The Late-Night Strategy for Rise of the Resistance
Published September 4, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance commands one of the longest standby lines at Walt Disney World, recently averaging an 81-minute wait over a five-week stretch. Because it is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, avoiding that line means either paying extra or finding a strategic window to ride.
A popular tactic is to jump into the standby queue while the rest of the park is watching Fantasmic! But is trading a nighttime spectacular for a shorter wait actually the smartest move?
Here is how the late-night strategy plays out at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and what you should actually do.
The Math on the Late-Night Drop
Fantasmic! draws thousands of guests into the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, significantly draining the pathways and standby queues across the rest of the park. If you skip the show, you will usually see a drop in wait times for major headliners.
For Rise of the Resistance, entering the queue during Fantasmic! (or right before park close) often means waiting less than the posted daytime peak. Disney sometimes inflates the posted wait time at the end of the night to discourage latecomers. If your priority is keeping cash in your pocket, this is one of the most reliable ways to ride without buying a Lightning Lane Single Pass.
The Big Risk: Breakdowns
The danger of saving Rise of the Resistance for the end of the night is its reliability. This is an incredibly complex attraction that goes down frequently.
If you wait until 8:00 PM to get in line and the ride experiences technical difficulties, it may not reopen before the park closes. You have no buffer to try again later. If Rise of the Resistance is a make-or-break experience for your vacation, saving it for the final hour of the day is a massive gamble.
The Skyliner Trap
If you execute the late-night strategy, be prepared for the transportation aftermath. Timing is everything at Disney World.
If you stay in the park until 9:00 PM to squeeze in one last ride on Rise of the Resistance, you are going to exit the park at the exact same time as the Fantasmic! crowds. If you are relying on the Disney Skyliner to get back to your resort, leaving at park close means you will hit a long, winding line.
If you want to avoid a brutal wait for transportation, the move is to head out a little earlier. Leaving around 8:15 PM makes a huge difference in your Skyliner wait. If you close down the park in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, you are trading a ride wait for a transportation wait.
The Verdict: Single Pass vs. Standby
If you are on a strict budget, jumping in the Rise of the Resistance standby line during Fantasmic! is a solid, proven way to save time.
However, if you have the budget, this is the one ride where paying to skip the line makes the most sense. Buying a Lightning Lane Single Pass (which can cost around $16 depending on the day) locks in your ride, protects you against late-night breakdowns, and frees up your evening to actually watch Fantasmic! or beat the Skyliner crowds.
If you want to monitor wait times and Lightning Lane availability from your phone, check out supapark.com. We can ping you the second a ride drops to a walk-on, so you know exactly when to make your move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rise of the Resistance included in Lightning Lane Multi Pass?
No, it is a Lightning Lane Single Pass attraction, meaning you must purchase it individually if you want to skip the standby line.
Can you get in line for a ride one minute before Hollywood Studios closes?
Yes, as long as the attraction is operating and you enter the queue before the official park closing time, you will be allowed to ride.
What time does the Skyliner get busy at Hollywood Studios?
The Skyliner line at Disney’s Hollywood Studios gets incredibly long right at park close, so it is best to leave around 8:15 PM if the park closes at 9:00 PM to avoid the rush.
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SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.