Further changes are being made at the theme park at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in favour of new attractions called Disney Animation’s Magic, such as Star Wars alternatives.
Again, the work also features a giant magician’s hat. And the rendering provided by the company shows the removal of the archway, which is now the entrance to the region.
The park’s animated courtyard will be reimagined in a real version of Walt Disney Studios.
In the main building, we will be exploring the stupid take by interacting with the iconic Disney Animation headquarters, including many different studio departments. This time only, some of our favourite companions have created a fun adventure.” Read the official Disney Parks blog post.
The inspiration for the region comes from Once Upon a Studio, a short film in which the characters come to life after animators stepped in.
It also includes Disney legend Mary Blair’s “Alice in Wonderland” concept, character sketch lessons, and an indoor playground “drawn in Wonderland” inspired by encounters and triggers.
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The animated building has a tall Mickey magician hat (“Fantasia”) standing in front of the entrance. Disney says the façade will be “like a real California building,” but WDW enthusiasts remember the giant 122-foot sorcerer hat set up in Hollywood studios, which stood in front of the Chinese theatre building from 2001 to early 2015.
Other plans for the area appear to include relandscapes that add “green trees” to the courtyard.
This change is also a throwback to the early days of the theme park, which opened in 1989 as Disney MGM Studio. The company opened an on-site branch for Walt Disney Animation, allowing park visitors to peer into real-life animators. The films “Mulan” and “Lilo & Stitch” were completed there, but in 2004 work was stopped at the park.
The final day of the current version of Animation Courtyard and Disney Junior’s Play and Dance! It will be September 24th. Visitors will continue to have access to The Little Mermaid – Musical Adventure show and Walt Disney Prosents.
The new animation activity is expected to debut in 2026, Disney says.
Other construction projects are underway at the park. MuppetVision 3-D and restaurant recently created a land space inspired by “Monsters, Inc.”, with Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster being reimagined and the theme of Muppet can be incorporated. Hollywood Studios recently added a stage show called “Disney Villains: Unfair After.”
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Original issue: July 22, 2025, 11:27am EDT
