Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been added to the Walt Disney World Extended Evening Hours calendar for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, replacing the usual Magic Kingdom slot for that night.
The shift matters most for guests staying at eligible hotels who were building a September trip around a late Magic Kingdom night. Instead of planning extra time for TRON Lightcycle / Run, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, or the full Magic Kingdom ride spread, eligible guests now need to decide whether Hollywood Studios is the better late night target.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours are scheduled from 9 PM to 11 PM on September 16.
- Status: Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been added to the Extended Evening Hours calendar.
- Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
- Time: 9 PM to 11 PM.
- Affected travelers: Guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and other select hotels.
- What changes: The September 16 Wednesday slot moves from the usual Magic Kingdom pattern to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
- Key caveat: Attraction availability can change, and guests should verify the final list in My Disney Experience.
What changed
WDW News Today reported the calendar update, noting that select hotel guests can use Extended Evening Hours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios from 9 PM to 11 PM on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The outlet describes the change as a replacement for the usual Magic Kingdom Wednesday slot.
Disney’s official Extended Evening Theme Park Hours page confirms the benefit is for registered guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and other select hotels. Disney also lists Walt Disney World Swan Hotel, Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel, Walt Disney World Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green as participating under the other select hotels section.
The scheduled Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours attraction list includes Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Toy Story Mania.
Rise of the Resistance is not on Disney’s current scheduled Extended Evening Hours list for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. That is the biggest planning distinction for guests who might otherwise save Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance for the final 2 hours of the night.
Why it matters
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours are more headliner focused than a typical Magic Kingdom late night. Magic Kingdom has a deeper ride roster and more family fillers. Hollywood Studios has fewer open attractions, but the value can be high if the group wants Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania, or Smugglers Run with less daytime pressure.
The date also lands during Magic Kingdom party season. Disney’s official Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party page lists select party nights from August 7 to October 31, 2026, including multiple September dates. Even when September 16 itself is not a party date, the season changes the rhythm of Magic Kingdom hours, crowd flow, and late night planning.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours on September 16 should not be confused with Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios. Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed event, while Extended Evening Hours is a hotel eligibility benefit. Disney’s After Hours page lists Hollywood Studios event dates through September 12, with separate tickets and included snacks.
For eligible hotel guests, the practical decision is whether to make September 16 a Hollywood Studios day from the start or to park hop in for the late window. A full day at Hollywood Studios makes the night easier, but a park hop can work if the group saves the correct rides and avoids expecting Rise of the Resistance to be part of the Extended Evening Hours lineup.
- Eligibility: Confirm that your hotel qualifies before treating September 16 as a late park night.
- Park choice: Move a Magic Kingdom focused late night plan to another date if that was the original reason for staying deluxe.
- Ride priority: Use the 9 PM to 11 PM window for Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania, or Smugglers Run.
- Rise plan: Do not save Rise of the Resistance for this benefit unless Disney later adds it to the operating list.
- Dining: Eat before the event window, because select food and beverage locations are available but the ride time is the value.
- Transportation: Plan the late return by Skyliner, bus, boat, walking path, rideshare, or resort route before the park closes.
What to verify
As of July 7, 2026, the key date to verify is Wednesday, September 16. Check the official Walt Disney World Hours and Events Calendar, the Extended Evening Hours page, and My Disney Experience before locking the plan. Disney says the schedule, park, operating times, attractions, and services can change without notice.
Guests also need valid admission and a MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass, or Key to the World Card for Extended Evening Hours. If the ticket type still requires a theme park reservation or Park Hopper sequencing, Disney says guests should follow those rules before moving between parks.
Deep Arrival’s Hollywood Studios park hours page can help with the day plan around this change. Use the Hollywood Studios crowd calendar to decide whether the late night is worth the trip, and use the broader Walt Disney World park hours page to compare the September 16 schedule across all parks.
The change does not ruin a September plan. It just changes the late night target. Guests who wanted Magic Kingdom should move that expectation, while guests who wanted a lower pressure Hollywood Studios headliner run now have a clear date to watch.
When are Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours in September 2026?
Disney’s Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours are scheduled for Wednesday, September 16, 2026, from 9 PM to 11 PM.
Who qualifies for Extended Evening Hours at Disney World?
Extended Evening Hours are for registered guests staying at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts, and other select hotels, including the Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve, and Shades of Green.
Is this the same as Disney After Hours at Hollywood Studios?
No. Disney After Hours is a separately ticketed event. Extended Evening Hours is a hotel eligibility benefit for qualifying guests and does not include the same ticketed event structure.
Is Rise of the Resistance open during Hollywood Studios Extended Evening Hours?
Rise of the Resistance is not on Disney’s current scheduled Extended Evening Hours list for Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Guests should check My Disney Experience before relying on any attraction.
