Walt Disney World Resort in Florida has expanded its guest offerings with the official launch of a new animation experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Designed to connect visitors with the creative legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios, the attraction brings both historical and contemporary films to life through interactive exhibits, art displays and character encounters.
The Magic of Disney Animation is housed within a building designed to mirror the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. Across the venue, guests can view artwork representing all 65 feature-length animated films created by the studio to date, including concept pieces from the upcoming 2026 film Hexed.
The venue was developed through a close collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and animation filmmakers. Film director Dan Abraham worked alongside Imagineer Daniel Handke to integrate interactive elements throughout the space, taking inspiration from the short film Once Upon a Studio.
Play space and character encounters
Younger visitors can explore “Drawn to Wonderland”, an indoor play environment based on the original concept art created by Disney Legend Mary Blair for the 1951 film Alice in Wonderland. The play area features structures and landscapes inspired by the Mad Hatter’s house, the Queen of Hearts’ rose garden and the Cheshire Cat’s Tulgey Wood.
In the “Off the Page!” area, guests can meet Disney characters positioned within settings that correspond to specific steps in the animation process. The encounters feature Mulan in the story section, Rapunzel in layout, Chip ‘n Dale in hand-drawn animation, Donald and Daisy in computer animation, Goofy in lighting and Stitch in effects.
Schooled by an Audio-Animatronic
The facility also contains “Olaf Draws!”, an attraction where visitors participate in character drawing lessons. An Audio-Animatronic figure of Olaf sits at an animator’s desk to host the experience, while recorded tutorials from studio personnel guide guests through sketching techniques.
Tutorial sessions feature instruction on various characters, led by studio artists and directors. Director Dan Abraham guides the lesson for Mickey Mouse, while animator Hyun Min Lee covers Minnie Mouse. Animator Austin Traylor presents Donald Duck, animator and Disney Legend Eric Goldberg leads the Genie session, and story artist Samantha Vilfort covers Moana. Additional classes are hosted by director Fawn Veerasunthorn for Stitch, director Trent Correy for Olaf, animator Michael Woodside for Ursula, and director Byron Howard for Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
Commenting on the launch, Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, said: “I am 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.”
Theatre screening and enchanted gallery
In the Once Upon a Studio Theatre, guests can watch the short film Once Upon a Studio accompanied by physical in-theatre effects. The venue includes custom animation produced specifically for the location, displaying characters that move through the artwork along the interior walls during projections.
The experience is completed by an art gallery showcasing classic and modern Disney characters, where special effects periodically animate the displayed artwork.
The Magic of Disney Animation is a follow-up to the original version of the attraction, which operated at the then-named Disney-MGM Studios from 1989 to 2015, to be replaced by Star Wars Launch Bay, an interactive walkthrough attraction based on the Star Wars franchise.
The latest attraction is now open to guests at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which is also currently constructing Monstropolis, a new area featuring a major roller coaster and stage show inspired by the Disney-Pixar hit, Monsters, Inc.
