Disney’s newest Hollywood Studios addition opened Sept. 14 running 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Two weeks later it drops to 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., which means it will be closed before most nighttime shows even start.
The Magic of Disney Animation opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on Sept. 14, running 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
On Sept. 28, that becomes 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Two weeks of full hours, then four hours a day disappear. The schedule is posted on the Walt Disney World website right now, so nobody has to guess about it.
What are the Magic of Disney Animation hours?
Straight off Disney’s own calendar:
Sept. 14 to 17: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sept. 18 to 19: 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sept. 20 to 27: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sept. 28 onward: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The two early-opening days line up with extended park hours that weekend.
After that, the math gets awkward for anybody planning a normal Hollywood Studios day. The attraction opens an hour after most rope drops and shuts down hours before the park does. If your plan is to knock out the headliners in the morning and circle back to the new thing after dinner, the new thing will be dark.
What’s inside the Magic of Disney Animation?
Four experiences under one roof, all included with standard park admission.
Olaf Draws! is an animation class hosted by an Audio-Animatronic Olaf, working alongside a real Disney animator.
Off the Page! is a set of character meet-and-greet stations. Drawn to Wonderland is an Alice in Wonderland playground aimed at younger kids. And the Once Upon a Studio Theater screens the Emmy-winning short that the whole building takes its cues from.
The building itself is modeled on the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, right down to the Sorcerer Mickey hat on the roof.
Disney says all 65 Walt Disney Animation Studios features are represented somewhere inside, including early artwork from Hexed.
How does the Olaf Draws virtual queue work?
Olaf Draws! uses a virtual queue, but you cannot join it in the My Disney Experience app. Sign-up has to happen in person, at the park.
That is backwards from how nearly every other virtual queue at Walt Disney World operates, and it rewards people who walk over early rather than people who set an alarm. Worth knowing before you plan your morning around your phone.
During the soft opening on Sept. 9, cast members were letting guests simply join a standby line instead.
Why the shorter schedule?
Disney has not explained it.
What is observable is that shorter, mid-day schedules are common for walk-through and character-meet venues at Walt Disney World, as opposed to rides. Once the opening crowds thin out, staffing a 12-hour day for a walk-through gets expensive.
It is also worth checking before you go, because hours posted in September might not be the same hours in November. Holiday season traffic could impact the hours as well.
One thing the schedule does tell you. If you want the full 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. window, you have until Sept. 27 to use it.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (Sept. 10, 2026), the full operating hours as posted to the Walt Disney World website, and the in-person-only virtual queue for Olaf Draws!
The Walt Disney Company (Sept. 14, 2026), the opening announcement, the four experiences, and the 65-film count
WDW News Today (Sept. 11, 2026), soft opening coverage and queue handling
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