WDW Daily News

The groundbreaking new Disney attraction Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is officially open at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® – and Guests are loving it!

Thousands of Disney Parks and Star Wars fans lined up before sunrise to be among the first to experience this groundbreaking attraction. Among them were multi-generation families who’ve enjoyed the Star Wars films for years, Guests dressed in outfits inspired by their favorite character, and younglings ready to use the Force in this all-new adventure.   

At Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Guests are put in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance, including a faceoff with Kylo Ren. The journey takes you aboard a full-size transport shuttle and into a Star Destroyer on a thrilling adventure that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. The attraction is one of the most immersive, ambitious and technologically advanced experiences in Disney history, using multiple ride systems working together to create a seamless story on a cinematic scale.

Check out the video above to hear the jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring reactions from some of the attraction’s first Guests!

As a reminder, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will debut at Disneyland® Park on Jan. 17, 2020.

Disney is looking to once again bring honor to the story of Mulan. The second trailer for the film, directed by Niki Caro, was released this morning and further teased a significant reimaging of the classic 1998 animated film directed by Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook.

Full Story & Video

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is now open at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in Florida! After years of anticipation, Guests are now joining the Resistance in a climactic battle against the First Order.

During a special dedication ceremony Wednesday night inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek lauded the attraction’s immersive storytelling and technological innovation, saying “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance sets a new standard for what a theme park experience can be. Tonight, we’re welcoming the world to experience the Star Wars galaxy like never before, with the opening of the most ambitious, immersive, advanced, action-packed attraction we’ve ever created.”

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most ambitious attractions ever created for a Disney park. The thrilling action takes place in massive sets that give you the feeling of stepping inside a Star Wars film as they elude the clutches of Kylo Ren and the First Order in a mad dash through a Star Destroyer.

You can watch a full recap of the attraction’s momentous dedication ceremony above.

As a reminder, Guests at Disneyland® Park in California can begin enjoying Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance when the attraction opens there on Jan. 17, 2020.

If you have traveled to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, they may be familiar with the Star Wars: Datapad, a land-wide interactive experience available through the Play Disney Parks mobile app. There are so many ways to explore with the Datapad – and today, we’re excited to share details on two new jobs at Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance!

Opening yesterday, Dec. 5, 2019, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios® in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020 at Disneyland® Park in California, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance will take visitors on a harrowing adventure and put them  in the middle of a climactic battle between the First Order and the Resistance. With the Star Wars: Datapad, you can choose to support either side by selecting new jobs within the app as they move through the Resistance clearing and towards attraction.

Distress Signal Received: If Guests choose to help the Resistance they’ll receive a distress signal from Finn, who is undercover on a Star Destroyer near Batuu. They can connect and help him navigate the ship by selecting his path – and they may even free Resistance prisoners, reprogram droids and gather information on what the First Order is up to on the way. Depending on the route Guests share with Finn, they’ll uncover items and schematics exclusive to this assignment.

Infiltrate Resistance Recruitment: Meanwhile, First Order loyalists entering the Resistance recruit line will be tasked with surveilling and reporting back on the status of Resistance supplies. You will be able to communicate with a First Order officer as they make their way through, and with her instruction they may choose to scan crates, intercept transmissions or even plant tracking devices from the Datapad.

Guests can look for the new Star Destroyer icon in their Datapad to take on these new jobs.  

And while exploring the surrounding area and Black Spire Outpost, you can use their “scanning” tool to discover new items that they can collect or trade with fellow galactic travelers, and don’t forget to use their “hacking,” “tuning” and “translation” tools to explore the land. Perhaps they’ll learn something new from a local droid, intercept some local chatter or learn a galactic language! And for visitors looking to take part in more, help Hondo Ohnaka sort cargo during an in-queue game at Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, or join in “Outpost Control” to show where their loyalties lie. Of course…you could always breakout on their own as a scoundrel.

Download the Play Disney Parks app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store before their visit to check out these exciting features and experiences. And during their visit to Walt Disney World® Resort or Disneyland Resort, don’t forget there’s even more to explore with the Play Disney Parks app, from in-queue games and Disney trivia, to specially themed Disney Parks playlists through Apple Music®* and playful ride achievements.

Available for iPhone® and smartphones for Android™.

Message, data and roaming rates may apply. Availability subject to handset limitations, and features may vary by handset, service provider or otherwise. Coverage and app stores not available everywhere. Music streaming feature requires an Apple Music subscription. Separate Apple Music terms and conditions apply. Subscription plan renews automatically after trial. If you’re under 18, get your parents’ permission first. Some features require separate theme park admission.

Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone and Apple Music are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Android and Google Play are trademarks of Google LLC.

This is the Disney attraction you’re looking for.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance makes its public debut Dec. 5, 2019, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, and at Disneyland Park in California on Jan. 17, 2020. After years of anticipation for this groundbreaking new attraction, guests will now become heroes of the Resistance in a climactic battle with the First Order.

