Disney’s Hollywood Studios has always been a park in motion. Since its opening in 1989, the park has reinvented itself more dramatically and more repeatedly than any other gate at Walt Disney World, shedding identities and adding new ones with a consistency that keeps it feeling current in ways that some parks struggle to achieve.Credit: Ken Lund, FlickrThe transformation that began with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019 and continued through the arrival of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway set a new bar for what Hollywood Studios could be, and the investment has not slowed. Right now, the park is navigating one of its most active construction periods in years, with changes touching Galaxy’s Edge, the area formerly known as Animation Courtyard, Toy Story Land, and the former Star Wars Launch Bay simultaneously.For guests visiting in the coming months, understanding what is being built, what has just opened, and what is still on the horizon gives the clearest possible picture of what a Hollywood Studios day is going to look like from now through summer 2026.Savi’s Workshop Gets a New Shade StructureCredit: DisneyConstruction walls have come down at Savi’s Workshop in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, revealing a completed shade structure over the courtyard that has been under construction since September 2025. The entire courtyard is now open, and the new canopy provides some relief from the heat that Galaxy’s Edge guests — and anyone who has stood outside Savi’s Workshop in a Florida summer — know well.Blog Mickey, which has been tracking the construction, noted that the shade structure is a visually cleaner solution than the umbrellas it replaces, though the practical shade coverage may actually be less than the previous setup. The surrounding landscaping has also been affected by the months of construction work and by the cold snap earlier this year, with the flower beds in the area currently looking more like rough ground cover than finished theming. A speeder bike that previously occupied space in the area has not yet returned.Construction Walls Removed, New Canopy Provides (Some) Shade at Savi’s Workshop in Galaxy’s Edge https://t.co/JBHWyRD01C— BlogMickey.com (@Blog_Mickey) April 6, 2026The outdoor queue area at Savi’s Workshop was largely unaffected by the construction, with the addition of a few poles to support the new canopy being the primary change there. The shade structure project appears to be part of a coordinated effort to improve guest comfort in Galaxy’s Edge ahead of the summer months, coordinated alongside a new shaded seating area elsewhere in the land.A New Seating Area Near the Toy Story Land Entrance to Galaxy’s EdgeCredit: Ed Aguila, Inside the MagicCrews have finished a new guest seating area near the Toy Story Land entrance to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, completing a project that has been in progress since last summer. The addition coincided with the construction of the new Popcorn and Snacks kiosk nearby in Toy Story Land.The new seating area includes benches that appear carved into the surrounding rock work, light posts for after-dark use, trash cans, and wooden tables and stools. For guests familiar with the Toy Story Land dining situation, this is a genuinely welcome addition. Woody’s Lunch Box, the quick service location nearby, has long been one of Hollywood Studios’ most beloved spots for a meal, and the lack of adequate seating in the surrounding area has been a consistent guest complaint. As Disney adds yet another snack stand to the Pixar-themed land, the new seating gives guests somewhere to actually sit down with their Pepperoni Pizza Spring Rolls or their morning breakfast items — which makes the whole experience more functional and more enjoyable.The Galaxy’s Edge Timeline Shift Is Still ComingBeyond the physical updates to Galaxy’s Edge, the land’s story is also changing. Disney has confirmed that Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort will transition its timeline on April 29, 2026, shifting half of the land to be set during the original Star Wars trilogy era for the first time since the land opened in 2019. Walt Disney World has not confirmed an exact date for the same change at Hollywood Studios.When the transition does arrive at Hollywood Studios, it brings significant character additions. Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Leia Organa will join Chewbacca and the sequel-era characters in greeting guests around the land. The First Order Cargo store is being rebranded as Black Spire Surplus, moving away from Dark Side-exclusive merchandise toward artifacts from the Galactic Civil War. Oga’s Cantina is also receiving minor thematic updates in connection with the timeline shift, repositioning the cantina several decades earlier in the Star Wars universe.Walt Disney Studios Lot Is Taking ShapeThe former Animation Courtyard area of Hollywood Studios is being transformed into the Walt Disney Studios Lot, and the construction walls in that area have recently shifted to open new pathways for guests. New pavement has been poured for the incoming area, and an updated wall configuration is now providing a wider exit route for guests leaving The Little Mermaid — A Musical Adventure show nearby.The Walt Disney Studios Lot is planned to open in phases this summer. The courtyard area is expected to open this month or in early May, ahead of the May 26 debut of the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show. Later in the summer, The Magic of Disney Animation will open in the building formerly occupied by the Star Wars Launch Bay. That building has recently been repainted with new theming stripes as crews continue the transformation.The Magic of Disney Animation will offer a range of experiences when it opens. Off the Page character meet and greets will feature Mulan in a Story department setting and Rapunzel in a Layout department setting with a multiplane camera backdrop. Olaf Draws! is a new Animation Academy experience hosted by Olaf from Frozen, inviting guests to learn character drawing. An Enchanted Art Gallery will display artwork featuring Disney Animation characters, with interactive animations that bring characters to life within the gallery. The Once Upon a Studio theater offers the Emmy Award-winning short film with enhanced in-theater effects, and a Drawn to Wonderland playground inspired by original Alice in Wonderland concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair will provide an indoor play space for young guests.How All of This Affects a Hollywood Studios VisitCredit: Lee (myfrozenlife), FlickrFor guests visiting Hollywood Studios in the near term, the courtyard at Savi’s Workshop is once again fully accessible, and the new seating near the Toy Story Land entrance to Galaxy’s Edge is open and usable. The Star Wars timeline shift at Hollywood Studios does not yet have a confirmed date, so guests visiting before a date is announced will experience the land in its current sequel-era setting.The Walt Disney Studios Lot construction is visible in the former Animation Courtyard area, with new pavement and shifted walls changing the feel of that section of the park. The full area opens in phases, with the courtyard coming first and The Magic of Disney Animation arriving later in the summer. Guests with visits planned before the summer debut should be aware that the area is still a work in progress.We are tracking all of these Hollywood Studios updates through the summer and will post details as opening dates are confirmed. If you have a Hollywood Studios trip coming up and want the most current picture of what is open and what is still under construction, our Hollywood Studios guide is updated regularly. Check it before your visit and know what the park actually looks like on the day you arrive.The post Disney Ends 7 Month Change in ‘Star Wars’ After 2025 Closure and Notice appeared first on Inside the Magic.