A Look Back at Hollywood Studios Lost Attractions
Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios is about to embark on a major transformation. In many ways, that transformation has already begun. The removal of the Sorcerer’s Hat, the closing of the Backlot Tour, and the Animation Building may have captured headlines, but the process started years earlier with the quiet removal of some of the park’s unique features.
Hard to believe, but Disney-MGM Studios was originally built to be a working production facility. Opened in 1989, it featured Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida, responsible for classics like Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, and Brother Bear. Live television and music video tapings—including The Mickey Mouse Club, Teen Win, Lose or Draw, and Adventures in Wonderland—also took place on-site. The Backlot Tour, once a highlight, guided guests through active production sets. That concept faded, and today the park is shifting from a behind-the-scenes studio to a fully immersive theme park.
Let’s look at five pieces of Hollywood Studios history that are now gone forever—but not forgotten.
1. The Guard Shacks
One of the earliest changes came during Star Wars Weekends in 2009. Near the Great Movie Ride and along the walkway to ABC Commissary, a small but symbolic guard shack once stood. It marked the transition from “front lot” (Hollywood Boulevard) to “backlot” (the production area). Detailed with a jacket, clipboard, and working monitor, it embodied the park’s working studio identity. It was removed to make way for a Jedi Mickey meet-and-greet. A second guard shack once stood near Backlot Express—also gone.
2. Sid Cahuenga’s One-of-a-Kind
Located near the entrance, Sid Cahuenga’s was more than a shop—it was a story. Open from opening day until 2013, Sid’s featured genuine Hollywood memorabilia. According to park lore, Sid was a film buff who collected props and autographs instead of selling his house. Guests could browse through movie treasures and sometimes even meet “Sid” himself—played by cast member Danny Dillon. Sid’s closed in December 2013, becoming a MyMagic+ Service Center. The truck and house façade remain, a quiet tribute.
3. The Writer’s Stop Lounge Area
While The Writer’s Stop remained open for years, its original charm changed. Once a cozy space with a 1950s console TV showing classic Mickey cartoons, board games, and books, it was a welcome family retreat. Kids could lounge while parents sipped coffee and recharged. By 2015, the TV and games were replaced with high-def screens and DVD displays. The vibe shifted from charming hideaway to retail overflow. The locaiton is now the Baseline Taphouse, with a hidden nod to The Wrtiers Stop.
4. The American Film Institute Showcase
Tucked at the end of the Backlot Tour, the AFI Showcase featured props and costumes tied to AFI’s 100 Years, 100 Movies list and other rotating exhibits. It offered a rare museum-style experience within a theme park. At its close in August 2014, it housed items from Star Wars and other blockbusters. It was also the final home of Sid’s memorabilia. Its closure quietly marked the end of the studio tour era.
5. Daily Parades
From the Dinosaurs Live Parade to Aladdin, Hercules, Mulan, and Stars and Motor Cars, daily parades were once a Studios staple. The last was Pixar Pals Countdown to Fun! which ended in 2013. Special event parades like Frozen Summer Fun and Star Wars Weekends continued but lacked the daily excitement. Many floats were repurposed from other parks. The promise of new themed lands brings hope for a parade revival.
Honorable Mention: The Sorcerer’s Hat – Another Hollywood Studios Lost Attractions
Love it or hate it, the Sorcerer’s Hat became a park icon after its debut in 2001. It obscured the view of the Chinese Theater until it was finally removed in 2015. Legal complexities around the theater’s naming delayed its removal, but its departure restored the park’s original sightline and symbol.
From “hidden gems” like Sid’s to large-scale features like daily parades, Hollywood Studios has shed much of its working studio legacy. These losses paved the way for immersive lands like Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land—but for longtime fans, the memories remain vivid.
Which lost piece of Hollywood Studios do you miss the most?
Check out the Photo Gallery below for each of the Hollywood Studios lost attractions
Photo Gallery – The Guard Shack
Sid Cahuernga’s – Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery – The Writer’s Stop
AFI Showcase – Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery – Studios Parades
For More from Disney Hollywood Studios be sure to check out. Osborne Lights. New Years Eve Fireworks. Club Disney. Jingle Bell Jingle Bam. Music of Pixar Live. Wonderful World of Animation. The Dream Comes True. Galaxy’s Edge. Mickey and Minnies Run Away Railway. The Great Movie Ride. The Great Move ride ending. Star Wars Fireworks. Movie Magic, Hollywood Studios lost attractions
What a great list of Hollywood Studios “things to remember”. I miss these things too – especially those old colorful parades (and I’m not even a parade fan). I so miss the original Backlot Tour and I’m sad about the closing of the Art of Animation. So many changes that I almost can’t take it. But, it’s Disney, so I’m confident that something better is coming. (Just don’t mess with Tower of Terror!)
