The Art of Animation Lobby refurbishment has begun. During the refurbishment, the entire lobby floor will be replaced. The project is expected to last until early September and walls went up overnight last night. We made it out to the resort this morning to see how much of the lobby is impacted during phase one of the work.

The main entrance from the porte-cochère is now closed off. There are plenty of Cast Members around who will be able to help direct guests who may be feeling lost.

Instead, guests are directed to the entrance near the bus stop and Ink and Paint gift shop.

It’s worth noting that Disney’s Magical Express has taken over the Disney’s Hollywood Studios bus drop off point to drop off guests arriving from the airport. That said, it still picks guests up from the porte-cochère as normal.

Once inside, the main hallway that connects the Ink and Paint gift shop with the check-in area is untouched for now.

Once you make a right at Lightning McQueen, you’ll see that more than half of the check-in area is now behind a wall.

Here’s a look back at the lobby from a recent visit.

Some more comparison photos.

Finally, here’s a look at the space that is now behind walls.

About Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Disney’s Art of Animation Resort tells the story of the animation process in phases from pencil drawings to close-ups. Each of four distinctly designed wings celebrates rich storytelling, spirited characters, original sketches and playfulness with colorful icons and whimsical theming inspired by classic Disney and Pixar films. The three-story, value resort opened in May 2012.