There’s a little bit of nostalgia and a lot of curiosity building over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as Disney begins to reveal what’s next for Animation Courtyard.
Guests visiting the park can now spot something that longtime fans will recognize right away – the Sorcerer Mickey hat has made its return. While this isn’t the massive icon that once stood at the center of the park, seeing it again in any form is enough to get people talking. It’s the first real visual clue that the reimagined Animation Courtyard is starting to come together.
And it’s not the only update.
Disney also shared a behind-the-scenes look at a new detail being added to the area: character handprints and footprints, inspired by the famous displays at the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The video shows these components being installed, giving the space a more interactive kind of feel.
How fun to snap a photo with your favorite character’s handprints, footprints, and signatures in some cases! I’m envisioning all the ways guests will be able to add more personality to their autograph books.
The refreshed Animation Courtyard is set to officially reopen on May 26, 2026. That date marks the first phase of the updated space, with more to come later in the year.
One of the biggest additions still on the way is “The Magic of Disney Animation,” a new experience scheduled to debut in late summer 2026. Disney has shared that the experience draws inspiration from the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, and the Emmy award-winning and heartwarming short film “Once Upon a Studio,” where guests will step into a whimsical twist on the real-life studio building, but this time, when the animators are away, the characters come out to play! The space celebrates the art and history of animation.
For now, what we’re seeing is a mix of old and new. Familiar elements like the Sorcerer hat are being brought back in a different way, while new details like the handprints are helping shape what this space will become.
It’s still early, but if this first look is any indication, Animation Courtyard is heading toward something that feels both fresh and rooted in Disney’s storytelling past.
