While the new Animation Courtyard is already open and delighting guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, there’s still more to come when The Magic of Disney Animation returns later this summer.
The positive response already to seeing Disney Animation characters leap off the screen and into our world has been staggering. This is the premise of the Emmy Award-winning short film, Once Upon A Studio, and it has inspired this reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
While guests are enjoying this space and the new Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, Disney is now sharing more of what is to come.
New Adventures Under the Sorcerer Hat
In the center of this reimagined courtyard, a building inspired by the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building will soon be home to The Magic of Disney Animation, a brand-new collection of experiences opening later this summer. Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat even sits on top of the building (just like the real building in California).
Inside, guests will interact with and explore new takes on the iconic Disney Animation headquarters, including the many different studio departments. Only this time, animated Disney characters have taken over to create the fun adventures.
Playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You can see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in Once Upon A Studio, and you can even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch. It will be a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore, bringing the wonder of animation to life like never before.
The collection of experiences will include:
- Drawn to Wonderland
- Off the Page!
- Olaf Draws!
- Once Upon A Studio Theater
- And more…
New today, Disney has released a “fun map” of the experience.
Entrance
Once guests step beneath the Sorcerer Hat, they will work their way into the courtyard at the center. From here, they can go one of two directions to get started, but they’ll all pass a welcoming series of character statues announcing an “open house” at the studio. Moana, Flounder, the Mad Hatter, and Robin Williams’ Lost Boy from the original attraction will hold up the banner. Disney promises more appearances for the Lost Boy throughout, including somewhere guests can learn the story of the character, but no real specifics were announced.
A Wonderland Made to Explore
Younger animators-to-be can step into the whimsical world of “Drawn to Wonderland,” an immersive indoor playground inspired by the original Alice in Wonderland concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair.
Guests can explore and interact with many locales from the film, from the chaos of the Mad Tea Party and Mad Hatter’s house to the Queen of Hearts’ vibrant rose garden and the Cheshire Cat’s mysterious Tulgey Wood.
“Drawn to Wonderland” comes to life through bold colors, whimsical shapes, and Blair’s unmistakable artistic style. Designed especially for little ones, the space offers families a fun, energetic place to play and recharge while remaining fully immersed in Disney storytelling.
As seen in the new concept art above, smaller guests can enjoy a roller slide, getting lost in a maze of hedges, or moving items along a course at the Mad Tea Party table. There will be ample seating for parents to recharge while the kids play, and to recharge their electronic devices.
Explore “Off the Page!” and Spot Favorite Friends
As previously announced, you’ll also be able to venture into “Off the Page!” – a stunning area where you can meet friends from Walt Disney Animation Studios stories while celebrating the artistry behind every frame.
Each space along the back wall of the building offers photo opportunities with some of your favorite characters. Together, these meet & greets highlight key stages of the animation process, each brought to life through character encounters. Some of the characters you may spot as part of this experience include:
- Mulan in Story
- Rapunzel in Layout
- Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy in Computer Animation
- Goofy in Lighting
- Stitch in Effects
Above the character backdrops, guests will find a mural featuring dozens of recognizable (and maybe some obscure) Disney characters that they can identify as they wait to meet their friends below. Imagineers told us that every-single Disney Animation Studios film will be represented somewhere in the attraction and its courtyard.
Just beyond these spaces, labeled in red on the map, is a “reception” lounge with ample seating and big, open windows that look into “Off the Page!”. Guests can relax in a climate-controlled environment themed to the reception desk of the studio, all while once again utilizing the windows that once looked into the real, working animation studio. This view will now include a wide view of the the plethora of characters meet & greets.
Dan Abraham, Walt Disney Animation Studios Director and co-director of Once Upon a Studio, says he can’t wait to see what guests dream up after visiting the space.
“It’s so cool to have fun with characters… that you’ve seen in these films, and you’re getting to see a bit of the history of the studio as well,” Abraham said. “Back when this was a working animation studio, it inspired so many people to become animators… Hopefully, this new version will do the same.”
Learn to Draw with Olaf!
Also previously announced, “Olaf Draws!” is where everyone’s favorite snowman brings you along to learn character drawing from some of the biggest names in Disney animation.
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, joyfully discovering the art of drawing.
You’ll go step-by-step through the creative process, guided by Disney Animation artists through recorded tips, techniques, and stories from inside the studio.
Classes will feature characters from both timeless classics and modern favorites. You may find yourself sketching:
- 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)
The happy snowman’s spirit of curiosity and encouragement is what inspired Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, as he recorded original dialogue for the experience while also considering what it might spark in young artists.
“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.
Once Upon A Studio Theater and More
Inside the Once Upon A Studio Theater, you can enjoy the Emmy Award-winning short film that inspired it all, Once Upon A Studio. Inside this dedicated theater, special 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 enchanting story.
You can also discover an enchanted art gallery, a beautifully curated space filled with artwork featuring beloved 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!
What upcoming experience in The Magic of Animation are you most excited for? Let us know on social media!
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
