Credit: DisneyBig things are happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and longtime fans are seeing the difference–from every direction.
As fall settled over Walt Disney World Resort last year, Hollywood Studios found itself in the middle of a dramatic evolution. On September 25, 2025, Animation Courtyard officially closed for good, signaling the continuation of a sweeping transformation that is reshaping a significant portion of the park.
For years, the Animation Courtyard space housed Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance. Construction walls surrounded the entire area as crews work toward unveiling The Magic of Disney Animation, a brand-new experience centered on Disney’s storytelling history.
Disney Experiences first shared details about the project earlier in 2025, confirming that the reimagined space will take inspiration from the real-life Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Guests can expect interactive animation workshops, a short film presentation, character meet-and-greets, and an indoor play area designed especially for younger visitors.
The Disney Parks Blog described the experience this way: “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.”
Perhaps one of the most talked-about additions is the return of the Sorcerer Mickey hat. Once the visual icon of Hollywood Studios, the towering hat will stand at the entrance of the new animation-focused attraction, offering a familiar sight for guests who remember its original run in the park.
Before the year was through, the project reached another milestone. Walt Disney Imagineering recently filed a new permit in Orange County tied directly to the former Animation Courtyard location. The documentation outlined plans to install set elements for The Magic of Disney Animation attraction, with Icarus Exhibits Inc. listed as the contractor handling the work.
In other words, the transformation moved from planning to physical installation. With permits secured and previous offerings shuttered in late September, visible construction efforts began to take shape. The next time guests walk past those walls, more substantial progress may be waiting on the other side.
Of course, Animation Courtyard isn’t the only section of Hollywood Studios undergoing change. Earlier in 2025, Grand Avenue closed, including Muppet*Vision 3D and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano, to clear space for the upcoming Monstropolis land inspired by Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. franchise. The new area will feature a suspended roller coaster themed to the film’s unforgettable door vault sequence.
Work is speeding ahead at the location of this retheme, and now guests from all over the park can see the work in progress. A crane now stands high above the Hollywood Studios skyline and, according to Kenny the Pirate, can be seen from locations all across the theme park, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, and Echo Lake.
While Muppet*Vision 3D has taken its final bow, the Muppets themselves are sticking around. The beloved characters will headline the reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith once its retheme is complete. The updated Muppets attraction is currently slated to open this summer, with the Aerosmith version taking its final bow on March 1.
With so much in flux, Hollywood Studios looks very different compared to just a year ago. Between the Animation Courtyard closure and ongoing Monstropolis construction, large portions of the park are in transition.
And the changes aren’t isolated to one park. Across Walt Disney World Resort, construction walls have become a common sight. Magic Kingdom is pressing forward with what Disney has described as its largest expansion ever, including the Cars-themed Piston Peak National Park and the “Beyond Big Thunder” project featuring the Disney Villains.
Meanwhile, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, work continues on the Tropical Americas land now that DinoLand U.S.A. has closed permanently. Guests will be able to enjoy Encanto and Indiana Jones-themed experiences, scheduled to debut in 2027.
As the current Disney Experiences Chairman (and soon to be new Chief Executive Officer), Josh D’Amaro said during D23 Expo 2024, “dirt was moving” across the resort. By early 2026, that statement feels more literal than ever, with cranes, permits, and construction crews shaping the future of multiple parks at once.
For Hollywood Studios in particular, the coming years promise a redefined identity—one that blends returning icons like the Sorcerer Mickey hat with entirely new lands and attractions. The park is clearly in a period of reinvention, and guests are watching it unfold in real time.
How do you feel about all the changes coming to Hollywood Studios this year? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments down below!