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Credit: Inside the MagicDisney has been constantly transforming lately, introducing brand-new attractions and reimagining long-standing favorites. It’s almost become routine for fans to arrive at the parks and find something fresh… or gone. For many, that’s part of the magic. But for others, it’s bittersweet.
One park in particular has seen its identity shift more than most — Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If the latest changes are any indication, fans might need to prepare themselves to say goodbye to the park.
Saying Goodbye to Hollywood Studios as We Know It
Once a love letter to the golden age of movies, Hollywood Studios was packed with attractions, shows, and experiences celebrating filmmaking and Hollywood’s glamour. These days, that original “Hollywood” concept feels like it’s slipping away.
Sure, the park is still packed with energy and excitement, but the theme that made it unique is getting harder to spot. In fact, it’s beginning to look like the kind of park Disney could easily rebrand — because the version fans fell in love with is fading fast.
Big Additions — But Not Quite Hollywood
Hollywood Studios has added plenty of new experiences that fans are thrilled about in recent years. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a massive hit, drawing guests from all over the world. Visitors can pilot the Millennium Falcon or face off against the First Order. They can also build a custom lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop or create their own droid at Droid Depot. Character meet-and-greets feature favorites like Chewbacca, Rey, and Kylo Ren.
The land is detailed, immersive, and absolutely breathtaking — but it’s not exactly old-school Hollywood.The same goes for other crowd-pleasers in the park.
Guests can explore alien-themed cantinas, dine at fully themed restaurants, and participate in interactive character encounters. While these additions are impressive, they move away from the park’s original mission of giving visitors a behind-the-scenes look at movie-making magic.
The Loss of the Great Movie Ride
One of the most significant changes came when Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway took over the space once occupied by The Great Movie Ride. The new ride is bright, zany, and full of clever effects, whisking guests through a cartoon world where anything can happen. It’s an absolute crowd-pleaser for families, but also marked a significant departure from the park’s original mission.
The Great Movie Ride, by contrast, celebrated the history of cinema by physically transporting guests through elaborate sets of iconic films like Casablanca, The Wizard of Oz, and Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Live hosts narrated the journey, and the entire experience felt like stepping onto a real Hollywood backlot. Replacing it with a whimsical animated train adventure — while undeniably charming — chipped away at the “Hollywood” feel that once defined the park.
From Muppets to Monsters, Inc.
Another shift is happening in the Muppet*Vision 3D area, which is set to be reimagined as a Monsters, Inc. land. While fans are curious to see what Pixar magic Disney can bring to life here, it’s another move that pushes the park away from its Hollywood roots.
Muppet*Vision 3D felt like it belonged in Hollywood Studios because it was staged as a production inside a working theater. It fit the behind-the-scenes vibe. Monsters, Inc., while beloved, belongs firmly in the category of immersive IP — more in line with the park’s current direction than its original concept.
The Toy Story Land Detour
Toy Story Land is another example of Hollywood Studios veering away from its old identity. Bright, colorful, and playful, it’s a fantastic family area. But its focus is on shrinking guests down to the size of toys, not immersing them in the glitz and glam of Tinseltown. It’s wildly successful in delivering fun, but doesn’t add to the park’s “Hollywood” theme.
The End of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster
The upcoming closure of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster at the end of this year or early next year feels like another major turning point. The high-speed coaster has been a park staple for years, blasting guests from zero to sixty in just a few seconds while the soundtrack of Aerosmith roared in their ears.
The storyline even had guests racing through the streets of Los Angeles to make it to the band’s concert on time — a chaotic, neon-lit dash past Hollywood landmarks that gave the ride a little extra connection to the park’s theme. It wasn’t pure “behind-the-scenes” filmmaking magic, but it still carried that Hollywood flair.
Once it’s rethemed, the park loses another piece of its original identity. And when you consider how many of those original theme-connected experiences have already been replaced, the trend becomes clear.
Bit by bit, Hollywood Studios is becoming less about Hollywood and more like the other parks — a collection of immersive lands based on Disney’s most popular franchises.
A Park in Search of a New Identity
Sure, there are still shows like Beauty and the Beast – Live on Stage and attractions like the ever-iconic Hollywood Tower of Terror. But when you strip it down, having a few themed shows doesn’t make Hollywood Studios stand out anymore.
After all, Animal Kingdom has Finding Nemo: The Big Blue… and Beyond!, and Magic Kingdom has Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. A few shows aren’t enough to define a park’s theme when the rest of the attractions tell a different story.