Hollywood Studios 2026: Your Ultimate Guide to Construction, New Attractions, and Dining

2026 Construction and New Experiences

• 🏗️ Hollywood Studios is undergoing significant construction in 2026, with new lands planned, including a Monstropolis area and a new Walt Disney Studios section.
• 🎬 The Animation Courtyard, including Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Junior Play and Dance, has permanently closed to make way for the new Walt Disney Studios, aiming to bring back animation elements reminiscent of the MGM Studios era.
• 🎢 The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster will be re-imagined as "Rock 'n' Roller Coaster starring the Muppets" by summer 2026, featuring new Muppets theming but retaining its high-speed track.
• 🚀 Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run may briefly close around May 2026 to add new missions based on "The Mandalorian" and Grogu, coinciding with a new Mandalorian movie release.
• ✨ Despite construction, two new stage shows, Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After and The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure, opened in May and will be available throughout 2026.

Special Events and After Hours

• 🗓️ Hollywood Studios will host special events throughout 2026, including seasonal character dining at Hollywood and Vine with Minnie's Seasonal Dine expanding to breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• 🌃 Disney After Hours events will return from January to September 2026 on select nights, offering limited capacity access to rides like Rise of the Resistance, with included ice cream, popcorn, and select drinks.
• 🌟 May the 4th celebrations will continue in Galaxy's Edge with rare character meet-and-greets, limited-time merchandise, exclusive snacks, and a lightsaber meetup.
• 🎩 Dapper Days, a fan-created event encouraging vintage-inspired or cosplay attire, is expected to return towards the end of 2026.
• 🎄 Jollywood Nights, a separately ticketed holiday event, is anticipated to return in 2026, featuring exclusive shows, treats, ice skating, and holiday overlays, while the park will also feature general holiday decor and shows like Sunset Season's Greetings starting in early November.

Ride Highlights and Lightning Lane Strategy

• 🎢 Key rides include Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, the Tower of Terror, Star Tours, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rise of the Resistance, Alien Swirling Saucers, Slinky Dog Dash, and Toy Story Mania.
• 🎟️ Lightning Lanes are recommended for maximizing park visits, with Tier 1 rides including Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, and Slinky Dog Dash.
• 💡 Slinky Dog Dash is a top priority for Lightning Lane booking due to its popularity and outdoor queue, while Rise of the Resistance requires a separate individual Lightning Lane purchase.
• 📱 After using a Lightning Lane, guests can book additional selections immediately, allowing for multiple Tier 1 rides if booked strategically throughout the day.

Dining Experiences

• 🍖 Roundup Rodeo Barbecue in Toy Story Land offers a family-style, all-you-care-to-enjoy barbecue experience with themed decor.
• 🎬 Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater provides a unique diner atmosphere with movie clips, focusing on burgers and shakes, while 50's Prime Time Cafe offers homestyle comfort food with interactive, family-sitcom-style service.
• 🚀 Galaxy's Edge features diverse quick-service options like Docking Bay 7, Ronto Roasters, Kat Saka's Kettle, and Oga's Cantina for unique intergalactic cuisine and drinks.
• 🌟 Hollywood Brown Derby is the park's signature restaurant, offering a market-inspired menu with staples like the Cobb salad and grapefruit cake.
• 🍟 Backlot Express is praised for its chicken tenders and unique sides, while ABC Commissary offers substantial meals at a good price point, though with less engaging theming.
• 🧇 Fairfax Fair on Sunset Boulevard is known for its waffle bowls, with the Buffalo chicken option being a standout.
• 🥪 Woody's Lunch Box is a favorite for its cozy menu, including a grilled three-cheese sandwich with tomato basil soup.

Snacks, Shows, and Extras

• 🍪 Trolley Car Cafe is a popular spot for Starbucks products and the highly recommended Carrot Cake Cookie.
• 🍦 Hollywood Scoops on Sunset Boulevard offers hard-packed ice cream, cones, shakes, and seasonal sundaes.
• ☕ Epic Eats in Echo Lake is the go-to for funnel cakes and features themed cold brew options, like the Indiana Jones Epic Cold Brew Spectacular.
• 🎭 Live entertainment includes the classic Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage, the interactive Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, the sing-along Frozen: A Celebration, the action-packed Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular, and the enhanced The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure.
• ✨ Fantasmic! remains a must-see nighttime spectacular, offering a different experience than Magic Kingdom's Happily Ever After with more live-action and special effects.
• 🤝 Guests can find celebrity handprints on Hollywood Boulevard, meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight, and meet Mickey and Minnie at Red Carpet Dreams.
• 📱 The Play Disney Parks app enhances the Galaxy's Edge experience with interactive missions and bounty hunter assignments for MagicBand+ users.
• 🏛️ Walt Disney Presents offers a look into Walt Disney's life and career, with rotating exhibits and film previews.