The Magic of Disney Animation Opens September 14th at Hollywood Studios

Walt Disney World has announced that The Magic of Disney Animation will open on September 14th at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The collection of experiences takes over the building formerly home to Star Wars: Launch Bay. It sits inside the reimagined Walt Disney Studios Lot courtyard. Disney shared the opening date alongside a first look at the individual experiences, including Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page, and Olaf Draws.

The Magic of Disney Animation Opening Date

The building sits at the center of the reimagined courtyard. Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat tops the structure, matching the real Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank. Inside, guests will explore takes on the actual studio departments. Disney Animation characters fill in for the animators, who have stepped away.

The collection includes Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page, Olaf Draws, and the Once Upon A Studio Theater. Disney has not yet detailed additional elements it has planned. A map Disney released shows the layout connecting each of these experiences within the building.

Drawn to Wonderland

Drawn to Wonderland is an indoor playground built for younger guests. It draws from the original Alice in Wonderland concept art by Disney Legend Mary Blair. The space includes the Mad Tea Party, the Mad Hatter’s house, the Queen of Hearts’ rose garden, and the Cheshire Cat’s Tulgey Wood.

Disney designed the playground for active play. It gives families a place to climb, wander, and recharge while staying immersed in the story. The bold colors and shapes draw directly from Blair’s concept art.

Off the Page

Off the Page places character meet-and-greets inside recreations of specific animation departments. Guests can meet Mulan in the Story department, posing in front of an oversized storyboard panel. Rapunzel greets guests in the Layout department, where layered backgrounds mimic a multiplane camera setup.

Additional characters include Chip ‘n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation, Donald and Daisy in Computer Animation, Goofy in Lighting, and Stitch in Effects. The experience is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Olaf Draws and Once Upon A Studio Theater

Olaf Draws replaces the traditional Animation Academy format with an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure of Olaf, seated at an animator’s desk. Guests learn character drawing techniques through recorded lessons from Disney Animation artists. Featured artists include Dan Abraham, Hyun Min Lee, Austin Traylor, Eric Goldberg, and Byron Howard, among others.

Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, recorded original dialogue for the experience.

The Once Upon A Studio Theater houses the Emmy-winning short film that inspired the entire experience. Enhanced effects place characters within the artwork lining the theater walls. An adjoining enchanted art gallery displays Disney Animation artwork, and some pieces occasionally spring to life in new animations created specifically for the space.

With the September 14th date now set, the building marks the final piece of the Walt Disney Studios Lot transformation. We’ll continue to bring you updates as that date approaches.

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!