by We’ve caught wind that the boarding pass system may be ending soon for Rise of the Resistance – at least at Disneyland.
We don’t often report on rumors because they aren’t always useful. However, when it comes to planning for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, rumors can be mighty helpful. In this instance, the Rise of the Resistance boarding pass system for Disneyland and possibly Walt Disney World, may soon end!
As we’ve heard (again, this is a rumor), Disneyland plans to stop using boarding passes later in February 2020. If this goes forward, the traditional FastPass service will take its place. It’s unclear whether multiple machines around the park will have distribution for the ride or if MaxPass can be used (we were told likely not).
How the Change Could Effect Your Visit
If Disneyland stops issuing boarding passes, then essentially, the early bird gets the worm. Like in the starting weeks of Rise of the Resistance at Walt Disney World, the first guests into the park also ride the attraction first. Meaning that visitors could start lining up as early as midnight – if allowed.
Why Could the Boarding Pass System Be Ending?
We heard this rumor from an insider at the Disneyland Resort. Reportedly, Disneyland annual passholders are showing up to the parks every morning hoping for an early boarding group. If they don’t get a boarding pass early enough, they go home. Sometimes, the passholder returns later to the park, but many times they do not. Therefore, several boarding passes go without use throughout the day.
The current boarding pass situation is problematic for a number of reasons. First, Disneyland must staff heavier in the morning for guests who likely don’t pay for parking, food, or anything else during their visit (if you ignore the revenue from their annual pass). It also wastes the number of boarding passes available, thus lowering experiences for other guests who plan to stay all day.
Lastly, the Disneyland parking system is disrupted during this time. The morning traffic is heavier, but then cars abruptly leave sometimes within 30 minutes after park opening. As part of Disney’s procedure, abandoned parking spots aren’t reused until much later.
So, how does Disneyland know this? Disney doesn’t check passes that scan out, but they do keep track of who scans into the park. Disney can also see which tickets get boarding passes that day. If a guest does not use their boarding pass, Disney likely tracks which account types are abandoning their boarding groups.
Furthermore, if a guest has parking included in their annual pass (which many locals do), Disney can see if they’ve scanned back into the parking garage later that day. Disneyland reportedly has one million annual passholders and most of them live in short range of the theme park resort.
Disney doesn’t seem to mind if a guest leaves and returns to the parks later. However, it’s problematic if they leave and don’t return for their boarding group. To remedy this, the rumor is that Disneyland may stop using boarding passes. After all, the boarding pass system weren’t meant to last forever.
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland in the coming months, we recommend planning for an early morning. Even if boarding groups remain, we still recommend getting to the park’s gate at least 45 minutes before opening. If the FastPass system goes into effect, you may want to plan for earlier than that.
Only time will tell if the rumor becomes a reality. We’re certain that once the ride is fully operational that a standard queue and FastPass will exist as it does for many other popular attractions. Walt Disney World just announced FastPass+ for its Millennium Falcon ride later this month. Perhaps other significant changes are planned for both resorts before the busy spring breaks begin.
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