Have you noticed something missing in Disney’s surprise announcement regarding Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
Hollywood Studios
A lot of change is on the horizon for Hollywood Studios. Muppets Courtyard closed down this year to begin construction on the new Monsters Inc. themed land, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster will eventually get a Muppets re-theme, and the most recent news involved the closing and changing of Animation Courtyard. As exciting as we are about what’s coming, we noticed an iconic piece was gone!
Disney World just confirmed that the Animation Courtyard area of Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be closing and making way for brand-new experiences! These new additions are sure to evoke those nostalgic feelings, as the new area resembles the Hollywood Studios park that once was.
©Disney
The Animation Courtyard is currently home to a few attractions, including Star Wars: Launch Bay, Disney Jr. Play and Dance!, and the brand-new Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure show. Disney will be closing the Animation Courtyard and Star Wars: Launch Bay to welcome an experience called The Magic of Disney Animation.
©Disney
The new area will bring fans of Disney animation to a place where their favorite animated Disney characters “come to life”. This experience will include short films, interactive animated character portraits, and lessons on drawing Disney characters (sound familiar?!). The concept art looked amazing, but with every new experience that’s coming, we noticed an iconic piece was missing from the concept art. Can you spot it?
©Disney
Uh…Disney, where’s the Hollywood Studios arch? You know, the entrance archway to Animation Courtyard that says “Disney’s Hollywood Studios?” Hopefully, it isn’t removed from the park, but the fact that it isn’t included in the new concept art is worrisome. It’s too big and too iconic a piece for it to just be forgotten when putting the concept art together. So, we may be saying goodbye to this!
Hollywood Studios Arch
The brand-new area is confirmed to be opening in 2026. With that timeline in mind, Disney did announce that the Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Dance and Play! will be closing on September 25th, 2025. During the closure, the only thing open will be the brand-new Little Mermaid show. Star Wars fans, you have a little bit of time to check out Launch Bay before it’s gone!
Star Wars Launch Bay
We’re excited for the new changes, but we’re hoping the classic arch doesn’t go away. We might be trading one iconic piece for another iconic piece in the Mickey Sorcerer hat. For more Disney news and updates, be sure to stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog!
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
What do you think about the changes? Let us know in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Agreed. Hope they keep the arch! Haven’t really liked Hollywood Studios since Disney tore apart everything Eisner built. When it really felt like Hollywood and the movies. Too many changes now in every park but they seem particularly lost and confused in trying to ‘improve’ Hollywood Studios. All my fave rides gone and not a fan of anything new on the horizon. Sigh.
I never really connected with that arch; it was kind of a pinch point. If it means getting rid of launch bay and opening up the area for better things, I’m good with it. I lost all hope for nostalgia when The Great Movie Ride and backlot were removed. I’m kind of excited for the changes despite losing Muppets. I loved that show, but it was always empty when I went.
I would welcome back the Great Movie Ride. Mickey’s Runaway Railroad Adventure leaves me too queezy, and its broken down often. I agree with the comments about Studios as originally conceived. I do approve of the Pixar area and the Star Wars area.
The arch will block the line of sight to the Fantasia hat. It makes sense to remove the arch and open it up. If people are going to gripe about this then they really need to get a life.
Meh. I am also not excited about the changes coming to Hollywood Studios. Who is dreaming this disjointed stuff up?
I really hope they don’t take the arch away, it just wouldn’t be right.
I’m glad to something new coming to an area that use to be great. I’d love to see the Aladdin restaurant return. It was there at the beginning.
Honestly, it’s in the way. Please hear me out. As the crowd increases during those increased times throughout the year and especially in the afternoon, it tends to get cumbersome when several people are coming and going at the same time. Also, you cannot see around the giant cement arch and I know I have almost ran into several people because of that. I know and understand the attachment to the beloved icons I can relate. However, for safety sake I am ok with it being removed. I’m sorry.