There is a version of Disney's Hollywood Studios that most longtime park visitors carry in their memory — the one defined by the Great Movie Ride, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the sense that the park was always trying to figure out what it wanted to be when it grew up.
That version of the park is long gone, replaced by something considerably more ambitious. The Hollywood Studios of 2026 is a park with a clearer identity than it has had at any point in its history, anchored by Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway, with the kind of attraction density that keeps guests busy across a full day.
And it is still actively evolving. Right now, multiple construction projects are running simultaneously across different sections of the park, delivering new experiences, improved amenities, and a full land transformation that is reshaping what the former Animation Courtyard is going to be. Guests visiting in the coming weeks and months are going to see a park that looks noticeably different from even a few months ago in specific areas, and understanding what is new, what is coming, and what is still being built is the most useful preparation any Hollywood Studios visitor can bring to their trip.
Savi's Workshop Has a New Shade Structure
The construction walls that have surrounded the Savi's Workshop courtyard in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge since September 2025 have come down, and the completed shade structure is now visible. Blog Mickey documented the reveal, noting that the entire courtyard is now open and accessible. The new canopy provides overhead coverage for guests in the area, with the project representing a coordinated effort to improve the outdoor comfort of Galaxy's Edge ahead of the Florida summer heat.
Construction Walls Removed, New Canopy Provides (Some) Shade at Savi’s Workshop in Galaxy’s Edge https://t.co/JBHWyRD01C
— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) April 6, 2026
There are a few nuances worth noting about the finished result. The new shade structure is visually cleaner than the umbrellas it replaces, but the actual coverage it provides may not exceed — and might be somewhat less than — what the previous umbrella configuration offered. The landscaping in the surrounding area is also still recovering, looking rougher than the finished theming will eventually allow. A speeder bike previously positioned in the empty space below has not yet returned to its spot.
The outdoor queue area for Savi's Workshop was not significantly affected by the construction, with the primary change being the addition of a few support poles for the new canopy. The shade improvement is part of a broader summer preparation effort at Galaxy's Edge, which also includes a new shaded seating area elsewhere in the land.
New Seating Near the Toy Story Land Galaxy's Edge Entrance
The new guest seating area near the Toy Story Land entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is complete. Blog Mickey confirmed the project's completion, noting that the work began last summer in coordination with the construction of the new Popcorn and Snacks kiosk just steps away in Toy Story Land.
The seating area features benches designed to look carved from the surrounding rock work, wooden tables and stools, light posts for evening use, and trash cans. The practical value of this addition is immediately apparent to anyone who has tried to find a place to sit near Woody's Lunch Box. The beloved quick service location in Toy Story Land has consistently been one of the park's most popular dining spots, and the surrounding seating has never matched that demand. Adding a dedicated seating area as Disney prepares to open yet another snack option nearby was a logical response to a problem that regular Hollywood Studios guests have been mentioning for years.
The Galaxy's Edge Timeline Shift at Hollywood Studios Has No Date Yet
The broader story arc for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is the timeline shift that will eventually change the character of half the land. Disney has confirmed that the Disneyland Resort version of Galaxy's Edge will make the transition on April 29, 2026, with half the land moving to a setting during the original Star Wars trilogy era. Walt Disney World has not announced an equivalent date for Hollywood Studios.
When the change does arrive, it represents a meaningful shift in who inhabits the land. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa will begin appearing alongside Chewbacca and the sequel-era characters. The First Order Cargo store is being rebranded as Black Spire Surplus, shifting its merchandise focus toward the Galactic Civil War era. Oga's Cantina will also receive minor thematic updates to align with the earlier timeline setting.
For Hollywood Studios guests specifically, the timeline shift remains a future event without a confirmed arrival date. Guests visiting before the change is announced will experience Galaxy's Edge in its current form.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot Is Being Built in Phases
The transformation of the former Animation Courtyard into the Walt Disney Studios Lot is one of the most significant changes underway at Hollywood Studios right now, and recent construction wall movements in the area have opened new guest pathways. Fresh pavement has been laid for the incoming area, and an updated wall configuration now provides a broader exit corridor from The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure show.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot is opening in phases through the summer. The outdoor courtyard area is expected to open this month or in early May, in advance of the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show debut on May 26. The former Star Wars Launch Bay building is being rethemed into The Magic of Disney Animation, with that attraction opening later in the summer. Recent work on the building's exterior has included new paint and theming stripes as the retheme progresses.
The Magic of Disney Animation will offer a full slate of experiences. Off the Page character meet and greets will place Mulan in a Story department setting and Rapunzel in a Layout department environment referencing the classic multiplane camera. Olaf Draws! brings the Frozen character to a new Animation Academy experience where guests learn character drawing. An Enchanted Art Gallery will feature Disney Animation artwork with interactive animations. The Once Upon a Studio theater will screen the Emmy Award-winning short with added in-theater effects and character appearances in surrounding artwork. And Drawn to Wonderland, a playground for young guests inspired by original Alice in Wonderland concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair, will offer an indoor play space themed around an oversized flower garden, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area.
What to Expect When You Visit
Hollywood Studios is in an active in-between phase right now. The Savi's Workshop courtyard is fully open, the new Galaxy's Edge seating area is accessible, and the Walt Disney Studios Lot courtyard is approaching completion with a near-term opening expected. The full Magic of Disney Animation experience arrives later in the summer.
The former Animation Courtyard area will look like an active construction site to guests visiting before the first phase opens. That is a normal part of the transition, and the finished result will add a meaningful new section to a park that is already one of Walt Disney World's strongest offerings.
Guests planning Hollywood Studios visits should check the current construction status before they arrive, particularly for the Animation Courtyard area. What is accessible today will be noticeably different from what is accessible in June, and knowing what phase of the opening is in effect on your specific dates helps set accurate expectations.
We are covering every phase of the Walt Disney Studios Lot opening and the Galaxy's Edge timeline shift as details are confirmed for Hollywood Studios. Our Hollywood Studios guide is updated as openings occur and construction walls move. Check it before your trip and make sure your plans reflect what is actually available when you walk through the park gates.
