Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicAs of Thursday, September 25, 2025, Disney’s Hollywood Studios looks very different for Walt Disney World Resort guests. Overnight, Disney cast members installed construction walls and other barriers around the former Animation Courtyard, vastly impacting guests’ travel throughout the theme park.
At D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney Imagineering announced plans to bring a Monsters, Inc. (2001)-themed land, including the long-rumored door roller coaster, to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Early concept art hinted that Imagineers hadn’t decided whether to put the new area in the existing Muppets Courtyard or Animation Courtyard. However, in November 2024, Walt Disney World Resort announced the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D and the surrounding area for the Monsters, Inc. land.
However, Animation Courtyard won’t escape 2025 unscathed. In July, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to transform the area into the Walt Disney Studios Lot, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios campus in Burbank, California. Star Wars Launch Bay will transform into the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, complete with a Sorcerer Mickey hat, and the return of the revamped attraction: “The Magic of Disney Animation.” The overhaul will also include a new kid-friendly show that will replace Disney Junior Play and Dance!. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” which debuted in May, will remain open throughout construction and when the Walt Disney Studios Lot opens.
Animation Courtyard welcomed its final Disney Park guests on September 24, 2025. Disney’s Hollywood Studios transformed overnight, with construction walls blocking much of the area, except “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” According to a report from WDWNT, barriers block guests from entering some of the walkways under the iconic “Disney’s Hollywood Studios” arch. The walls feature signs with showtimes for “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” instructions to park strollers nearby, directions to restrooms and other attractions, and various Disney character quotes.
The construction has also impacted the operations of another Disney’s Hollywood Studios attraction. According to X (formerly Twitter) user @laughing_place, guests exiting the “One Man’s Dream” short film in the Walt Disney Presents gallery must now exit back through the winding museum instead of through the automatic doors that once led to Animation Courtyard.
Due to the construction in Animation Courtyard, guests seeing One Man’s Dream exit back through Walt Disney Presents. #WaltDisneyWorld
Due to the construction in Animation Courtyard, guests seeing One Man’s Dream exit back through Walt Disney Presents. #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/ls9NyE8Tz8
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) September 25, 2025
Meet-and-greets from Star Wars Launch Bay have moved to other parts of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Chewbacca is now located near the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Darth Vader greets guests in the extended queue for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue in Echo Lake. The Star Wars Disney Visa Cardmember character greeting has been replaced with priority access to the Meet Olaf at Celebrity Spotlight experience between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. daily.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot, including “The Magic of Disney Animation” and a new Disney Junior show, will debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios sometime in 2026. Walt Disney World Resort hasn’t announced an exact grand opening date for the new area, or the Monsters, Inc. land replacing Muppets Courtyard.
Do you agree with Walt Disney World Resort’s decision to replace Animation Courtyard with the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!