Disney is revamping parts of Hollywood Studios, including Muppets Courtyard and Animation Courtyard. Muppets Courtyard closed on June 7th, while Animation Courtyard just recently closed on September 25th. The area that was once Muppets Courtyard will become Monsters, Inc. Land, and Animation Courtyard will be The Walt Disney Studios upon reopening in 2026.
Animation Courtyard
With these areas of the park closed, there are now 10 attractions you will no longer be able to experience. New attractions will be coming soon, but in the meantime, we’ll all need to get used to seeing construction walls.
Star Wars Launch Bay
Star Wars Launch Bay was located in Animation Courtyard. It was a walk-through exhibit of sorts that featured attractions dedicated to the Star Wars franchise. With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge located at Hollywood Studios, this closure was a long time coming. The following experiences are all now closed inside the Launch Bay.
Star Wars Launch Bay
Meet & Greets
Chewbacca and BB-8
Guests were able to meet Chewbacca and BB-8 at Star Wars Launch Bay. If you want to meet Chewbacca, head to Galaxy’s Edge where he likes to hang out near the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. Considering he may be the best Millennium Falcon pilot, this is the perfect spot for him.
The Chewbacca meet-and-greet at Star Wars Launch Bay is now closed.
For other Star Wars characters, Galaxy’s Edge is the place to go.
Visa Meet & Greet
Darth Vader was previously meeting at Star Wars Launch Bay as part of the Visa meet-and-greet. Disney Visa cardmembers had to show their Visa card and then were able to meet the Sith Lord Darth Vader.
Darth Vader at Star Wars Launch Bay in Hollywood Studios
Darth Vader has now relocated to the outdoor queue area of Star Tours for meet ups with other Siths…ah, fans.
Launch Bay Theater
Launch Bay Theater showed a short video that took a look behind the scenes of the Star Wars saga. Key movie crew members, including directors, writers, producers, and more talked about bringing the saga to life.
Launch Bay Theater is now closed
Unfortunately, fans can no longer see any shows in this theater (at least for now and certainly anything Star Wars related).
Themed Galleries
Star Wars Launch Bay featured three immersive galleries that showcased various props and displays. The Celebration Gallery showed off iconic ships from the saga, Celebration Hallway displayed large-scale replicas of props with cool movie murals, and the Preview Gallery gave you a look at replica props, artifacts, and memorabilia from the most recent movies and shows.
Launch Bay gallery
Shopping
Launch Bay Cargo is also now closed. You used to be able to purchase lots of Star Wars merchandise here, including artwork and collector’s items.
Launch Bay Cargo
You could design your own MagicBand+ and phone case, build a droid, and see R2-D2. Luckily, there are LOTS of Star Wars items for purchase at Galaxy’s Edge.
Star Wars Launch Bay is being reimagined as The Magic of Disney Animation, which sounds really cool!
©Disney
Disney Jr. Play and Dance!
Also located within Animation Courtyard was Disney Jr. Play and Dance. This kids’ dance party attraction has also closed with Animation Courtyard.
Disney Junior Play and Dance
Disney has shared that this location will reopen with new entertainment, but details on what that might entail specifically are still unknown. It may be a kid-friendly spot like Disney Jr. Play and Dance, or it might not.
Muppet*Vision 3D
Muppet*Vision 3D closed in June along with Muppet Courtyard, but we’re still not over it. You won’t be seeing this silly, witty 3D show anymore this year, either. In fact, you won’t be seeing it at all, as its permanent closure was to make way for the new Monsters, Inc. land.
Muppet*Vision building construction
Monsters, Inc. Land and The Walt Disney Studios will be exciting new additions to Hollywood Studios. But even if we’re excited for these new spots, we’re still sad to see these others go. If you’re heading to the park soon, be aware that these attractions are no longer available.
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Big mistake to get rid of all the Star Wars attractions that were so interesting and fun. Although not created at all by Disney, they bought it and now seem intent on changing or getting rid of it despite legions of fans. No, we do not think the Magic of Disney Animation “sounds really cool.” And we greatly miss the huge sorcerer’s hat which was once the symbol and icon! A tinier one in some new kids playland….this isn’t Chuck E. Cheese!….is not sufficient or endearing! A Disney dance party for kids was never appropriate anywhere but especially in a park supposedly devoted to movies so….glad that’s gone. Monsters Inc will never be more important or fun than anything Muppets. Disney should never have destroyed it for this ridiculous and huge monsters Inc land. We have no interest in it and are tired of being told that we should be excited about it!!! Muppets on the roller coaster is a bizarre transformation and we won’t be doing rides that are dark, scary, have flashing lights or cause motion sickness!!! This park has been struggling since Eisner left….when it was MGM Studios and had lots of fun rides and attractions. Bob and Josh seem to delight in ruining everything beloved or created by Walt (and Eisner). Very disappointing. Frankly, we see no reason to ever go to Hollywood Studios again! And taking years to destroy and rebuild, taking much of the park’s reason for bring while still charging full, outrageous prices to get in, is a horrible way to treat guests. Maybe Iger, stockholders and others should give back some of their 8 or 9 figure pay while loyal wdw fans are putting up with their unconscionable construction decisions!!!
We are showing up in November! Where can we go to see the specialty lightsabers? Was hoping for Asoka’s to cone home with me.
More wrong decisions by current Disney management as the Star Wars attractions continue to not meet projections of guest attendance while proven results like Muppets 4D get cast aside. Iger and D’amora need to move on. They just do not have guest expectations in mind. We do not want dark roller coasters, we want great attractions like the Imagineers of them80’s and 90’s delivered.
Hear, hear, Anne! Bob and Josh need to go! I am unhappy about the changes coming to Hollywood Studios and to Animal Kingdom! Pretty soon we will only be going to two parks when we visit WDW. I will not visit a park to ride only two or three rides we still like. I also agree with Kenph. Bring back those Imagineers who REALLY had a vision.