Walt Disney World has shared new particulars about new points of interest & experiences coming to “The Magic of Disney Animation” within the new-look Walt Disney Studios Lot land at Hollywood Studios, together with an Olaf Audio Animatronics determine and extra. This shares the most recent bulletins, a gap timeline, and our commentary concerning the good, dangerous & ugly of this information.
As fundamental background, Animation Courtyard is presently being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot at Hollywood Studios. The largest change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing is changing Star Wars Launch Bay, and can home an all-new household expertise, “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The Walt Disney Studios Lot and “The Magic of Disney Animation” will open in phases throughout Summer time 2026 (extra on the timeline under). The present courtyard, minus the Little Mermaid musical, all closed late final September. Character meet & greets have been relocated across the park to accommodate the closure.
Development crews have been onerous at work on Animation Courtyard within the months because it closed. The largest seen adjustments are pavement substitute and new hardscape work so as to add extra inexperienced areas for play and leisure; as we reported earlier this month, that features within the set up of mature timber, superb timber!
One other key element of the Walt Disney Studios Lot mission is the transformation of Star Wars Launch Bay into the Roy E. Disney Animation Constructing. Crews are presumably onerous at work on reimagining that area, and have been since final September. The largest seen (to us) milestone is a big Sorcerer Mickey hat that ought to quickly be added (permits had been just lately filed for that work).
Walt Disney World has made some new bulletins about what’ll be inside “The Magic of Disney Animation” when the new-look attraction debuts in Summer time 2026. Let’s have a look inside, beginning with what’s newly-announced…
As soon as Upon a Studio
As you discover The Magic of Disney Animation, you’ll uncover an enchanted artwork gallery, a superbly curated area stuffed with paintings that includes beloved Disney Animation characters. At first look, it seems like a conventional gallery, however with a bit pixie mud your favourite character might spring to life in all-new animations created completely for this expertise!
From there, your journey continues within the As soon as Upon A Studio Theater, the place you may benefit from the Emmy Award-winning quick movie 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 throughout the paintings alongside the theater partitions, putting you proper in the course of this enchanting story.
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 buddies from Walt Disney Animation Studios tales whereas celebrating the artistry behind each body.
Every area presents unbelievable photograph alternatives with a few of your favourite characters. You possibly can 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 basic multiplane digital camera 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 way of character encounters. A few of character you might even see are:
- 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
Each nook of “Off the Web page!” is designed to immerse you within the craft of animation, as this expertise is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Dan Abraham, Walt Disney Animation Studios Director and co-director of the As soon as Upon a Studio quick, says he can’t wait to see what company dream up after visiting the area.
“It’s so cool since you’re ready in line to have enjoyable with the characters… and also you’re attending to see a little bit of historical past of the studio as effectively,” Abraham stated. “It may very effectively encourage folks to maneuver our studio into the long run once they [join Walt Disney Animation Studios] and keep it up this legacy that has meant a lot to so many individuals.”
We already knew that “Off the Web page” would function six totally different character meet & greets; we simply didn’t know the characters. That’s a very wholesome quantity for a single land, however not shocking. Disney’s Hollywood Studios actually has a strong roster of character meet & greets. We’d’t be shocked to see just a few relocated from elsewhere within the park to this area.
An Audio Animatronics Olaf Attracts!
Step into a brand new Animation Academy expertise with Olaf Attracts!, the place everybody’s favourite snowman takes middle stage as your cheerful host. Together with his signature heat, optimism, and playful humor, Olaf invitations company 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 considered one of 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, company of all ages are invited to sit down down and study to attract.
Younger animators within the making can spark their creativity at sleigh‑themed tables, whereas animator‑desk–model workstations invite children at coronary heart to really feel as if they’ve stepped proper into the studio.
The completely satisfied snowman’s spirit of curiosity and encouragement is what impressed Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, as he recorded unique dialogue for the expertise whereas additionally contemplating what it’d spark in younger artists.
“I’m so thrilled that a complete new era of youngsters can dream of turning into animators in the future and might truly start their journey proper there on the studio lot,” Gad shared, underscoring how Olaf Attracts! turns creativeness into risk.
