May 10 Will Not Just Mark the End of One Hollywood Studios Experience, But Two
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is in for a major transformation, with beloved attractions making way for fresh experiences—but not without some shakeups to guest perks along the way.
Pixar Expands Its Presence at Walt Disney World
During this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) conference, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer Pete Docter took the stage alongside Walt Disney Imagineering to unveil ambitious additions to Disney’s theme parks. “Getting to know all the little details and getting those right, that’s how we build authenticity into our worlds,” Docter shared, per a Disney press release. “It really has to feel real because that’s what allows you to believe in the story.”
One of the most anticipated expansions? A first-of-its-kind Monsters, Inc.-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Imagineer Michael Hundgen detailed the innovative new ride based on the franchise’s door vault sequence, promising a groundbreaking experience for parkgoers. “We have never done anything like this before,” Hundgen said at SXSW. “It’s Disney’s first suspended coaster, it’s our first vertical lift. We’re designing this experience to be as memorable and as fun as the film itself.”
The Evolution of Hollywood Studios—and a Fantasmic! Adjustment
The Monsters, Inc. attraction was initially revealed at last year’s D23 Expo, alongside additional expansions to Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The former will welcome Cars into its lineup, replacing parts of Frontierland, while the latter will undergo a transformation as DinoLand U.S.A. makes way for the Tropical Americas, featuring Encanto and Indiana Jones.
As Disney’s Hollywood Studios prepares for these changes, significant closures have been confirmed. The Grand Avenue area, home to locations such as Muppet*Vision 3D and PizzeRizzo, will shutter on June 7, 2025. Additionally, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is set to reemerge with a new Muppets-themed storyline.
One casualty of these updates? A key perk for Fantasmic! fans. Currently, the Fantasmic! Dining Package offers guests a meal at select Hollywood Studios restaurants—including 50’s Prime Time Cafe, Hollywood & Vine, Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant, The Hollywood Brown Derby, and Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano—along with reserved seating for the beloved nighttime spectacular.
However, with Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano closing its doors on May 10, 2025, guests will lose one dining package option. As the restaurant’s final months approach, demand for reservations is expected to surge—not just from Fantasmic! attendees but from guests eager to enjoy a last meal at the location. This shift will likely drive up demand at the four remaining participating venues.
More Entertainment Arrives at Hollywood Studios
While one offering is set to change, new entertainment is on the horizon. Summer 2025 will see the debut of two major additions to the park’s live show lineup: Disney Villains: Unfairly Ever After, taking over Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy, and The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, bringing the undersea tale to life in a fresh stage production.
A New Chapter for Disney’s Theme Parks
From immersive Pixar attractions to reimagined experiences, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is embracing a new era of entertainment. However, with these updates come adjustments, and Fantasmic! fans will need to plan accordingly as one dining package location prepares to close its doors.
How do you feel about the changes coming to Walt Disney World? Let us know in the comments!
I hope the MONSTER’S INC ride will be built for real people, not emaciated survivors of a concentration camp. Too many of the ‘new’ experiences are being designed for people other than ‘real’ people like high school and college football linemen nd plus size older people. Most of us are not Tinkerbell look-a-likes and we never were.