A slew of recent changes and upgrades have been made at Disney World in Orlando; some of these include a lounge where adult guests can purchase and consume alcohol, and an increase in reservation requirements for annual pass holders. And now, as it makes way for yet another new attraction, some fan favorites are being permanently closed.
If you’re planning on visiting Walt Disney World Resort, you have less than two weeks to enjoy two of its most popular attractions. From September 25, Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr Play and Dance! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park will be no more.
Walt Disney World To Close Two Major Attractions
Back in July, Disney issued a press release saying it was working on a “brand-new experience” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park in Florida. This experience has been named The Magic of Disney Animation.
Disney said that, similar to Walt Disney Animation Studios in California, the new attraction will be a “place of pure magic” where animation will be brought to life like never before.
However, the press release noted that the planned location for this is currently the home of Star Wars Launch Bay, as well as Disney Jr. Play and Dance! The former celebrates all things Star Wars and gives visitors a chance to meet and interact with the “characters” face-to-face. And the latter is a music/stage show for kids.
When both of these attractions are searched on Walt Disney World’s website, a notice written in red pops up.
“The last day to experience (this) is September 24. The location will close permanently on September 25 to make way for The Walt Disney Studios. Read the Disney Parks Blog to learn more,” the notices read.
To reassure fans, Disney also explained, at length, what the new attraction will look like and include. It also said some of the other attractions at the current location will be retained.
More About The Magic Of Disney Animation
Disney said that just like the premise of its Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio, the wonders of animation inspired the decision.
“(It) will transform into a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences,” Disney said. The building will also be topped with Mickey Mouse’s iconic sorcerer’s hat, just like the California location, which will “cast a spell with pixie dust.”
It lists some of its features that both kids and adults can enjoy.
Some Features Of The Magic Of Disney Animation
- Portraits that “come to life”
- Drawing lessons
- Indoor playground
- Musical instruments
While the main stage show for kids is being closed down, Disney has assured that a “fresh” Disney Jr. show will be on the soundstage, and other attractions, like The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure, will continue.
“All of those places to explore and create, and we haven’t even talked about character greetings… and there are lots! The whole family will be drawn to all the creative ways to play together,” Disney said.
So how are fans reacting online? Well, the adult ones, at least. Plenty of people have weighed in.
Fan Reactions To Disney World Closures
Online reactions have been mixed, but a lot of people have said the changes seem nostalgic. In the r/disneyparks subreddit, it has been a major topic of discussion.
“It’s been a minute since I’ve been genuinely excited by a Disney announcement, this is great!” a user wrote.
Someone else pointed out that the new attraction will replace Star Wars Launch Bay, to which another user said, “That’s a good thing.” Others seemed to care most about the sorcerer’s hat. On Instagram, some took issue with it while others celebrated.
“Was Launch Bay still functioning? It felt like a journey through a wasteland to get to it. Honestly, I like the idea of Hollywood Studios adding more theme-based attractions like this,” a user commented.
Another said “absolutely not” as they explained how many memories they have that are attached to Star Wars Launch Bay.
“Nooo, leave Star Wars alone,” someone else wrote on Instagram.
Even on X, fans were divided. Some made cheeky comments like, “Nature is healing.” Others just shared sad faces or heartbreak emojis.
“Notice how no one is talking about Launch Bay closing in two weeks? Crazy. Almost like we didn’t need 3 Star Wars areas in the same park,” an X user wrote.
Ultimately, for some fans, it’s a huge win, and for others, a huge loss. Time will tell how the new attraction will perform once launched in 2026.
