Credit: Disney This fall, guests will experience a very different version of Disney’s Hollywood Studios—one that signals a bold new era for the park as it continues its transformation.
The Walt Disney World Resort is undergoing a wave of updates and reimaginings, part of a sweeping effort to bring fresh stories and beloved characters to life in new and exciting ways. Nowhere is that more evident than at Hollywood Studios, where major changes are reshaping entire corners of the park.
Disney Confirms Major Redevelopment for Hollywood Studios Theme Park
On July 22, Disney Experiences announced the permanent closure of the Animation Courtyard area, including Star Wars Launch Bay and the Disney Jr. Play and Dance venue. Set to close on September 25, 2025, this space will be replaced by The Magic of Disney Animation, a new guest experience designed to immerse visitors in the art, heart, and charm of Disney storytelling.
The new location will take visual inspiration from the iconic Walt Disney Studios buildings in Burbank, California. Guests can look forward to a series of interactive experiences, including hands-on animation workshops, character sketch tutorials, a short film “with a twist,” and an indoor play space for children.
According to Disney Parks Blog, “The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in Once Upon A Studio… and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.”
In a nostalgic touch sure to delight longtime fans, the Sorcerer Mickey hat—once the symbol of Hollywood Studios—will return to the park as part of this newly reimagined area.
As these changes unfold, guests can expect popular lands like Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to become even more active. Attractions such as Slinky Dog Dash and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance may see longer wait times as crowd traffic shifts from areas currently under construction.
Alice in Wonderland Attraction Confirmed for the Park
At Walt Disney World Resort, Alice in Wonderland fans can still find plenty of whimsical nods to the classic 1951 animated film—especially at Magic Kingdom. The most recognizable tribute is the Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland, where guests spin in oversized teacups under a colorful canopy of lanterns, bringing the Mad Hatter’s chaotic unbirthday party to life. Just nearby, Alice often appears for meet-and-greets, sometimes joined by characters like the Mad Hatter or White Rabbit during seasonal events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
For a themed treat, guests can stop by the Cheshire Café, a small snack spot near the teacups that serves the fan-favorite Cheshire Cat Tail, a chocolate-filled pastry topped with bright pink and purple icing. Wonderland characters also appear in the Festival of Fantasy Parade, adding more charm to the daily cavalcade through Magic Kingdom. Over at EPCOT, Alice occasionally greets guests in the United Kingdom Pavilion, and seasonal events like the Flower & Garden Festival have featured Alice in Wonderland-inspired topiaries.
While there’s no full-scale ride-through attraction like at Disneyland, the Wonderland spirit is alive and well across Walt Disney World in playful encounters, parade appearances, and sweet themed offerings.
Now, a new Alice in Wonderland attraction is headed for the Sunshine State. As part of The Magic of Disney Animation building, guests will be able to enjoy an indoor play area themed to the classic story by Mary Blair.
“Our youngest animators-to-be can explore the ‘Drawn to Wonderland’ playground filled with an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area, all inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair,” Disney Parks Blog said in its announcement. “It’ll be the perfect whimsical indoor play area for little ones to grow ‘curiouser and curiouser!'”
The Evolution of the Walt Disney World Resort in 2025 and Beyond
Meanwhile, another section of the park is also being reimagined. Earlier this year, Disney closed off the Grand Avenue area, including Muppet*Vision 3D and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. The space will make way for Monstropolis, a new land themed to Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. franchise. This new addition will feature a groundbreaking suspended roller coaster inspired by the door chase finale from the 2001 animated hit.
And that’s not the only place guests will find some Muppet mayhem in the park. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is slated for a future reimagining starring Jim Henson’s beloved characters. While an official closure date for the current attraction hasn’t been announced, Disney has confirmed that the updated Muppets-themed version is expected to debut in 2026.
These closures and updates are only part of the larger evolution happening throughout Walt Disney World. At Magic Kingdom, the “largest expansion” in the park’s history is already in motion. Piston Peak National Park, based on Pixar’s Cars franchise, is set to take over the area currently home to Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America. Just beyond that, the park will welcome a long-awaited Disney Villains-themed area, tied into the “Beyond Big Thunder” initiative.
Construction began in January 2025 on the Tropical Americas area at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which will replace the now-closed DinoLand U.S.A. The upcoming Pueblo Esperanza will highlight two Disney favorites—Encanto and Indiana Jones—with immersive attractions opening sometime in 2027.
Over at EPCOT, the return of a reimagined Test Track has been drawing large crowds. However, with much of its major transformation already complete, the park isn’t seeing the same scale of ongoing development—though fans continue to enjoy the recently refreshed areas.
With so many projects already in progress, it’s clear that Disney’s Hollywood Studios is heading toward an all-new identity. By the time 2026 arrives, many familiar corners of the park will have been reimagined—or replaced altogether. The Grand Avenue transformation, the upcoming closure of Animation Courtyard, and the future of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster all point toward a park in the midst of a significant creative overhaul.
Josh D’Amaro may have said it best at the D23 Expo 2024 when he promised that “dirt was moving”—and indeed, it is. Across the entire resort, Disney is laying the groundwork for what’s next, bringing new characters, new lands, and new memories to life for future generations.
How do you feel about all the upcoming changes at Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Share your thoughts with Inside the Magic in the comments below!