Star Wars Launch Bay closing at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Star Wars Launch Bay is closing permanently in fall 2025 as Disney’s Hollywood Studios near Orlando, Fla., prepares for the return of an animation-focused attraction.

Star Wars Launch Bay will close Sept. 25, 2025, with its final day open being Sept. 24. The nearby “Disney Junior Play and Dance!” show will also permanently close, though it’s been out of commission for some time now to accommodate Cool Kid Summer.

Star Wars Launch Bay will be replaced by The Magic of Disney Animation, a reimagined version of the attraction Launch Bay itself replaced.

*Poster for The Magic of Disney Animation, opening in 2026 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.*
_{Artwork courtesy of Disney}

The pavilion-style Star Wars Launch Bay attraction opened in December 2015 as Disney geared up for the release of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — and to satisfy more demand for “Star Wars” at Walt Disney World while construction commenced on the other side of Hollywood Studios for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, which ultimately opened in 2019 (and isn’t going anywhere).

Over the years, Star Wars Launch Bay has been home to museum exhibits featuring artwork, costumes, and props from the latest “Star Wars” movies; character meet & greets with the likes of Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca, and BB-8; a behind-the-scenes short film showcasing the latest projects in development from Lucasfilm; and a series of high-end stores selling expensive replicas of paraphernalia from the films.

Video tour of Star Wars Launch Bay when it first opened in 2015:

For a long while now, Star Wars Launch Bay has been a shell of its former self. We last visited in May 2025 and found it nearly empty, with only the character meet & greets open and everything else shuttered.