The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney's Hollywood Studios has been undergoing a significant outdoor makeover, and guests who visited the park on Monday reported the project is nearly done. The beloved Table-Service restaurant, which opened alongside Hollywood Studios on May 1, 1989, has been a fixture of the park for 37 years.
Construction first became noticeable in June, when rolling planters and barriers began blocking the patio area typically used by the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge. What initially appeared to be a simple repaving job turned out to be a much more substantial reimagining of the outdoor dining space.
The most visible recent change is the installation of a permanent fabric awning — covered in red material that matches the restaurant's existing awnings — replacing the individual umbrellas that previously shaded the patio. Beneath the new overhang, crews have added fans, golden decorative beams, and new light fixtures, giving the space a more polished, guest-friendly feel.
Throughout the construction period, the main Table-Service dining room inside the Hollywood Brown Derby has remained open and fully operational. The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge has also stayed open, though with reduced seating capacity in a smaller side-patio area while work continues on the main outdoor space. Walt Disney World has not announced a specific completion date, but the pace of recent progress suggests a reopening is not far off.
This report was first published by Inside the Magic.
