UPDATED January 12, 2026

A brand new area is coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios: get ready to step into The Walt Disney Studios when it opens in the later part of Summer 2026!

In July 2025, Disney announced that the area currently known as Animation Courtyard will be reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios as a “special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot” in Burbank, California. But here, Disney Animation characters will “leap off the screen and into our world.” The new land will retain two of Animation Courtyard’s signature attractions while introducing brand-new experiences inspired by beloved Disney characters as well as the “Once Upon a Studio” short film!

Highlighted among the new experiences will be The Magic of Disney Animation.

The Magic of Disney Animation

The building that currently houses Star Wars: Launch Bay will be turning into “The Magic of Disney Animation,” which is inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios and the Roy E. Disney Animation Building.

Just like its namesake building, The Magic of Disney Animation will feature Mickey’s famous Sorcerer Hat on top (which serves as a double nod to the Sorcerer’s Hat that used to stand in front of the Chinese Theater in the park). Disney says it will “cast a spell with pixie dust.” And once you go under it to step inside, you’ll be able to interact and explore this fun take on the Disney Animation headquarters, including the different studio departments. But in this version of the iconic HQ? “Some of our favorite pals have taken over to create the fun adventures.”

The new building will let you into the studio, “as the animators have temporarily stepped away,” and characters come to life and take over! The experience draws its inspiration from the Disney short “Once Upon A Studio.” If you’ve seen the short (and if you haven’t, you can view it here and on Disney+), you will remember how the Disney characters came to life… and The Magic of Animation will present its own moments when portraits come to life as they do in the short!

Disney even teased that here “you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.” (Yes, you can do that now at The Animation Experience in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but it will be especially fitting for a drawing experience to come back to its original home park.)

Disney Character Greetings at “Off the Page”

As mentioned, Disney characters will play a major part in the experience! Specifically, Disney has mentioned “Off the Page.” The concept is that guests will meet beloved Disney characters across “six unique departments from the animation studio.” They are as follows:

The Magic of Disney Animation Timeline

The Walt Disney Studios and The Magic of Disney Animation will open in the later part of Summer 2026! Animation Courtyard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed permanently on September 25th, 2025. This includes a permanent closure for Star Wars Launch Bay as well as a closure of Disney Jr. Play and Dance to make way for Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! It will make its debut in the building that housed Play and Dance. (If the show sounds familiar, it’s because it’s currently being presented at Disneyland Resort!)

The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents will both remain open during the transformation.

Finally, Disney shares that “Disney Animation artists and Walt Disney Imagineers are working hand-in-hand to bring the wonder and nostalgia of Disney Animation films to the whole courtyard in new and immersive ways families will love. We can’t wait for you to experience this fantastical place in 2026.” 

Want to check out MORE about The Walt Disney Studios? CLICK HERE!

We can’t wait, either! Stay tuned, friends…