Hollywood Studios Is Having Its Biggest Week in Years, Here’s What’s New

May 26 is shaping up to be one of the most significant single days in Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ recent history. On that date, the park will debut multiple new experiences at once, capping off a transformation that breathes some life into a few corners of the park. From a fully rethemed coaster headlined by The Muppets to a brand-new area inspired by Disney’s legendary Burbank animation campus, here is everything arriving at Hollywood Studios next week.

Hollywood Studios’ Biggest Day Since 2019

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets

The headliner of May 26 is the long-anticipated opening of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. The attraction replaces the Aerosmith version of the ride, which permanently closed on March 1, 2026, after a run at Sunset Boulevard stretching back to 1999.

The new storyline drops guests inside G-Force Records, now under new Muppet management, for a VIP tour of the legendary rock and roll recording studio. The Electric Mayhem, the iconic Muppets band, is headlining their biggest Hollywood concert ever, but the band is nowhere to be found. Guests board the Lengthy Immediate Motion Object, or L.I.M.O., to race the band across town before the show.

One of the most talked-about additions is the first-ever Audio-Animatronics figure of Scooter, who greets guests in the recording studio alongside a crew of penguin audio engineers. As we previously reported, Walt Disney Imagineering used motion-capture technology to bring Scooter to life, ensuring he moves like an actual Muppet. Guests who pay close attention to the pre-show may also spot a pair of Aerosmith easter eggs that Imagineers quietly tucked into the new space as a nod to the attraction’s history, including a black Gibson Les Paul guitar that played a memorable role in the original Aerosmith pre-show experience.

The Set List

Passholder Previews
Annual Passholders will have three days of exclusive early access before the May 26 public opening. As we previously reported, previews take place on May 21, 22, and 23 using a virtual queue. Passholders with a Hollywood Studios park reservation can join the virtual queue starting at 7:00am. At 11:00am, the queue opens to Passholders with any park reservation, and at 3:00pm, all Passholders can join regardless of park reservation status. DVC Members have also been given Priority Access on May 24. We have also speculated that, based on the DVC Priority Access structure, May 24 could see a soft opening for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster ahead of the official grand opening.

Merchandise
Disney has revealed the full merchandise lineup available at Rock Around the Shop at the ride exit. As previously detailed, the collection includes six character tees, a Loungefly guitar bag, a baseball hat, a water bottle, and collectible keepsakes, including pins, a magnet, a postcard, a sticker set, and Animal drumsticks. Select items will be available on opening day, with additional merchandise rolling out through the summer.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, A New Mission

Four days before the May 26 wave of openings, Hollywood Studios gets another major update. On May 22, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run receives its most significant overhaul since the attraction first opened, with the introduction of The Mandalorian and Grogu into the ride’s storyline. The update arrives at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort on the same day The Mandalorian and Grogu hits theaters.

As we’ve covered, the update brings an all-new mission, new player-controlled destinations, and technology powered by Epic’s Unreal Engine, the same platform Lucasfilm uses to create virtual sets for The Mandalorian series. The storyline is separate from the film’s plot. As Jon Favreau explained when the update was announced at SXSW: this isn’t a retelling of the movie but rather something happening just off-camera from what guests see in the film.

In the new adventure, Hondo Ohnaka has gotten wind of a deal going down on Tatooine between ex-Imperial officers and a band of pirates. With a generous bounty on the line, he enlists your crew’s help to track them down, and Mando and Grogu will be there to assist. For the first time ever, the Engineer role gets a meaningful upgrade as well: Engineers will now be able to interact with and care for Grogu during the mission, a welcome change to what was historically considered the least exciting position in the cockpit. Guests also gain control of their own destination for the first time, with potential stops at Bespin, the wreckage of the second Death Star around Endor, and the newly announced city-planet Coruscant.

