Walt Disney World is handing its on-site loyalists a rare shot at near-empty queues this fall, sliding Disney’s Hollywood Studios into the coveted late-night rotation for one night only. Eligible resort guests will get two extra hours in the park on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, swapping out one of the perk’s usual Magic Kingdom evenings and giving September visitors a fresh reason to rethink their game plans.
What Will Be Open Late
On September 16, qualifying hotel guests can tap into Extended Evening Hours from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., with a star-studded attraction lineup: Alien Swirling Saucers, Mickey & 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!. The schedule and ride list were posted by WDW News Today.
Who Gets In
The late-night perk is reserved for guests registered at Disney Deluxe Resorts, Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts and a handful of partner hotels, including the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, Swan Reserve and Shades of Green. You still need valid park admission, and the benefit is tied to your resort stay rather than available as a separate ticketed add-on, according to planDisney.
Why The Schedule Moved
Late-summer hard-ticket events and the Halloween party calendar are once again pushing Extended Evening Hours out of Magic Kingdom on select nights, which is how Hollywood Studios ended up with this one-night spotlight. Industry planners point out that Animal Kingdom is set to host Extended Evening Hours on August 26 and September 2, and the September 16 Hollywood Studios date plugs a gap created by party nights and separate After Hours events, as noted by Disney Tourist Blog.
How To Work The Extra Hours
Unlike the separately ticketed After Hours parties, Extended Evening Hours are baked into qualifying resort stays, which means two extra hours with typically lighter crowds rather than a totally empty park. Trip pros suggest using that late window to hammer the big-ticket rides like Slinky Dog Dash and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, then leaving your daytime for slower attractions, shows or a hotel break. That strategy is laid out in a recent planning guide from WDW Trip Planner.
Deals That Change The Math
Disney is also dangling a few wallet-friendly hooks that could make these late nights more tempting. Disney+ Perks subscribers may qualify for discounts on select resort stays and complimentary Park Hopper upgrades on certain four-night packages this fall and into the holiday season. The official offer details and eligible booking windows are spelled out on Disney+ Perks, which could make it easier for some guests to pair Extended Evening Hours with same-day park hopping.
Bottom Line
If you are staying on-site in September and want that late-night Hollywood Studios window, keep a close eye on the official park calendar and the My Disney Experience app before you lock anything in. Disney can shuffle hours or attraction lineups without warning, so treat this schedule as a strong planning guide rather than a rock-solid guarantee.
