Land Changelog // updated 2026.05.26

Walt Disney Studios Courtyard

Hollywood Studios · Walt Disney World

71 changes logged13 spots trackedsince 1989

Everything that changed here

across the land, newest first
20231 change
  • UpdateDec 19, 2023at Voyage of the Little Mermaid

    Disney announced that The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure would take over the same Animation Courtyard theater, confirming that the original show would not return.

20221 change
  • Back OnlineJul 17, 2022at Star Wars Launch Bay

    Star Wars Launch Bay reopened to guests after more than two years dark, bringing back the Chewbacca, BB-8 and Darth Vader meet-and-greets.

    Attractions Magazine announced the July 17, 2022 date on June 22, 2022; Wikipedia confirms the reopening occurred.
20206 changes
  • UpdateSep 2020at Voyage of the Little Mermaid

    Attraction signage was removed from the theater in September 2020 and the show's puppets were sold, though Disney described the sign removal as temporary maintenance at the time.

    Rests on a single encyclopedia source; the puppet sale is not corroborated by contemporaneous coverage, and Disney gave no permanent-closure statement until December 2023.
  • ChangedAug 2020at Disney Jr. Play and Dance!

    The show returned to the same theater in a shorter, socially distanced form renamed Disney Junior Play and Dance!

    Extinct Disney gives August 2020 as the reopening month and TouringPlans describes the returning version as shorter, socially distanced and actor-less, so only the month is asserted. Wikipedia's articles instead carry the Dance Party! name to May 2025 and date the Play and Dance! name to September 2025.
  • Area UpdateMar 16, 2020at Star Wars Launch Bay

    Star Wars Launch Bay went dark with the rest of Walt Disney World for the COVID-19 pandemic, and its building was later repurposed as a "Relaxation Station" where guests could remove face coverings while physically distanced.

    A temporary park-wide closure, not the permanent one.
  • RefurbishmentMar 15, 2020at The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

    Voyage of The Little Mermaid gave its final performance and closed in the March 2020 park shutdown; the long-running blacklight show never reopened and was confirmed permanently retired.

  • Area UpdateMar 15, 2020at Disney Jr. Play and Dance!

    The show gave its last performance under the Disney Junior Dance Party! name when Walt Disney World closed for the COVID-19 pandemic.

    TouringPlans records March 15, 2020 as the final day of operation under that name. Wikipedia's park attraction list treats December 2018 to May 2025 as one continuous run and does not mark the pandemic break.
  • RefurbishmentMar 15, 2020at Voyage of the Little Mermaid

    The show gave its final performance on March 15, 2020, the last operating day before Walt Disney World closed for the COVID-19 pandemic, and it never reopened.

20185 changes
  • NewDec 22, 2018at Disney Jr. Play and Dance!

    Disney Junior Dance Party! opened in the Soundstage Theater (Soundstage 5) in Animation Courtyard, taking over from Disney Junior - Live on Stage!, which had closed on September 1, 2018.

    Attractions Magazine reported on December 21, 2018 that the show would debut the following day. The show ran about 20 minutes with the audience seated on the floor so they could get up and dance.
  • UpdateDec 22, 2018at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    Disney Junior Dance Party! debuted in the same Soundstage Theater, taking over the site with an interactive dance-party format instead of the puppet stage show.

    Attractions Magazine reported on December 21, 2018 that the show would debut the following day. The successor was later renamed Disney Jr. Play and Dance! and held the theater until September 2025.
  • RefurbishmentSep 1, 2018at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    Disney Junior - Live on Stage! gave its final performance and closed permanently after nearly 17 years in the Soundstage Theater.

    Wikipedia gives September 1, 2018 in both the attraction article and the park attraction list, while Disney's June 2018 announcement had named September 2, 2018 as the last day, so the day is corroborated only to within one day.
  • UpdateJun 1, 2018at Disney Jr. Play and Dance!

    Disney announced that Disney Junior - Live on Stage! would be replaced in fall 2018 by a puppet-free interactive concert called Disney Junior Dance Party!, hosted by the character Finn Fiesta and a DJ.

