DHS Disney Animation-Inspired Experience Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

[Ice Gator]

I hope it’s done well and I hope it lasts. Unlike many others, I actually see this as a major win (shocking given my recent attitudes towards most projects). They needed to put the Disney Studios back in Disney Hollywood Studios, and this seems to be doing just that.

You’re not alone. I don’t see any downsides to this. It’s the first time to my knowledge that Disney brought back an attraction from the past- in a new form- but it’s actually embracing something the park was meant for- movie magic. I think it looks great too and could be a more laid back area of the park compared to the chaos of Toy Story and Star Wars.

 

[Ice Gator]

I forgot they had THREE disjointed Star Wars areas in that park.

I’m sure this will be meant as a “cost effective” kinda move that they can promote as “new”…but I think it’s a positive

This is an absolute win.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Relatively quick (~6-15 months) and budget-friendly things like shows, live entertainment, and rethemes/refurbs have been the short-term plan since 2024 to give people enough of a reason to visit for the next 3-4 years:

• Country Bear Musical Jamboree
• Villains: Unfairly Ever After
• The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure
• Disney Starlight parade
• Test Track
• (Upcoming) Buzz Lightyear upgrades
• (Upcoming) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• (Upcoming) Rock 'n' Roller Coaster re-theme

Also...

• Toy Story table service (2 years old)
• Return of HEA (2 years old)
• Journey of Water (a year and a half ago)
• Luminous (a year and a half old)
• GEO-82 Lounge
• DVC McKim Lounge
• (Upcoming, Winter 2025) Tree of Life: Zootopia: Better Zoogether.
• (Upcoming, Late 2025) Pirate's Lounge
• (Upcoming) Meet Bluey
• (Upcoming, May 2026) New and branching experience for Millennium Falcon ride featuring Mandalorian and Grogu
• (Upcoming, 2027) Tropical Americas opens

And now... the Animation Courtyard and Company refresh.

 

[mattpeto]

This type of work seems more 'permanent' than temporary.

Retheming the outside of the building, including re-adding a previous park icon, updating the courtyard, new exhibits inside, this doesn't seem like something they would want to rip apart in a couple of years again. It's not a major project by any stretch, but it seems pretty counterintutive to revist the space within a few years.

I mean 5 years from now, could they bulldoze it all and the office buildings behind it? Sure.

They have plenty of significant investments underway domestically. While this is minor compared to the others, this is a huge win for the space.

 

[Figments Friend]

umm... where's the baby?...

View attachment 872470

WHERE'S THE BABY?!?!

Pluto was hungry.
I mean, did you SEE the look on his face in the concept art…??

Guilty as … h-e-double hockey stick!

 

[MisterPenguin]

The Muppets are coming back for Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. They're also part of both sets of future plans I've heard for the flex theater next door once the Villains show's run is done. Fingers crossed.

If the Muppets get RnRC and the flex theater, then... "Follywood Hotel" otherwise known as "Tower of Terrycloth."

 

[MisterPenguin]

Pluto was hungry.
I mean, did you SEE the look on his face in the concept art…??

Guilty as … h-e-double hockey stick!

View attachment 872475

Now we know his breed: Dingo!

 

[Spash007]

Remember when Bluey was supposed to come to WDW in 2025 and this was the most logical place? Guess that got scrapped

 

[Figments Friend]

Remember when Bluey was supposed to come to WDW in 2025 and this was the most logical place? Guess that got scrapped

Don’t give up so easily.

More shall be revealed with time.

-

 

[lentesta]

Both?!

A couple of concepts were floated. Neither of them sounded great.

 

[MK-fan]

If the Muppets get RnRC and the flex theater, then... "Follywood Hotel" otherwise known as "Tower of Terrycloth."

Is the flex theater where the Mickey Mouse cartoon short is currently screening and are the muppets taking it over?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Is the flex theater where the Mickey Mouse cartoon short is currently screening and are the muppets taking it over?

The flex theater is at the end of Sunset. Where Cars was and where Villains are now.

 

[mattpeto]

The flex theater is at the end of Sunset. Where Cars was and where Villains are now.

I wonder if Villains could head to that Mickey shorts theater at some point.

 

[HMF]

Also find it cool that the Sorcerers hat is back at DHS in some way if you think about it.

Though in a place where it actually fits and in a far less obnoxious form.

 

[CJR]

Now you understand why the PLAY! Pavilion was abandoned in EPCOT.

I've argued this one a lot, but PLAY! had no real purpose in EPCOT. It would have been out of the way.

There are so many small exhibits and playgrounds (thinking Mission: SPACE, Seas, outdoor by Creations, outdoor between Imagination and Canada, plus all the Kidcot stops, Communicore stuff, etc.) around the park already for little ones to visit. The execution of Communicore Hall this summer was perfect and centrally located. PLAY would have put it all in one building, but really, it was not worth going out of the way for without a major ride or show inside.

Animation Courtyard is much more accessible at DHS, a very short walk from the park's center and the animation building is pure nostalgia that draws in all ages. Also, DHS currently lacks many of those things I mentioned that EPCOT already has.

A great use of underutilized space that they seem to struggle getting any big budget project approved for.

 

[HMF]

some of the instagram comments are killing me. people are seriously nostalgic for Launch Bay? Launch Bay?!

the temporary preview center in ANIMATION courtyard when an entire Star Wars land exists around the corner?

People do get nostalgic for very strange things sometimes.

 

[HMF]

They should do something else there.

Inside Out? Just a suggestion.

 

[Agent H]

some of the instagram comments are killing me. people are seriously nostalgic for Launch Bay? Launch Bay?!

the temporary preview center in ANIMATION courtyard when an entire Star Wars land exists around the corner?

I don’t think this is particularly surprising. There are people (a select few but people still) who are nostalgic for superstar limo. Nostalgia cares not for thematic integrity.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

including re-adding a previous park icon

It's not going to be 122ft tall as you think..More like half of the original size..

 

[HMF]

I don’t think this is particularly surprising. There are people (a select few but people still) who are nostalgic for superstar limo. Nostalgia cares not for thematic integrity.

It is kind of hard to be nostalgic for something that lasted less than a year.