Big Changes at Hollywood Studios: Animation Courtyard to Become Disney Animation-Inspired Land
On August 29th through August 31st, The Walt Disney Company will host Destination D23 2025 at Walt Disney World. On those dates, Disney will confirm several exciting new experiences coming to the parks. But we got a huge surprise today.
Disney jumped the gun by revealing an entirely new experience coming to one of the parks. Soon, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will return to its origins by celebrating movie magic. Read on to learn more about the “Disney Animation-Inspired Experience” that will replace Animation Courtyard.
What’s Happening?
As D23 approaches each year, whether it’s at Disneyland or Walt Disney World, the same rumor arises. Fans speculate about what will replace Animation Courtyard, one of the worst-used spaces of any Disney theme park. Despite its central location at Hollywood Studios, Animation Courtyard has always lacked an E-ticket attraction.
That doesn’t mean the space hasn’t claimed its part of theme park history, as some fascinating stuff has happened here. For example, an animation team led by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois created the entirety of 2002’s Lilo & Stitch in plain view of park guests.
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
From the beginning, Disney intended Hollywood Studios to draw its movie fans into the experience, showing them how movie magic comes to be. Sadly, those plans collapsed early in the process. In a weird bit of movie history, when Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park opened, Disney and MGM were already suing one another.
That’s why Hollywood Studios lacked a large number of theme park attractions during its early years. So, while Animation Courtyard opened with Hollywood Studios in 1989, it’s never quite been what Disney anticipated…until now.
The official Disney Parks Blog just announced sweeping changes coming to this space. Long story short, the Animation Courtyard you’ve always known will vanish, replaced by something that sounds night and day better. Welcome to the era of the “Disney Animation-Inspired Experience.”
What’s That?
Obviously, Disney didn’t give away all the details of its next themed land yet. Instead, we received the dramatic revelation and will likely gain more context at Destination D23 in five weeks.
Still, what Disney confirmed today is enough to get all DVC members excited about the future of the park…and the future will arrive much sooner than you’d expect! This experience will open in 2026! Yes, we’re getting a quick overhaul of Animation Courtyard to make it more desirable to fans.
The Magic of Disney Animation will reinvent the space by turning it into something akin to a combination of the Roy E. Disney Animation Building and Disney’s centennial short film, Once Upon a Studio. Before we go any further, here’s a video of the Walt Disney Studios animation building:
I’ve time-stamped the video to the Sorcerer Mickey hat, which is important here. Disney has confirmed that Hollywood Studios will add its own version of this hat at The Magic of Disney Animation. As for Once Upon a Studio, you should be watching that every few months anyway. Just in case you’ve forgotten, here it is:
I didn’t time-stamp this one so that you could watch the video in its entirety, but please pay attention to the one-minute mark. That’s when Disney characters start jumping out of the pictures into the real world. Well, the new animation experience at Hollywood Studios will apparently feature this technology. It’s the core concept of this new activity.
What Will You Find at The Magic of Disney Animation?
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
According to Disney, “Our story in this newly reimagined space begins as the animators have temporarily stepped away… but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play!”
Disney promises the following experiences: “The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in “Once Upon A Studio;” you’ll find inspiration with a short film (with a twist, of course); and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.”
There will also be a “Drawn to Wonderland” play area for kids. Disney promises that kids can play in an “oversized flower garden with musical instruments.” There’s also a Mad Tea Party playset and a “Tulgey Wood exploration area.”
As a reminder, Tulgey Wood is a location from Alice in Wonderland. So, it’s an entire themed section based on the Disney animated film and the classic Lewis Carroll story. That’s not even the best part, though. During the preparations for film production, the legendary Mary Blair illustrated images for Alice in Wonderland. Disney will use those pictures as inspiration for this entire area. So, it’s like a part of Hollywood Studios honoring the artistry of Mary Blair.
What’s Closing to Make Room?
That’s only one part of this transformation, as Disney promises it will overhaul the entirety of Animation Courtyard. This section of the park will now be referred to as The Walt Disney Studios, just like in Burbank, California. Obviously, the recently opened The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure isn’t going anywhere, but Disney promises a new Disney Jr. show in 2026.
In the interim, Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! must close. You’ll have until September 25th to enjoy them, but then they’re gone forever. The Little Mermaid show will remain operational during the changes, though.
Courtesy of Disney Parks Blog
Oh, and Disney is hinting that various animated characters will randomly appear when The Magic of Disney Animation opens. I presume this means character interactions, but it’s possible that Imagineers will add a few tricks as visual Easter eggs. Once again, Disney is creating a hangout space for families at one of its theme parks. It’s also a better use of space at Hollywood Studios. That’s Disney’s philosophical change in recent years.
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