I take this picture every time I ride…Since Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last year the Boarding Group process has been tweaked several times. Another change is coming that you will want to be aware of if you hope to ride the most advanced ride in any universe.
Starting on December 20, the time for your second chance at a Boarding Group is going to change. Instead of trying at 2:00, the second group will open at 1:00. You still need to be in the park for the second group.
One obvious question that many people have is how things will work once Park Hopper returns on January 1, since the 2:00 time for Park Hopping is not set in stone. From the Walt Disney World website:
If you are visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios after visiting the first park, you will not be able to join the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Only Guests with a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. When Park Hopper hours become available on January 1, 2021, Guests visiting from another theme park will not be able to request to join the virtual queue. We encourage these Guests to explore other areas of the park, including in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge where they may experience Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run among other offerings.
The process to try to get into a Boarding Group at the beginning of the day remains the same. At 7:00 each morning, the Virtual Queue opens the first time. In order to try for a spot, you need to have Disney Park Pass Reservations for your whole party. You do not have to be on Disney property in order to get a spot. I’ve done it from home, and I’ve heard of people hundreds of miles away who have done it. If you aren’t going to be able to use your reservation, please don’t try to get into a Boarding Group. Let people who can actually use it try instead.