For more than a decade, Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat stood tall at the heart of Disney’s Hollywood Studios.Whether you loved it or thought it blocked the Chinese Theatre, there’s no denying it became a symbol of the park—especially for guests who visited between 2001 and 2015. Rising 122 feet into the sky, the blue hat with its glittering stars and crescent moon didn’t just celebrate Fantasia (1940), it defined the skyline. And when Disney removed it in early 2015, fans had very mixed feelings.Credit: DisneyNow, it’s coming back, at least in a smaller form.According to a new report that was confirmed by Inside the Magic, Walt Disney World has announced a brand-new attraction called The Magic of Disney Animation, coming in 2026. It’ll replace the current Star Wars: Launch Bay area, and the concept art has fans buzzing for one very specific reason: Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat is in the artwork. That’s right—nearly a decade after its removal, the iconic hat will return to the park in a reimagined way.It’s Not Quite the Same… But It’s Still MagicalBefore anyone gets too excited, no—the new Sorcerer Hat won’t tower over the park like its predecessor. This version will sit on top of the building housing the new animation experience and is designed to resemble the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. It’s a nod more than a centerpiece, but it still brings that nostalgic energy fans have been missing.It also won’t be big enough to host pin trading or serve as a retail location, as the original once did. Instead, it’s a decorative flourish—one that serves as a thematic anchor for the attraction. But for those who remember meeting characters under the old hat, or who still have photos from the early 2000s featuring it in the background, even this smaller version feels like a meaningful return.Credit: DisneyThe Magic of Disney Animation—ReimaginedThe attraction itself sounds like a love letter to Disney animation. Inspired by the Emmy-winning short film Once Upon a Studio (2023), the experience will let guests explore a whimsical world where animators have stepped away and the characters have come to life.Families can interact with sketches that animate before their eyes, enjoy a new short film, and even try their hand at drawing their own characters. There’s also a “Drawn to Wonderland” indoor playground for kids, inspired by Alice in Wonderland concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair.The area will also include character greetings and a beautifully redesigned courtyard modeled after the original Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank. All of this sets the stage for the return of the Sorcerer Hat—less imposing, but still very much a part of the experience.Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicA Nostalgic Touch for a New EraDisney didn’t have to bring the Sorcerer Hat back at all. But the fact that they chose to include it, even in a smaller, more symbolic form, shows just how much that icon meant to a generation of guests. For years, people asked whether the hat would ever return. Now, in 2026, it finally will—even if it’s not quite the hat we remember.Still, it’s a welcome sight. A familiar touch. And a little sprinkle of that old-school magic that Hollywood Studios has been slowly rediscovering.What Else Is Happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?While The Magic of Disney Animation is garnering attention currently, there is plenty of transformation happening across the park.Next up? Monsters are moving in.Disney is officially set to open a Monsters Inc.-themed land in the space occupied by the former Muppet*Vision 3-D theater and the surrounding Muppet Courtyard. That area has long been speculated for change, especially after PizzeRizzo and other elements lost their clear Muppets branding. Now, it looks like Sulley and Mike Wazowski will headline a family-friendly expansion that fits right into the park’s growing animation presence.And that’s not all.The Muppets are moving a short distance across the park, where they’ll replace Aerosmith in the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets is expected to open in 2026, but no doubt for Aerosmith’s closure has been announced as of yet.Lastly, there are upgrades coming to Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. The revamped experience will bring in brand-new locations, more interactive elements, and an all-new storyline starring The Mandalorian and Grogu. It’s expected to launch on May 22, 2026.It will be interesting to see how all these things come together at Hollywood Studios, particularly over the next year. While we’d expect guests to have to wait a few years for Monsters Inc. Land to become a reality, all of these other attractions are expected to open next year, which is extremely exciting for people looking for new and updated experiences in Hollywood Studios.The post Mickey’s Iconic Sorcerer Hat RETURNING to Hollywood Studios in 2026 appeared first on Inside the Magic.