Today marks the epic grand opening of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance at Disneyland, and as with any attraction opening, fans showed up as early as midnight to be among the first to experience it… however, in the day and age of the Boarding Group, opening day procedures have come as a shock to many guests who are new to the access system.

Guests have been lined up outside of Disneyland gates since midnight last night, enduring rain and inclement weather while waiting outside.

At 5:46 AM, the first guests were scanned in, however they were made to wait in holding areas throughout the park until 8:00 AM for Boarding Group distribution.

When 8:00 AM came around, issues with the Disneyland App led many users to get “kicked out” of the app when they attempted to secure a Boarding Group. By the time they reopened the app, most of the boarding groups were gone. In fact, Boarding Groups were gone in a record 45 seconds, with Backup Boarding Groups going into effect at the 45 second mark and running out 11 minutes later. Guests with Backup Boarding Groups are not guaranteed boarding and are only accommodated once the main Boarding Groups have ridden.

All boarding groups have now been distributed at Disneyland, with many guests who arrived earlier on in the wee hours of the morning frustrated at the randomized Boarding Group system.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is now accepting boarding groups 12-22. It’s also worth noting that unlike Rise of the Resistance in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disneyland guests have only a 1-hour window (compared to a 2-hour window) to return after their boarding group has been called.

Jessica Figueroa