Guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios can once again settle in outside The Hollywood Brown Derby, but the familiar lounge looks a little different after spending most of the summer behind construction walls.
The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge has officially reopened following more than two months of work. Disney closed the outdoor area in late June, and what initially looked like another construction project has resulted in a much more protected outdoor dining space.
Instead of bringing back the previous setup unchanged, Disney added a large overhang covering the patio, ceiling fans, decorative lighting, and refreshed seating.
For guests who enjoy eating outside but aren’t particularly interested in battling the Florida sun or an unexpected afternoon rainstorm, the changes could make a big difference.
Disney Spent the Summer Transforming the Patio
Work started on June 29, when Disney closed the outdoor lounge and moved its walk-up bar operation to the former Starring Rolls location.
It didn’t take long for clues about the project to appear.
By July 17, crews had installed support columns and concrete footings around the patio. Those additions made it increasingly clear that something substantial would eventually cover the outdoor dining area.
Construction continued through August.
By September 1, guests walking past The Hollywood Brown Derby could see that the project was nearing completion. Disney had installed the new awning, ceiling fans, and lantern fixtures, although barriers still prevented guests from entering.
Those barriers have now disappeared.
Tables have returned to the patio, and guests are officially dining outside again.
A New Awning Changes the Entire Space
The biggest addition is the red awning stretching over the seating area.
It matches the canopy near The Hollywood Brown Derby entrance, helping the new structure fit the restaurant’s existing appearance.
More importantly, it gives guests significantly more protection from the weather.
The previous patio was much more exposed. While that could be pleasant under the right conditions, Florida weather doesn’t always cooperate.
Now, guests can sit beneath the covered area rather than spending their meal directly under the sun or worrying quite as much about an unexpected shower.
Disney also installed ceiling fans underneath the covering. Those should become particularly useful during warmer months when shade alone isn’t enough to escape Central Florida’s heat and humidity.
Decorative lantern fixtures complete the new overhead setup.
Disney Didn’t Forget the Classic Brown Derby Look
The furniture has also returned, and Disney kept the design consistent with the restaurant.
Round tables feature white tablecloths, while the seating includes a mixture of black metal chairs and red leather chairs with decorative metal frames.
Those details help the patio maintain the classic Hollywood atmosphere associated with The Hollywood Brown Derby.
Interestingly, there is still one table outside the main covered area. Guests who really want the completely open-air experience can apparently still take their chances with Florida’s weather.
The main restaurant, meanwhile, never closed during the project. Guests continued dining inside The Hollywood Brown Derby while construction crews worked on the lounge outside.
A Small Change That Could Have a Big Impact
This isn’t the type of Disney World project that comes with a grand opening ceremony or massive marketing campaign.
Still, it’s a practical improvement.
Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge already had an appealing location for guests who wanted to sit outside, enjoy something to eat or drink, and watch people move through Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Now, that experience comes with considerably more shade and weather protection.
After more than two months of construction, the lounge is finally back, and Disney has turned what was previously a more exposed patio into a covered outdoor dining area that should be easier to enjoy throughout the year.
