The landscape of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disneyland is undergoing its most significant transformation since the immersive land debuted seven years ago.
What began as a carefully controlled narrative experience set exclusively in the sequel trilogy era is evolving into something much broader, and the physical evidence of that evolution is now impossible to miss. Construction walls have completely surrounded the Rise of the Resistance attraction building, blocking the popular experience from guest view as Disney undertakes an extended refurbishment with no announced completion date. Content creators documenting the parks, including Fresh Baked who shared images on social media, have captured the extent of the screening that now encircles one of Disneyland's most technologically sophisticated attractions.
oh! They REALLY closed Rise of the Resistance. pic.twitter.com/xR9pttAbqx
— Fresh Baked! (@FrshBakedDisney) January 21, 2026
The closure, which took effect on January 20, 2026, arrives at a pivotal moment as Disney prepares to implement a fundamental reimagining of how Galaxy's Edge functions. The original vision of a single, fixed point in Star Wars continuity is giving way to a dual-timeline approach that will allow guests to encounter characters and settings from both the beloved original trilogy and the more recent sequel films. Understanding what this closure means, what changes might be coming, and how it fits into the broader Galaxy's Edge transformation provides essential context for anyone planning a Disneyland visit in the coming months.
Construction Walls and Uncertain Timelines
When Disney closes an attraction for routine maintenance, the work typically happens behind the existing facade with minimal visual impact on the surrounding area. The decision to erect comprehensive construction barriers around the entire Rise of the Resistance building signals something more substantial than standard upkeep. These walls serve multiple purposes: they provide security for work areas, prevent guest access to potentially hazardous zones, and importantly, they shield whatever modifications are taking place from public view until Disney is ready to reveal them.
The official Disneyland website offers little insight into the closure's scope or duration. The Rise of the Resistance listing simply instructs guests to “check back” for updates rather than providing even an approximate reopening timeframe. This vague messaging could indicate uncertainty about how long the work will take, or it could reflect Disney's preference to maintain flexibility rather than committing to a specific date they might not meet.
What we do know is that the closure began on January 20, 2026, and that Disney has announced a major Galaxy's Edge refresh scheduled for April 29, 2026. The proximity of these dates suggests the refurbishment is directly connected to the timeline changes coming to the land, though Disney hasn't explicitly confirmed this connection.
The Dual-Timeline Concept
The announcement that changed everything for Galaxy's Edge came earlier this month when Disney revealed plans to split the land between two distinct Star Wars eras. Beginning April 29, 2026, at Disneyland Park, half of Galaxy's Edge will transport guests to the original trilogy period featuring the Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance, and characters who defined Star Wars for generations of fans. The other half will maintain the sequel trilogy setting that has defined the land since its 2019 opening.
This represents a significant philosophical shift from Galaxy's Edge's original design. When Disney first conceived the land, the company emphasized creating a specific moment in Star Wars history where every element reinforced a singular narrative. Cast members were trained to stay in character as Batuu residents, merchandise was designed to look like it belonged in the Star Wars universe rather than obviously being theme park souvenirs, and even food and beverages were given in-universe names and backstories.
That narrative purity came with tradeoffs. Many Star Wars fans feel deepest connections to the original trilogy characters and settings. Limiting Galaxy's Edge to the sequel trilogy era meant guests couldn't encounter Luke Skywalker in his prime, couldn't see Han Solo and Princess Leia, and couldn't interact with Darth Vader as a menacing presence rather than a historical figure. The dual-timeline approach attempts to satisfy both audience segments by offering experiences rooted in different Star Wars eras within the same physical space.
Disney's Hollywood Studios will also receive this treatment, though the Florida implementation has no announced date yet. The staggered rollout between coasts likely allows Disney to refine operational approaches and guest flow strategies before duplicating them across both resorts.
Parallel Changes Across the Land
Rise of the Resistance isn't experiencing this transformation in isolation. Multiple elements of Galaxy's Edge are simultaneously being modified or temporarily closed to prepare for the April 29 relaunch.
