One of Disney's Hollywood Studios' most recognizable dining locations looks noticeably different this week, leaving longtime visitors doing a double take as they walk down Hollywood Boulevard.
The Hollywood Brown Derby's familiar outdoor patio has disappeared from its longtime home.
Thankfully, Disney isn't getting rid of the popular space. Instead, the patio has been temporarily relocated while the restaurant undergoes an exterior refurbishment. It's a change guests will notice immediately, but one that should only last until construction is complete.
A Familiar Sight Is Missing
Since Disney's Hollywood Studios opened in 1989, The Hollywood Brown Derby has served as one of the park's signature table-service restaurants.
Inspired by the famous Hollywood restaurant of the same name, it has become known for classics like the Cobb Salad, the grapefruit cake, and the adjacent Brown Derby Lounge.
Just as recognizable as the building itself has been the outdoor patio, where guests could enjoy drinks and small plates beneath red umbrellas while watching crowds pass by.
That patio is no longer sitting outside the restaurant's entrance.
As part of Disney's ongoing exterior refurbishment, construction walls haven't gone up, but rolling hedge planters now surround the entrance while crews work on the building. The patio has been removed from its original location to make room for the project.
The Patio Has a Temporary New Home
Guests hoping to stop by for a drink don't need to change their plans.
Rather than closing the outdoor lounge entirely, Disney has moved it to the side of the building in the space once occupied by Starring Rolls Bakery.
The temporary setup still includes the walk-up bar along with plenty of shaded seating beneath the familiar red umbrellas. While the location feels different, the overall experience remains largely unchanged.
Inside, The Hollywood Brown Derby continues operating as usual for both lunch and dinner, meaning only the patio area has been affected by construction.
No Return Date Has Been Announced
Disney has not shared how long the exterior refurbishment will take.
Once work is complete, however, the patio is expected to move back to its longtime location outside the restaurant.
For guests who have visited Hollywood Studios for decades, seeing the patio missing from its original home may feel surprising. After nearly 37 years as part of the park's streetscape, it's one of those small details many visitors recognize without even thinking about it.
Fortunately, this appears to be only a temporary relocation rather than a permanent change.
Other Projects Taking Place at Hollywood Studios
The Brown Derby refurbishment is just one of several projects reshaping Disney's Hollywood Studios. Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets officially opened in May, giving the park a refreshed headliner attraction.
Construction also continues on the future Monsters, Inc. Land in the former Muppet*Vision 3-D area, with the new land expected to open around 2028 or 2029. Meanwhile, guests can already enjoy the reopened Walt Disney Studios courtyard and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, with The Magic of Disney Animation scheduled to debut there on September 14, 2026.
