where he briefs you on the mission.

Once you've received all of the information for the mission, you'll head onto the Falcon. Walking through very familiar hallways, the room that you enter is the famous chess room. This is a recognizable room from the original Star Wars trilogy.

Riding Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

This is one Star Wars ride at Walt Disney World that gives you an experience that you'll never forget. When it's your turn to ride, you'll enter the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon. An experience that many have dreamed of for generations. While the pilots get the honor of controlling the spacecraft, everyone in the crew gets to see exactly what it feels like to ride in the Falcon. You'll lift, jolt, maneuver through obstacles, and blast off at lightspeed. Hondo Ohnaka will be there over the speaker to help assist you throughout your mission, along with blinking lights inside of the ship that let you know what controls to use and at what time.

Once the mission is complete, Hondo will go over the stats of the flight with you. He'll let you know if and what damages were done to the ship, the success of the mission, and how much of the profits you'll be receiving. Even if you don't do very well, I'm sure you'll be happy just experiencing this ride! With two little pilots controlling our most recent ride, we weren't very successful at all. But nonetheless, the whole family had a great time!

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

This Star Wars ride is unlike any other ride at Walt Disney World. Or anywhere else, for that matter! Multiple different ride systems, animatronics, physical props, screens, music, and special effects come together to make this ride one of a kind. Even just the sheer size of this ride sets it apart from all of the rest. You don't just feel like you're in Star Wars, you BECOME part of Star Wars. You'll find yourself right in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the First Order.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Queue

The queue for this Star Wars ride is just a series of tunnels that wind through the caves of Batuu. This ride is unique, however, in the sense that there are two pre-shows before you're on the main portion of the ride. Coming to a total length of about 18 minutes from the first pre-show to the end of the ride, this is where your Rise of the Resistance experience begins.

BB-8 meets you in a briefing room for the first pre-show. Before long, a transmission of Rey will come through where she greets you as recruits and then explains the mission. She informs you that Lieutenant Bek will lead you to General Organa's secret base on Pacara, where she will later meet up with you. This then leads you into the second pre-show.

For the second pre-show, you'll load onto a Resistance Intersystem Transport Ship (or I-TS) led by Lieutenant Bek. It's here where you'll make your way to the secret rendezvous point of the Resistance. However, the First Order has other plans. They take the whole transport ship captive and onto their Star Destroyer.

Rise of the Resistance – The Ride

A large group of stormtroopers will be the first thing you see as you step out into the hangar. First Order officers will then take you to holding cells. This is where Kylo Ren will perform his interrogation. His goal is to find the location of the secret base. But don't worry! The Resistance comes and frees you from the cell. This is when you finally board your ride vehicle.

The rest of the experience will be a trackless dark ride. (A first for Disney.) Your ride takes place in a troop transport vehicle controlled by an R5 unit. Finn is quick to let you know that he has reprogrammed the droids to assist in the escape. You are then on your way to your escape pod. Your R5 unit will maneuver the transport throughout the Star Destroyer.

As your action-packed escape starts, you'll weave through the legs of two enormous AT-AT walkers while you try to avoid the shots of stormtroopers. Keep an eye out for Finn here as he's close by trying to help you! Throughout the rest of the ride, you'll see many more (and very impressive) animatronics, larger-than-life sets, and videos that all come together to create an unbelievable experience. May the Force be with you as you come face to face with Kylo Ren!

Towards the end of the ride, your R5 unit will get you away from all of the danger and to the escape pod successfully. However, the fun doesn't stop here. There is a small drop as your pod drops into space (about 20 feet) that may surprise you (in a good way!). The special effects make this small drop very thrilling. You'll actually find yourself dropped into the middle of a battle.

Your pod takes some hits from the battle and eventually, you crash-land back on Batuu. Your transport vehicle will then take you through the hangar and to the unloading dock. As you're moving through, you'll get a glimpse of Lieutenant Bek in his ship that also just crashed onto Batuu. He'll leave you with encouraging words for the end of your mission.

The Star Wars rides at Walt Disney World are all very different and unique in their own ways, but none of them disappoint. These three rides showcase so much progression between them. Nonetheless, all three of these rides do a great job of bringing you directly into the story and providing you with ways to experience different adventures throughout the galaxy.

Star Wars Rides FAQs