The Magic of Disney Animation within the new-look courtyard at Hollywood Studios is the final large addition of Summer time 2026 that’s but to debut, and Walt Disney World has pulled again the curtain at what’s below the Large Sorcerers Hat. Right here’s a brand new constructing map, idea artwork, different particulars and our commentary.
As fundamental background, the Walt Disney Studios Lot replaces the previous Animation Courtyard at Hollywood Studios. The most important change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing is taking on the previous Star Wars Launch Bay house, and can home a ‘what’s previous is new once more’ return of “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The courtyard itself is now open, as is the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reside dance social gathering. The redone space exudes heat (figuratively), whereas additionally providing shade and defending visitors from the (literal) warmth, making it a spot individuals need to spend time. It’s a small factor when evaluating a theme park “on paper,” however an enormous win for the in-person visitor expertise.
I’ve spent a number of time within the Walt Disney Studios Lot over the course of the final week, and have been struck by simply what number of visitors are hanging round and having fun with the house. Animation Courtyard had ‘useless mall vibes’ as a result of it was usually devoid of individuals, even on days when DHS was packed.
That space was empty as a result of it was an unsightly sea of concrete. It’s wild what a distinction some grass, bushes, and placemaking efforts make! It’s good to see Disney placing the theme and park again into this house, revitalizing this nook of the park and giving visitors an escape from the chaos and crowds of DHS. (Though this house now has the latter, however that ought to appropriate itself over time.)
One of many highlights within the courtyard proper now could be the free roaming characters who’re up for spontaneous interactions with visitors. Whereas we’ve solely seen characters participating in common (however enjoyable!) play, there have been viral social media posts displaying princesses studying to younger visitors on the garden, Pluto holding court docket at his nook, and extra.
This really isn’t a totally new factor! Throughout the first Cool Child(s’) Summer time, Goofy and Donald Duck performed video games with visitors, Clarabelle Cow led craft time, Chip ‘n’ Dale did chipmunk issues, and so forth. We lined this (and extra) at size in Walt Disney World Is Lastly Beginning to Get Character Experiences Proper, which was mainly about final 12 months’s Cool Child(s’) Summer time.
Though there’s precedent for free-flowing play on this space, and Walt Disney World would possibly very effectively proceed it by common visitor demand, our expectation is that this can be a momentary factor till the Magic of Disney Animation opens. A number of of the characters, most notably Mulan and Rapunzel, have been roaming the land however have everlasting locations inside at “Off the Web page.” Simply noting this to set expectations and/or so you may provide glowing visitor suggestions if you happen to expertise the spontaneous character experiences this summer time and need to inform Walt Disney World “extra like that, please!”
With the dance social gathering and out of doors areas now open in time for Cool Children’ Summer time, that leaves the principle occasion–the within of the Magic of Disney Animation–as being the one side of this space, and actually, Walt Disney World’s 2026 slate, that is still to be revealed. Right here’s the most recent on what Disney is drawing up inside…
The Magic of Disney Animation
As you discover The Magic of Disney Animation, you’ll uncover an enchanted artwork gallery, a superbly curated house full of art work that includes beloved Disney Animation characters. At first look, it looks like a conventional gallery, however with somewhat pixie mud your favourite character might spring to life in all-new animations created completely for this expertise.
This is only one of a number of interactive areas inside “The Magic of Disney Animation.” The story conceit is that the animators have quickly stepped away, however the constructing remains to be buzzing with exercise because the characters have come to life and are able to play with visitors.
Above is a playful graphic (you would possibly even say it’s a enjoyable map) that reveals what there’s to expertise all through The Magic of Disney Animation.
Drawn to Wonderland Play Space
The youngest animators-to-be can step into the whimsical world of “Drawn to Wonderland,” an indoor playground impressed by the unique Alice in Wonderland idea artwork from Disney Legend Mary Blair.
From the playful chaos of the Mad Tea Get together and Mad Hatter’s home to the Queen of Hearts’ vibrant rose backyard and the Cheshire Cat’s mysterious Tulgey Wooden, each nook invitations younger visitors to discover, transfer, and let their imaginations run wild.
“Drawn to Wonderland” involves life by means of daring colours, whimsical shapes, and Blair’s unmistakable creative model. Designed particularly for little ones, the house provides households a enjoyable, energetic place to play and recharge whereas remaining totally immersed in Disney storytelling.
Chosen for its spirit of curiosity, creativeness, and discovery, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland naturally lends itself to an setting constructed for exploration by means of lively play. Youthful visitors will love climbing, wandering, and creating their very own journey round each nook of this new playground.
Off the Web page Character Meet & Greets
You’ll additionally be capable of enterprise into “Off the Web page!” That is an space the place you may meet a few of your favourite pals from Walt Disney Animation Studios tales whereas celebrating the artistry behind each body.
