Vacation Fun is still playing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as Disney Jollywood Nights kicks off tonight, but the Mickey Shorts Theater now closes hours before the rest of the park on party days. Last year, the Mickey and Minnie animated short sat out the entire Jollywood season. This time around, it’s keeping a shorter schedule on party dates instead. Here’s the latest.
Vacation Fun: Shortened Hours on Disney Jollywood Nights 2026
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- Vacation Fun closes at 3:00pm on all 15 Jollywood Nights dates, five hours earlier than its usual 8:00pm close
- The show completely closed for the full Jollywood season last year while the theater became the event’s merchandise shop
- The early close may leave time to set up party merchandise in the post-show area
Tonight is the first of 15 Disney Jollywood Nights dates at Hollywood Studios, and the Mickey Shorts Theater in Echo Lake keeps a separate schedule on those days. It still opens in the morning, which is new this year, but the last show wraps up by mid-afternoon.
When we looked in the My Disney Experience app, Vacation Fun had hours of 9:00am to 3:00pm on every Jollywood Nights date. On other days, the show plays until 8:00pm. Hollywood Studios closes to day guests at 7:00pm on party nights, so the theater shuts down four hours before the park does. Party guests can start coming in at 5:30pm, and the event itself goes from 7:30pm to 12:30am.
Here are the dates with the 3:00pm close:
- November: 7, 14, 16, 21, 23, 28
- December: 5, 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 23
- January: 3, 5
Regular hours come right back the next day, so on November 8th Vacation Fun is open from 9:00am to 8:00pm again. New Year’s Eve has the latest close on the schedule, with the theater open until 11:00pm. If you’re planning to duck into the show for a break on a party date, go before 3:00pm.
A Change From Last Year’s Jollywood Schedule
Last year, Disney closed Vacation Fun on October 20th for what it called a refurbishment, as we reported when the closure was announced. The show didn’t return until December 27th, after the season’s final party. While it was down, the Mickey Shorts Theater became the home of the event’s exclusive merchandise, and party guests walked through the theater to shop.
This year, Vacation Fun had only been back since September 27th, ending a nearly two-month closure. The theater spent that stretch of closure time as the pickup spot for the Kermit the Frog Annual Passholder magnet. It’s nice that Disney is working to keep it open this year, and actually surprising that they have it open at all on Jollywood Nights, even if it’s reduced hours.
Why Vacation Fun Closes Early
Disney hasn’t said why the theater closes so early on party days, but we’d bet it comes down to merchandise. According to Disney, this year’s Jollywood collection is only available during the event at a spot near Frozen Fractal Gifts. Disney gave the same location last year. In 2025, that spot ended up being inside the Mickey Shorts Theater. The post-show area is normally a photo op space themed to the cartoons in the film. A 3:00pm close would give cast members a few hours to turn it back into a shop.
If that’s the plan, day guests come out ahead of last year, when the show was gone for two months. Anyone shopping for the new Gertie and Santa Duffy items should check the same spot as last year’s Ollie collection.
Story So Far
- Vacation Fun closed October 20, 2025 for what Disney called a refurbishment.
- During the 2025 Jollywood season, the Mickey Shorts Theater housed the event’s exclusive merchandise.
- Vacation Fun reopened December 27, 2025, after the final party of the season.
- The theater closed again August 9, 2026 to serve as a Passholder magnet pickup location.
- Vacation Fun reopened September 27 after a nearly two-month closure.
- Vacation Fun closes at 3:00pm on all 15 Jollywood Nights 2026 dates, starting November 7.
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!