    The announcement named characters from Mickey and the Roadster Racers, Doc McStuffins, The Lion Guard and Vampirina, and described full-sized characters, bubbles, disco lighting and video screens in place of puppets.
  • UpdateJun 1, 2018at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    Disney announced that Disney Junior - Live on Stage! would close that September and be replaced later in fall 2018 by a puppet-free show, Disney Junior Dance Party!, hosted by the character Finn Fiesta and a DJ.

    The June 1, 2018 announcement stated the show closes on September 2, 2018 and described the successor as an interactive concert with full-sized characters rather than puppets.
20173 changes
  • ChangedSep 8, 2017at Walt Disney Presents

    Reimagined and renamed 'Walt Disney Presents,' converting part of the gallery into a preview center with models and concept art for upcoming projects including Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, Toy Story Land, and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway.

    Walt Disney: One Man's Dream→Walt Disney Presents
  • Area UpdateSep 2017at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    The building stood closed again after The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow ended on November 6, 2014, and was demolished in September 2017 for the entrance corridor to Toy Story Land.

    Yesterland is the only source that dates the demolition to September 2017; Wikipedia confirms the building was demolished for the Toy Story Land entrance but gives no date.
  • Area UpdateSep 2017at The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

    The building stood empty until September 2017, when it was demolished for the entrance corridor to Toy Story Land, which opened on June 30, 2018.

    Yesterland dates the demolition to September 2017; Wikipedia confirms the building came down for the Toy Story Land entrance but gives no date. The footprint became a walkway, so no attraction succeeded it.
20161 change
  • ChangedDec 2016at Star Wars Launch Bay

    A gallery of costumes and props from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was added in the final room before the gift shop, and the film in the Launch Bay Theater was updated to focus more on that movie.

    Reported by Attractions Magazine on December 5, 2016, timed to the film's release that month; the exact install date is not given.
20151 change
  • NewDec 2015at Star Wars Launch Bay

    Star Wars Launch Bay opened in Animation Courtyard inside the building vacated by The Magic of Disney Animation, debuting alongside Star Wars: Path of the Jedi and Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple.

    Day-level date is contested: Attractions Magazine's report of December 1, 2015 says the new Star Wars experiences 'have debuted at the park today', while Wikipedia's infobox lists December 4, 2015. Held at month precision rather than picking one.
20141 change
  • RefurbishmentNov 6, 2014at The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

    The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow closed permanently on November 6, 2014, after less than two years of operation.

    Wikipedia and Yesterland both give November 6, 2014; a WDWMagic report of October 24, 2014 had announced the early-November closing in advance.
20131 change
  • ChangedFeb 15, 2013at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    The show returned from a closure that began January 13, 2013 with Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First taking the places of Handy Manny and Little Einsteins.

    The park attraction list gives the final run as February 15, 2013 to September 1, 2018, consisting of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Never Land Pirates.
20123 changes
  • UpdateDec 6, 2012at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow opened in the same Soundstage 4 space on December 6, 2012, after the building had stood empty for about fifteen months.

  • NewDec 6, 2012at The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

    The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow opened on December 6, 2012 in the Soundstage 4 building, a walk-through in which guests were recruited into Captain Jack Sparrow's crew and moved through projection-mapped scenes with reanimated skeletons, Davy Jones and the Kraken, and mermaids, ending with a high-definition Johnny Depp as Sparrow.

    Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering; a disembodied talking skull voiced by James Arnold Taylor narrated the show.
  • UpdateNov 11, 2012at The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

    Disney announced the walk-through as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow, with an opening date of December 6, 2012 in the former Journey into Narnia space.

    Attractions Magazine used the longer Pirates of the Caribbean title in its November 11, 2012 report; the show operated under the shorter name.
20113 changes
  • RefurbishmentSep 10, 2011at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian closed permanently on September 10, 2011, after a little over three years.

    WDWMagic reported on September 2, 2011 that the exhibit would close on Saturday, September 10, 2011 and that no replacement had been announced.
  • Area UpdateSep 10, 2011at The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow

    Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian closed on September 10, 2011, leaving the Soundstage 4 walk-through space that would become The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow empty for about fifteen months.

