Disney shared a rare look inside the Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida building backstage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where “Lilo & Stitch” and other Walt Disney Animation Studios classics were created.
In addition to a tour and a look back on the division’s history, Disney Parks Blog also interviewed Clark Spencer, the producer of the animated “Lilo & Stitch” and current president of Disney Animation.
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida History
Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida operated from 1989 to 2004. Here, Walt Disney Animation Studios worked on classics like “The Little Mermaid” (1989), “Beauty and the Beast” (1991), “Aladdin” (1992), and “The Lion King” (1994). During the early years, guests could watch animators work with The Magic of Disney Animation tour. That facility is now Star Wars Launch Bay.
The four-story Feature Animation building was constructed in the late ’90s around the release of “Mulan” (1998). A grand opening ceremony was held on April 22, 1998, the same day Disney’s Animal Kingdom opened. It was a blustery day, Rain Blanken explained in the Disney Parks Blog post, saying, “[Michael] Eisner’s tie blew over his shoulder as [Roy E.] Disney started to compare the overcast day to the time his uncle Walt orchestrated the 1960 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies.”
The opening ceremonies were almost canceled, but “The sky opened up, the sun shone down on the ceremony, and it was perfect.” As the wind picked up at Feature Animation, Roy E. Disney continued, “And ever since then, it was known as ‘Walt’s Miracle.’ We all believe to this day that if Walt likes stuff we do, he brings the good weather …”
And, according to Disney Parks Blog, the wind suddenly stopped, and the sun came out. Roy smiled and concluded, “And he loves it!”
The Making of “Lilo & Stitch”
A small section on the first floor of the new building became part of The Magic of Disney Animation tour thanks to a set of windows where the buildings connected. Guests watched as “Lilo & Stitch” (2002) was developed under the direction of Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois. Sanders also famously voiced Stitch while DeBlois helped shape the story.
Clark Spencer managed the film budget and creative decisions, giving Sanders, DeBlois, and the animation team “freedom to get weird.” Here’s the interview with Spencer from Disney Parks Blog.
Rain: Was there an ‘ah-ha’ moment that changed the course of the making of Lilo & Stitch that you want our readers to know more about?
Clark: “When director Chris Sanders first started development on Lilo & Stitch, the story was set in Kansas — not Hawai‘i. In telling a story of an alien creature landing on Earth and being mistaken for a dog, Chris knew the story needed to take place in a remote, small-town setting where Stitch could more easily blend in, and Kansas seemed like the perfect place.
“But after taking a trip to Hawai‘i, everything changed. Chris was sitting in his office thinking fondly of his amazing vacation and looking at a map of the Hawaiian islands when he thought to himself, ‘What is more remote than an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
And that changed everything about the story — bringing in the culture and beauty of Hawai‘i and its people. It also gave the story its emotional core: Ohana means family, and family means nobody gets left behind or forgotten.”
Rain: What was really cool about working at Feature Animation in Florida?
Clark: “One of the most amazing things about working at Disney Animation Florida was the fact that the studio was in the middle of the theme park. And whenever you were having a difficult day, all you had to do was walk into the theme park to be reminded of what a privilege it is to work at a company whose stories and characters impact people all around the world.
It was truly a powerful experience. It was also pretty cool to see and experience the ‘behind the scenes’ at Disney Parks. The organization and precision it takes to manage such a vast operation is truly amazing and makes producing an animated film seem easy!”
Rain: Since Lilo & Stitch, you’ve had the chance to see how the animation process has changed. Can you talk a bit about the development of animation from your perspective?
Clark: “The animation industry has certainly evolved over the past 23 years since ‘Lilo & Stitch’ was released. As I reflect on my career, I feel so lucky to have been a part of incredible hand-drawn films like ‘Lilo & Stitch,’ and ‘Winnie The Pooh’ (2011) as well as CG-animated films like ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ (2012), ‘Zootopia’ (2016) and ‘Encanto’ (2021).
“And while the tools have changed, the one constant is the artist at the heart of each Disney Animation film. There are 24 frames per second, and the artist is sculpting each frame to bring the characters and the world to life in a believable way. I am still in awe of the talent, the passion and the care that is in each and every film made at the studio.”
Inside Feature Animation Today
Though Walt Disney Animation Studios no longer makes movies at Walt Disney World Resort, the Feature Animation building is still standing and used as Disney Experiences offices. The Digital Integration team, including Rain (Disney Parks Blog Editorial Optimization Manager), works in the building. As she describes, “On quiet days in my office, about every 10 minutes or so, I can hear Slinky Dog say ‘…woah!’ as he winds again through Toy Story Land. When I walk to my car later, the aroma of “Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs” at Roundup Rodeo BBQ will tempt me.”
In the building’s lobby are vehicles from two defunct Magic Kingdom attractions: “Sneezy,” one of the log ride vehicles of Snow White’s Scary Adventures, and “Winky,” a blue Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride car. Cast Members gather in the lobby for special events like a recent Earth Day celebration. To the left is the Screening Room, where animators previewed their films, including “Lilo & Stitch.”
A display case takes up most of the left wall down the main hallway.
In this case are over 50 background prints and sketches from Disney Animation films including “Meet the Robinsons,” “Alice in Wonderland,” and “Hercules.”
Behind aqua porthole window double doors are blue pencil sketch murals of Stitch, Simba, and Mushu.
The atrium and stairway have the same color scheme and much of the same decor as in the animation days, seen in these pics from 2001 and 2025. A skylight apex is above four stories of balconies, bridges, and glass block panels. The “interplay” between floors is a running architectural theme reflecting a cartoonish spirit.
In the atrium, a Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride vehicle appears to be mid-flight amid tropical foliage. He’s been there since the building opened.
Each floor of the Feature Animation building is themed to a different film worked on by the Florida animation team. In addition to framed sketches, storyboards, and character studies, there are murals demonstrating animation methods. Meeting rooms are named after characters. The first floor is themed to “Brother Bear” (2003) with Denahi and Sitka conference rooms.
Frosted windows on the first floor are a remnant of where guests could watch animators at work. The grand lighting around the corner emulates the Art Deco style of the Disney’s Hollywood Studios entrance gate.
The second floor is “Mulan”-themed. Artwork on display includes a color study for the “I’ll Make a Man Out of You” scene and a Grandmother Fa sketch collection.
The third floor is dedicated to “Lilo & Stitch.” An Elvis Presley “Blue Hawaii” record is framed at the floor’s entrance. There are character studies of Stitch and Lilo near the stairway and a Cobra Bubbles Conference Room.
A vintage animation desk, complete with a light box, is next to film editing equipment on the third floor.
The fourth floor is based on “The Lion King.” About 20 minutes of the film, including the “I Just Can’t Wait to be King” sequence, was animated by the Florida team. There are Timon and Nala meeting rooms.
This shelf is full of specialty paints and inks that were used by animators. Colors include “Disney Bengal Rose” and “Disney Cobalt Green.”
In the former mailroom is a wall of preserved animation team notes and sketches, including the autographs of Clark Spencer, Chris Sanders, and Roy E. Disney.
Do you remember watching animators during The Magic of Disney Animation? Let us know in the comments.
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