The Magic of Disney Animation has begun a soft opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios ahead of its scheduled September 14 opening. Guests entered the new animation-focused attraction on Friday, September 11, three days before its official opening date.
The new experience occupies a building in the park’s reimagined Animation Courtyard. Disney has designed the space around animation, character encounters, and displays related to the history of Disney Animation.
During a soft opening, operating procedures and access can change. Disney has scheduled the official opening for September 14, 2026.
The building draws inspiration from the Roy E. Disney Animation Building at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California. A large Sorcerer Mickey hat sits above the structure.
What The Magic of Disney Animation Includes
The Magic of Disney Animation combines several experiences inside the building. Disney has announced “Drawn to Wonderland,” “Off the Page!,” “Olaf Draws!” and the Once Upon A Studio Theater.
The building also contains an art gallery and displays focused on Disney Animation artwork and production history. Disney says all 64 of its animated feature films appear throughout the space.
Check out some of the incredible displays featured inside The Magic of Disney Animation #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneysHollywoodStudios #DisneyParks pic.twitter.com/YILpw5Q7nm
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) September 9, 2026
Visitors can find animation sketches and other items connected with Disney films. The displays include pencil sketches of characters such as Oliver from Oliver & Company, Mr. Toad from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, and Tod and Copper from The Fox and the Hound.
The space also contains maquettes. Animators can use these small sculptures as references when developing character designs.
A Lost and Found display includes objects such as the Map Sphere from Treasure Planet and Eeyore’s tail. Other pieces include a vase depicting Hercules’ battle with the Hydra and the Sundrop Flower from Tangled.
Check out some of the incredible displays featured inside The Magic of Disney Animation #WaltDisneyWorld #DisneysHollywoodStudios #DisneyParks pic.twitter.com/YILpw5Q7nm
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) September 9, 2026
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Another area, called Treasures Untold, features objects associated with Disney Animation productions. The display includes Jiminy Cricket’s suit and gold star pin, a box of Kanine Krunchies from One Hundred and One Dalmatians, Lilo’s doll Scrump, and the collars worn by the Aristocats. The collection also includes Kuzco’s crown and earrings from The Emperor’s New Groove.
The Animator’s Office contains an animation desk preserved from the former Animation Academy at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney designed the room to resemble an animator’s workspace.
Drawn to Wonderland Provides an Indoor Play Area
“Drawn to Wonderland” is an indoor play area based on concept artwork created by Disney Legend Mary Blair for Alice in Wonderland.
The space incorporates settings from the film, including the Mad Tea Party, the Mad Hatter’s house, the Queen of Hearts’ rose garden and Tulgey Wood.
Alice has fallen down the rabbit hole again and is spending time in the Drawn to Wonderland area of The Magic of Disney Animation. #waltdisneyworld pic.twitter.com/AykhCLYaFB
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) September 11, 2026
Disney designed the area for younger children, giving families an indoor space to rest as their little ones get a chance to play and escape the Florida heat.
During the September 11 soft opening, reports documented Alice appearing in the play area.
Off the Page! Connects Characters With Animation Departments
“Off the Page!” uses character encounters to represent different stages of the animation process. The areas represent Story, Layout, Hand-Drawn Animation, Computer Animation, Lighting, and Effects.
Disney has assigned characters to each part of the experience:
- Mulan represents Story.
- Rapunzel represents Layout.
- Chip ’n’ Dale represent Hand-Drawn Animation.
- Donald and Daisy represent Computer Animation.
- Goofy represents Lighting.
- Stitch represents Effects.
The project brought together Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios.
Off the Page! at The Magic of Disney Animation features large-scale props honoring hand-drawn animation and computer animation. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/UGOIjvM2Jm
— Drew Smith (@DrewDisneyDude) September 9, 2026
Additional character appearances took place around the courtyard during the soft opening. On September 11, guests were able to interact with Pluto, Jiminy Cricket and the White Rabbit outside the building. Character appearances can vary and should not be treated as a fixed daily schedule.
Olaf Draws! Uses Audio-Animatronics Technology
“Olaf Draws!” offers a drawing class led by an Audio-Animatronics version of Olaf from Frozen. The character sits at an animator’s desk, reflecting a scene from the short film Once Upon A Studio.
The experience uses recorded guidance from Disney Animation artists. The announced classes feature characters from several Disney Animation productions. The list includes Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Genie, Moana, Stitch, Olaf, Ursula, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.
Olaf is left-handed. Huge news for the 10%. https://t.co/YlsDEyZzMZ pic.twitter.com/ykUFox7hlr
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) September 9, 2026
Disney has also announced an in-person virtual waitlist for “Olaf Draws!” during busy periods. Guests join the waitlist at the attraction rather than through the Walt Disney World mobile app.
However, the virtual waitlist was not operating during the September 11 soft opening. Guests instead used a physical queue. The procedure may change as Disney moves into regular operation.
Once Upon A Studio Theater Shows the Disney Short
The Once Upon A Studio Theater presents Disney Animation’s Once Upon A Studio. The short film inspired the new attraction and received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Animated Program.
The theater adds effects to the presentation. Disney says characters can also appear within artwork along the theater walls during the film.
MARKING 100 YEARS – Mickey and Minnie take the lead in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ new short film “Once Upon a Studio,” welcoming an all-star ensemble of beloved characters from more than 85 feature-length and short films as they assemble for a spectacular group photo to mark Disney’s 100th anniversary. Written and directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy and produced by Yvett Merino and Bradford Simonsen, “Once Upon a Studio” makes its broadcast debut on ABC on Oct. 15, 2023. © 2023 Disney. All Rights Reserved.
Once Upon A Studio centers on Disney animated characters gathering inside the Walt Disney Animation Studios building.
Magic of Disney Animation Opens After Soft-Opening Period
The Magic of Disney Animation opens officially on September 14, following its September 11 soft opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
The soft opening gave guests early access to the new attraction. It also provided an opportunity to observe how Disney operates the different experiences before the scheduled launch.
The attraction adds several animation-focused experiences to the reworked Animation Courtyard. Its offerings include character encounters, an indoor children’s play area, a drawing class, a film presentation and displays about Disney Animation history.
Are you excited to the Magic of Disney Animation? Sound off and let us know your thoughts!
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