Disneyland's Rise Of The Resistance - Reviews, Criticism, Deep Thoughts

[freebird72]

Oh, that's all great information! I admit I stopped following the DHS thread after a week or two, so they've obviously tweaked and improved the process since then.

I just wonder what that 6am to 9am arrival and Boarding Group frenzy will be like at Disneyland, especially when word gets out how fast Boarding Groups are gone each day? It seems like Disneyland has the ability to deliver a lot more people per hour to the main entrance than DHS does. From a quick Google search...

DHS Guest Parking Lot = 9,000 spaces (may be overstated, it was 6,500 spaces before 2018 expansion)
DHS Skyliner Extension = 2,150 passengers per hour
DHS Bus System = Who knows? Maybe a few thousand people per hour?
DHS Friendship Boats = 600 per hour max, with a boat arriving every 10 minutes?
Hotel Rooms within Walking Distance = 3,224 (Boardwalk 576, Beach Club 378, Swan 756, Dolphin 1,514)

Wild card is the use of Uber/Minnie Vans on both coasts. Versus Disneyland's compact setup with a higher capacity.

Disneyland Guest Parking Lots = 24,000 spaces (Toy Story Lot 7,500, Pixar Pals 6,200, Mickey & Friends 10,300)
ART/Hotel Shuttle System = Who knows? Esplanade loading zones seem to be on par with DHS setup, if not larger.
Hotel Rooms within Walking Distance = At least 10,000 of the Resort District's 25,000 rooms are within a four block radius of Disneyland entrance (GCH 750, DLH 990, Pier 481, Hilton 1,572, Marriott 800, etc., etc.)

But again, the weak link is the entry turnstiles. The transportation and sidewalks of Anaheim may be able to deliver 25,000 people per hour to the main entrance, but if the turnstiles can only process 10,000 per hour and Main Street USA can only hold 12,000 people before rope drop, then that's a problem.

I think the numbers and capacity favors Disneyland more than it does DHS. So it will be interesting to see how this plays out this weekend and how many folks actually show up at the turnstiles at sunrise. I won't be one of them, that's for sure!
I'll stay safely tucked in bed until it all calms down, and/or TDA figures out how to manage it all.

Turnstiles are a weak link, security/bag check might be even weaker. If they are not 100% staffed at every station first thing in the morning, it will be a nightmare...

 

[TP2000]

Turnstiles are a weak link, security/bag check might be even weaker. If they are not 100% staffed at every station first thing in the morning, it will be a nightmare...

True, but that's not something exclusive to Star Wars Land this weekend. The security process has been an ugly headache for years and years and no one in TDA seems to care. The Harbor Blvd. security tents are the worst and back up the most, often all the way to Harbor Blvd.

Ever been to Universal Studios or Knott's Berry Farm lately? Their security process is 100% faster and friendlier and more efficient than the messy mess that Disneyland created. And again, it's been like that for years and TDA could care less.

But your point is valid, as I'm sure the Harbor Blvd. security tents will be getting a very strenuous workout. And they are definitely a very weak link.

 

[ProjectXBlog]

True, but that's not something exclusive to Star Wars Land this weekend. The security process has been an ugly headache for years and years and no one in TDA seems to care. The Harbor Blvd. security tents are the worst and back up the most, often all the way to Harbor Blvd.

Ever been to Universal Studios or Knott's Berry Farm lately? Their security process is 100% faster and friendlier and more efficient than the messy mess that Disneyland created. And again, it's been like that for years and TDA could care less.

But your point is valid, as I'm sure the Harbor Blvd. security tents will be getting a very strenuous workout. And they are definitely a very weak link.

i have only used the pedestrian bridge once, thinking it would be faster than the trams, until i saw the absolute cluster that is the harbor security checkpoint. it baffles me that this is apparently an ongoing problem. the TSA is faster than this

 

[ProjectXBlog]

The pedestrian bridge goes to a DtD entrance. Harbor is the one next to all the hotels. I went to the pedestrian bridge the first time this week and it was pleasant.

Now I will say, the parking situation is still bad as some days they have one person for every two lanes. This has been going on since last summer and it really slows things down.

my bad! you’re absolutely right. i’ve only ever left through the harbor side. good to hear you had better luck with the pedestrian bridge than i did!

 

[TP2000]

my bad! you’re absolutely right. i’ve only ever left through the harbor side. good to hear you had better luck with the pedestrian bridge than i did!

The lines and crowds for the smaller security screening setup over by the Disneyland Hotel/Earl of Sandwich can also back up easily and get messy. But for sheer volume and pandemonium, nothing can match the Esplanade security tents off Harbor Blvd.

That said, I think I have a new name for what used to be charmingly known as Downtown Disney.

"The Pedestrian Bridge" has a much nicer ring to it, and really says it all. Perfect!

