A large section of Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to reopen after months of construction, closures, and major changes tied to the future of the park. Guests have watched walls expand, familiar offerings disappear, and one longtime Star Wars location vanish permanently.
Now, Disney is only days away from opening the first pieces of what's to come.
May 26 marks the start of a major expansion, but that project is only one part of a much larger transformation underway throughout Hollywood Studios.
Disney Is Reworking Multiple Areas at Once
Hollywood Studios feels very different compared to just a few years ago.
Disney is already preparing to launch a new mission aboard Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run beginning May 22. The updated experience draws inspiration from The Mandalorian and Grogu and arrives as Disney continues pushing Star Wars back toward theatrical storytelling.
At the same time, Disney fans are also preparing for Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets. Annual Passholder previews begin May 21 ahead of the attraction’s official opening later this month. Disney replaced Aerosmith with Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem as part of a major overhaul to one of Hollywood Studios’ signature thrill rides.
Construction crews are also continuing work on the future Monsters, Inc. land, replacing Muppets Courtyard. Disney already closed MuppetVision 3D and surrounding locations to begin work on Monstropolis, which will eventually include a suspended coaster inspired by the famous door vault chase from Monsters, Inc.
While all of that grabs attention, another massive project is moving forward nearby.
Disney Closed a Major Star Wars Location
Star Wars: Launch Bay permanently closed on September 24, 2025.
For years, the attraction gave guests a place to meet characters, browse props and costumes, and experience a more museum-style version of Star Wars inside Hollywood Studios. Before Galaxy’s Edge existed, it acted as the center of Disney’s Star Wars presence at the park.
But once Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, Launch Bay slowly became less important to Disney’s long-term plans.
Disney eventually cleared the space alongside Animation Courtyard as part of a greater reimagining effort. The closure of Animation Courtyard itself also marked the end of a major piece of Hollywood Studios history that dated back decades.
Instead of rebuilding another franchise-focused area, Disney is now shifting toward something broader.
A New Animation-Focused Area Debuts
Disney calls the reimagined section The Walt Disney Studios.
The area aims to recreate the atmosphere of a functioning animation studio while offering more interactive experiences for families. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! will officially open on May 26 as one of the first major additions to the space.
The show replaces Disney Jr. Play and Dance! and gives younger guests a refreshed entertainment offering featuring Mickey and friends.
Disney also refreshed pathways and surrounding elements throughout the area as part of the overhaul.
Later this summer, the former Launch Bay building will reopen as The Magic of Disney Animation.
The Former Launch Bay Building Gets a New Identity
Disney says The Magic of Disney Animation will focus heavily on creativity and hands-on play.
Guests will explore different animation “departments,” interact with exhibits, learn drawing techniques, and encounter Disney characters throughout the experience. The building will also feature the return of the Sorcerer Mickey hat atop the structure.
One of the largest additions inside will be Drawn to Wonderland, a playground inspired by Disney Legend Mary Blair’s original Alice in Wonderland artwork. Disney confirmed the space will include oversized gardens, musical elements, and themed play environments for younger children.
By the time the project fully opens later this summer, the former Star Wars: Launch Bay area may barely resemble the version Hollywood Studios fans knew for years.
Hollywood Studios is entering a completely different era, and the changes are only getting bigger from here. Between new attractions, major rethemes, and entire lands disappearing, the park guests see by the end of 2026 may barely resemble the version that existed just a few years ago.
