The “Get Animated!” dance party and other new Animation Courtyard entertainment have soft opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for Cool Kid Summer. During a soft opening, experiences may not be available or may change. The experiences are scheduled to officially open on May 27.
“Get Animated!” at Animation Courtyard
There are colorful picnic tables with umbrellas placed along the outskirts of Animation Courtyard, perfect for anyone looking to rest or parents watching their kids have fun. The tables around one meet and greet bay appear to be where crafts will be available. A Cast Member was setting up on Sunday morning.
Mickey & Friends characters are meeting in the other meet and greet bays. Disney Junior characters previously met here, but they are now exclusively inside the dance party. As WDWNT previously reported, the walls of the meet and greets were painted with new murals.
All of the new murals and decorations in the courtyard are inspired by animation, featuring pencils and paint.
Character Encounters
Some of these characters previously appeared elsewhere in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but they have been moved to Animation Courtyard for the summer. Meet and greet times are available in the My Disney Experience app, but for the most part, they appear every 20 minutes, with their final sets beginning at 4:10 or 4:20 p.m.
Max Goof
Max Goof is appearing in the meet and greet space on the right when facing the Animation Courtyard theater exit.
Daisy Duck
Daisy Duck is in the bay on the left, on the other side of the exit doors from Max.
Chip ‘n’ Dale
Chip ‘n’ Dale are in the space on the far left, closest to the theater’s entrance.
Donald Duck
Instead of having a set meet and greet, Donald is roaming Animation Courtyard. He also participates in the magician’s show, which we cover further along in this article.
Goofy
Goofy is also roaming. He liked watching the jump rope team — but thankfully didn’t try to join them. He does help the clown performer.
Clarabelle Cow
Clarabelle is also making a rare appearance. She sat down at the craft table with kids.
Entertainment
These entertainment offerings are not yet listed in the My Disney Experience app but appear to rotate periodically throughout the day.
Clown
The clown is dressed like an animator, with a pouch of pencils at his side. He does a juggling act with Goofy’s assistance.
He also participates with the audience using his sketchbook. Donald watched the clown’s performance.
His box of supplies features artwork reading “Dept. of Reference Material.”
Magician
The magician is CJ McSundae. He does an ice cream-themed act, with his box of supplies resembling an ice cream cooler.
Donald helped with his performance.
He ended up with his hands full of ice cream cones. He didn’t look too upset, though.
CJ McSundae invites kids from the audience to do an ice cream balancing act.
Jumping Beans
The Jumping Beans perform jump rope tricks at the back of the courtyard, near Star Wars Launch Bay. They’re a trio of jumpers with two long ropes.
All of the performers have ropes on the ground to indicate how far away guests should stay. It’s especially important to give the Jumping Beans space.
Annie Mater
Annie Mater is a host who wanders the courtyard, helping guests get hype and assisting the characters. Her name is a pun on the word “animator,” and she wears paint-splattered overalls.
“Get Animated!” Dance Party
It’s time to get animated! “Disney Jr. Play and Dance!” has been temporarily replaced by “Get Animated!” in the Animation Courtyard theater. This DJ dance party is ongoing throughout the day, so it does not have set performance times.
Without set performance times, there’s no real need for a queue, so picnic tables have been placed in the outdoor queue.
All of the “Disney Jr. Play and Dance!” characters hang out in the theater, playing and dancing on the floor with guests. A few Cast Members are on hand to supervise.
A DJ is on stage spinning tunes. The theater’s large screens, including the stage screen, feature artwork of a Polynesian island with palm trees and volcanoes.
Smaller screens rotate between the “Get Animated!” and “Cool Kid Summer” graphics.
There were hula hoops on the floor for kids and characters to play with. Beach balls and blow-up dice were also on the stage, either as props or for play.
Guests will encounter Mickey in his “Roadster Racers” jumpsuit, Pluto, Timon, Fancy Nancy, Vampirina, and Doc McStuffins. Though the theater is open all throughout the day, the characters will take breaks, so you aren’t guaranteed to see all of them at one time.
Mickey, Timon, and Fancy Nancy all went to the front of the room to lead guests in the “Cha Cha Slide.”
Video
Watch our video of all the “Get Animated!” offerings in Animation Courtyard for Cool Kid Summer:
Cool Kid Summer offerings are scheduled through September 1. “Disney Jr. Play and Dance!” is expected to return after that time.
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