Credit: DisneyWalt Disney World has officially released the operating schedule for The Magic of Disney Animation ahead of its grand debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on September 14, 2026. While the highly anticipated walk-through experience will initially run from rope drop to park close during its opening fortnight, Disney’s currently posted schedule shows the attraction transitioning to a shorter operating window beginning September 28, 2026. According to the currently posted schedule, the attraction will operate from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. beginning September 28.
Opening Weeks vs. Current Schedule
During its initial rollout from September 14 through September 27, 2026, Disney will operate The Magic of Disney Animation according to the longer hours currently posted for those dates. Beginning September 28, the attraction will transition to a reduced operational schedule, opening well after the park opens and closing hours before the nighttime fireworks and evening crowds wrap up.
| Date Range | Operating Hours | Park Hours Comparison |
|---|---|---|
| September 14 – 17, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Matches posted Hollywood Studios operating hours |
| September 18 – 19, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Matches posted early park opening schedule |
| September 20 – 27, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. | Matches posted Hollywood Studios operating hours |
| September 28 – Onward | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | Reduced hours (opens 1 hour late, closes early) |
The September 14–27 hours and the 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. schedule beginning September 28 are currently listed on Walt Disney World’s website. Because Disney can change attraction operating hours, the September 28 schedule should be understood as the currently posted schedule rather than a formally announced permanent operating policy.
Why the Reduced Schedule Impacts Theme Park Strategy
Under the currently posted schedule taking effect September 28, 2026, The Magic of Disney Animation will operate daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Because Disney’s Hollywood Studios typically opens at 9:00 a.m.—with Early theme park Entry beginning at 8:30 a.m. for resort hotel guests—the attraction will not be accessible during the first hour of regular park operations or during early morning access.
Furthermore, with a 6:00 p.m. closing time, the attraction will shutter three full hours before the currently posted 9:00 p.m. park close on the referenced dates. Visitors planning evening park itineraries, dinner reservations in the area, or late-night visits to Hollywood Studios will miss out on the attraction unless they adjust their daytime schedules.
This operational pattern is common for walk-throughs, character greeting halls, and show-based exhibits across Walt Disney World. Facilities like Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios or character locations at EPCOT often operate on shorter windows than the main theme park once initial opening crowds stabilize. However, given that The Magic of Disney Animation is a major addition anchoring the newly renamed area, “The Walt Disney Studios,” the shortened schedule means visitors must actively plan around an eight-hour daily operational window.
What Guests Will Experience Inside The Magic of Disney Animation
The Magic of Disney Animation anchors the newly reimagined Animation Courtyard, now presented as The Walt Disney Studios lot—designed after the real Walt Disney Animation Studios campus in Burbank, California. At the same time, the outdoor courtyard area opened first on May 26, 2026, alongside the new Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show, the main indoor attraction opening on September 14 adds the area’s major indoor Magic of Disney Animation experience.
The new indoor venue brings together multiple interactive spaces, character experiences, and screening venues:
Olaf Draws! Hosted by an advanced Audio-Animatronic Olaf, with recorded artist guidance, this interactive drawing academy teaches guests step by step how to draw iconic Disney characters. Disney has confirmed that Olaf Draws! will utilize a Virtual Queue system upon opening, but guests will need to sign up in person rather than through the My Disney Experience app.
Once Upon A Studio Theater: A dedicated screening venue featuring the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon a Studio, which celebrates Disney Animation history by bringing more than 500 classic characters together.
Off the Page! Character Meet & Greets: A series of unique character encounters themed around various distinct disciplines in the animation process:
- Mulan representing the Story department
- Rapunzel representing Layout
- Chip ‘n’ Dale representing Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy representing Computer Animation
- Goofy representing Lighting
- Stitch representing Effects
Drawn to Wonderland: A dedicated, whimsical indoor play space designed specifically for younger children, featuring interactive elements inspired by classic animation sketches and Alice’s world.
Enchanted Art Gallery: A gallery space showcasing artwork featuring beloved Disney Animation characters. While it initially appears to be a traditional gallery, animated elements created specifically for the experience bring the artwork to life.
The Revival of a Beloved Legacy Name
The opening of this venue marks the official return of “The Magic of Disney Animation” name to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The original Magic of Disney Animation was an opening-day attraction when the park launched as Disney-MGM Studios in May 1989. For years, guests could watch actual Disney animators working on feature films like The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, and Mulan through glass viewing windows, as well as meet characters and take drawing classes.
That original attraction closed permanently in July 2015, and the space subsequently became Star Wars Launch Bay. The park’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge expansion followed several years later. Eleven years later, Disney has revived the classic title with a modern, highly interactive reimagining designed for a new generation of theme park visitors.
Rope Drop and Evening Itinerary Adjustments
Because the attraction will not open until 10:00 a.m. under the currently posted schedule beginning September 28, 2026, visitors cannot rely on The Magic of Disney Animation as a low-wait rope drop option at 9:00 a.m. Guests entering the park at opening should instead prioritize high-demand thrill rides in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, or Sunset Boulevard before heading over to Animation Courtyard once the doors unlock at 10:00 a.m.
Similarly, families who traditionally reserve walk-through exhibits and character meet-and-greets for the final hours of the night will need to complete their visits to Off the Page! and Olaf Draws! before the 6:00 p.m. shutdown.
Guests interested in Olaf Draws! should check the attraction’s Virtual Queue procedures early in the day. According to the currently reported procedure, guests will need to sign up in person rather than joining the queue through My Disney Experience.
By listing a 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. schedule beginning September 28, Disney would concentrate the attraction’s availability in the middle portion of the park day while requiring parkgoers to stay vigilant when planning their Hollywood Studios day.