You may meet Mulan within the Story division, posing in entrance of an outsized storyboard panel. Or step into the Structure division the place Rapunzel waits in a setting impressed by the traditional multiplane digicam the place you’ll see layers of backgrounds and painted cells come collectively like magic.
Collectively, these areas spotlight key levels of the animation course of, every delivered to life by means of character encounters. Characters chances are you’ll spot in Off the Web page embody:
- Mulan in Story
- Rapunzel in Structure
- Chip ‘n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy in CG Animation
- Goofy in Lighting
- Sew in Results
Olaf Attracts!
Step into a brand new Animation Academy expertise with Olaf Attracts!, the place everybody’s favourite snowman takes heart stage as your cheerful host. Together with his signature heat, optimism, and playful humor, Olaf invitations visitors of all ages to discover the artwork of character drawing.
Delivered to life as an all-new Audio-Animatronics determine, Olaf welcomes you into an area impressed by one in all his most memorable moments from As soon as Upon A Studio sitting at an animator’s desk, joyfully discovering the artwork of drawing.
Stepping right into a reimagined animator’s studio with playful nods to Frozen, visitors of all ages are invited to sit down down and be taught to attract.
Younger animators within the making can spark their creativity at sleigh‑themed tables, whereas animator‑desk–model workstations invite youngsters at coronary heart to really feel as if they’ve stepped proper into the studio.
Since Olaf can’t fairly draw on his personal, he turns to the experience of some legendary Disney Animation artists whose pre-recorded steerage brings the category to life. Collectively, they information you step-by-step by means of the inventive course of, sharing suggestions, methods, and tales straight from the studio as you learn the way beloved Disney Animation characters come to life.
Every class encompasses a totally different character, impressed by timeless classics and fashionable favorites, providing you with a novel purpose to return repeatedly. Chances are you’ll end up sketching:
- Mickey Mouse, with Dan Abraham, director (As soon as Upon A Studio, Baymax!)
- Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (Frozen 2, The Princess and the Frog)
- Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (As soon as Upon A Studio, Moana 2)
- Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (Aladdin, Hercules)
- Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (Encanto, Zootopia 2)
- Sew, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (Want, Raya and the Final Dragon)
- Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (As soon as Upon A Studio, Frozen 3)
- Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (Large Hero 6, Encanto)
- Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard director, (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)
Whereas the Olaf AA is cool and children will find it irresistible, shedding the dwell animators is a big blow. Every thing else about this reimagining is an unequivocal win, so it’s disappointing to see the in any other case heat and welcoming reimagining tainted by shedding the human contact.
As soon as Upon a Studio & Extra
Within the As soon as Upon A Studio Theater, you may benefit from the Emmy Award-winning quick movie that impressed all of it, As soon as Upon A Studio. Inside this devoted theater honoring greater than a century of Disney Animation storytelling, enhanced results add an additional layer of magic.
As you benefit from the movie, chances are you’ll spot characters popping up inside the art work alongside the theater partitions, inserting you proper in the midst of this enchanting story.
Magic of Disney Animation Opening Timeline
Walt Disney World has not but introduced a gap date and even month for the Animation Constructing itself, simply “late summer time 2026.”
In Disneyspeak, late summer time would usually goal the stretch between Independence Day and the top of July. As soon as August rolls round, it’s again to high school and the early fall low season. Walt Disney World often doesn’t debut new choices in August, as that’s a much less splashy time.
Relating to the Magic of Disney Animation, we hesitate to make any predictions as to timing. Reworking this house from Star Wars Launch Bay again to the Animation Constructing is a serious enterprise, and on a decent timeline. There are additionally a number of distinct choices and areas below the Sorcerer Hat, that means there’s all the time the chance areas open in phases (to the extent doable).
I wouldn’t be shocked if the Magic of Disney Animation slips to Fall 2026. It actually will depend on whether or not Walt Disney World needs capability to return on-line as shortly as doable (by which case it’ll open when it opens) or they need to maintain it again for a bit extra fanfare (by which case October 1, 2026 is the odds-on favourite).
Finally, the Walt Disney Studios Lot is already a serious placemaking win, and we’re actually trying ahead to the reimagined Magic of Disney Animation. This needs to be yet one more singles and doubles success for Walt Disney World; one in all a number of such in 2026.
This land has gone from one in all my most-hated in all of Walt Disney World to the land the place, realistically, our household might be going to be spending probably the most time within the subsequent few years. I’m already very a lot trying ahead to that indoor playground after just a few days within the triple-digit warmth and need it might be fast-tracked.
I additionally hope that the free roaming characters stick round even after “Off the Web page” opens. This can be a lesson Walt Disney World ought to’ve realized from Disneyland years in the past, and we’ve been beating this drum since ~2019. They’re lastly getting it proper, and the visitor response has already been unbelievable. Having the Walt Disney Studio Lot be the house of animated characters come to life, in and out, appears becoming. It might give the already pretty courtyard an actual lived-in high quality!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited to expertise the Magic of Disney Animation? Wanting ahead to spending time within the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Every other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
