Credit: Patrick McGarvey, FlickrChanges are being made at the Hollywood Studios Disney World park.
By the time fall arrived at Walt Disney World Resort, Disney’s Hollywood Studios had already entered a new chapter. What was once a familiar park to many longtime guests changed dramatically as the Animation Courtyard area permanently closed on September 25, 2025, marking the beginning of a major reimagining for the park.
The area that once included Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance is now behind construction walls, soon to become The Magic of Disney Animation—a new experience designed to celebrate Disney’s rich storytelling legacy.
When Disney Experiences announced the project earlier this year, it confirmed that the new location would mirror the look of the Walt Disney Studios buildings in Burbank, California. The space will feature hands-on animation workshops, a short film, meet-and-greet sessions, and an indoor play area for younger guests.
As described by the 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; 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.”
One nostalgic highlight of returning to the park is the Sorcerer Mickey hat, once Hollywood Studios’ iconic centerpiece, which will stand once again at the entrance of the new animation-themed experience.
New Permit Filed at Hollywood Studios
Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit in Orange County that lists the former Animation Courtyard location, which once stood at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. According to the permit documents, the scope is described as installing set elements for the upcoming The Magic of Disney Animation attraction. Icarus Exhibits Inc. is performing the work.
This means that the transformation of the park’s Animation Courtyard zone has effectively entered its next phase. With the archival permits now filed, it appears the heavy conceptual work has shifted into concrete installation—literally setting the stage for what guests will experience. Having closed the preceding operations in late September, Disney is now implementing visible changes.
The September closure followed a series of major changes that had already begun reshaping the park throughout 2025. Grand Avenue, which included locations like Muppet*Vision 3D and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, had closed earlier in the year to make room for Monstropolis, based on Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. The new land is set to feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the film’s memorable door sequence.
The Muppets, however, are not disappearing. Instead, they are expected to move into a new home when Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith completes its transformation into a Muppets-themed attraction, opening in 2026.
As a result of these changes, the park’s landscape looked strikingly different this fall. With the Animation Courtyard closed and Monstropolis construction in progress, Hollywood Studios entered a transition period unlike any in its history. Guests found themselves gravitating toward other areas such as Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Meanwhile, across Walt Disney World Resort, other parks continued to evolve as well. At Magic Kingdom, work progressed on its largest-ever expansion, including the Cars-inspired Piston Peak National Park and the “Beyond Big Thunder” project featuring the Disney Villains. Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, construction continued on the Tropical Americas area, with the Encanto and Indiana Jones experiences set to debut in 2027.
As Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro remarked at D23 Expo 2024, “dirt was moving” across the entire resort—and by late 2025, guests could see the results taking shape. With new lands, returning icons, and a focus on immersive storytelling, Disney’s Hollywood Studios began its transformation into something completely new.
How do you feel about all the changes coming to Hollywood Studios this year? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!