Since Olaf can’t fairly draw on his personal, he turns to the experience of some legendary Disney Animation artists whose pre-recorded steering brings the category to life. Collectively, they information you step-by-step by way of the artistic course of, sharing suggestions, strategies, and tales straight from the studio as you find out how beloved Disney Animation characters come to life.
Every class contains a totally different character, impressed by timeless classics and fashionable favorites, supplying you with a singular cause to return time and again. 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 (Huge Hero 6, Encanto)
- Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard director, (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)
Listed here are photographs launched by Walt Disney World of the animators and administrators who will seem through video to co-host Olaf Attracts on the Animation Academy:
Walt Disney Studios Lot Opens in Summer time 2026
Walt Disney World beforehand introduced that the brand new Walt Disney Studios Lot will open in Summer time 2026. This implies the land/space/miniland itself, together with the terrific timber. We count on this to occur round Might 26, 2026, which is the kickoff to this yr’s Cool Child Summer time. It’s been implied that’s when the Walt Disney Studios Lot will open, however an official date has not but been introduced. The brand new-look land opening that early can be excellent news; that’s a quick turnaround time.
Additionally anticipated to debut together with the timber in Summer time 2026 is “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reside!” This dance celebration options Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse embarking on a street journey to search out a few of their finest friends – Goofy, Daisy and Pluto – for the celebration. This present is presently proven at DCA, and shortly company will be capable of be a part of the enjoyable within the newly reimagined Walt Disney Studios space at Walt Disney World.
As somebody who has skilled “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Reside!” dozens of occasions, I can say with authority that it’s shockingly good. Higher than it has any proper to be, fairly actually. The one draw back is that it ends (spoiler alert) with an abridged model of the Scorching Canine Track, when actually that needs to be performed on loop. (Talking of which, hopefully it is a part of the BGM loop for the Walt Disney Studios Lot.)
The dangerous information is that Walt Disney World has fairly constantly indicated that the “The Magic of Disney Animation” gained’t open alongside the remainder of the Walt Disney Studios Lot. They beforehand used the phrase “later in summer season 2026” however have now switched to “late summer season 2026.” It is a distinction with a distinction.
Later in summer season technically means any date after the land itself opens. It could possibly be a single day later (however clearly wouldn’t be–they’d wait to open it ) or it could possibly be a few months later. It’s purposefully ambiguous!
In contrast, late summer season in Disney parlance usually means the tip of June or July. Generally August if the mission is a race in opposition to the clock, which very effectively is perhaps the case right here given the ambition stage. Disney doesn’t use the astronomical calendar; summer season ends with Labor Day at Walt Disney World. If “The Magic of Disney Animation” finally ends up being delayed past that, it’s Fall 2026.
I’m not going to supply any predictions as to the opening date for “The Magic of Disney Animation.” As is evident from the above, this reimagining is pretty transformative and impressive, so I may see it taking some time. Even a full yr can be spectacular turnaround. It doesn’t assist that we’ve got zero visibility as to what’s occurring contained in the constructing; that’s not one thing aerial photographs can reveal!
Our Commentary
When it comes to commentary concerning the Animation Academy, I’m actually torn about this announcement. Including an Olaf Audio Animatronics determine is nice information. We’re adamant advocates of Audio Animatronics and wish to see extra of them just about all over the place.
The ugly of this information is the flipside, which is that robotic Olaf replaces a human host animator.
All earlier variations of Animation Academy have been hosted by a dwell Solid Member who led the drawing class. This included the unique Disney’s Hollywood Studios model of the category, in addition to these in different parks.
In fairly the coincidental timing, two variations of those lessons simply ended.
The Animation Expertise at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom is now completely closed as of as we speak as Walt Disney World begins building on a Bluey takeover. Right this moment additionally marks the tip of the EPCOT Pageant of the Arts, which has its personal Animation Academy. It’s unclear whether or not that’ll providing will return throughout the 2027 model of the occasion.
The cynic in me wonders whether or not that is partly being motivated by decreasing labor prices, because the Olaf Audio Animatronics is presumably non-union (no less than, not till the prophecy of Terminator is absolutely fulfilled…and we’re racing in that path).
As somebody who feels strongly that Solid Members are quintessential to the Walt Disney World expertise, the methods these human connections are being eroded actually bothers me. Each is just a “little factor,” however these add up.
