The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge is once again welcoming guests at its regular outdoor patio at Disney’s Hollywood Studios following a refurbishment that began earlier this summer. The refreshed lounge reopened Sept. 4, 2026, with several noticeable upgrades designed to provide more shade and comfort while maintaining the location’s classic Hollywood look.
The biggest addition is a large new awning extending from The Hollywood Brown Derby building over a substantial portion of the patio. Previously, guests largely relied on individual umbrellas for shade. The new structure creates more consistent overhead coverage while adding ceiling fans and hanging lights beneath the canopy.
Disney has matched the new awning to the existing red accents around The Hollywood Brown Derby, helping the addition blend with the restaurant’s established design. Decorative supports were also updated during the final stages of construction, while gutters have been installed along the new overhang.
The patio itself received additional work beyond the overhead structure. Pavement was replaced during the refurbishment, and the lounge’s familiar tables and chairs have returned. The seating retains its previous overall design, but the red upholstery has been refreshed.
Changes are also visible along the patio’s outer boundary. Concrete columns now form the bases for the lampposts positioned along the wall, replacing the previous arrangement in which the posts extended alongside the black railings. New lamp fixtures complete the updated look.
Construction on the main Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge patio began in June. The lounge did not disappear entirely while work was underway, however. Disney continued serving guests from a smaller outdoor area around the side of the restaurant, allowing the lounge to remain operational in a limited capacity throughout the project.
The Hollywood Brown Derby table-service restaurant also remained open during the patio refurbishment.
With construction complete, the lounge has returned to its regular location and is currently listed by Walt Disney World as operating from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Hours can change, so guests should check Disney’s official schedule on the day of their visit.
Located along Hollywood Boulevard, The Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge offers a more casual alternative to a full meal inside the adjoining signature restaurant. Disney describes the patio as a place for appetizers, wines and specialty drinks, including Derby cocktails and martinis.
The current menu includes selections ranging from charcuterie and escargot to shrimp cocktail, prosciutto croquettes and other appetizers. Guests can also order several entrées associated with the main Brown Derby menu, including the restaurant’s famous Cobb salad, along with desserts such as the Brown Derby’s signature grapefruit cake.
Both the lounge and restaurant draw their theme from the famous Brown Derby restaurants of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Disney’s Hollywood Studios location recreates many of the details associated with the historic California venue, including its wood-paneled styling and celebrity caricatures.
For the outdoor lounge, the refurbishment does not represent a major change in concept. Instead, the project addresses one of the practical challenges of outdoor dining in Central Florida. The expanded shade and ceiling fans should make the patio a more comfortable option during sunny and warm periods, while the lighting allows the new structure to remain part of the atmosphere after dark.
After several months of construction and temporary seating arrangements, the Hollywood Brown Derby Lounge is now back in its permanent patio space with a refreshed appearance and a more substantial covered area for guests.