Change to Virtual Queue Process for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Hollywood Studios

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the most popular attraction at Walt Disney World! Enjoying this attraction can prove difficult as you can’t simply just join the queue and line up. You must get a boarding pass by joining the Virtual Queue. Up until now, you were required to be in the park to gain access to the virtual queue. This process has changed since November 3, 2020.

From a Disney Cast Member;

It’s clear the Force is strong with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Since its debut last year, this spectacular experience inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has proven to be one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort.

To better help guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios plan ahead for their day at the park, we’re piloting a new approach to the virtual queue system for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Starting Nov. 3, 2020, here’s how it will work:

  • Guests with a valid ticket or annual pass and a Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be able to access the virtual queue system and check for an available boarding group starting at 7 a.m. on the day of their park reservation. This can be done before you leave your Disney resort hotel, or wherever else nearby you might be at that time.
  • Just as we do today, the virtual queue will reopen daily at 2 p.m. for anyone who wasn’t already able to join a boarding group earlier in the day. Note: Guests must be inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios to access this second virtual queue opportunity, and access to a boarding group is subject to availability and not guaranteed.

This new approach will make a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios more enjoyable and relaxing, as guests no longer need to be inside the park each morning to request a boarding group for the first virtual queue opportunity. As a reminder, you need to be inside the park to request the 2 p.m. boarding groups.

To try to maximize the number of boarding groups we’re able to accommodate while adhering to current health and safety guidelines, we recently added a clear barrier between the two rows of seats on each First Order Fleet Transport vehicle inside the attraction (see below for photos). This enables us to invite more guests to board Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance each day.

The attraction’s virtual queue is only accessible via the My Disney Experience mobile app. To maximize your opportunity to secure a boarding group, here are some tips we recommend you check off your list prior to your day at the park:

  • Register an account in My Disney Experience
  • Download the My Disney Experience mobile app on your smart device or ensure you’re using the most updated version of the app before you arrive at the park.
  • Link and assign all park tickets in your party to a My Disney Experience account
  • Have a valid Disney Park Pass reservation for Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the day you’re visiting
  • Select one member of your party to access the virtual queue for everyone in your group; if multiple people in your party try to join the virtual queue simultaneously, that may complicate your ability to secure a boarding group
  • Remember, virtual queue boarding groups are limited and subject to availability

This new pilot approach to the Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance virtual queue is designed to give guests the best possible experience during a day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. We look forward to seeing you on your next trip to a galaxy far, far away.

Leanza Cornett, Original Ariel from Disney’s “Voyage of The Little Mermaid”, Dies at Age 49

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Leanza Cornett, an American television personality and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Florida 1992 and Miss America 1993 has died at age 49. To Disney followers, Leanza was well known as the first actress to play a live-action version of Ariel at the “Voyage of The Little Mermaid” show at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 1991.

As shared by People.com: Leanza’s death was confirmed by the Miss America Organization on Wednesday (Oct. 29) in a statement reading, “Leanza had a bright and beautiful spirit and her laugh was infectious. We know she meant so much to so many, including all of you. We are devastated by this sudden loss in our Miss America family and we are deeply sorry for her family and close friends for their loss,” the statement read. “At the moment, we do not have any further information regarding a service for Leanza and we ask that you please respect her family during this difficult time.”

A Facebook group called Leanza’s Circle of Love, which was created to keep fans updated on her condition, said in an Oct. 16 post that Cornett “sustained a serious head injury that required emergency surgery” a few days prior and was admitted into the intensive care unit.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Leanza’s family and friends.

Disney Tourist Arrested Outside of Magic Kingdom for Hiding Gun in a Planter

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks, Magic Kingdom

A news report was released today sharing an interesting arrest story from outside of Disney’s Magic Kingdom. It seems while a woman was about to go through the Magic Kingdom temperature checks at the Transportation Ticket Center, she decided to hide her gun in a planter, then blame her 6-year-old son.

As shared by OrlandoSentinel: Marcia Temple, 27, of Lithonia, Ga., was arrested and charged with carrying a concealed firearm in an incident on Oct. 8. Temple was accused of ditching a loaded handgun behind a planter near the Magic Kingdom’s security checkpoint, then blaming her 6-year-old son, who she said was supposed to be watching the gun.

The situation unfolded as a hospital employee who checked visitors’ temperatures at the Magic Kingdom’s Ticket and Transportation Center noticed Temple take something from her stroller and leave it behind the planters by the tents, the arrest report said.

The employee notified Disney Security, who contacted nearby Orange County Deputy Nadia Engwall. Engwall found a pink purse containing the gun behind the planter. The 9mm gun was loaded with 10 bullets, including one in the chamber.

Engwall asked Temple why she had a gun at Disney World. “I had told my son to hold it for me and stand right here” while she went to get her brother to take the purse and gun back to the car, the report quotes Temple as saying.

The deputy determined Temple didn’t have a concealed weapon permit for Florida or Georgia. Temple was arrested and also banned from Walt Disney World property. “Our rules are clear. Weapons are not allowed at our resort,” Disney spokeswoman Andrea Finger said in a statement Thursday.

Walt Disney World Increases Capacity to 35%

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Big news just announced! Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, announced during Disney investor call on November 12, that Disney will increase capacity to 35%.

Previously, Disney has been running at a 25% capacity window. During an interview on October 13, Chapek said Disney would remain capped at 25% for all of their theme parks. A month later and it looks like there will be a bump in capacity. Chapek did say on the call that 6-feet social distancing guidelines from the CDC will still be followed.

BlogMickey shared the quote from Chapek as follows:

…our operators, which you know are the best in the world are becoming much more efficient and effective in operating under COVID guidelines. And we’ve been able to pretty materially increase our capacity and still stay within the guidelines that local governments are giving us, for example, 6 foot be social distancing, and this is happening across our parks across the world. In fact, Walt Disney world, which was at a 25% capacity constraint which was our industrial engineering estimates to keep 6 foot social distancing, now has been able to increase to 35% of capacity. So, almost a 50% increase in the number of guests that we can allow in, and still adhere to the local guidelines and the guidelines that are stipulated by the CDC with the 6 foot social distancing.

The announcement follows the news that Disney Parks report a net loss of $2.4 billion in fourth quarter earnings. 

First Look at Disney’s Animal Kingdom New Baby Boy Rhino

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Parks

Disney announced last week that Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed the birth of an endangered white male rhino calf. Now, DisneyParksBlog shares photos of the cutie and a video below!

Baby Rhino born at Disney's Animal Kingdom

The video below features endearing moments as mother Kendi bonds with her playful, yet-to-be-named baby. He is curious, loves his afternoon naps and has started sparring with his mom.