Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Disney’s Hollywood Studios just adjusted the schedule, and the change could catch guests off guard.
The park has added several new offerings in recent months, giving families more to squeeze into an already busy day. However, one of those additions now operates on a much shorter schedule than the rest of Hollywood Studios.
For guests who planned to save the newest experiences for the evening, that strategy could leave them arriving too late.
Here’s what changed and what you need to know before your next visit.
The 6 p.m. Closure Guests Need to Know About
Thankfully, Disney’s Hollywood Studios itself is not suddenly closing at 6 p.m.
Instead, the shortened hours apply to The Magic of Disney Animation, which recently opened inside Animation Courtyard. More specifically, some of its major offerings now wrap up by 6 p.m., even when guests still have hours left at other parts of the park.
During the experience’s first few weeks, operating times varied as Disney worked through its opening period. Those hours now appear to have settled into a more consistent schedule.
According to Disney’s posted schedule, The Magic of Disney Animation is listed from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. However, those hours appear to apply primarily to the Once Upon a Studio Theater and Olaf Draws!
Other portions of the building operate on slightly different schedules.
The Off the Page! character meet-and-greets are listed from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Some of those character experiences previously ended at 6:15 p.m.
That means the building appears to begin welcoming guests at 9 a.m., but not everything inside is available immediately. Likewise, some offerings remain available after the 6 p.m. cutoff.
For guests, the biggest takeaway is simple: don’t wait until nighttime to explore this area.
One Experience Doesn’t Begin Until Later
One of the main pieces of The Magic of Disney Animation is the Once Upon a Studio Theater.
While guests can enter parts of the building beginning at 9 a.m., theater showings don’t begin until 10 a.m. The experience then operates until 6 p.m.
That creates an eight-hour daily window for guests hoping to include the theater in their Hollywood Studios plans.
It may seem like plenty of time, but Hollywood Studios can become a complicated park to schedule. Guests often build their day around attraction wait times, dining reservations, Lightning Lane return windows, and shows with specific performance times.
Someone who decides to explore Animation Courtyard after dinner could discover that they have already missed their opportunity.
Characters Stick Around a Little Longer
The Off the Page! character experience gives guests a little more breathing room.
These meet-and-greets are currently listed from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., meaning they begin earlier and continue later than some other activities inside The Magic of Disney Animation.
Off the Page! features Disney characters in themed settings inspired by animated films. Guests may encounter characters, including Rapunzel and Stitch, as they move through the experience.
The slightly later closing time helps, but 6:30 p.m. is still relatively early for a theme park where many visitors remain well into the evening.
Guests who normally prioritize rides during the afternoon and save character meetings for later should pay particular attention to the schedule.
Olaf Has His Own Deadline
Olaf Draws! also follows the shorter 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule.
The interactive animation class allows guests to draw alongside Olaf, making it another activity families may want to include in their Hollywood Studios day.
Unlike attractions that continue operating into the evening, however, Olaf Draws! isn’t something guests can simply push toward the end of their itinerary.
Anyone interested in participating should check availability and make plans earlier rather than assuming the experience will remain open alongside the rest of the park.
With several attractions competing for attention at Hollywood Studios, that could require some rearranging.
There Is More to Explore Around Animation Courtyard
The Magic of Disney Animation isn’t the only reason guests are spending more time around Animation Courtyard.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! gives younger visitors another nearby entertainment option. Families can also explore the Drawn to Wonderland playground, adding another activity that doesn’t involve waiting for one of Hollywood Studios’ major rides.
Together, these additions have given Animation Courtyard a much bigger role in a day at the park.
That makes the differences in operating hours particularly important.
A family might naturally assume they can spend the morning tackling attractions such as Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, or The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror before exploring Animation Courtyard later.
That strategy can still work, but “later” probably shouldn’t mean after dinner.
Hollywood Studios Guests May Need to Adjust Their Plans
Hollywood Studios isn’t shutting its gates at 6 p.m., but guests can lose access to several new experiences well before their park day ends.
Guests hoping to see Once Upon a Studio or participate in Olaf Draws! should plan to experience them well before the 6 p.m. cutoff. Off the Page! stays open slightly longer, with character experiences scheduled through 6:30 p.m.
Checking the My Disney Experience app is also important since Disney can adjust operating schedules.
If The Magic of Disney Animation is on your list, don’t leave it for the end of the night. By the time dinner is over, some of Hollywood Studios’ newest experiences may already be finished for the day.
