Sunday’s Central Florida park calendar is split between daytime openings and planning, separately ticketed Halloween nights, and one family event that is included with regular admission. The most immediate development is at Walt Disney World, where the new Animation Courtyard experience opens Monday with a full-day operating schedule. Tonight, both Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios Florida shift into ticketed Halloween events.

Here are the five developments most likely to affect a visit today or the next few days. For the full regional stream, bookmark The American Quorum’s Orlando Parks hub.

• Disney has posted 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours for Monday’s debut of The Magic of Disney Animation.
• Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party returns to Magic Kingdom tonight, changing the park’s evening rhythm.
• Halloween Horror Nights runs tonight at Universal Studios Florida as a separately ticketed event.
• A new “The Traitors: New Blood” bar takeover is now operating at Universal CityWalk.
• Busch Gardens Tampa Bay’s family-focused Spooktacular runs from noon to 4 p.m. today and is included with park admission.

Walt Disney World: Animation opens Monday, while Magic Kingdom turns over for the party

The most useful Monday-planning update is Disney’s posted schedule for The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The attraction opens Sept. 14, and Disney currently lists operating hours of 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. That gives opening-day visitors a broad window instead of requiring everyone to aim for rope drop. It is still sensible to check the My Disney Experience app before leaving the hotel, because opening-day operations can evolve.

Today’s Disney World regional update also flags a more immediate scheduling issue: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is scheduled tonight from 7 p.m. to midnight. Party ticket holders may enter Magic Kingdom beginning at 4 p.m.; day guests without party admission should plan around the evening turnover and confirm the park’s regular closing time in Disney’s calendar. Transportation and entrance areas can feel busier as arriving party guests overlap with departing daytime visitors.

At EPCOT, Fitz and the Tantrums begins a two-night Eat to the Beat run today, with Disney listing shows at 5:30, 6:45 and 8 p.m. Visitors returning later in the week should also note that the Food & Wine Festival’s Cheers to Cheese! food stroll begins Friday, Sept. 18. These are planning dates rather than reasons to rebuild an entire itinerary, but they can change which EPCOT evening makes the most sense.

Universal Orlando: HHN tonight, a CityWalk addition and a Tuesday sale date

Today’s Universal Orlando report leads with the split-day reality at Universal Studios Florida. Halloween Horror Nights is scheduled tonight as a separately ticketed nighttime event. Universal’s official 2026 lineup includes 10 haunted houses, four scare zones and two live shows. Anyone attempting a daytime-to-HHN transition should verify the park calendar, event admission and any Stay & Scream eligibility rather than assuming a standard day ticket carries into the event.

The regional wait-time tool is especially useful during that transition. Open TAQ’s Florida park wait-time page and select Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure or Epic Universe individually for a shorter near-real-time view of posted waits. During HHN, choose the dedicated “Universal Studios — HHN” selector to see posted haunted-house waits without mixing them into daytime attraction results.

Universal CityWalk also has a new evening option: “The Traitors: New Blood,” a themed bar takeover at Universal’s Great Movie Escape, began Sept. 12. The experience is separate from the escape rooms, though venue access, capacity and age rules still apply. Universal’s Great Movie Escape page is the best place to confirm current operating details before making a special trip.

Looking slightly farther ahead, tickets and packages for Rock the Universe, scheduled for Jan. 22–23, 2027, go on sale Tuesday, Sept. 15. That matters most for groups coordinating travel or multi-night packages; it does not require action from a typical September visitor.

Around Central Florida: Busch Gardens offers a daytime family alternative

In Tampa, Busch Gardens Spooktacular is in its opening weekend. The official schedule lists the event on Saturdays and Sundays from Sept. 12 through Nov. 1, with activities from noon to 4 p.m. and inclusion with regular park admission. Sunday’s program includes trick-or-treating and family entertainment; children age 13 and younger may wear costumes under the park’s rules.

This is a materially different product from the separately ticketed nighttime events at Disney and Universal: it is designed for younger visitors, takes place in daylight and does not require an event ticket beyond park admission. Orlando-based families should still account for the drive to Tampa and check same-day park hours and weather before leaving.

What to know before you go

Check official calendars again before departure, especially if your plan crosses from daytime park touring into a ticketed Halloween event. Keep event tickets, park admission and transportation timing separate in your plan. Use the Florida wait-time dashboard to choose one park—or the HHN selector—at a time, and return to the Orlando Parks hub for the latest Disney, Universal and regional updates.

The American Quorum is an independent news publication and is not affiliated with Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay or their parent companies.