For decades, Walt Disney World has seemingly used Hollywood Studios as a testing ground for big shifts in its storytelling strategy. From the debut of Muppet*Vision 3D in the early 1990s to the arrival of Toy Story Land and Galaxy’s Edge, the park has continually reinvented itself. Now, another change is on the horizon — one that will quietly erase a piece of Star Wars history.
Disney’s relationship with Star Wars long predates its 2012 purchase of Lucasfilm. In 1987, Disneyland introduced Star Tours, a motion-simulator that placed guests in the middle of intergalactic battles. The success of that ride laid the foundation for a wave of themed expansions, from revamped attractions to fully realized lands. The galaxy far, far away has since become a cornerstone of Disney’s theme park empire.
Over two decades after its debut, Star Tours received a major upgrade in the form of Star Wars – The Adventures Continue. Featuring randomized storylines and new characters, the attraction encouraged repeat visits. Guests could encounter Coruscant or Jakku in one ride, Naboo or Hoth in the next. This replayability helped the attraction remain a favorite even as Disney prepared more ambitious projects.
The Rise of Galaxy’s Edge
In 2019, Disney’s boldest Star Wars project opened on both coasts: Galaxy’s Edge. The immersive land introduced Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, blending film-quality sets with interactive storytelling.
Fans could build custom lightsabers, taste blue milk, and step directly into a living world. With a major update coming to Smugglers Run in 2026 featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu – just in time for the first Star Wars film in years – the land remains central to Disney’s long-term plans.
Alongside those marquee additions, Disney operated smaller Star Wars offerings. At Hollywood Studios, that included Star Wars Launch Bay, a meet-and-greet space and exhibit that opened in 2015. Displaying props, costumes, and character photo opportunities, the attraction offered a quieter connection to the saga — though it never matched the spectacle of Galaxy’s Edge.
Saying Goodbye to Launch Bay
Although it gives fans a subdued way to engage with the saga, Star Wars Launch Bay falls short of the scale and immersion found elsewhere in the park. That sentiment grew more common as Hollywood Studios expanded, particularly after Disney announced the closure of Muppet*Vision 3D for a new Monsters, Inc. land, while leaving Launch Bay untouched.
Months later, Disney confirmed that Launch Bay would not survive the park’s next evolution. In July, the company announced that the exhibit, along with Disney Jr. Play and Dance! and the wider Animation Courtyard, would close at the end of its operating day on September 24.
From September 25, the entire area will be walled off to guests.
In its place, Disney plans The Walt Disney Studios Lot, scheduled to debut in 2026. Modeled after the historic Burbank campus, the project will include a refreshed version of The Magic of Disney Animation. Families can expect new character greetings, shaded walkways, snack spots, and Drawn to Wonderland, a playground inspired by Mary Blair’s concept art for Alice in Wonderland.
The Studio Theater will continue housing The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, while a nearby soundstage will welcome a new Disney Junior show. Together, these updates aim to restore some of the charm and greenery that many longtime fans say the park has been missing.
For Star Wars enthusiasts, the loss of Launch Bay may sting. Yet with Hollywood Studios already home to Galaxy’s Edge, Star Tours, and Jedi Training experiences, the saga’s presence remains secure. The departure of Launch Bay, meanwhile, clears the way for Disney to align the park more closely with its original mission: celebrating both the art of animation and the legacy of the studio itself.
Are you excited for Star Wars Launch Bay’s replacement?
