Credit: DisneyRead between the lines–Hollywood Studios will not exist in its current form this fall season.
When Josh D’Amaro said that “dirt was moving” in regards to all the projects announced at D23 Expo 2024, he wasn’t lying. Across the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Central Florida, major overhauls are underway, bringing new attractions, new Intellectual Property (IP), and new journeys for the next generation of Disney theme park guests.
At Magic Kingdom, the “largest expansion” in the park’s history is underway, as Disney relegates classic attractions like Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America in favor of the new Piston Peak National Park land featuring Pixar’s Cars franchise. Further ahead at Florida’s flagship park is the arrival of the Disney Villains, part of the “Beyond Big Thunder” extension.
Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work commenced in January 2025 on bringing the Tropical Americas concept to life. With the erasure of DinoLand U.S.A., the Mouse House will officially debut the Pueblo Esperanza sometime in 2027. Attractions for this new area include signature experiences themed after the Encanto and Indiana Jones franchises.
While EPCOT is celebrating the reopening of Test Track (to huge crowds), not much is happening in the way of large-scale developments—the park has already gone through it, much to the chagrin of guests. But as for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the park will soon not resemble itself.
Earlier this year, Disney Experiences shuttered the Grand Avenue area of the theme park, including attractions like Muppet*Vision 3D and eateries like Mama Melrose’s. These closures were part of the plan to bring Monstropolis of the Monsters, Inc. franchise to the Sunshine State.
The land will feature a first-of-its-kind suspended roller coaster themed after the iconic door sequence at the end of the beloved 2001 Pixar movie. As for Jim Henson’s Muppets, they will eventually take over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, in a new attraction. While no closure has been given for Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Disney has said that it plans to open the Muppets retheme in 2026.
With so much construction already taking place, it already seems that Hollywood Studios—like Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom—will be unrecognizable come 2026 and beyond. However, another major closure and overhaul just got announced for Hollywood Studios, which will see the current park disappear this fall season.
On July 22, Disney Experiences revealed that the Animation Courtyard area, including Star Wars Launch Bay and the Disney Jr. Play and Dance location, will close permanently on September 25, 2025, to make way for an all-new animation experience called The Magic of Disney Animation.
The new location will be crafted to look like the Walt Disney Studios buildings in Burbank, California, and will include multiple guest experiences, including animation workshops, a short film, meet-and-greets, and a new indoor play area for children.
“The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner,” Disney Parks Blog explained in its recent press release. “You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in Once Upon A Studio; you’ll find inspiration with a short film (with a twist, of course); and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.”
The closure of the entire Animation Courtyard area will seemingly coincide with the closure and retheme of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and with the Grand Avenue’s experiences already closed and behind walls, the current version of Hollywood Studios that guests are used to experiencing will be gone this fall.
The closures will also push more guests into the already bustling Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, creating a busier atmosphere and possibly long lines for attractions like Slinky Dog Dash and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
How do you feel about all the changes happening to Disney’s Hollywood Studios this year? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!