by Is the new Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance too scary for little kids?
While Disney theme parks are often considered safe havens for families with kids, not all rides are designed with them in mind. So when Disney opened Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the 14-acre land holds something for everyone. The Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is fairly low on the scary level, but what about the newer, bigger, more immersive Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance?
Rise of the Resistance is the most complex attraction we’ve ever experienced. There are essentially four ride systems that take guests through an expansive and thrilling story. Menacing stormtroopers, animatronics, explosions, and other elements bring this story to life in a thrilling, realistic way. The vastness of this ride could also be overwhelming for many small children. The entire experience is about 18 minutes long which could be pretty taxing for a small, nervous child. There’s also a motion simulation aspect that could make those with motion sickness feel ill.
The height restriction for Rise of the Resistance is 40″, which is shorter than the average first-day kindergartener. If you’re experiencing a Disney park for the first time with them, this isn’t a great first ride. Try other attractions first and see how well they do with the dark, waiting in a queue, and seeing dramatic scenes. At Disneyland and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Star Tours is a much better first-time thrill ride than Rise of the Resistance. If they love the action of Star Tours, then you may want to try Rise. However, for children under 8 years old, we recommend a calmer ride like Toy Story Mania or a Fantasyland attraction to get going.
As for experienced kids who love Disney theme parks, this ride shouldn’t be scary for them. If your child has no issues on The Haunted Mansion or Star Tours, Rise of the Resistance should be fine. We also warn (spoiler alert—skip to the next paragraph to avoid spoilers) that there is a small, surprising drop. It’s not a drop like a roller coaster, but more like very short, vertical fall. However, we believe that this drop is more fun than it is scary.
Disney began creating thrill rides for teens and adults back in the early 90s. Rides like Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Roller Coaster were designed to attract families with older kids by giving them an adrenaline rush. Over the years, this formula has worked, but overall, Rise of the Resistance is great for kids over 9 and older. Of course, there are always very adventurous ones under that age.
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