Universal Just Added More After-Dark Nights at Epic Universe—Here's the New Lineup

The fall event calendar across Orlando filled in fast this week. The single biggest development: Universal Orlando expanded Universal Nights, its new limited-capacity after-hours party at Universal Epic Universe, from two dates to five—giving guests more chances to roam all five worlds after the daytime crowds clear out. Meanwhile, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is days away from opening a brand-new animation attraction, and Walt Disney World handed annual passholders two reservation-free days. Here’s what actually changed in the last 24 to 36 hours.

Universal Nights Grows From 2 Dates to 5 at Epic Universe

Universal’s newest hard-ticket event just got a lot easier to attend. Universal Nights, an exclusive after-hours event debuting at Universal Epic Universe this October, now runs on five dates: October 3, October 17, October 24, November 6, and November 20. October 17 is already sold out, but the four remaining dates are on sale.

According to Universal Orlando’s official announcement, the limited-capacity event runs from 9 p.m. to midnight, with ticket holders allowed to arrive as early as 7 p.m. to enjoy extra park time. Tickets start at $179.99 plus tax per person, and Universal Annual Passholders can save 10%. The price buys access to attractions, entertainment, character interactions, and complimentary specialty snacks and beverages across all five worlds—plus the nighttime show Universal Celestial Goodnight, which plays during the early-entry window before the official 9 p.m. start.

We’ve spent enough late evenings in a theme park to know how different a place feels once the day-guests filter out, and a low-capacity night at Epic Universe—where standby lines routinely stretch long during regular hours—is exactly the kind of experience that justifies a premium. The catch is availability: with October 17 already gone and only four dates left, this is not an event to sit on.

Universal Nights date	Status
Saturday, October 3	On sale
Saturday, October 17	Sold out
Saturday, October 24	On sale
Friday, November 6	On sale
Friday, November 20	On sale

The Magic of Disney Animation Opens September 14 at Hollywood Studios

Disney’s Hollywood Studios is now less than two weeks from a major addition. According to the Walt Disney World press room, The Magic of Disney Animation opens September 14, 2026, inside a building inspired by the real Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California.

The experience bundles several offerings under one roof: “Olaf Draws!,” an interactive drawing class led by an Audio-Animatronics Olaf; “Off the Page!,” a set of character meet-and-greets organized around the stages of the animation process; “Drawn to Wonderland,” an immersive indoor playground inspired by Alice in Wonderland concept art; an enchanted art gallery; and the Once Upon A Studio Theater, screening the Emmy Award-winning short film.

We’ve walked the old Animation Courtyard many times over the years, and its slow fade from a working-studio tour into a rotating character stop had left it feeling like the park’s forgotten corner. Rebuilding the space around Disney’s animation heritage—complete with a drawing-class throwback for longtime fans—is a smart reclamation of what once made this park distinct. Expect opening-week crowds to be heavy.

Walt Disney World Gives Passholders Two Reservation-Free Days

A smaller but useful note for anyone already in Florida: Walt Disney World designated Wednesday, September 2 and Thursday, September 3 as “Good to Go” days, letting Annual Passholders across all four pass tiers enter any of the four theme parks without a park reservation. It’s a quiet perk that tends to show up on lower-attendance weekdays, and it’s a reminder that early September remains one of the calmer stretches on the Disney World calendar before the fall festival crowds arrive.

For a deeper look at planning a fall Orlando trip around these new events and openings, see our evergreen guides to Universal Epic Universe and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.