If you have ever stood in the hangar bay of a Star Destroyer while First Order troopers march past, you already know why Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance holds such a special place for Disney’s Hollywood Studios fans. You may also know the feeling of finally getting your boarding group called, only for the ride to go down moments later.
Nearly seven years after it opened, the crown jewel of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is back in the headlines, this time thanks to a new construction permit.
What We Know About the Permit
The filing was submitted on Thursday, October 8, by Disney’s Sourcing & Procurement team, and names Buena Vista Construction Company, the company’s own construction division, as the contractor. Beyond that, the paperwork keeps its secrets. The general description of work reads, “Provide labor, material and/or electrical for construction,” with no details on scope, timing, or any potential impact on operations.
In other words, it is far too early to say whether these points signal a refurbishment, a behind-the-scenes fix, or something else entirely.
Why Fans Are Paying Attention
Rise of the Resistance has had a bumpy ride since it debuted at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in December 2019, with Disneyland Park following in January 2020. Guests were so eager to climb aboard that Disney introduced a virtual queue, and the early days were defined by frequent breakdowns that left boarding groups waiting as the ride stopped and started throughout the day.
Reliability has improved a great deal since then, but this spring was a reminder that the downtime reputation hasn’t gone away. From March 25 through March 27, 2026, the Walt Disney World version didn’t open with the rest of the park, and guests arriving at the queue found cast members blocking the way in. On March 27, the attraction ran briefly during Early Entry, when Disney Resort hotel guests can enter ahead of the general public, but it closed again and stayed down late into the morning.
According to Thrill Data, the ride saw 72 minutes of downtime on March 24, 175 minutes on March 25, and 326 minutes on March 26, on top of noticeable downtime earlier that month.
Sharp-eyed regulars have also spotted effects that don’t always perform as intended. The hangar’s cannon blasters, which are supposed to move, are often static, and the Kylo Ren audio-animatronic is sometimes swapped for a B-mode projection showing him escaping on a ship.
Why It’s Still Worth the Wait
So why do fans keep coming back? Because nothing else quite compares. The attraction links multiple ride systems, full-size sets, motion simulation, and trackless vehicles into one seamless story, taking guests from a recruitment briefing with Rey (Daisy Ridley) to capture by the First Order and a tense run-in with Kylo Ren and General Hux. It picked up Golden Ticket Awards for Best New Attraction Installation and Best New Family Attraction in 2021, and it remains a reference point for immersive design worldwide.
It’s also the centerpiece of Imagineering’s larger vision for Batuu, a Wild Space outpost where cast members play locals, merchandise is sold as if it came from the galaxy itself, and the story was originally connected to the sequel trilogy.
What This Means for Your Visit
Nothing has been announced yet, so plan to ride as usual, but build a little flexibility into your Hollywood Studios day. This is an attraction where one hiccup can pause everything, and a bit of patience usually pays off.
Have you ridden Rise of the Resistance recently? Let us know in the comments.
