Guests planning to visit Disney’s Hollywood Studios in the coming months should take a close look at the park’s operating calendar. A number of key updates are rolling out, affecting everything from nighttime entertainment to the future layout of the park itself.
First up: Saturday, August 16, 2025. On this date, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will close at 6:00 p.m., several hours earlier than the usual 9 p.m. wrap-up. As a result, Fantasmic! will not be performed that night, leaving a gap in the evening lineup.
The revised hours show Early Entry from 8 a.m. to 8 a.m., with general park access and Park Hopper hours running until the early closure. Disney has not shared a public reason for the change, but past occurrences like this have often coincided with private buyouts or corporate events—such as the 2024 event where Maroon 5 performed for attendees.
Those still planning to visit that day are encouraged to arrive early and prioritize favorite attractions before the park winds down. Since Fantasmic! won’t be offered, guests might consider alternative evening activities at a nearby resort or different Disney theme park.
Alongside this one-day closure, Disney has also expanded the Extended Evening Hours schedule at Hollywood Studios. These special perks, exclusive to guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Deluxe Villas, and certain other hotels (like the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve), provide access to the park after its normal closing time.
On October 15, Extended Evening Hours will run from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., marking the sixth consecutive Wednesday for this offering, following dates on September 10, 17, 24, and October 1 and 8. The schedule varies across all four theme parks, but Hollywood Studios is seeing increased activity this season. Guests hoping to take advantage of shorter waits for top-tier attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, TRON Lightcycle / Run, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind should consult Disney’s official calendar to plan accordingly.
Meanwhile, bigger changes are underway. Animation Courtyard, home to Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance, will permanently close on September 25, 2025. In its place, guests will discover The Magic of Disney Animation, a newly announced offering that pays tribute to the studio’s storytelling legacy.
The experience, inspired by the original Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, will include a short film, animation workshops, character meet-and-greets, and a play area designed for children. As shared by Disney Parks Blog, guests will find “playful and interactive moments” throughout—including nods to Once Upon a Studio and hands-on opportunities to sketch original characters. The sorcerer’s hat, a former icon of the park, will return as the entry point to this new location.
The transformation doesn’t stop there. Earlier this year, Grand Avenue closed to make way for Monstropolis, a new land based on Monsters, Inc. It will feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the movie’s thrilling door sequence. In turn, the beloved Muppets will be relocating.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is set for a full retheme centered on Jim Henson’s characters. Though no official closure date has been shared, Disney confirmed the attraction will reopen with its new concept in 2026.
These changes come amid a broader effort to refresh the Walt Disney World Resort. As Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro stated at D23 Expo 2024, “dirt was moving” on many of the projects announced—and Hollywood Studios is no exception.
By the time 2026 arrives, the current version of the park will look quite different. With Grand Avenue behind construction walls, Animation Courtyard closing this fall, and new offerings on the horizon, Hollywood Studios is well on its way to a reimagined future.
This shift may draw additional attention to Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, where guest demand for attractions like Slinky Dog Dash and Rise of the Resistance is expected to rise.
What upcoming additions are you most excited to explore at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let us know your thoughts as this exciting transformation continues.
