Disney’s Hollywood Studios Partially Closed, Guests Refused Entry To Park Area
Walt Disney World Resort guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on September 25, 2025, found themselves navigating a very different theme park landscape. Overnight, Disney cast members erected construction walls and barriers around the former Animation Courtyard, restricting access to several areas and changing how Disney Park guests could move through the space.
At D23 Expo 2024, Walt Disney Imagineering announced the creation of a new Monsters, Inc. (2001)-themed land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The new area, including the highly anticipated door roller coaster, was initially speculated to be located either in Muppets Courtyard or Animation Courtyard. However, in November 2024, it was officially confirmed that Muppet*Vision 3D and its surrounding area would close to make way for the Monsters, Inc. attraction.
However, major changes are also coming to Animation Courtyard. In July 2025, Walt Disney World Resort announced plans to transform the area into the Walt Disney Studios Lot, inspired by the Walt Disney Animation Studios campus in Burbank, California. As part of this transformation, Star Wars Launch Bay will be reimagined into the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, complete with a Sorcerer Mickey hat and a revamped version of “The Magic of Disney Animation.” A new, kid-friendly show will replace Disney Junior Play and Dance!. “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” which debuted in May, will remain open throughout construction and continue running when the Walt Disney Studios Lot opens.
As of September 24, 2025, Animation Courtyard closed its doors to Disney Park guests for the final time. By the morning of September 25, construction walls had been erected, blocking much of the area, except for the entrance to “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” The barriers are not just physical; they include helpful signage that directs guests to restrooms, provides stroller parking instructions, lists showtimes for the remaining open attractions, and displays various Disney character quotes. According to WDWNT, walkways under the iconic “Disney’s Hollywood Studios” arch are now blocked off entirely.
As reported by @laughing_place on X (formerly Twitter), guests exiting the “One Man’s Dream” short film at the Walt Disney Presents gallery must now leave through a different route. Instead of exiting through the automatic doors that once led into Animation Courtyard, they now exit back through the winding museum.
Due to the construction in Animation Courtyard, guests seeing One Man’s Dream exit back through Walt Disney Presents. #WaltDisneyWorld
Due to the construction in Animation Courtyard, guests seeing One Man’s Dream exit back through Walt Disney Presents. #WaltDisneyWorld pic.twitter.com/ls9NyE8Tz8
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughing_place) September 25, 2025
Several character meet-and-greets have been relocated as a result of the construction. Previously held at Star Wars Launch Bay, guests can now meet Chewbacca near the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and Darth Vader now greets visitors in the extended queue for Star Tours – The Adventures Continue in Echo Lake. The Star Wars Disney Visa Cardmember meet-and-greet experience has been replaced by preferred access to the Meet Olaf experience at Celebrity Spotlight, available daily between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot is set to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios sometime in 2026, though an exact grand opening date has yet to be announced. Walt Disney World Resort also hasn’t revealed when the new Monsters, Inc. land will debut.
Has construction impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
