Disney’s Hollywood Studios will open a new outdoor area called The Walt Disney Studios on May 26, 2026, Disney Parks Blog announced Wednesday. The refreshed courtyard is designed to evoke the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank and will sit around the future home of The Magic of Disney Animation.
The May 26 debut gives guests the first piece of the larger animation expansion before the indoor Magic of Disney Animation experience opens in late summer 2026. Disney said the courtyard will include studio-inspired architecture, a version of the Studio Theater that continues to house The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure, and a nearby soundstage for Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!
What opens May 26 at Hollywood Studios
The Walt Disney Studios courtyard is the first dated piece of the project. Disney describes it as a relaxed, park-like space for families, with details inspired by the company’s California studio lot. The area also keeps The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure in the Studio Theater while adding Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! nearby.
Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is inspired by Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+. In the show, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse lead a musical search for their friends before Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Pluto join the celebration.
The Magic of Disney Animation opens later in summer 2026
The larger indoor experience, The Magic of Disney Animation, is scheduled for late summer 2026 in the former Star Wars: Launch Bay location. Disney said the building will be topped with Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat and styled after the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank.
Inside, guests will explore interactive studio departments, see portraits come to life, watch a short film with a twist, learn to draw character sketches, and meet Disney Animation characters. Disney specifically named character greeting spaces tied to Mulan, Rapunzel, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald and Daisy, Goofy, and Stitch.
Olaf Draws and Off the Page are part of the lineup
The experience will include Olaf Draws!, a new Animation Academy-style offering hosted by an Audio-Animatronics Olaf. Guests will sit in a reimagined animator’s studio and learn to draw with Frozen-inspired details throughout the space.
Another area, Off the Page!, will focus on character greetings and the animation process. Disney said the spaces are designed to show parts of the studio pipeline, including Story, Layout, Hand-Drawn Animation, CG Animation, Lighting, and Effects.
The experience will also include Drawn to Wonderland, an indoor playground for younger guests with an oversized flower garden, musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area inspired by Mary Blair’s original Alice in Wonderland concept art.
Shark Take: This is more than a cosmetic courtyard update. Disney is using the May 26 opening to start repositioning the former Animation Courtyard as a family-focused Disney Animation hub, with the bigger indoor experience still to come in late summer 2026.
Related Articles
- Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live Opens May 26
- Disney Parks Shows Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat Installed at Hollywood Studios
- Walt Disney World Adds Cool KIDS’ SUMMER Snacks Starting May 26
Source: Disney Parks Blog
Discover more from Theme Park Shark
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
