Hollywood Studios is one of Walt Disney World’s most popular parks — and for good reason.
There’s a lot to see and do. But, how well do you really know each section of the park?
Yes, there’s Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, 2 of the busiest sections of Hollywood Studios, but what about the rest?
There are 9 lands of Hollywood Studios. That’s right, 9!
Each of these areas have their own special attractions, entertainment, dining, characters, and so much more.
So, let’s take a deep dive into each one and explore if you’re missing anything.
Below we explore Animation Courtyard, which has quite the range of experiences.
Even though the land is on the smaller side, you can find a lot here, like Star Wars, Disney Junior, Monsters, Inc., and a tribute to Walt Disney.
Really, this is the land to visit if you want to meet Star Wars, Disney Junior, and Monsters, Inc. characters.
With that, let’s get to all of the ins and outs of Animation Courtyard.
Overview
Location: Hollywood Studios
Restaurants: 1 Quick Service (Drink and Snack Cart)
Shops: In Character, Disney Studio Store, Launch Bay Cargo
Entertainment: Disney Junior Play and Dance!
Attractions: Star Wars Launch Bay, Star Wars Launch Bay Theater, Walt Disney Presents, One Man’s Dream
Characters: Chewbacca, BB-8, Darth Vader, Pluto, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, Doc McStuffins
Popular snacks and drinks: None
Not-to-miss: Star Wars Launch Bay, Disney Junior Play and Dance!, Walt Disney Presents, One Man’s Dream, all of the characters
Animation Courtyard Map
Dining
Animation Courtyard only has 1 form of dining – a cart with bottled beverages and ice cream.
Quick Service Restaurants
Drink and Snack Cart
You can find this cart right outside the Hollywood Studios entryway that leads into Animation Courtyard. There are bottled beverage, ice cream, fruit, and more.
Seating Areas
While Animation Courtyard doesn’t have a lot of seating, there are a few benches scattered around, including outside Star Wars: Launch Bay near the restrooms. This is a perfect spot to escape crowds and if you need coverage during rain.
Shops
Animation Courtyard has a couple shops for guests to explore, including one dedicated to nothing but Star Wars.
In Character (Temporarily Unavailable)
In Character is known for selling Disney costumes and accessories for kids. It’s currently not open. If it does reopen, it’s unclear if it will continue to sell similar merchandise or something different.
Disney Studio Store (Temporarily Unavailable)
The Disney Studio Store is usually where you can find Disney Junior souvenirs, along with Duffy the Bear items. The shop is currently closed and it’s unclear if or when it will reopen.
Launch Bay Cargo
Here, you can find a range of Star Wars items, including life-size sculptures, autographed memorabilia, high-end movie prop replicas, and print-on-demand phone cases featuring Star Wars art.
Entertainment
There are a couple forms of entertainment in Animation Courtyard. One is open, whereas the other remains closed (and it’s unclear if the show will even return).
Disney Junior Play and Dance!
Disney Junior Play and Dance! (formerly Disney Junior — Live on Stage!) is about a 25-minute show featuring Doc McStuffins, Vampirina, and Roadster Mickey.
The indoor show is a great place to cool off, let little ones burn off energy, dance, and listen to some fun tunes.
You can find daily showtimes posted in the My Disney Experience app.
The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure (Coming Fall 2024)
Important update for 2024:
In December 2023, Disney announced that a new, reimagined show will be coming to the prior home of Voyage of the Little Mermaid. The new show will be called The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and will feature “stunning new set pieces, cutting-edge effects, and a bold new design that captures Ariel’s imagination and emotions through her unique view of the world around her.”
Read more on the Disney Parks Blog.
Voyage of The Little Mermaid is a musical stage production telling the story of Ariel from the 1989 Disney film.
Right now, the show isn’t running and has been on pause since the beginning of the pandemic.
Disney has yet to officially announce the closure of Voyage of the Little Mermaid, but there have been rumors that it is permanently closed.
Currently, the building remains in place, along with signage. It’s also still listed on the park map. We will let you know if or whenever we learn more details regarding the show.
Attractions
While the following aren’t rides, these are considered Disney attractions and are great for Star Wars and Disney history fans.
Star Wars Launch Bay
While it may not be located inside Galaxy’s Edge, this entire space is dedicated to Star Wars.
You can shop, meet characters, and explore exhibits of costumes, models, concept artwork, and actual movie props. There are even authentic replicas created for the Launch Bay.
There is also a Cantina you can tour and other settings inspired by the movies.
Star Wars Launch Bay Theater (Temporarily Unavailable)
Star Wars Launch Bay Theater is located in Star Wars Launch Bay.
A short 10-minute behind-the-scenes documentary is usually shown about the new generation filmmakers crafting the future of Star Wars.
There are exclusive interviews with the directors, writers, producers, and other key players behind the beloved film series.
The film runs continuously throughout the day.
Walt Disney Presents
Walt Disney Presents is a self-guided tour showcasing the history of Walt Disney and his dream becoming a reality.
It’s like a mini-museum and definitely worth a walkthrough.
There are different multimedia elements, along with historical artifacts, costumes, photos, artwork, and more.
The attraction originally opened to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Walt’s birth in 2001. The gallery showcases his life story from small-town America to Hollywood.
One Man’s Dream
At the end of the self-guided Walt Disney Presents tour, there is a 15-minute documentary you can watch titled Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream inside The Walt Disney Theater.
It showcases the life and times of Walt Disney, with rare audio recordings, historical footage, and rarely seen home movies.
Sneak peeks of upcoming Disney or Pixar films may be offered in place of One Man’s Dream throughout the year.
Characters
There are a lot of characters you can meet in Animation Courtyard.
Star Wars Launch Bay
Inside Star Wars Launch Bay, there are 3 Star Wars characters that offer traditional character meet and greets.
These include:
Chewbacca
BB-8
And Darth Vader
Speaking of photo opportunities here, there is also a Disney Visa Cardmember Exclusive Character Experience inside Star Wars: Launch Bay, where you can meet Darth Vader, as well.
You must present a valid Disney Visa Card for entry.
You can find location and times posted in the My Disney Experience app for all characters.
There aren’t autographs here. Disney PhotoPass is only available with the Disney Visa Cardmember Character Experience, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader (the meet and greet for all guests).
Disney Junior Pals in the Animation Courtyard
The Animation Courtyard has 4 individual character meet and greets outside.
They are:
Fancy Nancy
Doc McStuffins
Vampirina
And Pluto
Meet and greet times for each character are listed in the My Disney Experience app. Each character gives autographs. PhotoPass is also available.
Activities
There aren’t a ton of activities in Animation Courtyard, except for the following.
Coin Press Machines
You can find 2 coin presses in the Animation Courtyard.
There is one outside Voyage of the Little Mermaid, where you can get pressed pennies of Disney heroines! You can pay $1.00 for a penny or $12.00 for all 10 coins.
You can find another coin press outside Star Wars: Launch Bay. These are $1.00 each or $5.00 for the complete set of 8.
Disney PhotoPass Photographer
In addition to PhotoPass photographers available with the characters in the Animation Courtyard, you can usually find one in front of the Hollywood Entry sign which leads into the land.
Don’t forget to ask if they have any fun Magic Shots!
Remember: unless you have Memory Maker, Memory Maker Day One, or a PhotoPass entitlement with your Annual Pass, you will have to pay to download or print these photos.
Restrooms
These restrooms are somewhat hidden, which makes them great as they are typically less busy. If you’re looking at Star Wars Launch Bay, they are directly to the left. There are even benches here for sitting!
Animation Courtyard Checklist
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What’s your favorite thing about Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios? Tell us in the comments!