Lots of automation has been optimistic (e.g. Cell Order), however this strikes me as being extra corresponding to the elimination of tour guides aboard the Dwelling with the Land boats or former Nice Film Journey. Not utterly the identical, however in the identical ballpark. It’s a means that human contact goes lacking.
I don’t know the way the maths even is sensible. Disney spends like a drunken sailor in relation to building, however is as miserly as Scrooge in relation to operations. It would most likely take many years to recoup the preliminary funding on this Olaf Audio Animatronics, to not point out upkeep, and every little thing else developed for this, versus the labor prices of a Solid Member to function animator. It doesn’t appear to be that basically pencils out, however this sort of factor is fairly frequent.
I’ll be sincere with you, although. That was not the primary thought that got here to my thoughts as a mother or father.
Our daughter loves Olaf, who has inexplicably change into considered one of her favourite characters alongside Woody from Toy Story. She loves all issues Frozen, regardless of by no means having seen the films. She additionally loves drawing. (Or quite, coloring–however we’re getting there.)
Olaf Attracts! will mix two of her passions, and I foresee this immediately turning into considered one of her favourite points of interest in all of Walt Disney World. I wouldn’t be shocked if Animation Academy does for her and different children her age the identical the unique attraction did for me–sparking a better curiosity in artwork and animation.
Youngsters are going to like Olaf Attracts; the Animation Academy might be extra standard than ever earlier than.
The optimist in me acknowledges that recognition and visitor satisfaction are what issues most, and if Olaf Attracts delivers on these metrics, it’s a web optimistic.
The pessimist in me (once more) would argue that it’s very troublesome to quantify that aforementioned human connection, however that we already know Solid Members are the ‘secret sauce’ for Walt Disney World. A number of CEOs have stated as a lot, and we’ve attended shows by Disney management specializing in how Solid Member interactions are integral to general visitor satisfaction scores.
It may not present up on a survey about this specific attraction, however loses like this positively do matter in combination. In fact, company are nonetheless capable of have as many interactions with Solid Members as they want throughout their day at Walt Disney World, however by decreasing or outright eradicating these routine engagements from the ‘visitor journey,’ there’s a excessive chance that the common variety of interactions is on the decline.
Visitors may not be inclined to proactively reverse that, as a result of they don’t know what they don’t know. Which means that first-timers don’t go to Walt Disney World for the categorical goal of interacting with Solid Members (very clearly not; they’re going for the large rides), however when surveyed after the very fact, they report that Solid Members had been vastly consequential to the standard of their journey. That issues quite a bit!
As Walt Disney World regulars with a daughter who loves interacting with Solid Members (they’re the pleasant and enjoyable…and likewise the keepers of stickers) and likewise Olaf, that is most likely a web optimistic for us. We are able to compensate for the misplaced human connection right here by chatting with a Solid Member elsewhere. And we get one other Olaf touchpoint. It’s a win-win for us.
However not everyone seems to be us, and I fear that adjustments like this, will ostensibly optimistic, do have adverse unintended penalties for the visitor expertise as a complete, particularly that of first-timers. Like I stated initially, I’m actually torn about this.
As for the Walt Disney Studios Lot as a complete, we’re actually wanting ahead to it. This new-look space seems good for younger households, and will certainly attraction to us greater than anything in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (for now). It’s the park that gives the least to do for toddlers, and it will assist treatment that.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot is perhaps a stopgap, singles and doubles-style mission–however it has the potential to be an enormous enchancment over Animation Courtyard, and a real asset to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Dropping the useless mall vibes of this space is a big win.
Gaining an outside area with mature timber that’s truly a pleasing, shaded place to spend time needs to be an enormous win. Similar goes for having an space and points of interest that youngsters who’re too younger for Toy Story Land can take pleasure in. It’s fairly unbelievable to me that this land goes to go from considered one of my most-hated in all of Walt Disney World to the one the place, realistically, our household might be going to be spending probably the most time within the subsequent few years. We are able to’t look forward to the Walt Disney Studios Lot to open in Summer time 2026!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited concerning the addition of an Olaf Audio Animatronics determine at Animation Academy? Upset by the lack of an in-person human animator? Or a little bit of each? What do you concentrate on Animation Courtyard being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Trying ahead to an all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Some other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we can assist you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
