Disney Files New Construction Permit for Signage at Animation Courtyard

Disney Files Permit for Signage in Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios

Another small but telling piece of the puzzle has popped up at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, as Disney Imagineering has officially filed a new permit for signage at Animation Courtyard. The Notice of Commencement, filed on January 30, 2026, calls for signage installation at The Magic of Disney Animation, part of the ongoing reimagining of this corner of the park. The permit is valid for one year, and while it does not specify exactly what kind of signage is coming, longtime Disney fans may already be picturing something iconic.

Related: New Permit Signals Progress on Monstropolis Dining at Hollywood Studios

Because the permit was filed directly by Imagineering, there is plenty of speculation that this could be tied to the large Sorcerer Mickey hat shown in previous concept art for The Magic of Disney Animation. Construction activity continues throughout Animation Courtyard, including newly planted trees spotted this week, adding to the sense that visible changes are ramping up as the project moves forward.

The Magic of Disney Animation originally opened with the park in 1989 and ran until 2015, when it was replaced by Star Wars: Launch Bay. Its return in 2026 is being framed as a playful, hands-on space where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore new animated experiences. The new attraction takes inspiration from Once Upon A Studio, celebrating 100 years of The Walt Disney Company and bringing animated characters into a whimsical take on the iconic animation headquarters.

Related: Your Guide to the Dreamiest 2026 Disney World Merch

This update goes beyond a single attraction, as the entire Animation Courtyard is being reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios, inspired by the real-world Burbank campus. The theater currently home to The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure will become the Studio Theater, and a fresh Disney Jr. show is also on the way to the former Disney Jr. Play and Dance! soundstage. Between new permits, construction progress, and classic concepts returning with modern twists, this area of Hollywood Studios is quietly shaping up to be something special.

For the BEST in Disney, Universal, Dollywood, and SeaWorld Theme Park News, Entertainment, Merchandise & More follow us on, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube.

Let our friends at Get Away Today help you book your next Disney or Universal Vacation. They are the preferred Travel Agency of Chip and Company and Disney Addicts, and who we use ourselves.