In the corner of the video, we see a seal of the outline of Batuu, while a case opens that reveals what could be a Captain Cardinal figurine. While this teaser video doesn’t include a date when the merchandise will be available, it is captioned as “landing soon.”
Recently, Disney and Target have developed close ties, with Disney Stores opening at 25 Target stores across the United States last year. Target was also announced to be among the retail offerings at Flamingo Crossings Town Center at the western entrance to Walt Disney World.
With Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopening to the public yesterday, one of its most popular attractions, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, has made changes to its virtual queue system.
Cast Members from Batuu were stationed outside with iPads to check guests’ status within the Virtual Queue:
Guests have the opportunity to request to join the virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app at three different times during the day: 10 AM, 1 PM, and 4 PM (ET). Previously, all virtual queue spots were released at park open. Guests must be within Disney’s Hollywood Studios to request a queue spot.
Once at the park, pull up the My Disney Experience app and scroll down until you see this Rise of the Resistance section, then tap “Join”. At each of the three scheduled times, the request process will open.
To maintain fairness, guests can only enter the virtual queue once per day. This means that, for example, if you request to join the queue at 10 AM and successfully obtain a spot, you can’t request another spot at 1 PM or 4 PM.
With the 10:00 AM Virtual Queue opening, we found that all Boarding Groups had been fully distributed within 5 minutes. By 10:08 AM, the Virtual Queue page had been updated to reflect that no more groups were available, and that guests were to check back at 1:00 PM for another opportunity to join the Virtual Queue if they were not successful in the first round.
Given that Boarding Groups used to run out in mere seconds in the months prior to the closure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the fact that they lasted a few minutes is a positive, but we’ll have to monitor how the progression of the Virtual Queue goes throughout the day (and the subsequent days) for a better sense of logistics for the attraction.
RISE OF THE RESISTANCE — Disney guests will traverse the corridors of a Star Destroyer and join an epic battle between the First Order and the Resistance – including a face-off with Kylo Ren – when Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens Dec. 5, 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020 at Disneyland Resort in California. At 14 acres each, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Disney’s largest single-themed land expansion ever. (Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks)
If your My Disney Experience account is linked to your park tickets and the others in your party, you should be able to enter everyone into the virtual queue at the same time. The app will also display when queue spots are no longer available for a certain distribution time. Should you be unable to attain a queue spot, backup groups may be available. While waiting for your boarding group to be called, you’re free to enjoy the rest of what Disney’s Hollywood Studios has to offer.
Be sure to have push notifications turned on for My Disney Experience, so that you’ll be notified if your group has been called to return. Guests have an hour from the time of the alert to arrive at the entrance to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Because of the possibility of unforeseen circumstances, Disney has stressed that joining the virtual queue is not a guarantee that guests will be able to experience the attraction.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is reopening on July 15. One of the biggest questions still needing to be answered was how Disney was going to handle the virtual queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Disney has provided an update!
Here are all the details from a Disney Cast Member:
“As we look forward to reopening Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park tomorrow, our cast members are also preparing for the reopening of EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.
For guests with upcoming Disney Park Pass reservations to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios, we wanted to share an update about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, which will once again be using virtual queue in the My Disney Experience app. If you’ve joined the Resistance before, you will want to note a few changes to the process beginning July 15. Most importantly – as availability allows – guests will have an opportunity at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m. to request to join the virtual queue. This means there is no need to arrive early to the park to check the virtual queue.
Whether it’s your first trip to Batuu or you have joined the fight against the First Order before, there are a few important details to know before you arrive:
First, make sure you have the My Disney Experience app. Once you enter the park, log in to your account at one of the distribution times (10 a.m., 1 p.m. or 4 p.m.).
Once you have logged in, select “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Virtual Queue” on the home screen. You will be able to view the current status and next steps for joining the virtual queue.
The app will indicate when there is no availability for a specific distribution time. Some guests may join backup groups.
As long as your My Disney Experience account is linked to park tickets for you and the others in your group, you can enroll everyone in the virtual queue at the same time. In order to give as many guests as possible the opportunity to join the Resistance, each guest can enter the virtual queue no more than once per day.
