Disney’s Hollywood Studios has a lot of construction projects going on right now, and even more walls are preparing to go up in a few weeks!
Animation Courtyard
Muppets Courtyard is in the process of becoming the new Monsters, Inc. Land, but Disney announced back in late July that Animation Courtyard would also be getting a massive overhaul and retheme. This is your reminder that the current version of the land will only be around until the end of September — after that, the major changes begin!
On September 25th, Animation Courtyard as a whole will close to make way for the new version of the land, coming in 2026! This includes the Disney Jr. Play and Dance! building, currently taken over by the show Get Animated for Cool Kid Summer. The show will be getting a makeover as a whole, but it’s unclear at this time if it’ll still be Disney Jr. Play and Dance! or have a new name.
Disney Junior Play and Dance
This also means that the final day to experience Star Wars: Launch Bay will be September 24th. When it closes on the 25th, it’ll begin its transformation into The Magic of Disney Animation! The building concept art has a Sorcerer Mickey hat on the top (just like the park used to have!), and will be “a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences.”
©Disney
Inside, you’ll explore the new building, which will be a take on the Disney Animation building in Anaheim, California! Disney told us that we’ll see portraits come alive before our eyes and “pencil in some time to learn to draw your very own character sketch.”
©Disney
The entire area will be heavily inspired by The Walt Disney Studios Lot in California. There will be lots of characters to meet, and families will be able to take a break to “play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees.” You’ll also want to look closely at your surroundings, because “you never know who you might see playing in the branches, soaking up the sun, or digging in the grass.”
©Disney
There’s also going to be a new Drawn to Wonderland playground. This will feature an “oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea party playset, and a Tugley Wood exploration area,” and will be based on the original Mary Blair “Alice in Wonderland” concept art!
©Disney
We’ve got good news, though — The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents will still be available during this retheme, so you’ll still have some experiences to check out over in the area. However, this means that when September 25th hits, that means TWO entire lands will be closed off in Hollywood Studios, which may affect crowd flow.
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I hope these Disney Junior Characters either return to The Echo Lake or move to a different location in the Parks as their new home. My favorite Disney Character is Doc McStuffins.