Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
If you are holding a Walt Disney World park ticket for the final week of May 2026, you are about to witness theme park history. In an unprecedented four-day launch window, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely rewriting its identity.
From the Outer Rim of Galaxy’s Edge to the neon lights of Sunset Boulevard, the park is unleashing three massive expansions. Whether you are a Star Wars loyalist, a lifelong Muppets fan, or a purist for golden-age Disney animation, here is your official guide to the historic wave of openings hitting the park this week.
May 22: The Mandalorian and Grogu Take the Falcon
The historic week kicks off on Friday, May 22, 2026, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For the first time since the land’s debut, Disney is moving past the Sequel Trilogy timeline to bring the universe’s most iconic bounty-hunting duo into the cockpit of Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Powered by custom, real-time graphics built with Unreal Engine, the flight’s visual fidelity has been completely overhauled. While Hondo Ohnaka starts the briefing, the Mandalorian quickly intercepts the transmission to recruit your crew for a high-stakes cargo run to protect a sensitive asset from an Imperial remnant fleet.
The interactive ride roles have been completely re-programmed for high-octane pacing:
- Pilots: Navigate intense atmospheric dogfights against Imperial TIE Interceptors.
- Gunners: Fire updated, rapid-fire laser cannons to clear out incoming debris fields.
- Engineers: Race to fix catastrophic hyperdrive failures, culminating in a climax where Grogu uses the Force directly outside the cockpit glass to shield your ship.
May 26: Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Opens
Just four days later, on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, the rock-and-roll landscape of Sunset Boulevard changes forever as the Aerosmith era officially gives way to Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets.
The pre-show introduces a massive leap in Imagineering tech: a groundbreaking Scooter Audio-Animatronic built using advanced motion-capture data from an actual physical puppet performance. Scooter explains that Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem are stuck in a rehearsal room, entirely oblivious that their sold-out Hollywood concert starts right now.
Guests must hop into high-speed L.I.M.O. transport vehicles—launching from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds—to escort the band across town. The interior features bright, psychedelic neon targets and a synchronized onboard soundtrack featuring reimagined tracks by Mayhem alongside Kelly Clarkson, Def Leppard, and Jennifer Hudson.
The ultimate highlight waits at the finish line. Refreshed Audio-Animatronics of Statler and Waldorf sit inside a backstage tour trailer at the unload station, armed with crates of fresh tomatoes and ready to heckle breathless riders:
Statler: “You know, this concert reminds me of a roller coaster.” Waldorf: “How’s that?” Statler: “It’s all downhill!”
Outside, make sure to check out the adjacent courtyard food kiosk, which has officially been rebranded as “FØØD by Swedish Chef, ” and is serving a playful new snack menu.
May 26: Magic of Disney Animation Outdoor Areas Reopen
Sharing the Tuesday spotlight, the outdoor plaza and courtyard spaces leading into the Magic of Disney Animation pavilion are officially reopening to the public.
Swapping out the old 1980s production-studio look, this area has been completely reimagined into a beautifully landscaped, shaded park environment dripping with old-Hollywood elegance.
- Interactive Animation Frames: The walkways feature massive architectural arches styled after real hand-drawn animation cells, taking guests on a chronological journey through Disney film history.
- Character Alcoves & Soundscapes: Highly themed outdoor areas will cycle through rare character meet-and-greets. At the same time, nightly projection-mapping transforms the surrounding facades, synchronized to Disney’s most iconic orchestral scores.
Survival Tips for the Big Week
With massive crowds expected for the Memorial Day holiday weekend, a solid game plan is vital. Keep your My Disney Experience app open.
Prioritize booking a Lightning Lane for Smugglers Run early in the morning to catch the new Mandalorian branching paths, and look to the newly opened Animation Courtyard in the afternoon when you need a shaded, relaxing break from the high-speed tracks.