 

[Phroobar]

Why has Disney never installed x-ray bag machines like Universal and the airports have? Oh yeah, I forgot Disney can't afford it.

 

[flynnibus]

Why has Disney never installed x-ray bag machines like Universal and the airports have? Oh yeah, I forgot Disney can't afford it.

Honestly I bet the decision prior was more about the optics and image that portrays... and why Disney was doing the personal inspections instead of full on metal detectors and bag scanners. But of course we've had several iterations of security since... and at WDW with the entrance reconfigurations Disney is doing now, we have much more 'permanent' looking security barriers and inspections points. Disney already crossed the threshold with metal detectors... so they are out there to be seen. Maybe security/efficiency will win out and they will give up on those optics and go full 'tsa' style.

 

[Mickeyboof]

I was very confused what day it was, as on Instagram Becky Campbell was cutting the ribbon on Rise... Disney has a weird way of never doing things on the correct day. Regardless, it was a “Morning eve before the opening day” event.

For a moment I had thought it surprise opened a day early.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I was very confused what day it was, as on Instagram Becky Campbell was cutting the ribbon on Rise... Disney has a weird way of never doing things on the correct day. Regardless, it was a “Morning eve before the opening day” event.

For a moment I had thought it surprise opened a day early.

it was a ceremony for the RotR cast.

 

[Phroobar]

I was very confused what day it was, as on Instagram Becky Campbell was cutting the ribbon on Rise... Disney has a weird way of never doing things on the correct day. Regardless, it was a “Morning eve before the opening day” event.

For a moment I had thought it surprise opened a day early.

Isn't that her job? Cutting ribbons. Getting coffee for Chappie. Being fired if no one shows up.

 

[Mickeyboof]

it was a ceremony for the RotR cast.

Good for them! They deserve it.

Isn't that her job? Cutting ribbons. Getting coffee for Chappie. Being fired if no one shows up.

Ha! Absolutely. The day of choice was briefly confusing to me was all.

But now I understand it to be a congrats for the CMs and the like.

Can’t wait to see what happens tomorrow!

 

[Ismael Flores]

Honestly I bet the decision prior was more about the optics and image that portrays... and why Disney was doing the personal inspections instead of full on metal detectors and bag scanners. But of course we've had several iterations of security since... and at WDW with the entrance reconfigurations Disney is doing now, we have much more 'permanent' looking security barriers and inspections points. Disney already crossed the threshold with metal detectors... so they are out there to be seen. Maybe security/efficiency will win out and they will give up on those optics and go full 'tsa' style.

I really hope they never put those things in. If they do put those things in and go full TSA then I hope they also add a global entry/TSA line as well.

 

[TP2000]

Interesting article about the problems they've had in WDW for this troubled new ride....

Will Disneyland face the same Rise of the Resistance problems as Disney World?

The Florida version of the ride has been beset by a long list of problems since its Dec. 5 debut. Chief among them has been a string of downtime issues that have caused a series of cascading headac…

www.sgvtribune.com

"It’s been a rough month since the new Rise of the Resistance dark ride opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to big buzz and massive crowds combined with chronic downtime and customer complaints.

Which begs the obvious question: Will Disneyland face the same crush of visitors and be plagued by the same downtime issues when the highly anticipated attraction debuts Friday, Jan. 17 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?"

 

[SSG]

Interesting article about the problems they've had in WDW for this troubled new ride....

Will Disneyland face the same Rise of the Resistance problems as Disney World?

The Florida version of the ride has been beset by a long list of problems since its Dec. 5 debut. Chief among them has been a string of downtime issues that have caused a series of cascading headac…

www.sgvtribune.com

"It’s been a rough month since the new Rise of the Resistance dark ride opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to big buzz and massive crowds combined with chronic downtime and customer complaints.

Which begs the obvious question: Will Disneyland face the same crush of visitors and be plagued by the same downtime issues when the highly anticipated attraction debuts Friday, Jan. 17 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?"

Begged the question but came nowhere near an answer.

 

[chadwpalm]

I wonder what the overall ratio of downtime vs. uptime there has been during all the cast previews.

 

[TP2000]

Begged the question but came nowhere near an answer.

True. Brady McDonald isn't quite what he used to be. But then journalism as a whole suffers that fate.

 

[flynnibus]

Interesting article about the problems they've had in WDW for this troubled new ride....

Will Disneyland face the same Rise of the Resistance problems as Disney World?

The Florida version of the ride has been beset by a long list of problems since its Dec. 5 debut. Chief among them has been a string of downtime issues that have caused a series of cascading headac…

www.sgvtribune.com

"It’s been a rough month since the new Rise of the Resistance dark ride opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios to big buzz and massive crowds combined with chronic downtime and customer complaints.

