Disney Halts ‘Star Wars’ Attraction on Oct. 28, Hundreds of Guests Turned Away Indefinitely
Disney World guests hoping to enjoy a full morning of attractions at Hollywood Studios encountered unexpected issues on Friday, October 28.
The park welcomed visitors at 9 a.m., but some of its biggest experiences weren’t ready to open. Instead of getting an early start on their favorite rides, families found themselves dealing with temporary closures and uncertainty about when operations would resume.
Cast Members couldn’t provide a reopening estimate for one particularly popular attraction, leaving guests with few answers.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Hollywood Studios has experienced operational difficulties involving major attractions.
Disney’s Star Wars Attraction Fails to Open
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance didn’t open with the rest of Disney’s Hollywood Studios Friday morning, leaving visitors unable to experience one of the park’s most popular rides.
Located inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the attraction takes guests into an elaborate battle between the Resistance and the First Order. Multiple ride systems and impressive special effects help bring the adventure to life.
For families hoping to experience Rise of the Resistance, arriving early often seems like the best strategy. The attraction can draw substantial crowds, making it a priority for visitors who want to avoid spending a large portion of their day waiting in line.
However, guests arriving at the entrance Friday morning received disappointing news.
Disney Cast Members informed visitors that the attraction was temporarily unavailable. They couldn’t provide an estimated reopening time, either.
Nearly two hours after Hollywood Studios opened at 9 a.m., Rise of the Resistance remained closed.
Disney hasn’t confirmed what caused the interruption. Earlier this month, the company filed a permit involving unspecified construction work at the attraction, but there’s no confirmed connection between that permit and the October 28 disruption.
Both Galaxy’s Edge Rides Experience Delays
Rise of the Resistance wasn’t the only Star Wars attraction experiencing trouble when Hollywood Studios opened.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run also failed to welcome riders at 9 a.m., creating an unusual situation for visitors heading directly into Galaxy’s Edge.
The interactive attraction allows guests to board the Millennium Falcon and take different positions during a mission aboard the famous spacecraft.
With both major attractions unavailable, Star Wars fans arriving early had limited options inside the land.
Thankfully, Smugglers Run resumed operations shortly after the park opened, allowing visitors to enjoy at least one of the two experiences.
Rise of the Resistance continued experiencing difficulties, however.
For families hoping to complete both attractions before crowds increased, the interruptions meant they had to reconsider their plans. Some visitors might need to return later, while others could decide to spend their morning elsewhere in Hollywood Studios.
Another Popular Roller Coaster Has Experienced Problems
The Star Wars closures come amid other operational difficulties at Hollywood Studios.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has recently experienced delayed openings, including situations where the attraction wasn’t ready when the park began welcoming guests.
The Muppet-themed roller coaster remains an important option for visitors seeking thrill rides, making these interruptions particularly inconvenient for guests who prioritize it.
Many families arrive at Hollywood Studios with a plan to experience certain attractions before the day’s busiest part.
When those rides don’t open as expected, visitors must decide whether to wait, change their priorities, or return later.
Those decisions become more frustrating when multiple popular attractions experience problems around the same time.
Temporary interruptions don’t necessarily mean an attraction has a serious technical issue, but repeated delays can make planning a Hollywood Studios visit more difficult.
What Guests Should Know About Today’s Closures
Hollywood Studios features several attractions that regularly attract large crowds, including Slinky Dog Dash, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Rise of the Resistance.
When one major ride becomes unavailable, visitors may move toward other attractions, potentially increasing wait times throughout the park.
Guests visiting today should regularly check the My Disney Experience app for updated attraction information.
Families holding Lightning Lane reservations should also monitor the app for possible changes or recovery options if their selected experience becomes unavailable.
Rather than waiting outside a closed attraction for an extended period, visitors may want to explore another area until operations resume.
Disney World Guests Still Waiting for Answers
These problems demonstrate how quickly unexpected ride closures can affect a Disney World visit.
Rise of the Resistance remained unavailable nearly two hours after opening, while Smugglers Run experienced a shorter delay. Recent interruptions to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster have raised additional concerns for guests planning their mornings.
As of the latest reported update, Disney hadn’t provided an estimated reopening time for Rise of the Resistance.
That doesn’t necessarily mean the attraction will remain closed all day. For now, guests hoping to experience the Star Wars adventure will need to watch for additional updates.
