It’s been a bittersweet yr for Walt Disney World followers and a time of transition, as we’ve needed to say some robust goodbyes forward of demolition and building for main new tasks that’ll open within the subsequent few years. A few of these have been harder than others.
For probably the most half, the closure of Animation Courtyard and Star Wars Launch Bay has been a satisfying good riddance. The ‘land’ was arguably the worst at Walt Disney World, proper up there with Chester & Hester’s Dino-Rama. That was one other satisfying good riddance that 2025 introduced, and two huge cause to look ahead to the longer term, even when there are some bittersweet components of the overhauls.
With Animation Courtyard, that’s the lack of the long-lasting Disney-MGM Studios archway. That has been a fixture of the park because it opened again in 1989, and first served as the doorway for the studios park’s thesis attraction–the multi-hour backlot tour. Clearly, quite a bit has modified since then. The archway hasn’t served its unique function or made a lot sense for greater than half of the park’s existence.
Earlier than we get too deep into this weekend’s information, let’s begin with a fast recap. Animation Courtyard is being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot at Hollywood Studios. The most important change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing is changing Star Wars Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios, and can home an all-new household expertise, “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The Walt Disney Studios Lot and “The Magic of Disney Animation” will open someday in 2026. The present courtyard, minus the Little Mermaid musical, all closed again on September twenty fifth. Character meet & greets have been relocated across the park to accommodate the closure.
Now let’s flip to the newest demolition improvement, which is that the long-lasting archway is now gone. As all the time, All aerial photographs courtesy of theme park eye within the sky bioreconstruct, a buddy of the positioning who graciously supplied these demolition photographs & video:
Probably not a lot in depth evaluation to supply right here. We knew the archway could be demolished, because it wasn’t within the new idea artwork, permits had been filed for its demolition, and so forth. So no actual shock right here. We’re happy that the work was accomplish in a single day whereas the park was closed in a single night, versus dragging out the carnage in visitor view.
Development crews have wasted no time in attending to work on Animation Courtyard within the ~3 weeks because it closed. You’ll be able to see the massive dumpsters full of junk faraway from the buildings. Notably, the Star Wars Launch Bay marquee is gone, as are awnings for character meet & greet and different facade components. Disney has additionally already repainted the dance get together area.
The most important seen work we’ll see right here is pavement alternative and new hardscape work so as to add extra inexperienced areas for play and rest, in addition to the transformation of the previous Star Wars Launch Bay facade into the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing. With that, an enormous Sorcerer Mickey hat shall be added.
RIP Disney-MGM Studios Archway
The enduring archway had been round for the reason that opening day of the Disney-MGM Studios in 1989. It was one of many few surviving remnants of the unique park, which arguably died 20 years in the past. It been limping alongside till Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land reinvented the park.
Since I’ve been a fan, this gateway has gone by way of many alternative colour and brand adjustments, but it surely’s nonetheless managed to stay round at the same time as a lot of the park has gone extinct. From that perspective alone, it is going to be missed–and its removing is bittersweet.
We’ve misplaced the Earful Tower and all the pieces else on the backlot. Grauman’s Chinese language Theater survived the alternative of Nice Film Experience, fortunately. That or Tower of Terror are most likely the park’s visible ‘icon’ now, however this archway was a detailed second for a lot of followers. I’ve numerous household photographs from through the years with this serving because the backdrop.
Dropping the archway does really feel like the top of an period, and I’m considerably unhappy to see it go. Emphasis on considerably.
Whereas I’ve my nostalgia for the arch–as do many different longtime followers–I additionally assume a robust case might be made for ditching this. It’s an entranceway to a “land” that exists off the principle hub of the park, and feels prefer it’s virtually gating-off what needs to be a extra open and welcoming area. The archway made sense again when it was the backlot tour entrance, however that hasn’t been the case for ages.
It’s troublesome to shake the glasses of nostalgia, but when the park had been constructed right now from the bottom up, followers would view this archway as awkwardly-placed. Even when not, there’s one thing to be stated for changing this with the precise studio lot entrance signage, and letting the Sorcerer Mickey Hat be the “wienie” deeper contained in the Walt Disney Studio Lot that beckons visitors into the world.
Clearing that sightline to make this space extra inviting is a brilliant transfer, and a doubtlessly useful one. It’s stunning simply how lifeless Animation Courtyard has felt through the years regardless of being proper there within the dead-center of the park.
Though the removing of the archway does really feel symbolically-significant for the demise of the Disney-MGM Studios, the substance is what issues extra. Not solely that, however the demise of the Disney-MGM Studios occurred ages in the past. That is only a small nail in a coffin that had way back been sealed.
Extra importantly, “The Magic of Disney Animation” is a return-to-form and the primary “studios park” change at DHS in a very long time. It’s ironic that we’re getting this whereas dropping the archway, but it surely’s a change that is sensible.
