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Even the most loyal Disney Parks fans might be surprised to learn that a small corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios has remained practically frozen in time for the past 25 years. While much of Walt Disney World Resort has undergone significant changes, updates, and additions, this classic feature stands untouched, a quiet relic of the park’s early days.
TikTok user Dylan (@dylantpe) recently shined a spotlight on this overlooked piece of Disney Parks history in a video that quickly caught the attention of fans. Dylan explained that when Disney’s Hollywood Studios—then MGM Studios—opened its gates in 1989, the park proudly paid homage to classic Hollywood with a courtyard that transported guests right to the heart of the film industry. Nestled in front of the iconic Chinese Theatre, this feature aimed to bring a slice of Hollywood Boulevard to Florida by offering guests an experience similar to Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
@dylantpe Disney hasn’t put a new celebrity outside the Chinese Theatre in a long time #hollywoodstudios #disneyshollywoodstudios #disneyhollywoodstudios #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #disney
Initially, Disney regularly welcomed celebrities and characters to this spot, inviting them to make their mark by leaving hand impressions in the pavement. Over the first decade, notable names left their handprints, allowing fans to experience a piece of real Hollywood magic. However, according to Dylan, Disney hasn’t added a single new impression since 1999.
“Throughout the first ten years of the park being opened, Disney would regularly have new celebrities put their handprints into this courtyard,” Dylan explained. “However, the last time that this happened was in 1999, and since then, Disney has not added a single celebrity or character’s handprints to the Chinese Theatre’s courtyard.”
Credit: Disney
The lineup of handprints remains the same, a preserved snapshot of Hollywood’s past. Icons like Susan Sarandon, Michael J. Fox, and LeVar Burton are among the last names enshrined in this tribute. But as the years have passed, this area has remained undisturbed—a curious anomaly in a constantly evolving park.
Some fans have speculated that Disney may have halted the additions due to licensing or trademark concerns with Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, but that’s never been confirmed. Others believe it’s simply a nod to a bygone era, allowing Disney’s Hollywood Studios to hold onto a piece of its original identity as it shifts toward immersive lands like Toy Story Land and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Credit: Paul Hudson, Flickr
While Disney has preserved the area in front of the Chinese Theatre, the park itself has changed in leaps and bounds. What began as a tribute to the golden age of film production has transformed into a celebration of beloved franchises, drawing guests into the worlds of Pixar, Star Wars, and beyond. However, this quiet courtyard remains a unique homage to Hollywood that has managed to stay intact as the theme park world around it changes.
Which celebrity handprint would you add to Disney’s Hollywood Studios? Let Disney Tips know in the comments.
