If you’ve ever stood in the queue for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and watched the posted wait creep higher, there’s welcome news for Deluxe Resort guests this October. Walt Disney World has added the Galaxy’s Edge headliner to the attractions operating during Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
It’s one of three developments at the park worth knowing about ahead of an autumn trip. A permit connected to the attraction has also been filed, and the park has an early closure on the calendar later this month. Here’s a breakdown of each and how it might shape your plans.
How Extended Evening Hours Work
Extended Evening Hours is a benefit for guests staying at eligible Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villa Resorts. On select nights, those guests can stay in a participating park for up to two hours after it closes to the general public, with a set list of attractions running.
Hollywood Studios has two Extended Evening Hours nights scheduled this month: October 14 and October 28, 2026. Until this update, the lineup for those nights included:
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!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Rise of the Resistance now joins that group.
Why This Is the Addition Guests Wanted
Of all the attractions Disney could have added to the after-hours list, this is likely the one Deluxe guests would have picked first. Rise of the Resistance anchors Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and is one of the most ambitious experiences on property, combining multiple ride systems and large-scale environments as guests are caught up in a Resistance mission that quickly goes sideways.
That ambition is reflected in its standby times, which regularly rank among the longest at Walt Disney World. An evening window, after much of the daytime crowd has left, gives guests a chance to ride without building their whole day around one line.
As with any special offering, lineups can change, so check Disney’s official information for the latest operating details before your visit.
A New Permit, But Few Details
The Extended Evening Hours update arrived on the same day as a separate filing. On October 8, Walt Disney World filed a new permit relating to Rise of the Resistance through Disney’s Sourcing and Procurement department.
What the filing doesn’t say is just as important as what it does. It gives no indication of whether the attraction will be refurbished, temporarily closed, or changed in any way that guests would notice. A permit on its own does not confirm a closure or a major renovation.
The timing next to the attraction’s expanded after-hours availability is worth noting, but nothing confirms a connection between the two. Disney has not commented on the filing.
Plan Around the October 20 Early Closure
If your trip falls later in the month, mark October 20, 2026, on your calendar. Hollywood Studios is scheduled to close to regular day guests at 5 p.m. that day, after a private company bought out the park for an event.
This is unrelated to the Extended Evening Hours change, but it does shorten the day for anyone visiting. If Hollywood Studios is on your itinerary that day, plan to tackle your must-do attractions in the morning and early afternoon, and confirm hours on the official Walt Disney World park calendar and your admission details before you go.
A Park in the Middle of Big Changes
All of this is happening while Hollywood Studios works through a substantial transformation. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets has given one of the park’s signature thrill rides a new identity, and The Magic of Disney Animation has added an animation-focused experience. Both are now open to guests.
The largest project is still ahead. Monstropolis is planned for the former Grand Avenue area and will bring the world of Monsters, Inc. to the park as a fully themed land. Announced highlights include a first-of-its-kind Monsters, Inc. roller coaster inspired by the franchise’s door-based transportation system, and a restaurant based on Harryhausen’s, the sushi spot from the film.
Monstropolis remains a planned expansion and is not yet open.
Are you planning to take advantage of Extended Evening Hours this month? Share your plans in the comments.