During a special dedication ceremony Wednesday night inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek lauded the attraction’s immersive storytelling and technological innovation.

“Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance sets a new standard for what a theme park experience can be,” Chapek said. “Tonight, we’re welcoming the world to experience the Star Wars galaxy like never before, with the opening of the most ambitious, immersive, advanced, action-packed attraction we’ve ever created.”

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most ambitious attractions ever created for a Disney park. The thrilling action takes place in massive sets that give guests the feeling of stepping inside a Star Warsfilm as they elude the clutches of Kylo Ren and the First Order in a mad dash through a Star Destroyer.

The new attraction adds to the adventures that await inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the 14-acre land that opened earlier this year at both Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests become part of their own Star Wars stories as they take control of the fastest ship in the galaxy in Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, sample galactic food and drink, craft their own lightsabers and build their own droids in interactive retail experiences, and encounter some of their favorite Star Wars characters.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the latest chapter in the collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Lucasfilm Ltd., a global leader in film, television and digital entertainment production, including the Star Wars franchise. The work on Star Wars between these two creative powerhouses dates back to 1987, when the groundbreaking Star Tours attraction opened at Disneyland.

By: Disney DestinationsDecember 4, 2019

The votes are in and the global panel of experts at Cruise Critic have chosen Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney® as the “Best for Families” in the annual Editors’ Picks Awards! We are absolutely thrilled that our cruise line and river cruise experiences have been recognized in this category each year since 2016. 

These accolades are a true testament to the magical experiences our Cast and Crew Members create every day whether they are a part of our support and operations teams, sailing aboard the Disney Cruise Line fleet or hosting adventures around the world with Adventures by Disney.

Cruise Critic’s international team of editors combine first-hand experience with industry knowledge to select cruise vacations that are perfectly suited for every member of the family. And with more than 350,000 cruise reviews, that cover approximately 700 cruise ships and nearly 500 worldwide ports, they are definitely the ultimate online cruise resource. 

But don’t just take our word on it … here’s some feedback on our experiences from real cruisers in the Cruise Critic community!

“Cannot say enough good things about this experience. We felt the service was off the charts … Everyone on the ship is super helpful so no need to stress about not knowing where to be.”

“It was all fun … Overall we consider this the best vacation we’ve ever taken. Highly recommended!”

“It really was quite magical. Being treated with respect and having to worry about nothing … exhausted from the excitement that filled our souls.”

For the full details of this year’s winners, visit 2019 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. 

Since we first set sail in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has combined the magic of Disney entertainment with the excitement of ocean cruising, offering incredible onboard experiences and itineraries to the sun-drenched destinations of the Caribbean year-around and awe-inspiring seasonal sailings throughout Alaska and Europe. Most Caribbean itineraries also include a stop at Castaway Cay, Disney Cruise Line’s award-winning private island in The Bahamas. Plus, for the first time next year, Disney Cruise Line will set sail from New Orleans onboard the Disney Wonder. 

In 2020, Adventures by Disney will offer more European river cruise sailings than ever before, including a record-breaking 26 departures along the Danube, Rhine, Seine and Rhône rivers. Sailing with AmaWaterways, a premier luxury river cruise line, these all-inclusive vacations allow guests to explore the heart of Europe in a way that’s active, immersive and hassle free. To complement the increased selection of family vacations in 2020, nine river cruise departures are reserved exclusively for adults. Adventures by Disney will also launch new Escape itineraries in Paris, Amsterdam and Budapest, which can be booked as pre- or post-cruise stays or as standalone trips. 

In a special presentation Tuesday at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida, Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Bob Chapek announced Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway will open March 4, 2020, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios®. 

This will be the first Disney ride-through attraction featuring Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, that will draw you inside a Mickey cartoon for a fun-filled adventure where “Mouse rules apply” and anything can happen! 

Stay tuned for future updates on the progress of this attraction!

Our favorite web-footed family is heading to Epcot®!

Disney’s DuckTales World Showcase Adventure invites Guests to join Scrooge McDuck, Donald, Launchpad, Webby and the nephews in search of priceless treasure. Using the Play Disney Parks mobile app, you can take a trip around World Showcase discovering exotic destinations, exciting mysteries, and maybe even a few thieves, villains and supernatural guardians of ancient artifacts. This will be the next iteration of a popular interactive scavenger hunt around World Showcase Guests have enjoyed for years as they experience the magic of possibility at Epcot. 

Stay tuned  for more information on this new adventure!

Roundup Rodeo BBQ Restaurant

Coming in 2020 to Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a new table-service restaurant that invites you to a rootin’, tootin’ rodeo right in Andy’s back yard! Guests will be immersed with all their favorite toy pals in the western atmosphere of Woody’s Roundup providing a fun, family-friendly dining experience that could only be had in Toy Story Land. A new artist concept image released today emphasizes the theme of the new dining locale constructed from Andy’s favorite larger-than-life playsets and games.