Good morning from Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where construction walls have shifted in the former Animation Courtyard area as work continues on the Walt Disney Studios Lot area. The construction walls provide a secondary exit route for guests leaving the reimagined The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure show nearby. Here’s a look at the shift in construction walls, and some new theming added to the former Star Wars Launch Bay building.
Construction Walls Shift at Walt Disney Studios Lot
We’ll begin by taking a look at the shift in construction walls, allowing guests to walk on new pavement for the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Lot area, replacing Animation Courtyard.
First, here’s a look back at the old wall configuration. As you can see, the walls were quite close to the entrance to the Little Mermaid show, offering just a slim corridor for guests to exit the area.
Here’s a look at the updated construction wall configuration. While the path seen above still exists (albeit much slimmer than before), there is a new “main” walkway that takes guests out to new pavement poured for the Walt Disney Studios Lot.
Themed Paint for The Magic of Disney Animation Building
As crews continue to retheme the Star Wars Launch Bay into The Magic of Disney Animation, the building has been repainted, including some new theming stripes, added recently. Here’s a look!
As a reminder, the Walt Disney Studios Lot area will open in phases this Summer. Crews are putting the finishing touches on the courtyard area, which will likely open this month or early next month, ahead of the May 26th debut of the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show.
Then, later this Summer, The Magic of Disney Animation will open to guests, inviting them inside a reimagined space that formerly housed the Star Wars Launch Bay. Inside The Magic of Disney Animation, guests can expect to find the following experiences and offerings:
- Off the Page character meet & greet | Each space offers incredible photo opportunities with some of your favorite characters. You can meet Mulan in the Story department, posing in front of an oversized storyboard panel. Or step into the Layout department where Rapunzel waits in a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera where you’ll see layers of backgrounds and painted cells come together like magic.
- Olaf Draws! | Step into a new Animation Academy experience with Olaf Draws!, where everyone’s favorite snowman takes center stage as your cheerful host. With his signature warmth, optimism, and playful humor, Olaf invites guests of all ages to explore the art of character drawing.
- Enchanted Art Gallery | As you explore The Magic of Disney Animation, you’ll 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!
- Once Upon a Studio Theater | Your journey continues in the Once Upon A Studio Theater, where you can enjoy the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio. Inside this dedicated theater honoring more than a century of Disney Animation storytelling, enhanced 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.
- Drawn to Wonderland | The youngest animators-to-be can explore the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground filled with an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area, all inspired by the original “Alice in Wonderland” concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair. It’ll be the perfect whimsical indoor play area for little ones to grow “curiouser and curiouser!”
For more on the upcoming Walt Disney Studios Lot, including the retheming of the Star Wars Launch Bay and more, check out our dedicated project page below!
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!