Last Chance to Experience Hollywood Studios Location as Permanent Closure Hits
This fall, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will begin a new chapter, one that brings fresh experiences while saying farewell to long-standing favorites.
On September 25, 2025, Animation Courtyard will close permanently. The space, which has hosted Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance, will be reimagined into The Magic of Disney Animation. Today, September 24, marks the final opportunity to enjoy these experiences before they become part of the park’s history.
The new area will celebrate the art and heritage of animation. Designed to resemble the Walt Disney Studios buildings in Burbank, California, the space will feature hands-on workshops, character meet-and-greets, an indoor play area for children, and a short film. As Disney Parks Blog revealed, “The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in *Once Upon A Studio; you’ll find inspiration with a short film (with a twist, of course); and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.”
A familiar icon will also return with the debut of the new land: the Sorcerer Mickey hat, once the park’s central landmark, will now greet visitors at the entrance to the animation experience.
This transformation is part of a larger evolution of the park. Earlier in 2025, Grand Avenue closed, bringing an end to Muppet*Vision 3D and dining locations such as Mama Melrose’s Ristorante Italiano. The area is being redesigned into Monstropolis, inspired by Monsters, Inc. Guests will step into Pixar’s world with a new suspended roller coaster based on the film’s famous door sequence—the first of its kind at Walt Disney World.
Although the Muppets said goodbye to Grand Avenue, their story continues. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is set for a complete reimagining into a Muppets-themed attraction, opening in 2026. No closure date has been announced, but fans can look forward to a new chapter for the characters.
During this transition, familiar favorites like Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge are expected to see higher demand. Attractions such as Slinky Dog Dash and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance may become go-to destinations while other areas remain behind construction walls.
Across Walt Disney World, other major projects are also underway. At Magic Kingdom, work has begun on what Disney calls the park’s largest expansion to date. Piston Peak National Park, inspired by Pixar’s Cars, will replace Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America, while the “Beyond Big Thunder” expansion will focus on Disney Villains.
At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, construction began in January 2025 on the Tropical Americas project, transforming DinoLand U.S.A. into Pueblo Esperanza, a new land inspired by Encanto and Indiana Jones, opening in 2027. Meanwhile, EPCOT has recently completed its multi-year transformation with the Test Track reopening in July.
These sweeping changes reflect remarks from Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro, who said at D23 Expo 2024 that “dirt was moving” across the resort. His words are now taking shape, as new experiences emerge throughout the parks.
By fall 2025, Hollywood Studios will be deep into this transformation, and by 2026, the park will look dramatically different.