In brief, it’s doable to be each unhappy concerning the lack of the archway given its historic significance, whereas additionally acknowledging that it ought to’ve been eliminated years in the past. Walt Disney World nostalgia and sentimentality is a difficult factor, however I’m extremely optimistic concerning the general route of this new space. Simply let me mourn the previous and wax poetic concerning the studios park that after was for a number of days. I’ll transfer on fast.
Animation Courtyard Reimagining
In 2026, “The Magic of Disney Animation” will return to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Topping the constructing shall be Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat, which is rather like the true constructing in California.
“The Magic of Disney Animation” begins because the animators have briefly stepped away, however the constructing continues to be buzzing with exercise because the characters have come to life and so they’re able to play. Company will work together with and discover foolish takes on the long-lasting Disney Animation headquarters, together with the numerous totally different studio departments.
You’ll see portraits come to life earlier than your eyes identical to they did in “As soon as Upon A Studio.” You’ll discover inspiration with a brief movie (with a twist, after all). You’ll even pencil in a while to discover ways to draw your very personal character sketch.
One other addition is the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground full of an outsized flower backyard with musical devices, a Mad Tea Get together playset and a Tulgey Wooden exploration space, all impressed by the unique “Alice in Wonderland” idea artwork from Disney Legend Mary Blair. It’ll be the proper whimsical indoor play space for little ones to develop “curiouser and curiouser!”
There can even be a lot of character meet & greet experiences, and locations to discover and create within the newly-reimagined Walt Disney Studios Lot. There shall be loads of play alternatives for households when this mini-land reopens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026.
This all sounds much like the momentary experiences over the past a number of months throughout “Cool Child Summer season.” That occasion was seemingly a proof of idea, and that is that sort of expertise realized in fuller kind with everlasting venues and precise high-quality Imagineering and placemaking.
The reimagining of Animation Courtyard will prolong far past the partitions of “The Magic of Disney Animation.” What’s at the moment the Animation Courtyard shall be reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios Lot. The brand new-look land will draw inspiration from a number of buildings discovered on the Disney campuses in Burbank, California.
This particular nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot contains the Florida model of the Studio Theater, which is able to proceed to deal with “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Journey.” Over on the soundstage, you’ll discover a recent Disney Jr. present.
Whereas exploring the studio grounds and courtyard space, households can take a break to play, calm down, or snack on tasty treats underneath lush timber. And ensure to go searching, too. You by no means know who you may see enjoying within the branches, absorbing the solar or digging within the grass.
Disney Animation artists and Walt Disney Imagineers are working hand-in-hand to convey the marvel and nostalgia of Disney Animation movies to the entire courtyard in new and immersive methods households will love.
As famous above, “The Magic of Disney Animation” and the Walt Disney Studios Lot will open someday in 2026.
Walt Disney World has not supplied a selected opening date or perhaps a season. One factor to notice is that they’ve introduced Cool Child Summer season will return in 2026. Provided that, it’s doable there’s a way of urgency to have this undertaking completed by Memorial Day 2026.
The outside hardscape may definitely be completed by then. Given how rapidly crews have already moved to demolish the outdated Animation Courtyard, it’s conceivable that exterior work may very well be carried out by Winter 2026, if Disney so desired. That’s only a portion of the undertaking, although.
Then there’s the “Magic of Disney Animation.” That is an attraction that already existed earlier than; the area contained in the constructing was flippantly retrofit for Star Wars Launch Bay, so it’s doable they might go in there fairly rapidly and restore the outdated expertise.
That is the kind of undertaking with a variety of prospects. It is perhaps an extremely bold plan to breathe new life into Animation Courtyard for many years to return or a “low dough” undertaking aimed as providing a stop-gap till greater image plans for this space are able to be initiated within the 2030s.
This undertaking is perhaps completed by Spring 2026, or it would battle to be carried out by Christmas 2026. Nobody has any clue at this level, so it’s foolish to attempt to predict something. My guess is that Memorial Day weekend is the goal. That’s when Cool Child Summer season kicked off this yr, and we might anticipate the Walt Disney Studios Lot to be a centerpiece of that occasion in 2026 if in any respect doable.
This is perhaps a stopgap, singles and doubles-style undertaking–but it surely has the potential to be a large enchancment over Animation Courtyard, and a real asset to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dropping the lifeless mall vibes of this space is a big win. Gaining an outside area that’s really a pleasing, shaded place to spend time could be a large win.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot has the potential to be a triple. Possibly even an inside-the-park dwelling run that restores a sure high quality from Michael Eisner’s opening day dedication that’s been lacking for some time: “a way of thinking that exists wherever folks dream and marvel and picture, a spot the place phantasm and actuality are fused by technological magic.” The Hollywood that by no means was — and all the time shall be.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Is it the ‘finish of an period’ for DHS with the archway demolished? Or did that period finish twenty years in the past? What do you concentrate on Animation Courtyard being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Trying ahead to an all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Every other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
