Construction Walls Move to Reveal a Better View of the Sorcerer Mickey Hat at Hollywood Studios

Animation Courtyard Begins Reopening as Construction Walls Come Down at Hollywood Studios

The walls are finally starting to part like a curtain call over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Animation Courtyard is beginning to step back into the spotlight. A newly reopened section near the theater for “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” is now accessible to guests, offering a first look at the refreshed space, including an up-close view of the recently installed Sorcerer Mickey Hat.

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While much of the courtyard remains blocked off, the reopened area already feels noticeably more open and polished. Fresh gray pavement stretches through the space, giving it a clean, updated look. Three new flowerbeds have also been installed near the gift shop, each currently home to a small tree that looks ready to grow into a shady future for the courtyard. For now, they are a bit minimalist, like a stage waiting for its full cast of greenery to arrive.

The columns lining this section have been repainted a bold red, matching the queue area for “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and tying the space together visually. It is a subtle but effective color cue that something new is taking shape here.

Beyond the remaining construction walls, even more changes are quietly growing. Taller trees are already visible rising above the barriers, hinting at a much shadier and more immersive environment once everything is complete. When finished, this area will officially transform into the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard, a reimagined space designed to better match the park’s evolving identity.

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Work is also continuing on the façade of the former Magic of Disney Animation building. Crews have installed curved red plywood along the entrance overhang, which will eventually be covered with themed paneling. The material is fire-retardant and serves as a base layer for future design elements. Red striping has also been added to the building, adding another splash of color to the ongoing transformation beneath the iconic Sorcerer Mickey hat.

Step by step, panel by panel, Animation Courtyard is shifting from construction zone to show-ready set. It is not fully ready for its close-up just yet, but the progress so far suggests this reimagined space is getting closer to its big premiere.

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