    The building had originally been part of the walking portion of the Backstage Studio Tour when the park opened in 1989.
  • ChangedMar 2011at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    The show reopened rebranded as Disney Junior - Live on Stage!, following the Disney Channel block's rename, and replaced My Friends Tigger & Pooh with Jake and the Never Land Pirates.

    Sources conflict on the day: the attraction article gives a January 30, 2011 closure and a March 27, 2011 reopening, while the park attraction list gives January 29, 2011 and March 4, 2011. Only the month is corroborated.
20101 change
  • BuffNov 2, 2010at Walt Disney Presents

    Reopened after refurbishment that added a 'The Legacy Continues' section and an Imagineering Workshop display featuring the 1964 New York World's Fair President Lincoln Audio-Animatronic, with a repainted interior.

20087 changes
  • NewJun 27, 2008at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian opened on June 27, 2008 in the Soundstage 4 building as a walk-through exhibit tied to the second Chronicles of Narnia film, with trivia screens and behind-the-scenes footage from director Andrew Adamson in the queue and displays of concept art, storyboards, props and costumes at the exit.

    The Wikipedia attraction article, the Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction list and Yesterland all give June 27, 2008.
  • Area UpdateJun 27, 2008at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    The rebuilt interior centered on Aslan's Stone Table Chamber, an underground vault where guests watched edited film clips of Peter and Edmund being tempted by the White Witch's power, in place of the first version's frozen forest, Mr. Tumnus's house and prop gallery.

    Yesterland names only the Stone Table Chamber; the description of what played inside it comes from the Wikipedia attraction article.
  • UpdateJun 27, 2008at Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    The same Soundstage 4 space reopened on June 27, 2008 as Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian, a separately themed walk-through built around the second film in the series.

    The successor replaced the frozen forest with Aslan's Stone Table Chamber and ran until September 10, 2011.
  • Area UpdateJan 7, 2008at Voyage of the Little Mermaid

    The park around the show was rebranded from Disney-MGM Studios to Disney's Hollywood Studios.

    Announced August 9, 2007; effective January 7, 2008. The show itself was unchanged.
  • UpdateJan 1, 2008at Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian

    The earlier walk-through in the Soundstage 4 building, Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, closed on January 1, 2008, leaving the space dark for just under six months.

    The gap and the rebuilt interior are why the two Narnia exhibits are recorded as separate attractions rather than one renamed show. Neither source records what, if anything, used the space in between.
  • RefurbishmentJan 1, 2008at Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    The show closed permanently on January 1, 2008, after about two years of operation and six days before the park was renamed Disney's Hollywood Studios.

    The attraction article, the Disney's Hollywood Studios attraction list and Yesterland independently give January 1, 2008.
  • Changed2008at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    The show reopened as a re-imagined version built around Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Little Einsteins and My Friends Tigger & Pooh after closing on January 1, 2008.

    Sources conflict on the date: the park attraction list gives February 1, 2008 while the attraction article dates the new lineup to March 2008, so only the year is recorded here.
20055 changes
  • ChangedDec 9, 2005at The Making of the Haunted Mansion Movie

    Soundstage 4 held no public attraction for about nineteen months until Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe opened in the same space on December 9, 2005.

    Soundstage 4 vacant→Journey into Narnia
    The nineteen-month gap is inferred from Wikipedia's attraction list, which shows nothing open in Soundstage 4 between May 2004 and December 2005, rather than stated outright. The soundstage went on to host Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (December 9, 2005 - January 1, 2008), Journey into Narnia: Prince Caspian (June 27, 2008 - September 10, 2011) and The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow (December 6, 2012 - November 6, 2014) before the building was demolished to make room for the entrance to Toy Story Land.
  • NewDec 9, 2005at Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe opened as a walk-through show in Soundstage 4 in the Animation Courtyard area of Disney-MGM Studios, the same day the film opened in United States theaters.