Make sure push notifications are turned on for My Disney Experience so you will be alerted if your group is called to return. You’ll have up to an hour from the time of the alert to go to the entrance of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Please note that joining the virtual queue does not guarantee the ability to experience Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
If you have any questions or need assistance with joining the virtual queue, cast members at Guest Experience Team locations throughout the park are available to assist. While you wait for your virtual queue group to be called, you can enjoy other experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including our newest addition, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
RISE OF THE RESISTANCE — Disney guests will traverse the corridors of a Star Destroyer and join an epic battle between the First Order and the Resistance – including a face-off with Kylo Ren – when Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance opens Dec. 5, 2019 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida and Jan. 17, 2020 at Disneyland Resort in California. At 14 acres each, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Disney’s largest single-themed land expansion ever. (Joshua Sudock/Disney Parks)
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most popular attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, and we know many of our guests are familiar with using virtual queue to experience this one-of-a-kind adventure. For other attractions at Walt Disney World Resort, we plan to use our regular standby queues to manage capacity and to maintain physical distancing.
We can’t wait to welcome you back to the magic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Walt Disney World Resort!”
You don’t have to travel to a galaxy far, far, away this year to celebrate Star Wars Day, as your very own Star Wars stories can now come to life at home with the all-new Droid Depot mobile app.
The out-of-this-world app, available for free download on the App Store and Google Play, brings your BB-series or R-series astromech droid unit from Droid Depot at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to life for a galactic experience at home. While these droids can interact with elements in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, now your droids can interact with you at home. For those of you who haven’t built an astromech droid unit yet, you can also channel your inner droid builder in an all-new virtual experience where you can build a digital droid and create a whole new virtual collection of droids!
Join the Resistance when you sync up with your Droid Depot astromech unit. Every Jedi, Sith Lord and Rebel alike will be able to program their droids, customize them by name, see their profiles, and pilot them on a virtual path around their home activating sounds and maneuvers using the app.
You’ll also be able to choose some favorite galactic jams by DJ R3X straight from Oga’s Cantina and choreograph your droid to dance its way through your home, check it out:
Though we don’t yet know if they’ll be taking visitors at Black Spire Outpost by then, on June 23rd, you’ll be able to visit Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge like a pro.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: Traveler’s Guide to Batuu by Cole Horton will be released that day, offering advice on what to see and do, along with maps and materials from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering:
From the official description:
“Set your course for the edge of the galaxy to the planet Batuu where you’ll be immersed in the alluring offerings of a mysterious outpost and thriving port that is a haven for scoundrels, rogues and smugglers.
Upon arrival, you will have access to an authentic, in-world environment unlike anything you have ever experienced before! This official guide to Batuu is written completely in-world, as if you are a visitor from another part of the galaxy looking for recommendations on where to eat, shop, and sightsee while on your trip to this exciting location.
Highlighted features:
Full-color photos, illustrations, and maps
Original content from Lucasfilm and Walt Disney Imagineering
Backstories to characters and locations found in Black Spire Outpost
Whether living your adventure in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or simply being an armchair traveler, this in-depth literary companion will delight any fan of Star Wars.”
The book will retail for $19.99, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
And if you’re someone who can’t get enough Star Wars trivia, June 23rd also the release of Star Wars: Book of Lists, also by Horton, offering facts about the worlds and characters of the beloved franchise as well as the people who bring them to life.
The official description reads:
“Star Wars: The Book of Lists takes a fascinating look at the galaxy far, far away through trivia culled from both on-screen and off over the history of the franchise. More than a simple accounting of fan-favorite characters or biggest opening weekends, this book is a compendium of the most compelling facts about the saga and fandom summarized in 100 lists.
Find out these fun facts and more with comprehensive lists covering everything you’d want to know about the characters, creatures, ships, planets, and more:
Which character has been to the most planets?
What are the deadliest creatures in the galaxy?
Who shared the most memorable kisses?
Which actors have voiced the most characters?
What are some of the most surprising cameos?
Compiling a galaxy’s worth of trivia and information about the Star Wars Universe, Star Wars: The Book of Lists is an entertainingly accessible trivia format for both hardcore fans and casual viewers.”
The book retails for $24.99, and is available for pre-order on Amazon and at Barnes & Noble.