Oga's Cantina closed on the same day as Rise of the Resistance, January 20, for renovations that serve dual purposes. The popular drinking establishment requires general maintenance after years of operation, but it's also receiving thematic updates aligned with the timeline changes. When it reopens, expected in early March 2026, the cantina will be portrayed as a newer establishment rather than the worn, weathered bar guests currently experience.
The most significant addition to Oga's will be musical. The famous “Cantina Band” theme from the Mos Eisley cantina scene in the 1977 Star Wars film will join the lounge's soundtrack. This single change carries enormous symbolic weight for original trilogy fans who have been requesting more connections to the classic films since Galaxy's Edge opened. That iconic melody instantly evokes one of Star Wars' most memorable scenes and helps anchor the venue in the original trilogy era.
Retail is also transforming. First Order Cargo, which currently stocks merchandise aligned with sequel trilogy factions, will be replaced entirely by Black Spire Surplus. The new shop concept positions itself as a military salvage operation dealing in artifacts from across Star Wars history, with particular emphasis on the Galactic Civil War period from the original trilogy. This merchandising shift allows Disney to offer products appealing to fans of different Star Wars generations rather than focusing exclusively on sequel trilogy content that hasn't achieved the same commercial success.
Character interactions represent perhaps the most visitor-facing change. Princess Leia Organa, Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Darth Vader will all begin appearing throughout Galaxy's Edge for meet and greet opportunities. This addresses what many considered the land's most glaring omission since opening: the absence of Star Wars' most iconic and beloved characters from the guest experience.
Speculation About Rise of the Resistance Modifications
The exact nature of the work happening behind those construction walls remains speculative. Rise of the Resistance currently tells a story firmly rooted in the sequel trilogy, featuring Kylo Ren, General Hux, and the conflict between the Resistance and First Order. The attraction's narrative, dialogue, video segments, and character appearances all reinforce that specific timeframe.
Completely re-theming such a complex attraction to the original trilogy era would require enormous investment and extensive modifications to dialogue recordings, video content, animatronic programming, and potentially physical set pieces. Given the attraction's technical complexity and the resources Disney invested in its original construction, a full retheme seems unlikely unless Disney has determined that sequel trilogy content isn't resonating with guests as strongly as hoped.
More probable scenarios include keeping Rise of the Resistance anchored in the sequel trilogy while surrounding areas shift to the original trilogy, creating a clear delineation between the two temporal zones. Alternatively, Disney might make selective updates to certain elements while preserving the core experience largely intact.
The extended closure also provides opportunity to address technical reliability issues that have plagued the attraction since opening. Rise of the Resistance operates multiple complex systems simultaneously, and achieving consistent reliability has proven challenging. Components wear out, software glitches occur, and show elements fail. Last year, Disney finally repaired a cannon effect that had been broken for over three years, illustrating how maintaining such a sophisticated attraction presents ongoing challenges.
Practical Implications for Park Visitors
Anyone planning a Disneyland visit between now and late April should adjust expectations for Galaxy's Edge. Rise of the Resistance has functioned as the land's primary draw since its 2019 debut, and its absence fundamentally alters the experience.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run becomes the sole major attraction available in Galaxy's Edge during this refurbishment period. Wait times for Smugglers Run will likely increase substantially as it absorbs demand from guests who would have otherwise split between both attractions. Those hoping to pilot the Falcon should plan for longer queues than typical or consider purchasing Lightning Lane access.
The April 29 timeline shift date provides a reasonable estimate for when Rise of the Resistance might reopen, though Disney's reluctance to commit to specific dates suggests caution is warranted. Guests visiting before late April should plan itineraries assuming the attraction will be unavailable and treat any earlier reopening as unexpected bonus rather than something to count on.
Monitoring the Situation
Official updates will come through Disneyland's website and social media channels, though Disney has historically been conservative about announcing reopening dates until work is substantially complete. Following Disney content creators and news outlets that track construction progress often provides earlier indicators of timeline changes or scope adjustments. Pay attention to reports about construction wall removal or soft opening periods that sometimes precede official reopening announcements. The transformation of Galaxy's Edge represents one of the most significant changes to a modern Disney land since opening, and staying informed about developments helps ensure your visit aligns with the experience you're hoping to have.
