DISNEY fans had a bittersweet week after an iconic park fixture was torn down, seemingly without warning.
The structure was removed to clear space for a Magic of Disney Animation experience coming in 2026 to replace Star Wars: Launch Bay.
The Hollywood Studios’ archway, which sits at the entrance of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida and welcomes guests into the Animation Courtyard, has been demolished after 35 years.
The large, sweeping archway first opened when the park launched as Disney MGM Studios back in 1989, which was renamed “Disney’s Hollywood Studios” in 2008.
A photo of the empty space where the archway once stood was shared by a user on X over the weekend.
“Truly the end of an era. With the loss of the archway, yet another piece of the Studios aspect of the park is no more,” one user wrote in the comments.
“Rip to one of the few remaining pieces left of MGM Studios,” another wrote.
“Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ archway was demolished overnight after standing for over 36 years,” Drew Smith, known as @DrewDisneyDude on X, shared on social media.
“That’s a wrap,” he said.
For decades, the archway served as a visual cue for the original studio lot theme, according to the Disney Tourist Blog.
Crews worked quickly overnight, with the archway gone by morning and leaving behind exposed steel, wires, and infrastructure where there was once ornate carvings and signage.
The light-up Disney’s Hollywood Studios sign on the arch was removed as well, with portions of the panels gone or covered.
The construction fence went up immediately after demolition began, according to WDW News Today.
The overnight teardown is tied to a major redesign of the area, as reported by the Daily Mail.
The archway’s demolition is part of the construction of a new experience called The Magic of Disney Animation, which will replace the Star Wars: Launch Bay.
The Launch Bay closed on September 25 along with the Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! to clear space for the new installation.
Big changes at Disney World
- Splash Mountain will be re-themed as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
- Star Wars: Launch Bay will be replaced by The Magic of Disney Animation.
- Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Play & Dance! will close, September 25 2025.
- New Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure show will stay open.
Disney described the new attraction as “a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences,” in a press release from July.
The company said it will “bring the wonder of animation to life like never before.”
Taking inspiration from Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, the reimagined building will feature a giant Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat on top mirroring the real-life Roy E. Disney Animation Building.
“Our story in this newly reimagined space begins as the animators have temporarily stepped away … but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play,” the press release read.
Inside, visitors will explore a whimsical take on Disney Animation headquarters, filled with themed departments, living portraits, and hands-on fun – parkgoers can even learn “how to draw [their] very own character sketch.”
Younger guests will have their own Drawn to Wonderland playground, described as an oversized flower garden with musical instruments.
It will also include a Mad Tea Party playset and a Tulgey Wood exploration area inspired by Alice in Wonderland concept art.
The entire courtyard will be reimagined to resemble the real Walt Disney Studios in California.
That includes whimsical indoor play areas, new character meet-and-greets, and interactive show zones.
The Magic of Disney Animation is set to open in 2026.
In the meantime, the new Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure will stay open nearby.
