A Disney's Hollywood Studios staple is going dark next week. While Walt Disney World Resort has promised it will come back before the year is out, no specific date has been attached to that commitment.
Mickey Shorts Theater Closing August 9
Walt Disney World Resort updated the official webpage for Vacation Fun — An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie on Tuesday, confirming that the Mickey Shorts Theater at Disney's Hollywood Studios will close on August 9, 2026. The resort described the closure as indefinite but noted the Echo Lake venue is “planned to reopen later this year” without specifying when.
The timing points directly to what's replacing it. Beginning August 11, the Mickey Shorts Theater will serve as a distribution point for a Kermit the Frog-themed Annual Passholder magnet — a free gift available through September 24 or while supplies last. The two-day gap between the theater's August 9 closure and the August 11 start of magnet distribution suggests that Walt Disney World Resort is using that window to prepare the space for the giveaway operation.
What happens after September 24 hasn't been clarified. Walt Disney World Resort hasn't confirmed whether the Mickey Shorts Theater will reopen immediately when the Kermit magnet distribution ends, nor has it indicated whether Vacation Fun will still be the film showing when the venue eventually returns to regular programming. The short has been playing at the Mickey Shorts Theater since 2020.
A Theater With a History of Temporary Reassignments
This isn't the first time the Mickey Shorts Theater has been pulled from its normal programming for a special purpose. Earlier this year, the venue closed in April and reopened in May after serving as a merchandise distribution point during the May the Fourth celebrations at Walt Disney World Resort. It also underwent a month-long refurbishment in 2024 to address issues with the theater doors.
Has a refurbishment closure ever impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, or Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
