As we continue to keep an eye on the Rise of the Resistance Single Rider line test at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we noticed a recent change to the route that guests walk through to rejoin the regular line. In our previous report, we were able to provide a detailed look at the Single Rider experience.

Disney World Begins Testing Rise of the Resistance Single Rider Line at Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World has begun testing the Rise of the Resistance Single Rider queue at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

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The reason we were able to give you such a good look at the process is that there were no verbal or written instructions that we were entering backstage areas (although the theming clearly indicated otherwise). It was sort of like when Galaxy’s Edge first opened, or during the COVID-19 phased reopening, and queues stretched to backstage areas. That is, normal ops stretched into backstage areas and, essentially, became on-stage areas.

During our recent visit to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we noticed that the route that Single Riders were sent through was not only backstage (per verbal instructions), but it was even further backstage than before, completely disregarding any suggestion of immersion. Let me be clear, Cast Members are now telling guests that the route that we’re taking as part of the standard Single Rider line is now backstage.

Let’s pause here to discuss the concept of backstage. I am not a Cast Member, and I’ve never been a Cast Member, but I do have opinions on what should be considered backstage and what should not be considered backstage. I believe that any route or path that is part of your daily queue operations is not backstage. I fully understand exceptions for evacuations or other exceptions for non-standard operations, but nobody is forcing Disney to test this Single Rider line, and any and all routes that guests are directed to take as part of the Single Rider test should be considered part of standard operations.

To be clear, the exact same hallways or walkways that we take during the Single Rider test could be utilized as evacuation hallways. During an evacuation, those hallways can be considered backstage. During normal operations, where guests partaking in your Single Rider line are directed to use them, it’s ridiculous to consider those hallways or walkways backstage and off limits. Just one person’s opinion.

Ok, let’s get back on track. In this photo below, taken as part of our first article on the Single Rider queue, we would’ve been sent past the dispatch station in the middle-left of the photo below, and down a relatively short hallway to the Star Destroyer hanger. To see more of that process, check out our earlier coverage. In our recent visit, we were instead taken to the right of the IT-S shuttle, and down a set of hallways that took us to the same exact Star Destroyer room, but in a different part of the room.

In the archive photo from July 2020 below, you can see the walkway that Single Riders were routed down during our recent visit, to the right of the IT-S shuttle, and into a backstage area. This area was even more immersion-breaking than the first route we experienced last week. We could see the back of the IT-S facade as well as the back of the rockwork facade.

We then went through a door and saw a number of Cast Members either going to break or returning from break. A mirror on the wall nearby was for Cast Members to make sure they were show-ready before walking back into guest view. Unlike our Single Rider experience last week, where it was obvious and easy to know where you were walking, if you got separated from the small group of Single Riders, you’d be lost in the bowels of Rise of the Resistance.

The route is complicated, contains even more immersion-breaking visuals, and impedes with Cast Members either trying to get to break, returning from break, or trying to get to their next position. It’s really not fair to Cast Members for guests to utilize this route, and it makes no sense to create a route that is even more immersion-breaking for guests.

Eventually, we make our way through a door, take a right turn, and we arrive in the Star Destroyer hanger (pictured below). From there, the process remains the same as before, with Single Riders separated from the regular standby queue until merge just before you reach the interrogation room.

So, why write this article? First, we try to cover what’s new and interesting at Walt Disney World, and the Rise of the Resistance Single Rider test checks those boxes. Next, we want to make it very clear to anyone reading that the Single Rider line at Rise of the Resistance is not for everyone. Cast Members let you know that you’ll be “skipping parts of the show” when you join the Single Rider line at the front of the attraction, but you should know that you’re not only skipping (critical) pre-show moments but that you’ll be fully taken out of the immersion of a $1 billion land.

That’s not to say that the Single Rider line for Rise of the Resistance ride isn’t a good idea. I’ve ridden it more in the past week than I have in the past three months. My average wait time has been around 15 minutes, and even as low as 5 minutes before. You can’t even walk through the standby line in less than 5 minutes when it’s completely empty. As someone who visits the parks often by myself, I’d (selfishly) love to see more Single Rider lines. I’m more than happy to be a pawn in Disney World’s efficiency/capacity game if that means greatly reduced wait times.

Again, I would not recommend Rise of the Resistance Single Rider to anyone who has never experienced Rise of the Resistance before, and I probably wouldn’t recommend it in its current configuration at all. We expect the Single Rider test to continue through the end of this week, if not longer, before Disney makes a more long-term decision on whether it will stick around.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!