A full day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can already feel like a race against the clock. Now, guests have another deadline to keep in mind.
Some of the park’s newest experiences are wrapping up hours before the rest of the action winds down. That means families who spend the first half of their day focused on rides and decide to explore the newer offerings after dinner could discover they waited too long.
The good news is that guests can avoid that problem with a little planning. Here’s what to know about the latest operating hours.
Two New Experiences Finish at 6 p.m.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios itself isn’t closing at 6 p.m. Instead, that earlier cutoff applies to specific experiences inside The Magic of Disney Animation.
The recently opened area has seen its operating hours vary during its first few weeks. Guests now have a clearer sense of how much time they have to experience its various offerings.
Olaf Draws! and the Once Upon a Studio Theater are currently scheduled from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Other portions of the building follow different hours. Guests can access some experiences earlier in the morning, while certain character encounters continue beyond the 6 p.m. cutoff.
That makes checking individual schedules especially important before deciding when to visit.
Once Upon a Studio Has an Eight-Hour Window
Guests hoping to experience the Once Upon a Studio Theater can do so from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
An eight-hour window may sound like plenty of time, but Hollywood Studios can quickly become difficult to schedule.
Families may spend their morning watching attraction wait times, using Lightning Lane return windows, making dining reservations, and fitting scheduled entertainment into their plans. It can be tempting to handle the biggest rides first and return to Animation Courtyard later.
However, waiting until after dinner could mean missing the theater altogether.
Anyone who considers Once Upon a Studio a priority should schedule it early in the day rather than assume it will remain available until the park closes.
Characters Stick Around a Little Longer
Guests interested in character meet-and-greets have slightly more flexibility.
Off the Page! is currently scheduled from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Some of those character experiences previously ended at 6:15 p.m., giving guests a little more time under the current schedule.
The experience features Disney characters in animated-style settings. Rapunzel and Stitch are among the characters guests may encounter while exploring the area.
Even with the extra time, 6:30 p.m. can arrive quickly during a busy park day.
Families who typically spend the afternoon riding attractions before saving character meetings for the evening may want to rethink that approach.
Olaf Draws! Has Its Own Deadline
Olaf Draws! is another experience guests shouldn't leave until nighttime.
The interactive animation activity currently operates from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m., matching the schedule of the Once Upon a Studio Theater.
Families can draw alongside Olaf, giving guests another activity that differs from the traditional attractions found throughout Hollywood Studios.
However, Olaf Draws! doesn't continue operating into the evening alongside many of the park's rides.
Anyone interested in participating should check the schedule and plan to visit well before the 6 p.m. cutoff rather than pushing the experience toward the end of the day.
Animation Courtyard Has More to Explore
There are also other reasons families may want to spend more time around Animation Courtyard.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! offers another entertainment option for younger visitors, while Drawn to Wonderland gives children a playground to explore.
Together, these additions have made the area a bigger part of a day at Hollywood Studios.
Of course, guests still have plenty competing for their attention elsewhere. Families may want to start with attractions such as Slinky Dog Dash, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, or The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror before turning their attention to the newer experiences.
That strategy can still work. Guests simply need to keep an eye on the clock.
Don't Wait Until the End of the Night
The schedule doesn't mean families need to completely rebuild their Hollywood Studios visit. They just need to know which experiences finish earlier.
Guests hoping to see Once Upon a Studio or participate in Olaf Draws! should plan to experience them well before 6 p.m. Off the Page! provides a little more time, with character experiences currently scheduled through 6:30 p.m.
Disney can adjust operating hours, so checking the My Disney Experience app during a visit remains important.
Hollywood Studios may have plenty left to do after dinner, but guests who wait too long could discover that some of the park’s newest experiences have already finished for the day.
