With Inside Out hosting the biggest opening weekend ever for a completely original film, one might wonder why you can’t meet Joy or Sadness at the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now. Well, the reasoning seems to be that the location, or at least most of it, will be closing soon for major changes.

If what we are hearing is true, the Magic of Disney Animation will close in a few weeks time, leaving the park without the “Mushu film”, Animation Academy, and the character meet and greets that currently are hosted in the space. The Incredibles meet and greet already moved out a few weeks back, being replaced in the budget by Doc McStuffins who now meets outside of Disney Junior: Live on Stage.

Should the space return, rumor has it that the Animation Academy will return in a new or expanded space (possibly multiple theaters) to better accommodate the hoards of guests who love the “learn-to-draw” attraction. It is unclear what would happen to the remaining space in the attraction beyond this. If the plan comes to fruition, the long-unused outdoor queue at the Magic of Disney Animation should become a stand-by queue for Animation Academy, while FastPass+ guests are routed past eh queue and inside through doors near the former Incredibles meet and greet.

Details are still sketchy, and the only really solid information we have is that the space is closing for some reason very soon. Obviously, this is all connected to the ongoing, unannounced expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios which may or may not finally be announced at the 2015 D23 Expo and this is a park-capacity change that would help them handle crowds better during periods of heavy construction.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Tom Corless