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Credit: Inside the MagicWhen Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland in 2019, it represented one of the most ambitious themed land projects Disney had ever undertaken.
The immersive Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu transported guests into the Star Wars universe with unprecedented attention to detail, interactive elements, and two groundbreaking attractions. Rise of the Resistance quickly established itself as not just the crown jewel of Galaxy’s Edge but one of the most technologically advanced and narratively complex attractions Disney had ever built.
The ride combines multiple ride systems, trackless vehicles, animatronics, projection effects, and practical sets to create an experience that feels more like stepping into a Star Wars film than riding a theme park attraction.
For years, Rise of the Resistance has maintained its status as Disneyland’s most sought-after experience, with guests arriving at rope drop hoping to secure their spot in the virtual queue or purchasing Lightning Lane access to guarantee their opportunity to join the Resistance.
Now, as of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, that experience has temporarily come to an end. The attraction is closed for an extended refurbishment with no announced reopening date, and content creators like Fresh Baked have documented construction walls now fully encasing the ride building.
This closure comes at a particularly significant moment as Disney prepares to implement a massive timeline shift across Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that will fundamentally change how guests experience this corner of the Star Wars universe.
oh! They REALLY closed Rise of the Resistance. pic.twitter.com/xR9pttAbqx
— Fresh Baked! (@FrshBakedDisney) January 21, 2026
The Closure and What We Know
Rise of the Resistance officially closed on January 20, 2026, with Disneyland Resort providing minimal details about the scope or duration of the refurbishment. The attraction’s listing on the official Disneyland website simply encourages guests to “check back” for updates, offering no target reopening date or specific information about what work is being performed during the closure.
What makes this refurbishment particularly notable is the construction approach Disney has taken. Content creators documenting the closure, including Fresh Baked on social media platform X, have shared images showing that Disney has erected full construction walls entirely surrounding the Rise of the Resistance building. This level of screening suggests more extensive work than a typical brief maintenance closure would require.
When Disney installs comprehensive construction barriers around an attraction, it typically indicates either significant technical work, substantial show element replacements, or in this case, likely modifications related to the upcoming timeline changes affecting Galaxy’s Edge.
The timing of this closure connects directly to Disney’s recently announced plans to fundamentally alter the temporal setting of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This refurbishment provides Disney the opportunity to make necessary adjustments to Rise of the Resistance that align with the new direction for the land while also addressing any technical issues that have accumulated since the attraction’s 2019 opening.
The Galaxy’s Edge Timeline Shift
Earlier this month, Disney announced a major conceptual overhaul for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge that will split the land between two different Star Wars eras. When the changes take effect on April 29, 2026, at Disneyland Park, half of Galaxy’s Edge will be set during the original trilogy era featuring iconic characters and settings from the 1977-1983 films, while the other half will maintain its current sequel trilogy timeline from the recent Star Wars films.
This represents a significant departure from the original vision for Galaxy’s Edge, which was exclusively set in the sequel trilogy era between The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. That narrow timeline focus meant guests encountered Resistance fighters, First Order troops, and characters like Rey and Kylo Ren, but couldn’t interact with beloved original trilogy heroes like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, or even Darth Vader in their prime.
The decision to expand the temporal scope reflects Disney’s recognition that many Star Wars fans feel strongest connections to the original trilogy characters and want opportunities to encounter them in an immersive environment. By splitting Galaxy’s Edge between eras, Disney can satisfy both guests who appreciate the sequel trilogy content and those who prefer the classic Star Wars experience.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios will also implement this timeline change, though an exact date hasn’t been announced for the Florida version of the land. The staggered rollout suggests Disney may be using Disneyland as a testing ground to work out operational and logistical details before making similar changes at Walt Disney World.
Other Galaxy’s Edge Changes Already Underway
Rise of the Resistance isn’t the only element of Galaxy’s Edge undergoing transformation ahead of the April 29 timeline shift. Oga’s Cantina, the land’s popular bar and lounge, also closed on January 20 for both general maintenance and aesthetic updates related to the new timeline.
