It was a packed week at Walt Disney World. The biggest confirmed news: The Magic of Disney Animation now has an official opening date of September 14, 2026, at Hollywood Studios. The attraction features an Audio-Animatronics Olaf — voiced with original dialogue recorded by Josh Gad — hosting drawing classes led by working Disney Animation artists, character meet-and-greets, an Alice in Wonderland playground for young children, and a dedicated theater showing the Emmy-winning short Once Upon A Studio with enhanced effects.
Over at Animal Kingdom, aerial photography shared by @bioreconstruct on X revealed that steel mesh framework — the first stage of sculpted rockwork — is now sitting atop the Encanto show building at the Tropical Americas construction site. The concrete berm walls in front of the building, which will eventually support Casa Madrigal rising above Pueblo Esperanza, are also growing taller. The land remains on track for a 2027 opening. Meanwhile at Hollywood Studios, the structural steel for the Monsters, Inc. flying door coaster is now tall enough to clear the tree line and can be spotted from the parking lot, with coaster track pieces already on-site awaiting installation.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is selling fast. Opening night on August 7 — priced at $159 — has sold out, bringing the total number of sold-out dates to six. The least expensive night still available is August 21 at $139. Tickets can be purchased at DisneyWorld.com/Halloween or by calling 407-934-7639. On the holiday side, both Jollywood Nights and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party tickets went on sale to all guests July 16. Jollywood Nights 2026 runs November 7 through January 5 across 15 nights — the first time the event extends into the new year — while Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party spans 25 nights from November 8 through December 22.
D23 2026 details also came into sharper focus. The show floor is the largest in event history, headlined by an Imagineering: Horizons pavilion described as Disney's biggest Imagineering showcase ever. Neil Patrick Harris will host the Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase at the Honda Center on August 15 at 7 p.m., with new Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum expected to appear alongside him. The reservation system for convention center panels opens July 20 at 12 p.m. PT.
All details above were reported by WDWMAGIC.