So many great things I miss about Hollywood Studios! And a few I don’t really remember too. I do remember the guard shack, but never really paid much attention to it. It was a very nice touch, though. I wish it was still there. I loved the Disney Stars & Motor Cars Parade!!! I was very sad to see it go. I also miss the AFI showcase and the Backlot Tour. My favorite part of it was seeing Residential Street. I also loved seeing the animators at work on the next Disney film. It was the highlight of the Animation Tour. I’m sure they’re working on something great for the park, but I do miss a lot of the things that are now gone. While I would prefer for the park to go back to a working studio concept, I seriously doubt it’s likely. I’m expecting something more like DCA, which I’m sure will still be great. The imagineers always do a great job. I’m excited to hear what they’re up to when they’re ready to announce it! (And I totally agree with Heidi – don’t touch Tower of Terror! It’s my favorite!)
I think tower, rock and roll and toy story are the only “safe” attractions at the point…. Time will tale
The last time I was at Hollywood Studios, I didn’t get a chance to go on The Backlot Tour one more time. Ugh, still sad about that! I loved going into Sid’s, it was my favorite place to unwind as I was heading out of the park.
Completely agree Pam, always visited sides on the way out….
I didn’t know hardly any of this. We only were fortunate enough to really start coming to WDW regularly in 2012. This was all interesting. It’s too bad they can’t add new without always removing all of the old. I’m glad you did this article so people could read about what had been at Hollywood Studios.
Sam, this is an awesome post. Studios was always my favorite park when I was a kid. I remember my first visit to the studios I was hysterical because the Mickey Mouse Club was filming and they needed audience members but I was too young. (My only chance to get Justin Timberlake to fall in love with me.) I will always miss Studios in its golden age.
I soooo miss Sids. We loved stopping in and doing the trivia contest. We actually competed it once. But only once.
While at Disney Imagineering I created the very first “Streetmosphere” cast (and inventor of the word: Streetmosphere). So I am surprised to see articles and photos all over the web with a bit of gross misinformation about the character of “Sid Cahuenga.” I was on the original concept & design team for the “little studio in Florida” project. We all enjoyed selecting actual, icon buildings throughout Hollywood, CA, to reproduce as our Tinseltown main street and thought it only apt that in our make-believe 1947 Hollywood there be one, last, hold-out home-owner, selling real collectibles from the studios and estate sales. When I was sketching the character images I thought of a long time actor friend in Minneapolis. (Not knowing is he was available for the role, but it assisted me in creating “Sid Cahuenga.” I called my pal, AL ARASIM, in advance of our Imagineering directors’ team hitting Minneapolis on our ten-city audition tour. I asked Al to wear a Hawaiian shirt, Panama hat, and cigar. When he entered the audition room we pretended not to know each other. Ther other directors (for Comedy Warehouse and Adventurers Club) went crazy …”That’s your guy!” Al’s audition was flawless and I told him, on the spot, “You’re moving to Florida next March (1989.) Al breathed live into “Sid” and guests, Disney execs, kids ..everyone loved Sid Cahuenga. USA Today placed a photo of Sid (and a handful of other Streetmosphere characters) on the FRONT PAGE of their paper in their glowing report of DISNEY-MGM STUDIOS opening. A family photo of sid (and the entire Cahuenga clan (ALL IN Hawaiin shirts) hung on the wall in the shop for years. Online, there are photos of a framed image of a guy in a straw boater with the caption “Sid Cahuenga.” THAT photo is of actor/entertainer Danny Dillon who was NOT “Dis Cahuenga” Opening Day. Danny (RIP) was a master entertainer. I cast him to be a classic Hollywood Song and dance man in the Backlot Break Area with a live pianist accompanying him in his performances of great old movie and show tunes. Guests loved Danny. He was a dear man and we were fortunate to have had him!
Thank you so much for the detail… And thanks for the wonderful work.