Disney’s Hollywood Studios feels like it’s on the edge of another major reset. The park has spent years swapping experiences, tightening its lineup around popular franchises, and turning whole sections into immersive worlds.
Now Disney is preparing a new round of additions that will reshape the park in a way guests can’t ignore. The changes won’t just add more to do. They will change what the park represents.
The Current Hollywood Studios Lineup Sets the Expectations
It’s easy to see why Hollywood Studios stays so crowded.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance delivers a cinematic, multi-part experience that still drives huge wait times. Slinky Dog Dash continues to hold Toy Story Land together as its main draw, and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror still stands as one of the most recognizable attractions in Walt Disney World.
These headliners don’t just fill the park. They define it, which makes the next steps even more noticeable.
The Park Has Always Been a Work in Progress
Hollywood Studios opened in 1989 with a different purpose. It wasn’t built as a thrill-heavy park. It functioned as a working production studio where guests could tour backlot spaces and watch animation being created.
Over time, that identity faded as tours and soundstages disappeared, and immersive lands moved in. Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge changed how people experienced the park, and now another transformation is coming fast.
Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Enters Its Next Era
One of the most dramatic changes involves Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster. After decades with Aerosmith, the attraction is officially transitioning to a Muppets theme. Aerosmith’s final performances are scheduled for March 2026, and that timing marks a clear endpoint for a ride that has long been a Hollywood Studios staple.
Disney will keep the high-speed launch and inversions, but the music, pre-show, and overall tone will shift toward The Muppets. That changes the attraction’s identity from a real-world rock concert vibe to a character-driven experience.
Hollywood Studios Adds Something Specifically for Preschoolers
While the park keeps building around major franchises, Disney is also widening the age range of what “must-do” can mean here. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live arrives this summer, and it’s designed for younger kids who may not care about thrill rides.
The show will feature bright sets, interactive moments, and Mickey and friends in their Clubhouse outfits. That gives families a new option that feels tailored to them, not squeezed in.
Animation Courtyard Gets a New Focus
Another big update hits Animation Courtyard in summer 2026. Magic of Disney Animation will take over the space, focusing on Disney animation history through interactive exhibits, character moments, and behind-the-scenes storytelling.
It won’t function as a working studio, but it will reconnect the park to the idea of creativity and production, even as the park continues leaning into IP worlds.
Smugglers Run Keeps Up with What Fans Watch
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is also evolving. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is preparing for a significant update tied to The Mandalorian & Grogu (2026).
Disney has confirmed a new mission that brings in characters from the expanding Star Wars universe, giving guests a new reason to step back into the cockpit. That kind of update helps the attraction feel current rather than locked in time.
Monstropolis Changes the Map
The permanently closed Muppets Courtyard will also take on an entirely new life. Disney is building Monstropolis, inspired by Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. Guests can expect immersive theming, character encounters, and a suspended-door coaster inspired by the door vault scene. That replacement will reshape the feel of that corner of the park in a big way.
Exciting Changes, Even If the Theme Keeps Shifting
All of these updates push Hollywood Studios further away from “Hollywood” and “movie production” theming. The park is becoming a collection of worlds built around familiar characters.
That shift may not fit the original concept, but it does create a lineup that feels modern and offers plenty of options. If Disney delivers on these plans, Hollywood Studios will feel different, but also newly energized.
