Disney Character Handprints Coming to New Walt Disney Studios Land: Opening May 26

Disney just gave us a look at one of the coolest details coming to the new Walt Disney Studios courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios — and it’s a direct nod to one of the most iconic spots in all of Hollywood. The courtyard will feature concrete handprints, footprints, and signatures from beloved Disney animated characters, styled after the famous forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre.

Disney shared behind-the-scenes footage of the courtyard on Instagram, revealing the character impressions already set into the concrete. This is exactly the kind of detail that makes a new land feel special — something you’d walk right past if you weren’t looking, but absolutely love once you notice it.

The Walt Disney Studios courtyard at Hollywood Studios is confirmed to open on May 26, 2026, along with Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! Here’s everything we know about what’s coming.

Quick Summary

• The new Walt Disney Studios courtyard at Hollywood Studios opens May 26, 2026
• Features Grauman’s Chinese Theatre-style character handprints, footprints, and signatures in concrete
• Characters include Cinderella, Mufasa, Simba, Maui, Moana, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, and Stitch
• The courtyard also includes multicolored pavement, landscaping, and an oversized Sorcerer Hat
• The Magic of Disney Animation building has no opening date yet — but will house multiple new experiences

Disney Character Handprints at the New Hollywood Studios Courtyard

The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is famous for its celebrity hand and footprints preserved in concrete — stars have been leaving their mark there since the 1920s. Disney is bringing that same energy to Hollywood Studios in a way that fits the park’s movie-studio theme perfectly.

Each impression in the new courtyard features a character’s handprints or footprints alongside their signature. The confirmed characters include:

• Cinderella
• Mufasa
• Simba
• Maui
• Moana
• Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
• Stitch

The selection is interesting. You’ve got classic royalty with Cinderella, Lion King legacy with both Mufasa and Simba, the newer Moana crew, Stitch as the fan favorite wildcard, and Oswald — Walt Disney’s original cartoon character before Mickey — getting a spot that feels especially meaningful given the history of this park.

These aren’t just decorative props. They’re permanently set into the courtyard’s concrete, which means every guest who walks through this area will be walking right past the impressions of some of Disney’s most iconic characters. Kids are going to lose their minds trying to match their hands to Stitch’s prints.

What Else Is Coming to the Walt Disney Studios Courtyard

The character handprints are one piece of a much larger transformation happening in this area of Hollywood Studios. Recent aerial photos have shown multicolored pavement sections throughout the courtyard, extensive landscaping installations, and a freshly repainted entrance to The Magic of Disney Animation building.

Most notably, preparations are visibly underway for an oversized Sorcerer Hat — a callback to the iconic hat structure that stood in front of what was then known as the Sorcerer’s Hat at Hollywood Studios from 2001 to 2015. The hat is coming back in a new form as part of the building’s identity.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! is also confirmed to open on May 26 alongside the courtyard itself. This is a live entertainment experience designed for younger guests, which fits the area’s family-friendly positioning nicely.

The Magic of Disney Animation Building: What’s Coming

The larger Magic of Disney Animation building is getting a full transformation, though Disney hasn’t announced an opening date for it yet. Here’s what’s planned for inside once it does open:

• Olaf Draws! — a new interactive experience centered around the beloved Frozen character
• Enchanted Art Gallery — a gallery showcasing Disney animation art
• Once Upon A Studio Theater — named after the celebrated short film that brought together 543 Disney characters
• Drawn to Wonderland Playground — a themed play space for families
• Character meet-and-greets

This is a significant lineup of new experiences for a single building. Olaf Draws! alone sounds like something that could become a must-do for Frozen fans, and the Enchanted Art Gallery has the potential to be a genuinely impressive showcase if Disney does it right. The Once Upon A Studio Theater name is a great touch — that short film was a love letter to Disney’s history, and a theater carrying that name sets the right tone for the whole space.

Why the May 26 Opening Date Matters

May 26 isn’t a random date. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets also opens on May 26, which means Disney is stacking two major Hollywood Studios debuts on the same day. That’s an intentional move to make May 26 a marquee moment for the park and likely drive significant attendance for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

If you’re planning a Hollywood Studios trip this summer, May 26 through early June is shaping up to be a genuinely exciting time to be in the park. New attractions, a brand new courtyard with unique details, and the energy of fresh openings all happening at once.

What to Expect When You Visit

The Walt Disney Studios courtyard sits adjacent to The Magic of Disney Animation building, near the back of Hollywood Studios. When you visit once it opens, plan to slow down and look for the character handprints in the concrete — they’re built into the ground-level pavement, not mounted on a wall, which means they’re easy to miss if you’re moving fast.

My suggestion: visit the courtyard early in your park day when crowds are lighter. The open-air area will likely get busy during midday, especially with Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! drawing families throughout the day. Morning is when you’ll have the best chance to really take in the details without navigating crowds.

