A new Disney Parks Blog is out featuring photos of the Animation Building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The commentary and rare look inside has many people wondering why Disney kept this nearly-vacant structure and destroyed, instead, Muppetvision for their Monsters Inc attraction upcoming. So, let’s dive into what the building is, what it was created to be, and the wasted space it has now become… even if we love the building and its history.
The Animation Building at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, once the heartbeat of the park’s celebration of Disney artistry, has undergone a significant transformation over the years. Originally home to The Magic of Disney Animation, this structure served both as a working animation studio and an educational attraction. Today, it continues to play a role in the park, albeit with a vastly different identity—now reimagined as Star Wars Launch Bay. But that’s really just the front facade. The rest of the building… and shall we say the vast majority of the building… is used for office space and cast member special events on occasion.
The interior of the Disney animation building – Disney Parks Blog
When Disney–MGM Studios (now Disney’s Hollywood Studios) opened on May 1, 1989, The Magic of Disney Animation was one of its marquee attractions. Designed by Walt Disney Imagineering in collaboration with BRC Imagination Arts, the building housed both a public exhibition space and a functioning branch of Walt Disney Feature Animation.
Guests entered through the Animation Courtyard and were treated to a short film titled Back to Never Land, starring Robin Williams and Walter Cronkite, which offered a humorous yet informative look at the animation process. Following the film, visitors toured areas where real Disney animators were working on upcoming feature films, including Mulan and Lilo & Stitch.
A cell of Lilo in the Disney animation building – Disney Parks Blog
The experience was immersive and educational. Guests could try their hand at drawing Disney characters, explore sound mixing and colorization stations, and watch clips of Disney classics in a finale theater. Over time, the pavilion added attractions such as Animation Academy, meet-and-greet spaces with characters, and a small gallery paying tribute to legendary Disney animators.
The attraction remained a fan favorite for more than 25 years. However, on July 12, 2015, The Magic of Disney Animation officially closed, marking the end of an era for Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Looking up at The Hollywood Tower Hotel (The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror) at Disney-MGM Studios at Walt Disney World, December 2004. Photo Credit: The original uploader was Techclub at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons
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Later that same year, in December 2015, Disney reopened the front queue space for the building as Star Wars Launch Bay. This marked a strategic shift for the park, aligning with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm and the renewed global popularity of the Star Wars franchise.
Star Wars Launch Bay transformed the former animation space into an interactive walk-through exhibit. Visitors can view props, models, costumes, and artwork from various films in the Star Wars saga. The space also features short films about the making of the franchise and offers photo opportunities with characters such as Chewbacca, Darth Vader, and BB-8.
Though not as creatively immersive as its predecessor, the Launch Bay continues to drew crowds for a short period of time—particularly younger visitors and Star Wars enthusiasts—looking to experience a slice of galactic adventure within the park. Today it can be a spot to hide from crowds, even if it’s not great for escaping the heat.
The Disney Animation building screening room and Winky car – Disney Parks Blog
While the public-facing portion of the Animation Building has changed dramatically, much of the original structure still serves as a working space. The backstage area—formerly known as the Feature Animation Florida wing—remains intact and functions as a multi-level office building.
This wing was designed during the 1990s boom in Disney animation and features interior themes inspired by films developed there, such as Brother Bear, Lilo & Stitch, and Mulan. The décor includes preserved murals, character sketches, and even a full-size Dumbo ride vehicle installed in the atrium as a nod to Disney’s animation legacy.
Although the animation team that once occupied the building disbanded years ago, the creative spirit of the space lives on. Today, it houses offices and may occasionally be used for media development or as overflow space for creative teams.
Voyage of the Little Mermaid via DFBGuide YouTUbe
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In addition to Star Wars Launch Bay, the surrounding Animation Courtyard now hosts other family-friendly experiences. These include:
- Disney Junior Play & Dance! – a lively interactive stage show for younger children featuring characters from Disney Junior programming.
- The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure – a stage production based on the beloved animated classic.
- Walt Disney Presents – a walk-through museum exhibit dedicated to Walt Disney’s life, featuring concept art, scale models, and rotating sneak peeks at upcoming projects.
Ultimately, one has to wonder why The Animation Building still exists in prime theme park space today given its non-use as a theme park asset. The structure at Disney’s Hollywood Studios has shifted from a tribute to traditional hand-drawn animation to a ghost town.
A screenshot of Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D at Disney’s Hollywood Studios via DocumentDisney YouTUbe
While the public-facing attractions may have evolved to reflect Disney’s changing content priorities, the building’s foundational role in storytelling and imagination continues only in memory for those few who are invited behind its locked doors. Why it still stands while Muppetvision was evicted is a hard question to answer.
Why do you think the Disney animation building is still there? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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