Credit: DisneyDisney’s Hollywood Studios has spent the last several months quietly wiping away an entire chapter of its Star Wars history. Walls went up, longtime offerings disappeared, and one of the park’s oldest areas suddenly became unrecognizable almost overnight. For many guests, it marked the end of an era that had existed long before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge completely transformed the park.
Now, Disney is only days away from officially unveiling what comes next.
While Disney still has even bigger plans arriving later this summer, next week officially starts a brand-new phase for one of the park’s most heavily reworked sections.
And honestly, it is all happening during one of the busiest transformation periods Hollywood Studios has experienced in years.
Hollywood Studios Is Changing Fast
Right now, nearly every corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios feels like it is evolving at the same time.
Disney already confirmed that Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will receive an updated mission inspired by The Mandalorian and Grogu beginning May 22. The timing is not accidental. Disney clearly wants the parks and the theatrical side of the franchise working more closely together as Lucasfilm prepares for the movie’s release.
That update gives Smugglers Run new energy at a time when Disney appears to be leaning harder into theatrical Star Wars storytelling again after years of heavy Disney+ focus.
But the changes are not stopping in Galaxy’s Edge.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is also preparing for Annual Passholder previews beginning May 21 ahead of its official debut later this month. The attraction marks one of the biggest ride rethemes Disney World has attempted in recent years, replacing Aerosmith with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem.
At the same time, crews continue massive construction work on the upcoming Monsters, Inc. land, replacing the Muppets Courtyard. Disney permanently closed MuppetVision 3D and the surrounding area to make way for Monstropolis, which will feature a suspended roller coaster inspired by the famous door vault sequence from Monsters, Inc. Guests can also expect themed dining and new entertainment offerings once the expansion fully opens.
While Disney fans are focused on the closure of one beloved area, several other major projects are already reshaping the park.
Disney Permanently Closed Star Wars: Launch Bay
One of the biggest recent changes came on September 24, 2025, when Disney permanently shut down Star Wars: Launch Bay.
For years, the attraction operated as a strange mix of a museum exhibit, a character greeting location, and a preview center. Long before Galaxy’s Edge existed, Launch Bay gave guests a dedicated place to step into the world of Star Wars inside Hollywood Studios. Fans could browse movie props, concept art, costumes, and meet characters like Darth Vader and Chewbacca.
Even after Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Launch Bay remained operational, though many guests felt it slowly became disconnected from the newer, more immersive direction Disney wanted for the franchise.
Eventually, Disney decided to move on completely.
After the closure, crews quickly cleared the area as Disney prepared for a much larger reimagining tied to Animation Courtyard. That section of the park also officially closed in September 2025, eliminating another longtime piece of Hollywood Studios history.
For longtime Disney fans, the closure felt significant. Animation Courtyard had existed in different forms for decades and once represented the heart of the park’s animation identity. By the end, though, Disney appeared ready to modernize the area into something more interactive and family-focused.
Walt Disney Studios Is Taking Over the Former Star Wars Area
The broader reimagined area is being framed as The Walt Disney Studios, while the former Launch Bay building will become The Magic of Disney Animation.
The new area aims to make guests feel as if they are stepping directly inside a functioning animation studio. Rather than focusing on a single franchise, Disney wants the space to celebrate animation itself while giving families more interactive experiences throughout the day.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will become one of the first major additions opening inside the expansion on May 26. The stage show targets younger guests and replaces Disney Jr. Play and Dance!, bringing Mickey and friends into a more modern interactive production.
The surrounding area will also feature refreshed theming, updated pathways, and a completely different visual identity compared to the old Animation Courtyard setup.
What makes this project especially interesting is how aggressively Disney cleared away the old Star Wars footprint to make room for it. For years, Launch Bay acted as a temporary solution while Galaxy’s Edge carried the franchise forward elsewhere in the park. Now, Disney appears fully committed to using the space for broader family entertainment instead.
And this is really only the beginning.
The Magic of Disney Animation Arrives Later This Summer
While May 26 marks the public debut of Walt Disney Studios and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, Disney still has another major opening planned for later this summer.
The former Star Wars: Launch Bay building will eventually become The Magic of Disney Animation, a large interactive attraction inspired by Disney’s real animation studios in California. Disney has confirmed that the building will also feature the iconic Sorcerer Mickey hat sitting on top, bringing back a visual element many Hollywood Studios fans have missed.
Inside, the experience will focus heavily on hands-on activities and playful exploration.
Disney says guests will walk through various “departments” inside the animation building while Disney characters create chaos throughout the space. Portraits will come to life, interactive exhibits will respond to guests, and families will even have opportunities to learn how to sketch Disney characters themselves.
One of the biggest additions for younger guests will be the Drawn to Wonderland indoor playground, inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s concept art for Alice in Wonderland. Disney confirmed the area will include oversized flowers, musical play elements, tea party-themed structures, and exploration zones designed specifically for smaller children.
The attraction will also feature multiple character greeting opportunities, alongside short-film experiences and animation-focused activities.
In many ways, Disney appears to be transforming a once-franchise-specific section of the park into a broader celebration of its creativity.
A Completely Different Future for Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has always been a park that constantly reinvents itself, but the pace of change happening right now feels especially dramatic.
Within just a few years, guests have watched entire lands disappear, classic attractions close permanently, and major franchises completely reshape the park’s identity. Star Wars: Launch Bay has now joined that growing list of retired experiences as Disney pushes forward with a very different vision for the future.
Beginning May 26, guests will finally start seeing the first pieces of that future open to the public.
And by the end of summer, the area that once housed one of Disney World’s most recognizable Star Wars experiences may look almost completely unrecognizable.