Which begs the obvious question: Will Disneyland face the same crush of visitors and be plagued by the same downtime issues when the highly anticipated attraction debuts Friday, Jan. 17 in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge?"

Meh...

1) they rely heavily on NT who has been heavily critical of the attractiona nd its ops from day one. Like rush limbaugh bad
2) most of the stuff they mention as if its about RoTR is just regular disney designs. b-modes, evacs, etc.

Yes the attraction is more complex than others due to the series of engaging ride systems and the kinds used. But that is also what makes the attraction unique and what it is... it is not some design oversight.

Yes the attraction is experiencing downtimes... but notice what they don’t say? Like...

-how Disney has proactively implemented a first of its kind for disney queuing system designed to minimize the impact such breakdowns has on guests..
- how disney has proactively offered guest recovery at levels not seen... in god knows how long. When have you see disney had out full park admission to people because the ride shutdown for the rest of the day?
- how disney has emphasized the guest recovery in even short term stops with characters, F&B, etc
- how guests are not being trapped in lines for 3+ hours?
- How operational counts have been trending?
- any discussion AT ALL of how dlr is trying to leverage or improve upon the experiences of 6 weeks of operations in florida?
- how the attraction has YET to be shutdown completely for the day or prematurely ?
- anything about the duration of stoppages compared to its peers?

For all the challenges of avoiding stoppages with the ride... its actually outperformed the typical disney attraction in getting back online to guests due to the great lengths disney is going to keep it open.

It’s a pretty poorly sourced article that throws out a postulate with zero attempt at actually answering it.

 

[WDWTrojan]

Honestly I bet the decision prior was more about the optics and image that portrays... and why Disney was doing the personal inspections instead of full on metal detectors and bag scanners. But of course we've had several iterations of security since... and at WDW with the entrance reconfigurations Disney is doing now, we have much more 'permanent' looking security barriers and inspections points. Disney already crossed the threshold with metal detectors... so they are out there to be seen. Maybe security/efficiency will win out and they will give up on those optics and go full 'tsa' style.

I'm sure optics are a big part of it, but it's gotten to a point where security at the parks is just beyond invasive. They literally opened my friend's retainer case. What is the point of that? They're not there to be cops and search you for narcotics, despite what some of these guards think (see: old woman arrested for CBD oil). They are there to search you for weapons. It's tedious nonsense and they should find a better way to expedite people through.

 

[Mickeyboof]

I'm sure optics are a big part of it, but it's gotten to a point where security at the parks is just beyond invasive. They literally opened my friend's retainer case. What is the point of that? They're not there to be cops and search you for narcotics, despite what some of these guards think (see: old woman arrested for CBD oil). They are there to search you for weapons. It's tedious nonsense and they should find a better way to expedite people through.

Eh, better to check everything that risk the safety of all.

Who cares if security opened something. Move on bud.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Here are more extensive thoughts about the experience.

It's a good ride. I don't share the enthusiasm for it that many people have, but I don't want to take away from their enjoyment either. Disneyland hasn't gotten a ride on this level in decades and it's nice to see a new dark ride with large scenery, robots and some twists on the genre. It's fun.

That being said, I have this thing when it comes to experiencing rides, especially rides billed as next-gen/cutting edge/game-changers/etc. Nothing has impressed me as much as the Spider-Man ride at Islands of Adventure. Not on that level. To me, that was the best progression of dark ride technology with a fully rotating simulator on a track. Harry Potter was rather sickening and weird. Cutting edge? Sure. But not as rider friendly or fun as Spidey. It just careens you in front of objects and screens. The only room for improvement with Spidey is to eliminate 3D glasses. You have a perfect ride and overall experience there.

Rise doesn't have a track. That's neat. It also doesn't do very much. A ride system more like Spidey would have been more exciting and made more sense as we're trying to escape this vessel and evade enemies. Instead, we're just sort of gliding nonchalantly. What it does that Spidey doesn't do is have the car actually go up and down in a drop rather than fully simulating it. It's still not done as well as Spidey aside from the physical sensation of falling!

The screens of Stormtroopers shooting at the car and Kylo Ren pursuing feel kinda like an afterthought and obviously not integrated as well as Spidey's 3D screens. Rise has robots, but very few. They're neat, but they also don't really do much. Still, they're in there and the more AAs, the better.

The large environments are cool, but I just feel a bit desensitized to this stuff. Ever since I've been going to these theme parks as a kid, they've had large environments. Back to Universal, the huge interiors of the King Kong ride, the forest in E.T. and even the Ghostbusters theater show stage recreating the roof from the ending of the first movie totally floored me when I was a kid. I've seen big impressive recreations of movie environments before and been immersed/blown away. Rise has two very large interiors of a spaceship but they still aren't as impressive as the others I've mentioned.

Am I spoiled? Pigheaded? Impossible to impress anymore? Is the ride just good and that's the end of discussion?