Disney World Shortens Operating Hours for The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World has announced a significant reduction in operating hours for The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, coming just two weeks after the new area’s official public debut.

The Magic of Disney Animation is scheduled to officially open on September 14, 2026, following a soft-opening period that began earlier in the month. During previews and the initial opening window, the building has maintained a daily operating schedule from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., keeping the experience accessible throughout most of the theme park day.

Beginning September 28, Disney will shorten those operating hours to 10 a.m. through 6 p.m. daily. The adjustment cuts four hours from the daily schedule, representing a 33% reduction in the amount of time guests can access the building. Certain individual components of the experience will see similar shifts, with Olaf Draws shifting to a 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. schedule after previously running from 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., while the Once Upon a Studio Theater will drop from a 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. window down to the new 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. timeframe.

Disney has not provided an official reason for the scheduling change so soon after the opening of the new area. The change means guests arriving during the first hour of the park day or visiting the park later in the evening will no longer be able to enter the building. Visitors planning trips to Hollywood Studios after September 28 will need to prioritize the space earlier in the day, as the 6 p.m. closing time removes the attraction as an option for evening visits.

The Magic of Disney Animation occupies the space formerly home to Star Wars Launch Bay, replacing the former Animation Courtyard as part of the new Walt Disney Studios Lot concept. The indoor building houses several distinct offerings, including the Olaf Draws sketching experience featuring an Audio-Animatronics Olaf figure, the Off the Page character meet-and-greet locations themed around animation departments, the Drawn to Wonderland playground inspired by Mary Blair’s Alice in Wonderland concept art, and the Disney Once Upon a Studio Theater.

While the surrounding outdoor courtyard areas remain open for the duration of the standard park day, guests looking to explore the indoor animation experiences will face a tighter, eight-hour daily operational window once the new schedule takes effect on September 28.