Disney4me Posted August 22 Report Posted August 22 2026 has already been a big year at Hollywood Studios. The Muppets took over the Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster, the Mandalorian and Grogu made their Smugglers Run debut, and now September promises more changes to the park that opened as the Disney-MGM Studios back in 1989. It lights up! From special events to a major opening and some perks disappearing, there are some major things that Hollywood Studios guests need to know before heading to the park next month. Extended Evening Hours Extended Evening Hours offer two extra hours to guests staying at Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa resorts at select theme parks on select evenings after the park closes to the general public. Hollywood Studios will host Extended Evening Hours on September 16th, 23rd, and 30th from 9 PM to 11 PM each night. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets The following Hollywood Studios attractions are available during Extended Evening Hours: 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 The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Toy Story Mania! Tower of Terror Extended Evening Hours are available to guests at the following hotels: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Disney’s Beach Club Resort Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney’s Contemporary Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Yacht Club Resort Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Jambo House Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village Disney’s Beach Club Villas Disney’s BoardWalk Villas Disney’s Old Key West Resort Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows Disney’s Riviera Resort Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort – A Disney Vacation Club Resort (The extended evening theme park hours benefit applies to Disney Vacation Club Cabins only) The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Walt Disney World Swan Hotel Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Shades of Green on Walt Disney World Resort Disney’s Grand Floridian Ignore the Haters and Do This First in Hollywood Studios After Hours Events After Hours events are separately ticketed events that allow guests to enjoy beloved attractions with lower wait times for an extra two hours after the park closes to the public, plus enjoy snacks included in the cost of this ticketed event. They’re returning to the park for their final two 2026 dates in September, as Hollywood Studios will host After Hours events on September 2nd from 9:30 AM to 12:30 AM and September 12th from 10 PM to 1 AM. Slinky Dog Dash The following attractions are available during After Hours Events at Hollywood Studios: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Slinky Dog Dash Toy Story Mania! Alien Swirling Saucers The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge After Hours These Snacks Could Be the BEST Perk of This Disney World After Hours Event The Magic of Disney Animation Back in 2025, Disney announced that a new take on the opening day Magic of Disney Animation experience would be replacing the Star Wars Launch Bay (which is a bit of theme park inception, since the Launch Bay is what replaced the original Magic of Disney Animation over a decade ago). This new attraction is set to open on September 14th! ©Disney The new take on the classic will be split into 4 sections: Olaf Draws The Magic of Disney Animation will host Olaf Draws, a class where YOU can learn how to draw iconic Disney animated characters! These classes will be led by Olaf himself with the help of some legendary Disney Animation artists who will help bring the class to life. ©Disney Olaf will be a brand-new Audio-Animatronic as he welcomes people into a new space, inspired by one of his most memorable moments from Once Upon A Studio, sitting at an animator’s desk, joyfully discovering the art of drawing. Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, returned to record original dialogue for the experience. “I’m so thrilled that a whole new generation of kids can dream of becoming animators one day and can actually begin their journey right there on the studio lot,” Gad shared. Josh Gad at the World of Frozen in Hong Kong Disneyland In Olaf Draws, each class features a different character, so you can return again and again! You may sketch any of the following in the class: Mickey Mouse, with Dan Abraham, director (Once Upon A Studio, Baymax!) Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog) Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (Once Upon A Studio, Moana 2) Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (Aladdin, Hercules) Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (Encanto, Zootopia 2) Stitch, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon) Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (Once Upon A Studio, Frozen 3) Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (Big Hero 6, Encanto) Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard, director (Zootopia, Zootopia 2) ©Disney Disney Character Greetings at “Off the Page” Guests will meet beloved Disney characters across “six unique departments from the animation studio,” including Story, Layout, Hand-Drawn Animation, Computer Animation, Lighting, and Effects. ©Disney Though specific characters may vary, here are some examples of whom you may encounter, and where: Mulan in Story (posing in front of an oversized storyboard panel) Rapunzel in Layout (in “a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera”) Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation Donald and Daisy in CG Animation Goofy in Lighting Stitch in Effects ©Disney Drawn to Wonderland Playground This is a whimsical indoor play area for the “youngest animators-to-be!” featuring an “oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tugley Wood exploration area.” This whole area is inspired by Mary Blair’s original concept art for Alice in Wonderland. ©Disney The Once Upon A Studio Theater The Once Upon A Studio Theater will present the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio, upon which The Magic of Disney Animation is based. In addition, the theater will also present “enhanced effects that add an extra layer of magic.” For instance, “you may spot characters popping up within the artwork along the theater walls, placing you right in the middle of this enchanting story.” ©Disney NEW LOOK: We Got a Sneak Peek of the NEWEST Disney Animated Movie! The End of Cool Kids Summer September 8th will see the official end of the 2026 Cool Kids Summer promotion, which provided special experiences around the Disney World Resort, including Hollywood Studios. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway If you’re heading to Hollywood Studios in September, keep these changes in mind as you’re making your way around the park, and stay tuned to DFB for further updates on Disney World and beyond. 3 NEW Annual Passholder Perks Have Hit Disney’s Hollywood Studios Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe! WE KNOW DISNEY. YOU CAN, TOO. Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation. Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever! GET YOUR GUIDE NOW Are you heading to Disney World in September? Let us know in the comments below. View the full article Quote
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