Disney World Attraction Reopens After Nearly 2-Month Closure, But a Day Late
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has brought back an attraction that had been missing from the park for nearly two months, although guests had to wait slightly longer than originally expected.
Vacation Fun – An Original Animated Short with Mickey & Minnie officially reopened at Mickey Shorts Theater on September 28. Disney’s operating calendar had previously pointed to September 27 for its return, but the theater remained closed for one additional day.
Disney has not provided a reason for the delay.
Fortunately, this did not turn into another lengthy extension. By Monday morning, Mickey and Minnie were back on the big screen and the theater was once again part of the Hollywood Studios attraction lineup.
Vacation Fun Had Been Closed Since August
Vacation Fun had been unavailable since August 9, but its extended closure was unusual because it was not primarily tied to a major refurbishment.
Instead, Disney temporarily repurposed Mickey Shorts Theater for an Annual Passholder offering.
The theater became the distribution location for a Kermit the Frog Annual Passholder magnet. The giveaway was part of a larger period of Muppets-themed Passholder perks at Hollywood Studios that continued through September 24.
With the Passholder offering finished, Disney prepared to return the theater to normal operations. September 27 initially appeared to be the date guests would finally be able to watch Vacation Fun again.
That did not quite happen.
Guests Had to Wait One More Day
Anyone arriving at Hollywood Studios on September 27 expecting to see Vacation Fun back in operation had to wait a little longer.
The attraction did not reopen until September 28.
Disney has not announced what caused the one-day change, so it is unclear whether there was a minor operational issue or another reason behind the delay.
The good news is that the change only lasted one day.
On September 28, Mickey Shorts Theater returned with operating hours listed from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., giving guests another attraction to work into their Hollywood Studios plans.
While Vacation Fun may not command the same attention as Hollywood Studios’ biggest rides, its return still matters for the overall guest experience.
Another Indoor Break Returns to Hollywood Studios
Vacation Fun offers something that can become particularly valuable during a long Disney day: a chance to sit down inside.
Hollywood Studios has several attractions that can involve long waits and plenty of time outside. Florida’s heat can also stick around well into the fall, making an air-conditioned theater an appealing option during the afternoon.
Families with young children can use Vacation Fun as a chance to slow down between larger attractions. Other guests can simply enjoy Mickey and Minnie without having to plan their entire day around the experience.
It is a smaller part of Hollywood Studios, but those smaller experiences can help fill the gaps between the park’s headlining rides and shows.
After being unavailable since August 9, Vacation Fun is finally back.
Its return arrived one day later than Disney’s calendar originally indicated, and there is still no explanation for that brief delay. But after weeks of Mickey Shorts Theater being used for the Kermit the Frog Passholder magnet distribution, the theater has returned to its regular role.
For Hollywood Studios guests, Mickey and Minnie are officially back on the big screen.
