If you have been planning a vacation to Walt Disney World, make sure your park reservations are locked in and your mobile apps are fully updated. We are officially entering one of the most concentrated, game-changing launch windows in modern theme park history.
Over a chaotic four-day stretch, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is completely shifting its identity. From the Outer Rim of a galaxy far, far away to the neon-drenched streets of Sunset Boulevard, the park is unleashing a massive wave of new experiences.
Whether you are a die-hard Star Wars loyalist, a lifelong Muppet purist, or a fan of classic Disney animation history, here is your ultimate guide to the historic transformations hitting Hollywood Studios this week.
May 22: The Mandalorian and Grogu Take Over the Millennium Falcon
The historic week kicks off on Friday, May 22, 2026, inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. For the first time since the land opened, Disney is expanding the narrative timeline of its flagship flight simulator with a high-stakes mission on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run.
Up until now, the attraction’s storyline was locked strictly within the Sequel Trilogy era, with Hondo Ohnaka recruiting guests to steal coaxium canisters. The new mission gracefully brings the universe’s most beloved bounty-hunting duo into the cockpit. Powered by custom, ultra-high-resolution graphics utilizing Epic Games’ Unreal Engine, the visual fidelity of the flight has been completely overhauled, making the jump to hyperspace look crisper than ever.
The interactive mechanics of the ride have been completely reprogrammed to match the high-octane pace of the Disney+ Mandoverse:
- Pilots: Will face intense atmospheric dogfights, requiring precise synchronization to dodge laser fire from Imperial TIE Interceptors.
- Gunners: Will wield updated, rapid-fire laser cannons to blast through a chaotic debris field.
- Engineers: Will manage critical hyperdrive systems, especially during a climax where Grogu uses the Force directly outside the cockpit glass to save your ship from destruction.
This addition adds incredible repeatability to the attraction, giving fans a strong incentive to hop back into the queue to see how the new story branches.
May 26: Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets Takes the Stage
Just four days after the Mandalorian makes landfall, the biggest aesthetic and musical shift in the park’s recent history officially debuts on Tuesday, May 26, 2026. The Aerosmith era has officially given way to puppet-infused pandemonium as Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets opens its gates.
The ride’s premise beautifully adapts the original coaster’s “backstage press” narrative into signature Muppet madness. The historic G-Force Records studio is now operating under the chaotic management of J.P. Grosse—Scooter’s notoriously cheap uncle and the original owner of the Muppet Theatre.
When you step into the main studio for the pre-show, you will encounter a massive leap in Imagineering technology: a groundbreaking Scooter Audio-Animatronic. To preserve the character’s organic, bouncy movement, Imagineers utilized advanced motion-capture technology on an actual physical Scooter puppet, allowing the figure to mimic the exact weight distribution and puppet-like double-takes fans expect.
Scooter explains that Dr. Teeth and The Electric Mayhem are deeply locked into a rehearsal room, completely oblivious to the fact that their career-defining, sold-out Hollywood concert is starting on the other side of town right now. Assisted by a frantic crew of audio engineer penguins, Scooter tasks guests with loading into high-speed L.I.M.O. transport vehicles to act as an emergency escort.
While the physical ride system maintains its legendary indoor steel track layout—launching guests from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds through three inversions—the interior show building has been retrofitted with bright, psychedelic neon targets and Muppet visual gags. The onboard audio system features a high-adrenaline synchronized rotation of five tracks:
- “Song 2” – A blistering, high-energy rock cover by The Electric Mayhem (originally by Blur).
- “Born to Be Wild” – The Steppenwolf classic, complete with chaotic vocal screeching from Camilla the Chicken.
- “Love Rollercoaster” – A powerhouse funk-rock collaboration between Jennifer Hudson and Questlove.
- “Rock! Rock! (Till You Drop)” – The hard-rocking anthem by Def Leppard.
- “Walking on Sunshine” – A pulse-pounding, feel-good pop-rock remix featuring Kelly Clarkson.
The ultimate highlight waits at the very end of the coaster. Newly refreshed Audio-Animatronics of Statler and Waldorf are perched inside a backstage tour trailer at the unload station. Complete with crates of fresh tomatoes sitting right in front of them, they are primed and ready to roast breathless guests the exact moment their limos hit the final brake run:
Statler: “You know, this concert reminds me of a roller coaster.” Waldorf: “How’s that?” Statler: “It’s all downhill!”
Outside, the courtyard has shed its 1990s look for a vibrant, psychedelic facelift on the giant guitar marquee. Furthermore, the adjacent food kiosk has officially been rebranded as “FØØD by Swedish Chef,” serving an entirely updated, tongue-in-cheek snack menu.
May 26: The Magic of Disney Animation Outdoor Areas Reopen
Sharing the May 26 spotlight with the Muppets is the grand opening of the newly refreshed outdoor areas of Magic of Disney Animation.
While the high-thrill roller coasters and flight simulators grab the headlines, this expansion provides a much-needed breath of fresh air to the park’s central thoroughfares. The outdoor plazas, courtyard walkways, and architectural facades leading into the animation pavilion have been completely reimagined to honor Walt Disney’s original medium.
The new outdoor areas swap out the tired production studio aesthetic for a beautifully landscaped, shaded park environment dripping with golden-age Hollywood elegance. Key features of the refreshed outdoor footprint include:
- Interactive Animation Frames: The walkways feature beautifully designed architectural archways styled after giant, physical hand-drawn animation cells, taking guests on a chronological journey through Disney animation history.
- Refreshed Character Alcoves: The outdoor perimeter now boasts specialized, deeply themed meet-and-greet areas that will cycle through rare characters.
- Atmospheric Soundscapes: At night, the area transforms with dynamic projection-mapping on the surrounding facades, accompanied by an orchestral, sweeping soundscape of Disney’s most iconic animated melodies.
By creating a beautiful, relaxed space to unwind, the outdoor expansion offers the perfect thematic balance to the high-speed chaos waiting around the corner on Sunset Boulevard. Keep your eyes on the My Disney Experience app, pack your park bags, and prepare to face the critics at the end of the line!
