Farewell to Star Wars Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios (2015-2025)

The Force is shifting once again at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Star Wars Launch Bay, a staple of the Animation Courtyard since 2015, will officially close on September 25, 2025, making way for the return of a brand-new Magic of Disney Animation experience in 2026. For many fans, this closure marks the end of an era that bridged the gap between the original Animation building and the arrival of Galaxy’s Edge.

A Brief History of Star Wars Launch Bay

When The Magic of Disney Animation closed in July 2015 after more than 25 years, the Animation Courtyard needed a new identity. At D23 Expo just one month later, Disney announced Star Wars Launch Bay, a walk-through attraction showcasing authentic props, models, costumes, and artwork from across the Star Wars saga. It officially opened in December 2015, timed perfectly with the release of The Force Awakens.

Inside, guests explored detailed exhibits and short films that celebrated the making of Star Wars. The Launch Bay Theater played a behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with directors, producers, and artists, offering fans an exclusive look at the saga’s creative process. Props rotated regularly, so visitors often found new additions, from costumes and weapons in Solo: A Star Wars Story to ships and set pieces tied to The Rise of Skywalker. These rotating exhibits gave Star Wars Launch Bay a living, ever-changing quality.

Special Events at Star Wars Launch Bay

Beyond its daily experience, Launch Bay became a venue for unique special events. Among my favorites is the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party. The evening began inside Launch Bay, where guests enjoyed themed treats, specialty beverages, and exclusive character time before heading to a reserved viewing area for the nighttime fireworks spectacular. This event allowed fans to pair sweet indulgences with unforgettable Star Wars memories.

Launch Bay also played a key role during the final years of Star Wars Weekends, the annual event that ran at Hollywood Studios until 2015. Though the Weekends officially ended the same year Launch Bay debuted, the space helped carry on the spirit of the celebration. Many of the props, behind-the-scenes features, and meet-and-greets echoed the experiences fans had come to love during Star Wars Weekends, making Launch Bay feel like a spiritual continuation of that tradition.

Launch Bay’s Role After Galaxy’s Edge

When Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019, many wondered if Launch Bay would fade. Batuu delivered an immersive in-universe adventure, but it excluded certain meet-and-greets. BB-8, for instance, was absent because in the timeline of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, he is preparing to depart with Poe Dameron in an X-wing to escort recruits to the Resistance base. This made Launch Bay the only place to meet BB-8. After Galaxy’s Edge debuted, guest demand led Disney to add a Darth Vader meet-and-greet in August 2019, replacing Kylo Ren, who moved exclusively to Batuu. The Chewbacca meet-and-greet, which has been available since Launch Bay opened in 2015, remains a fan favorite. During the pandemic, the location briefly became a Relaxation Station before reopening with its exhibits and characters.

The Final Curtain for Star Wars Launch Bay

With the courtyard now being reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios Lot, Launch Bay’s story ends where it began—in the same footprint once home to The Magic of Disney Animation. The closure raises a major question: what happens to those meet-and-greets? Will Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and BB-8 find new homes at Hollywood Studios? Could they relocate near Star Tours, refreshing that corner of the park? Might they be added to Galaxy’s Edge with thoughtful adjustments, or will Disney retire them altogether as Batuu evolves with new additions like The Mandalorian and Grogu?

Looking Ahead

The new animation experience, set to launch in 2026, promises to bring Disney Animation back to the forefront. Guests will once again celebrate the creativity that fueled some of the studio’s most cherished films, in a reimagined space designed to honor both Disney’s legacy and its future.

As we bid farewell to Star Wars Launch Bay, we remember its role as a bridge between eras—bringing us closer to the galaxy far, far away while waiting for Batuu to arrive. Now, its lights dim so that a new story may take the stage.

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