As we noted, a new pre-show has already quietly debuted at Hollywood Studios ahead of the May 22 switchover, featuring updated Hondo Ohnaka dialogue that removes references to the First Order and the Resistance in preparation for the new storyline. Disney has confirmed the pre-show now playing is the same one guests will experience when the full update goes live.

The Walt Disney Studios Lot and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!

May 26 also marks the first phase of a larger transformation underway in the former Animation Courtyard footprint. As we’ve tracked, the area is being reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios Lot, a new mini-land of sorts, inspired by Disney’s real animation headquarters in Burbank, California.

The outdoor courtyard opens to guests on May 26, giving families their first real look at the newly themed walkable space. We’ve documented recent construction progress as Disney works toward opening day, including more construction walls coming down, a new Silly Symphony mural, and additional painting on The Magic of Disney Animation facade. Disney has also shared a behind-the-scenes look at character handprints, footprints, and pawprints installed in front of The Magic of Disney Animation, a nod to the famous prints outside Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Also debuting inside the new area on May 26 is Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, a high-energy live show inspired by the global Disney Jr. hit series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+. As Walt Disney World announced, the show follows Mickey and Minnie as they set off to find Goofy, Daisy, and Pluto before the party can start, featuring original upbeat songs and interactive moments designed for young guests and families.

What’s Still to Come: The Magic of Disney Animation
The courtyard and new show are only phase one. The Magic of Disney Animation, the centerpiece of the Walt Disney Studios Lot transformation, will open later in summer 2026. The indoor experience will include Off the Page character meet-and-greets, a Drawn to Wonderland playground inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s Alice in Wonderland concept art, and additional interactive animation experiences throughout.

FØØD by Swedish Chef

Just steps from the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster exit, a newly renamed and refreshed snack kiosk arrives alongside the coaster on May 26. As BlogMickey.com reported, FØØD by Swedish Chef takes over the former KRNR The Rock Station location, just to the left of the giant guitar in the attraction courtyard, rolling out a refreshed look and an all-new menu of Muppets-themed snacks and drinks. The full menu breakdown is available in our earlier article.

Already Open: The Little Mermaid, A Musical Adventure

While the park is preparing for a massive week of openings, it’s worth noting that Hollywood Studios has already been adding new experiences over the past year. The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure opened on May 27, 2025, replacing the long-dormant Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, which had been discontinued during the COVID-19 shutdowns.

As we reviewed, the new production is a visually stunning update to a classic story, featuring new puppetry, jaw-dropping effects, and the addition of new songs to the lineup, including “Kiss the Girl.” The 18-minute show runs on a set showtime schedule throughout the day and is available through Lightning Lane Multi Pass as a tier-two option. We called it a must-watch during a full day at Hollywood Studios, putting it alongside Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular as one of the park’s unskippable shows.

It’s location in the Walt Disney Studios Lot area should make it a popular stop for families either before or after they stop by Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! just steps away.

Already Open: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After

Also open since May 27, 2025 is Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, the all-new stage show that took over the Sunset Showcase theater on Sunset Boulevard, the former home of Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy.

As we covered, the show brings guests into the realm of the Magic Mirror, where Cruella de Vil, Captain Hook, and Maleficent each take the stage to make their case for who has been treated most unfairly, with dozens of additional villains represented through cleverly placed screens throughout the theater. The finale puts the vote in the audience’s hands, making every showing unique depending on crowd reaction.

OUR TAKE: Over the past year or so, Disney’s Hollywood Studios has experienced some meaningful changes. When you layer that with existing offerings such as Star Wars and Toy Story, there is a pretty compelling reason to put Studios ahead of Animal Kingdom and even EPCOT when it comes to experiencing something new. Keep in mind that the park still has plenty more change to come with the addition of Monstropolis, a Monsters Inc.-themed land opening in a couple of years.

I’ll probably talk about this more in another article, but it’s worth noting just how much Disney has really executed for an “off year” with no major ride or land openings. Next year, the Tropical Americas themed land will kick off a multi-year cadence of new offerings that will surely bring a ton of interest, but don’t sleep on 2026!

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!