    Wikipedia records that the same soundstage had held The Making of The Haunted Mansion Movie in 2003; Yesterland says the building had originally been part of the walking portion of the Backstage Studio Tour, so no single predecessor attraction is claimed here.
  • Area UpdateDec 9, 2005at Journey into Narnia: Creating The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

    Guests entered through a wardrobe prop into a frozen forest set with a lamppost and Mr. Tumnus's house, watched a roughly four-minute condensed version of the film on a 150-inch screen while a live White Witch delivered dialogue from a ledge above the room, and exited past a gallery of armor, maquettes, storyboards, costumes and set pieces from the production.

  • ChangedApr 11, 2005at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    The show returned with JoJo's Circus in place of Rolie Polie Olie, after closing on April 3, 2005.

    The park attraction list gives this run as April 11, 2005 to January 1, 2008, consisting of Bear in the Big Blue House, JoJo's Circus, Stanley and The Book of Pooh.
  • Changed2005at Walt Disney Presents

    Re-narrated the biographical theater film, with Julie Andrews replacing Michael Eisner after Eisner's departure as Disney CEO; the same script was retained.

    Michael Eisner→Julie Andrews
20042 changes
  • UpdateOct 18, 2004at Back to Neverland

    Drawn to Animation, a live-host show built around Mushu from Mulan, took over the pre-show slot at The Magic of Disney Animation that the film had held.

    More than a year separated the film's September 30, 2003 close from the successor's October 18, 2004 debut in Florida; Drawn to Animation had premiered at Disney California Adventure on February 8, 2001.
  • RefurbishmentMay 1, 2004at The Making of the Haunted Mansion Movie

    The walkthrough closed to the general public on May 1, 2004, after a run of just under seven months.

    open→permanently closed to guests
    AllEars: "This attraction closed to the general public May 1, 2004. It will remain in place, however, and may be used for conventions and special events" - the later use is a possibility the source raises, not a confirmed fact. Wikipedia's attraction list gives the same closing date. A WDWMagic thread posted May 3, 2004 reports a cast member announcing on Saturday 5/1 that the set was closed after that day; it is a forum post, carried only as corroboration.
20033 changes
  • NewOct 8, 2003at The Making of the Haunted Mansion Movie

    A walkthrough exhibit promoting Disney's live-action film The Haunted Mansion opened in Soundstage 4, along Mickey Avenue at the Disney-MGM Studios.

    Wikipedia's attraction list is the only source carrying the exact opening day and bills the exhibit simply as "The Haunted Mansion" (Soundstage 4, October 8, 2003 - May 1, 2004); AllEars calls it "The Making of the Haunted Mansion Movie" and places it along Mickey Avenue near One Man's Dream. No rename is documented - the two titles are how different sources billed the same exhibit. The film it promoted reached United States theaters on November 26, 2003.
  • RefurbishmentSep 30, 2003at Back to Neverland

    Back to Neverland closed at the Disney-MGM Studios after fourteen years as the opening film of the Animation Tour.

  • Update2003at The Making of the Haunted Mansion Movie

    Disney presented the exhibit as a temporary installation scheduled to run about six months, walking guests past a photo gallery, the Gracey Mansion ballroom set, film costumes, Haunted Mansion sound effects and a making-of video with producer Don Hahn in roughly fifteen minutes.

    AllEars: "This is a temporary exhibit, scheduled to be on display for about only six months"; "The entire presentation lasts about 15 minutes"; "The video clip features producer Don Hahn explaining some of the 'making of' techniques"; "There are also several costumes from the movie"; "The Ballroom is that of Gracey Mansion." The page is undated, so the year is taken from the run rather than stated by the source.
20014 changes
  • NewOct 1, 2001at Walt Disney Presents

    Opened as 'Walt Disney: One Man's Dream,' a walk-through memorabilia gallery and theater on Mickey Avenue, debuting with Walt Disney World's 30th-anniversary '100 Years of Magic' celebration.

  • UpdateOct 1, 2001at Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage

    Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! opened in the same Soundstage Theater with scaled-down Bear in the Big Blue House characters alongside Rolie Polie Olie, Stanley and The Book of Pooh.

    The successor was a different multi-series show rather than a renamed continuation, so the Bear show is recorded as a reskin predecessor.
  • NewOct 1, 2001at Disney Junior - Live on Stage!