In the refreshed version of Batuu, Oga’s Cantina will be portrayed as a newer establishment rather than the weathered, well-worn bar guests currently experience. More significantly, the iconic “Cantina Band” music from the Mos Eisley cantina scene in the original 1977 Star Wars film will be added to the lounge’s soundtrack.
This musical addition represents a direct nod to original trilogy fans and helps establish the venue’s connection to that era. Oga’s Cantina is expected to reopen in early March 2026, giving Disney time to complete renovations before the full timeline shift launches in late April.
The First Order Cargo shop, which currently sells sequel trilogy merchandise and gear aligned with the Resistance and First Order factions, will be completely replaced. The new retail location will be called Black Spire Surplus and will operate as a military salvage operation featuring artifacts from throughout Star Wars history, with particular emphasis on the Galactic Civil War era from the original trilogy.
This shift in merchandise strategy allows Disney to stock products appealing to fans across different Star Wars generations rather than focusing exclusively on sequel trilogy content.
Perhaps most exciting for many guests is the addition of character meet and greet opportunities with original trilogy icons. Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader will all appear throughout Galaxy’s Edge for guest interactions. This addresses one of the most frequent criticisms of the land since opening: the absence of the franchise’s most beloved characters from the guest experience.
What Might Change on Rise of the Resistance
The specific modifications Disney plans for Rise of the Resistance during this extended closure remain unclear. The attraction’s narrative currently places guests in the middle of a conflict between the Resistance and the First Order, featuring characters and story elements exclusively from the sequel trilogy including Kylo Ren, General Hux, and Resistance fighters.
If Disney intends to align Rise of the Resistance with the original trilogy side of the timeline split, significant changes would be required to dialogue, video content, and potentially even some physical show elements.
However, given the attraction’s complexity and the massive investment Disney made in its original construction, completely re-theming the ride seems unlikely. More probable scenarios include updating certain elements while maintaining the core experience, or potentially keeping Rise of the Resistance as the sequel trilogy anchor while other areas of the land shift to the original trilogy era.
Disney may also use this extended closure to address accumulated technical issues. Rise of the Resistance is notoriously complex with numerous systems that must work in perfect coordination. The attraction has experienced frequent breakdowns and maintenance needs since opening.
Last January, Disney finally repaired a broken cannon effect that had been non-functional for over three years, demonstrating how even significant show elements can go unaddressed for extended periods when the attraction remains in regular operation.
Taking the ride offline for an extended refurbishment provides Disney the opportunity to perform comprehensive maintenance, replace aging components, update software systems, and generally refresh the attraction to ensure reliable performance going forward.
Planning Around the Closure
For guests with Disneyland visits planned in the coming months, the Rise of the Resistance closure significantly impacts Galaxy’s Edge touring strategies. The attraction has been the land’s main draw since opening, and its absence changes the dynamic of how guests experience Batuu.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run remains operational and will carry the full weight of Galaxy’s Edge’s attraction lineup during the Rise of the Resistance refurbishment. Wait times for Smugglers Run will likely increase as it becomes the only major ride available in the land.
The April 29 reopening target for the full timeline shift suggests Rise of the Resistance will likely remain closed until that date or shortly before, allowing Disney to unveil the refreshed attraction as part of the broader Galaxy’s Edge transformation. However, without an official reopening date, guests should plan trips assuming the attraction will be unavailable and treat any earlier reopening as a pleasant surprise.
Stay Tuned for Updates
Keep checking Disneyland’s official website and social media channels for announcements about when Rise of the Resistance will reopen and what changes guests can expect. Follow Disney content creators who document construction progress, as they’ll likely be first to spot any clues about the scope of work being performed.
And if you’ve got a trip planned for late April or May, you might just be among the first guests to experience whatever Disney has reimagined for this incredible attraction. Make sure you’re following all the Galaxy’s Edge updates because this timeline shift is going to change everything about how we experience Star Wars at Disneyland.