It’s been a busy week for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Walt Disney World has added the Galaxy’s Edge attraction to Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, handing Deluxe Resort guests a shot at one of the most in-demand rides on property after the daytime crowds clear out. On the very same day, a new permit tied to the attraction surfaced, and Disney hasn’t said what it covers.
Add an early park closure later this month, and there’s plenty for October visitors to keep track of.
The Lineup Gets a Headliner
Extended Evening Hours lets guests at eligible Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa Resorts stay in a park for up to two hours after it closes to the general public on select nights. At Hollywood Studios, the remaining dates this month are October 14 and October 28, 2026.
Before this change, the after-hours offering covered Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours – The Adventures Continue, Toy Story Mania!, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Rise of the Resistance now rounds out the list.
This is not a filler addition. Rise of the Resistance is the centerpiece of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a multi-ride-system attraction that drops guests into a Resistance operation gone wrong amid sprawling, detailed sets. It routinely posts some of the longest waits anywhere at Walt Disney World, so an after-hours window is a meaningful upgrade for eligible guests.
Disney’s published attraction list reflects the change, but special event lineups can shift. Guests should check official Disney sources for the latest details before heading over.
The Permit Question
On October 8, Walt Disney World filed a new permit for Rise of the Resistance through Disney’s Sourcing and Procurement department. The filing does not spell out the scope of the work.
There’s no indication yet of a refurbishment, a temporary closure, or any guest-facing changes. A permit by itself confirms none of those things. The timing alongside the Extended Evening Hours news may raise eyebrows, but there is no confirmed link between the two, and Disney has not addressed the filing.
Early Closure on October 20
Separately, Hollywood Studios will close to regular day guests at 5 p.m. on October 20, 2026, after a private company bought out the park for an event. Anyone hoping for a full day at the park on that date should front-load their priorities and double-check the official Walt Disney World park calendar and their admission details.
The Bigger Picture at Hollywood Studios
These updates come as the park undergoes one of the most significant overhauls in its recent history. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has already reopened with its new theme, swapping in fresh characters for one of the park’s signature thrill rides. The Magic of Disney Animation is also open, bringing an animation-focused experience to the park.
Still to come is Monstropolis, a fully themed Monsters, Inc. land planned for the former Grand Avenue area. Disney has teased a first-of-its-kind roller coaster inspired by the franchise’s door-based transportation system, along with a restaurant based on Harryhausen’s, the sushi restaurant from the film.
To be clear, Monstropolis is still in the planning stage and has not opened. Combined with the Muppets retheme and the animation additions, though, it shows just how much of Hollywood Studios is being reshaped.
Deluxe Resort and Deluxe Villa Resort guests visiting on October 14 or October 28 can now add Rise of the Resistance to their after-hours plans. The October 8 permit is one to watch, but it doesn’t justify rearranging a trip on its own. October 20 visitors should plan for the 5 p.m. close.
With new attractions arriving and more on the way, Hollywood Studios is firmly in transition, and the park guests see next year may look quite different from today’s.
Will you be riding Rise of the Resistance after hours this month? Let us know in the comments below.