    Playhouse Disney - Live on Stage! opened in the Soundstage Theater at Disney-MGM Studios with a puppet show starring characters from Bear in the Big Blue House, Rolie Polie Olie, Stanley and The Book of Pooh.

    The attraction article gives a September 24, 2001 soft opening and an October 1, 2001 opening. The show took the theater from Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage, which had run June 7, 1999 to August 4, 2001.
  • RefurbishmentAug 4, 2001at Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage

    Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage closed permanently after a run of just over two years.

    The theater was cleared for the Playhouse Disney show that followed.
19991 change
  • NewJun 7, 1999at Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage

    Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage opened in the Soundstage Theater (Soundstage 5) at Disney-MGM Studios.

    Both Wikipedia pages give June 7, 1999.
19982 changes
  • Area UpdateNov 14, 1998at Bear in the Big Blue House - Live on Stage

    The Soundstage Restaurant closed inside Soundstage 5, emptying the building that the Bear stage show took over the following year.

    Both Wikipedia pages give the restaurant's run as May 1, 1989 to November 14, 1998. The predecessor on this site was a restaurant rather than an attraction.
  • Area UpdateApr 22, 1998at Back to Neverland

    Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida moved into a new $70 million facility at the Disney-MGM Studios, enlarging the working studio guests toured immediately after watching the film.

    The film itself was unchanged; guests viewed animators at work from the tour route that ran after it.
19923 changes
  • NewJan 7, 1992at The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure

    Voyage of The Little Mermaid opened in the Animation Courtyard Theater, a roughly 17-minute blacklight stage show blending live actors, puppets, laser projections, and a light-rain effect; it replaced 'Here Come The Muppets.'

  • UpdateJan 7, 1992at Here Come the Muppets

    Voyage of the Little Mermaid took over the vacated Animation Courtyard Theater on January 7, 1992, permanently replacing Here Come the Muppets in the building.

    Voyage of the Little Mermaid ran until March 15, 2020, and The Little Mermaid - A Musical Adventure opened in the same theater on May 27, 2025.
  • NewJan 7, 1992at Voyage of the Little Mermaid

    Voyage of the Little Mermaid opened in the Animation Courtyard Theater at the Disney-MGM Studios, taking over the venue from Here Come the Muppets.

19913 changes
  • Area UpdateSep 16, 1991at Here Come the Muppets

    Muppets on Location: The Days of Swine & Roses debuted on New York Street on September 16, 1991, two weeks after the closure, moving the park's live Muppet show outdoors until January 23, 1994.

    A separate attraction, recorded here only as context for where the park's live Muppet show went.
  • RefurbishmentSep 2, 1991at Here Come the Muppets

    Here Come the Muppets closed permanently on September 2, 1991, after about fifteen months of performances.

    The closing date rests on a single reference table; no primary Disney source for the exact day was located.
  • Area UpdateMay 16, 1991at Here Come the Muppets

    Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D opened elsewhere in the park on May 16, 1991, giving the Muppets a permanent attraction while the stage show was still running.

19901 change
  • NewMay 25, 1990at Here Come the Muppets

    Here Come the Muppets opened in the Animation Courtyard Theater (Soundstage 16) at the Disney-MGM Studios as the Muppets' first live stage show at a Disney park.

    The Henson Company reached its agreement with Disney in 1990, with Jane Henson developing the walkaround Muppet character profiles and training the performers; the show debuted nine days after Jim Henson's death on May 16, 1990.
19891 change
  • NewMay 1, 1989at Back to Neverland

    Back to Neverland opened at the Disney-MGM Studios as the nine-minute opening film of the Animation Tour, with Walter Cronkite explaining animation basics as Robin Williams was drawn into the film as a new Lost Boy from Peter Pan.

    Written and directed by Jerry Rees. The film played in the Animation Courtyard theater before guests walked the working-studio tour that followed it.

That's every change on the record in Walt Disney Studios Courtyard since 1989.

The spotters in our Discord catch the next one first — and the record only grows when someone notices.

Join the Discord Spot a change
↑ Top