We, my associates, have dragons mature timber at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!!!! In a very unprecedented transfer, Walt Disney World has reversed its decades-long strict “no shade” coverage and is within the technique of planting timber. Grand, wonderful timber! Right here’s the most recent have a look at development progress on the new-look Walt Disney Studios Lot land (space? miniland?), with a Salute to All Building Progress, However Principally Mature Tree-Planting.

In case you missed it, Animation Courtyard is presently being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot at Hollywood Studios. The most important change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing is changing Star Wars Launch Bay, and can home an all-new household expertise, “The Magic of Disney Animation.”

The Walt Disney Studios Lot and “The Magic of Disney Animation” will open someday in Summer season 2026. The present courtyard, minus the Little Mermaid musical, all closed late final September. Character meet & greets have been relocated across the park to accommodate the closure.

Building crews have been exhausting at work on Animation Courtyard within the months because it closed. The most important seen modifications are pavement alternative and new hardscape work so as to add extra inexperienced areas for play and leisure, in addition to the transformation of Star Wars Launch Bay into the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing. With that, a large Sorcerer Mickey hat ought to quickly be added–as mentioned under, permits have been simply filed for that yesterday!

Now let’s flip to the most recent development progress, as there are some dramatic developments for dendrophiles! As at all times, All aerial photographs courtesy of theme park eye within the sky bioreconstruct, a good friend of the positioning who graciously supplied these demolition photographs & video:

The obvious progress is the planting of latest timber within the new central courtyard house. And we’re not speaking about saplings right here. A number of, majestic mature timber stand proudly rather than what was as soon as a sea of pavement. Gone are the useless mall vibes and concrete wasteland aesthetic, changed by a greener and extra lush surroundings. Like that of the particular studio lot in Burbank, California.

Chances are you’ll assume the above is hyperbole, or the standard feigned pleasure of a blogger with nothing higher to speak about. Like 2012’s notorious Fantasmic Benchgate yet again (IYKYK). I promise, it isn’t. This truly is thrilling information for enjoyers of theme parks…as parks.

Maybe you’ve by no means spent any time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios within the months of Could via September. Possibly you’ve by no means walked from the previous Animation Courtyard via Toy Story Land and into Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in the summertime solar and triple-digit appears like temperatures with out encountering even one (1) mature tree. You haven’t managed to get sunburnt via your shirt (how does that even work?!), together with your dorky bucket hat being no match for the Florida climate.

Aerial video of timber not too long ago added for the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. pic.twitter.com/mpGD5QBmVc

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) January 30, 2026

The shortage of extra mature timber, shade, and canopy from rain is working criticism this web site has had in the direction of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, particularly, however different parks as nicely. Our evaluate of Epic Universe shared comparable sentiment; it looks like most main tasks solely plant saplings. Mature timber are costly.

I’m curious as to what led to Walt Disney World blowing its finances on timber? Or possibly they didn’t, and these timber have been transplanted from the Rivers of America or different development websites round Walt Disney World. I don’t know the very first thing about timber (besides that I like them), so I don’t understand how expensive this course of can be versus buying new mature timber. Both means, I’m joyful about this terrific tree information.

I’m additionally hoping this new central courtyard is open as a play space and isn’t blocked off by benches. (The idea artwork is unclear.) Both means, it’ll be an incredible asset. As a solo visitor, I take pleasure in sitting within the shade. As a mother or father, one in every of my high Disney “sights” is presently the dreaming tree space in Toontown at Disneyland. It’s not possible to overstate how a lot youngsters love stuff like this, even when it’s hardly distinctive to theme parks, and DHS may actually use extra areas for play.

Past the planting of latest mature timber, groundwork stays ongoing. Crews way back accomplished removing of the hardscape, with infrastructure prep now being ongoing. Quickly we should always begin to see new pathways, planters, and different landscaping components take form.

The one different actual latest improvement is that the sounstages have been receiving recent coats of paint. The exteriors now incorporates a two-tone beige colour scheme. This seems good; it’s not too muted and evokes the actual lot in Burbank. You may even say that the nice and cozy, earthy colours complement the mature timber fairly properly, and can make this an much more welcoming house. (Okay, now that is perhaps hyperbole.)

Together with this, Walt Disney Imagineering simply filed a brand new Discover of Graduation development allow itemizing Design Communications Ltd. as contractor. The outline of the work is solely “set up signage” at an tackle corresponding with the Animation Constructing at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We assume that is for the Sorcerer Mickey hat that’ll high the entrance entrance, which would be the main visible icon that pulls friends into this land.

All in all, the Walt Disney Studios Lot is shaping as much as be a formidable providing. It virtually feels tailored to my households tastes: timber, benches, coloring, and the Sizzling Canine Tune. What was as soon as the worst land in all of Walt Disney World (after Dino-Rama closed), will quickly develop into the world the place we spend essentially the most time at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. And that’s not even a slight exaggeration.

