Disney's Hollywood Studios has welcomed one of its most significant new experiences in years — and if you're planning a visit, there are some important updates to factor into your touring plan.

A Big New Experience, Now With Shorter Hours

The Magic of Disney Animation officially opened on September 14, replacing the long-closed Animation Courtyard with a multi-part experience built around drawing, character encounters, and Disney's animated legacy. During its opening stretch, the building ran on a generous schedule — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., giving guests a full 12 hours to take it all in.

That's about to change. Starting September 28, The Magic of Disney Animation will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — an eight-hour window that represents a 33% reduction in daily availability.

The shift affects guests on both ends of the day. Early risers who head straight into Hollywood Studios at park opening will find the building's doors still closed for another hour. And anyone hoping to swing by in the evening — after a dinner reservation or some nighttime entertainment — will find it's already shut down for the night.

Disney has not offered a public explanation for the reduction. It's worth noting that the extended 9-to-9 hours were tied to the attraction's preview and opening period, and scaled-back hours following an initial run aren't unheard of for new Disney experiences. Still, a 33% cut this soon after debut is a notable shift for guests who built their plans around the longer schedule.

Olaf Draws Loses Its Virtual Queue on Opening Day

The hours aren't the only sign that Disney may be recalibrating expectations for the new space. According to a post on X (formerly Twitter) from user @Mattlegostar2, Olaf Draws — the drawing experience built around an Audio-Animatronics Olaf — did not draw the crowds Disney was reportedly expecting, and the attraction's virtual queue option was dropped on opening day itself.

"Olaf Draws is NOT using Virtual Queue on opening day (10 minute wait) despite being advertised it would use one. You are free to walk up and join the line!"
— @Mattlegostar2, September 14, 2026

In Olaf Draws, guests are guided through drawing their own Disney animated characters by an Audio-Animatronics version of Olaf from the Frozen franchise. The lessons are structured around techniques from actual Disney Animation artists, giving the experience both an instructional and character-driven appeal.

Alongside Olaf Draws, The Magic of Disney Animation also includes Drawn to Wonderland, the Disney Once Upon a Studio Theater, and Off the Page!

How the New Hours Affect Your Hollywood Studios Day

Hollywood Studios already demands careful time management — between headline attractions, live shows, dining reservations, character experiences, and nighttime entertainment, every hour counts. Fitting a new multi-part experience into that mix was already going to take some planning.

The updated hours make that planning more restrictive. A 10 a.m. opening means guests can't head straight to the building first thing in the morning, and a 6 p.m. closing takes it completely off the table as a late-day or evening option. For guests hoping to experience more than one component — say, both Olaf Draws and the Once Upon a Studio Theater — the effective window to do so gets considerably tighter.

The shorter hours are also notable given how long guests waited for this corner of the park to reopen at all. Disney announced its plans for the redeveloped Walt Disney Studios Lot back in July 2025, and the former Animation Courtyard permanently closed that September to make way for construction. The redesigned courtyard reopened in May 2026, but The Magic of Disney Animation remained unavailable until Disney confirmed the September 14 opening date following cast member previews in early September.

What This Means for Your Visit

If The Magic of Disney Animation is on your Hollywood Studios itinerary for late September or beyond, don't save it for the evening. Once the new hours take effect on September 28, the experience will only be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — four fewer hours than during its opening weeks.

Guests hoping to fit in Olaf Draws, Off the Page!, Drawn to Wonderland, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater in a single visit should plan to arrive earlier in the day. And with the virtual queue for Olaf Draws already having come and gone on opening day, it's worth checking on the current access situation before you arrive — things appear to be evolving quickly.