Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a notice of commencement permit for work related to the upcoming Animation Courtyard reimagining. As you may know, Animation Courtyard will be reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. This rethemed area will feature visuals that remind guests of the storied animation lot, including a retheming of the Star Wars Launch Bay into The Magic of Disney Animation.
WDI Permit: Large Crane Coming to Animation Courtyard
A permit filed by Walt Disney Imagineering lists North American Crane & Rigging LLC as the contractor, and the scope of work listed is “site modifications”. The address listed on the permit resolves to the Hollywood Studios archway that acts as the entrance to Animation Courtyard.
While it’s possible that the actual work is related to the archway itself, this type of permit is rather unique for Walt Disney Imagineering. We don’t often see a permit list a crane company as the contractor, which could indicate that the crane that will be on site will be pretty big. Even so, I can’t think of another instance where North American Crane & Rigging LLC was listed on a Walt Disney Imagineering permit, making this permit one to keep an eye on.
That said, North American Crane & Rigging LLC is a popular choice for Walt Disney World construction. They have been utilized for large Walt Disney World projects in the past. Most recently, they provided the large crane used for the Astro Orbiter rebuild in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom.
With regard to the work that North American Crane could be doing at Walt Disney World, we can imagine a scenario where they set up shop in the middle of the courtyard and complete a few different projects.
First, as seen in the concept art below, the Hollywood Studios archway will be demolished. There are some theming items on the archway that may require a crane for removal, but the actual demolition of the archway shouldn’t require a crane.
Other small changes include the removal of the outdoor meet and greet areas, but that shouldn’t require a crane.
One change that will require a crane is the installation of the Sorcerer Mickey hat on the soon-to-be-former Star Wars Launch Bay. As seen in the concept art below, the Star Wars Launch Bay is being transformed into The Magic of Disney Animation. A large Sorcerer Mickey hat will sit atop the entrance area, and we imagine that a large crane will be required to install the hat.
Other potential uses for a crane appear to be minimal based on the concept art released so far. There may be some backstage or infrastructure need for the crane, but the Animation Courtyard reimagining appears to be a less intensive project. Indeed, Walt Disney World has announced that the Walt Disney Studios Lot area will reopen to guests sometime in 2026 – a short turnaround for any Walt Disney World project.
For more on the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Lot, including the retheming of the Star Wars Launch Bay and more, check out our dedicated project page below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!
