Hollywood Studios is about to have its busiest news week of the year, and if you've got a trip coming up this month, both stories genuinely change how you should plan your day (or night).
A Brand-New Land Opens September 14
The Magic of Disney Animation officially opens on September 14, 2026, taking over the former footprint of Star Wars: Launch Bay. It's the second and final phase of the Walt Disney Studios land, which began rolling out back in May 2026, and it's built around one idea: letting guests step inside the Disney Animation building as if the animators just stepped away for a break.
There are four distinct areas to explore. Olaf Draws is a draw-along class where an animatronic Olaf teams up (on-screen) with real Disney animators and directors - including Eric Goldberg, the animator behind Genie in Aladdin, and Trent Correy, director of Once Upon a Studio - walking guests through drawing characters like Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Genie, Moana, and more.
Off The Page spreads character meet-and-greets across six real animation departments: Story (Mulan), Layout (Rapunzel, in a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera), Hand-Drawn Animation (Chip 'n' Dale), CG Animation (Donald and Daisy), Lighting (Goofy), and Effects (Stitch).
The Drawn to Wonderland playground draws on Mary Blair's artwork for Alice in Wonderland, with an oversized flower garden featuring musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tugley Wood exploration area for younger guests.
Finally, the Once Upon a Studio Theater screens the Emmy Award-winning short that inspired this entire land, now presented with enhanced in-theater effects designed to make characters feel like they're popping out of the artwork on the walls around you.
Extended Evening Hours Returns - But Only for Some Guests
Three nights after the new land opens, Extended Evening Hours comes back to Hollywood Studios - but only on September 16, 23, and 30, 2026, from 9 to 11 PM. This is not a park-wide perk. It's exclusive to guests staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort, a Deluxe Villa property, or a short list of other qualifying hotels: Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green.
During the two-hour window, eight rides stay open with dramatically shorter lines than during regular park hours: Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey and 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, and Toy Story Mania!.
Is It Actually Worth Upgrading Your Resort for This?
Here's where most coverage of this stops - but it's the question that actually matters for your budget. A qualifying Deluxe resort typically runs $250 to $400 more per night than a comparable value or moderate resort during this same stretch of September. Extended Evening Hours isn't every night of your stay; it's three specific dates, for two hours each.
If your trip happens to include one of those three nights, and you use the full two hours to ride three or four of the eight included attractions with next-to-no wait, that can genuinely be worth more than what you'd otherwise spend on Lightning Lane Single Pass fees for the same rides during the day. But if your trip doesn't line up with September 16, 23, or 30 - or you're staying at a qualifying resort for a night that doesn't fall on one of those dates - you're paying the full room-rate premium for a perk you simply can't use.
The smartest move is to check the calendar before you book the upgrade, not after. If you want to run the actual numbers for your specific trip dates, the Disney Budget Master Workbook is built exactly for this kind of decision - a cost-per-day, cost-per-perk comparison tool that takes about five minutes to work through.
FAQ
When does the Magic of Disney Animation open? September 14, 2026.
What was in that space before? Star Wars: Launch Bay, which has been fully replaced.
Which nights is Extended Evening Hours available at Hollywood Studios? September 16, 23, and 30, 2026, from 9-11 PM.
Which resorts qualify for Extended Evening Hours? All Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas, plus Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green. Value and Moderate resorts do not qualify.
How many rides are open during Extended Evening Hours? Eight: Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours, Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania!.
Grab our free 7 Disney World Money Hacks guide at eepurl.com/sWs3ANT4ta for more ways to plan smarter, and check out the Disney Budget Master Workbook at payhip.com/b/e7zdI if you're weighing a resort upgrade for your own trip.