Walt Disney Studios Lot Opens in Summer season 2026

Walt Disney World beforehand introduced that the brand new Walt Disney Studios Lot will open in Summer season 2026. This implies the land/space/miniland itself, together with these terrific timber. We count on this to occur round Could 26, 2026, which is the kickoff to this 12 months’s Cool Child Summer season, however an official date has not but been introduced.

Additionally anticipated to debut together with the timber in Summer season 2026 is “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Dwell!” This dance occasion options Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse embarking on a street journey to seek out a few of their greatest friends – Goofy, Daisy and Pluto – for the occasion. This present is presently quickly at DCA, and shortly friends will be capable to be a part of the enjoyable within the newly reimagined Walt Disney Studios space at Walt Disney World.

As somebody who has skilled “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Dwell!” dozens of instances, it’s truly fairly good. Higher than it has any proper to be, fairly truthfully. The one draw back is that it ends (spoiler alert) with an abridged model of the Sizzling Canine Tune, when actually that must be performed on loop. (Talking of which, hopefully it is a part of the BGM loop for the Walt Disney Studios Lot.)

Later in Summer season 2026, “The Magic of Disney Animation” will invite friends to step contained in the world of Walt Disney Animation Studios at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. This would be the constructing itself, which can comprise a number of choices–as mentioned under.

The Magic of Disney Animation Particulars

“The Magic of Disney Animation” begins because the animators have briefly stepped away, however the constructing continues to be buzzing with exercise because the characters have come to life and so they’re able to play. Friends will work together with and discover foolish takes on the enduring Disney Animation headquarters, together with the various completely different studio departments.

You’ll see portraits come to life earlier than your eyes identical to they did in “As soon as Upon A Studio.” You’ll discover inspiration with a brief movie (with a twist, in fact). You’ll even pencil in a while to learn to draw your very personal character sketch.

One other addition is the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground stuffed with an outsized flower backyard with musical devices, a Mad Tea Occasion playset and a Tulgey Wooden exploration space, all impressed by the unique “Alice in Wonderland” idea artwork from Disney Legend Mary Blair. It’ll be the proper whimsical indoor play space for little ones to develop “curiouser and curiouser!”

Enterprise into “Off the Web page!,” a collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering. Right here, you’ll be able to meet characters throughout six distinctive departments from the animation studio, together with Story, Format, Hand-Drawn Animation, Pc Animation, Lighting, Results. Every house may have distinctive meet & greets, like Mulan posing with an outsized storyboard panel within the Story division, or Rapunzel surrounded by a setting impressed by the traditional multiplane digicam within the Format division.

There will even be a number of character encounters all through the new-look land, and locations to discover, play and create within the Walt Disney Studios Lot when this mini-land reopens in Summer season 2026.

The Walt Disney Studios Lot Particulars

The reimagining of Animation Courtyard will lengthen past the partitions of “The Magic of Disney Animation.” The Walt Disney Studios Lot will draw inspiration from a number of buildings discovered on the Disney campuses in Burbank, California.

Whereas exploring the studio grounds and courtyard space, households can take a break to play, chill out, or snack on tasty treats below lush timber. Be sure that to go searching, too. You by no means know who you may see taking part in within the branches, absorbing the solar or digging within the grass.

Disney Animation artists and Walt Disney Imagineers are working hand-in-hand to deliver the surprise and nostalgia of WDAS movies to the entire courtyard in new and enjoyable methods households will love.

We’re actually trying ahead to the Walt Disney Studios Lot. This new-look space seems excellent for younger households, and will certainly enchantment to us greater than anything in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (for now). It’s the park that gives the least to do for toddlers, and it will assist treatment that.

The Walt Disney Studios Lot is perhaps a stopgap, singles and doubles-style venture–but it surely has the potential to be a large enchancment over Animation Courtyard, and a real asset to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dropping the useless mall vibes of this space is a big win. Gaining an outside house with mature timber that’s truly a nice, shaded place to spend time must be a large win. Similar goes for having an space and sights that kids who’re too younger for Toy Story Land can take pleasure in.

This has the potential to be a triple. Possibly even an inside-the-park residence run that restores a sure high quality from Michael Eisner’s opening day dedication that’s been lacking for some time: “a way of thinking that exists wherever individuals dream and surprise and picture, a spot the place phantasm and actuality are fused by technological magic.” The Hollywood that by no means was — and at all times shall be. We are able to’t look forward to the Walt Disney Studios Lot to open in Summer season 2026!

Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study inns on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel have a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things you want to know!

YOUR THOUGHTS

Enthusiastic about these majestic mature timber coming to DHS?! Optimistic in regards to the Summer season 2026 opening timeline? What do you consider Animation Courtyard being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Wanting ahead to an all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Every other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!