Hollywood Studios Courtyard Character Handprints: The Bottom Line

The Walt Disney Studios courtyard at Hollywood Studios is opening May 26, and it’s going to be one of the most detail-rich new spaces the park has added in years. Cinderella, Mufasa, Simba, Maui, Moana, Oswald, and Stitch all immortalized in concrete — that’s a lineup worth seeking out on your next visit.

Disney hasn’t announced when The Magic of Disney Animation building itself will open with its full slate of experiences, so keep checking back for updates. But the courtyard and Disney Jr. show are locked in for May 26. Add it to your Hollywood Studios must-see list and find those character prints.

20% Off site-wide, plus Free Shipping on all orders of $65+

Over 75+ Designs! Your next park shirt is just a click away

Looking To Book Your Dream Disney Vacation?

Save time & money on your vacation

Your Disney vacation should create unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.

Whether you’re a first-time Disney vacationer or looking to plan your next magical adventure, it isn’t enough just to go on a Disney vacation. We want you to talk about your vacation for years to come and create memories you’ll cherish forever. Vacation is calling! Are you ready to answer?

REQUEST QUOTE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Jonathan Cotton 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
I’m no stranger to Disney planning, as a Disneyland magic key holder and DVC member. I’m the person people ask for trip planning advice. But I had never been on a Disney cruise, and had heard great about Nate and decided to reach out. I’m so glad I did because we could not have been happier with our experience. His tips and insights were incredibly helpful, and he was incredibly responsive any time we had a question. Who do the Disney experts turn to when they need help? Nate, that’s who.

We’ll definitely be using him again.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Andria Skornik 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Our experience working with Nate as our Disney vacation planner was exceptional. He was responsive and thorough. He gave us insights that made the trip go much more smoothly. We were able to really relax and focus on quality time as a family and have so much fun doing it! I will definitely reach out for any future trips.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 rpwoodjr 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Could not have wanted or expected more from Nate, our Distrips and More agent as we planned our 2025 Disney World trip. Nate was VERY responsive to emails and texts and more than willing to do whatever he could to guide us and answer our questions.  On several occasions I emailed him over the weekend not expecting a response until Monday but each time he responded before the weekend was over.  He even participated in a Zoom session with our group of five seniors as we planned our trip. He also helped us at the 11th hour when we added a family member to our travel group less than a month before our trip.  Without a doubt, I will reach out to Nate when I'm ready to plan my next trip to Disney World!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Homero Rendon 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
We are so thankful we used Nate to plan not only our first Disney trip, but also our second. He made the process so easy for us, especially for us since it was our first time going. There was a lot to consider and many decisions to make, such as where to stay, when to go, and what to experience. Nate really helped us narrow down what we wanted to do overall, but he didn’t stop there. He provided detailed guides to help us navigate the airport and find our transportation to the resort, as well as a guide to explore the resorts and make sure we saw the best Christmas decorations. One of the many amazing things he also did was set up our dinner reservations for us. This saved us so much stress and allowed us to get some of our top choices. From the moment we landed in Orlando to the moment we headed back home, he made sure everything went smoothly. You truly can’t go wrong with going to him for your next trip.
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Lee Mathes 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate was absolutely the best planner I have ever had.  Will most definitely be using him again.   He took care of everything and kept me on track.  Was so very helpful in making all the dining reservations and everything.   Can't thank him enough.   He made our trip completely stress free!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Amanda Moran 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nathan has been an amazing trip planner for me! So helpful and responsive. I am a very type A person -- so someone who is even more on top of their game than me -- is so so appreciated! Nathan has booked 3 trips for me (1 completed 2 pending) and it was perfection. Thanks again!
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 Hyperion Adventures Podcast 
 
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Nate has helped us with our vacation planning for the last couple of years and we couldn't be happier with his service and expertise. We've used other travel agents in the past and none of them have done as phenomenal a job to make sure every detail is taken care of as he has. Switching to Nate was one of the best decisions we've ever made. He's always quick to answer questions and works tirelessly to make sure we get everything we want from our trips. Plus, he's just a genuinely great person who is wonderful to work with. Whether you're planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, a Disney Cruise, or any other vacation, Nate is the guy you want putting it all together! Five stars across the board!
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Google rating score: 5.0 of 5, based on 7 reviews 
 
   
 
 

Meet the Author: Nate Bishop

I’m a die-hard Disney fan with 38 years of visits under my belt, having stepped into Disney World 120+ times. Proud to be a Disney Annual Passholder, a Vacation Club member since ’92, a Castaway Club Member, and a runDisney enthusiast. Oh, and I’ve graduated from the Disney College of Knowledge. Need Disney insights or planning tips? I’m your guy!