Step into a new Animation Academy experience with Olaf Draws!, where everyone’s favorite snowman takes center stage as your host. Olaf invites guests of all ages to explore the art of character drawing.
Olaf Draws!
Brought to life as an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure, Olaf welcomes you into a space inspired by one of his most memorable moments from Once Upon A Studio sitting at an animator’s desk.
Stepping into a reimagined animator’s studio with playful nods to Frozen, guests of all ages are invited to sit down and learn to draw. Young animators in the making can spark their creativity at sleigh‑themed tables, while animator‑desk–style workstations invite kids at heart to feel as though they’ve stepped right into the studio.
Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, recorded original dialogue for the experience.
“I’m so thrilled that a whole new generation of kids can dream of becoming animators one day and can actually begin their journey right there on the studio lot,” Gad shared, underscoring how Olaf Draws! turns imagination into possibility.
Since Olaf can’t quite draw on his own, he turns to the expertise of some legendary Disney Animation artists whose pre-recorded guidance brings the class to life. Together, they guide you step-by-step through the creative process, sharing tips, techniques, and stories straight from the studio as you learn how beloved Disney Animation characters come to life.
Each class features a different character, including:
- Mickey Mouse, with Dan Abraham, director (Once Upon A Studio, Baymax!)
- Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog)
- Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (Once Upon A Studio, Moana 2)
- Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (Aladdin, Hercules)
- Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (Encanto, Zootopia 2)
- Stitch, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (Wish, Raya and the Last Dragon)
- Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (Once Upon A Studio, Frozen 3)
- Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (Big Hero 6, Encanto)
- Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard director, (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)
As you explore The Magic of Disney Animation, you’ll discover an enchanted art gallery, filled with artwork featuring Disney Animation characters. At first glance, it feels like a traditional gallery, but with a little pixie dust your favorite character may spring to life in all-new animations created exclusively for this experience.
Next, head to the Once Upon A Studio Theater, where you can enjoy the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio. It honors more than a century of Disney Animation storytelling, and enhanced effects add an extra layer of magic.
As you enjoy the film, you may spot characters popping up within the artwork along the theater walls, placing you right in the middle of this story.
The Magic of Disney Animation was an attraction in Animation Courtyard from the park’s opening in 1989 to 2015, when it was replaced by Star Wars: Launch Bay. It included a behind-the-scenes look into the Disney Feature Animation building where classics like “Lilo & Stitch” were created. The Florida animation studio closed in 2004.
The experience will return in late summer 2026 as a “place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences.”
Read more about the experiences coming to Hollywood Studios later this summer, including six new meet and greets and a new Mickey Mouse Clubhouse show.
FIRST LOOK: Olaf Draws! Coming To The Magic of Disney Animation
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