INSIDE LOOK: The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios
The human imagination is a beautiful thing, and it’s something that’s celebrated at the recently unveiled The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios. Disney Imagineers and Live Entertainment producers created this new experience as a space where families are encouraged to play (you'll find the most magical indoor playground here), embrace their creativity, and immerse themselves in the nostalgia of beloved Disney films in a way they've never been able to before.
And here's the best part…it's indoors.
The Magic of Disney Animation is Built on Legacy
As I tell my kids, “back in my day”… from 1989 to 2004, The Magic of Disney building was once home to the Florida division of Walt Disney Feature Animation. If you visited back then, you might remember touring here and watching Disney animators at work.
Those animators created some pretty major films here, including two your kids probably adore: “Mulan” (1998) and “Lilo & Stitch” (2002). In a sweet nod to those movies, you can now peer through those very same viewing windows from back in the day and catch a glimpse of Mulan and Stitch in the new “Off the Page” character greeting area before heading down to meet them in real life! It's a pretty cool full-circle moment.
A Space to Play and Inspire Future Animators
The Magic of Disney Animation is a joy to explore, and it’s even better that it’s indoors. All 65 of Disney’s animated films are featured in some way here, including “Hexed,” which comes out in November.
Kids can not only see the evolution of animation, but also learn more about HOW animators do it—from storyboarding, sketching, their use of 3D character sculptures called maquettes for visualization, and so much more. They can even learn how to draw Disney characters themselves with the help of actual Disney artists and directors.
And this is what's so magical about the whole experience …its potential to inspire a future generation of artists, animators, and story creators. This was very much intentional.
Speaking of this building serving as a place of inspiration…
There’s a lot of inspiration to go around here, but we’ll start with what inspired the story of The Magic of Disney Animation and the Animation Courtyard outside…
It was the Emmy Award-winning short film “Once Upon a Studio.”
The film is set at the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. The plot, in a nutshell: the animators have taken a break for lunch, and 100 years of Disney animated characters leap from their pages and frames to take over the building and snap their 100-year group photo. (You can watch it on Disney+ and a special version here at The Magic of Disney with fun new interactive elements.)
The building here at Hollywood Studios is modeled after the Roy E. Disney Animation Studio, Mickey’s sorcerer hat and all, and just like in the film, the characters have taken over to host an Open House to welcome you in.
Dan Abraham co-directed the film and was a part of the team that dreamed up everything we get to experience here at Hollywood Studios today.
And here's where his own story of inspiration comes into play…Abraham used to work here at Hollywood Studios and would frequently visit the animation studio, dreaming big of becoming an animator one day.
“I worked in this park in 1993 as an attractions host. I was doing Superstar Television and Monster Sound Show, and I would come over here to the animation building constantly because I wanted to get into animation, and I'm so happy and lucky that I was able to do that,” he told our group during a sneak peek hosted by Disney.
While his love for Disney animation grew while working here at Hollywood Studios, it was sparked by an outing with his mom. (Go, mom!)
“My mom took me to the theater to see a reissue of “Lady and the Tramp.” And that movie, I just couldn't believe what I was looking at. I mean, that's the first movie in Cinemascope. Yeah. That's right, the first Disney movie in Cinemascope,” he said. “And it was happening to me. It got into my brain, it got into my heart, it never left. Still to this day, thank you, Mom, for taking me to a really great one that has stood the test of time.”
His dreams are still coming true! Abraham is also one of the 9 artists who walk you through “Olaf Draws,” and he gets to teach you how to draw the mouse that started it all…Mickey Mouse. For your kids, his story proves that anything is possible when you follow your dreams!
Now, let’s dive into the new ways to play and explore The Magic of Disney Animation:
Drawn to Wonderland playground
We’re going to start here because…we’re in Florida and it’s hot. But honestly, this new indoor playground, inspired by the Disney Legend Mary Blair’s concept art for “Alice in Wonderland”, is an escape from reality.
Like her art, the space is bold and dreamlike, and the play structures are everything little kids want: slides, climbing structures, a hedge maze with lots of hidden Mickeys to find, and of course, the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Table filled with fun surprises for kids.
Here’s the bonus for YOU…not only do your kids get the wiggles out here, but there is also more than enough seating for you to relax and plenty of outlets to charge devices while you recharge.
Related: A magical afternoon at Disney's Tea Experience at Grand Floridian Resort
Once Upon a Studio Film
You can sit down to watch the “Once Upon a Studio” short that inspired it all here. While you can watch it on Disney+, the experience here includes some new animations and immersive moments as the photos alongside the wall spring to life.
Just outside the theater, you'll find a few interactive Photo Pass frames where you can interact with characters with the swipe of your Magic Band and pose for a photo at the end. The walls are also lined with picture frames that just might leap to life if you're patient and wait.
Olaf Draws
We are so excited about this experience returning to Disney with a new storyline featuring Olaf, who has made his way from the frame to the animator’s desk! There are nine different characters you can learn how to draw alongside Olaf, led by Disney animators and directors.
- Mickey Mouse, with Dan Abraham, director (“Once Upon A Studio,” “Baymax!”)
- Minnie Mouse, with Hyun Min Lee, animator (“Frozen 2,” “The Princess and the Frog”)
- Donald Duck, with Austin Traylor, animator (“Once Upon A Studio,” “Moana 2”)
- Genie, with Eric Goldberg, animator (“Aladdin,” “Hercules”)
- Moana, with Samantha Vilfort, story artist (“Encanto,” “Zootopia 2”)
- Stitch, with Fawn Veerasunthorn, director and head of story (“Wish,” “Raya and the Last Dragon”)
- Olaf, with Trent Correy, director (“Once Upon A Studio,” “Frozen 3”)
- Ursula, with Michael Woodside, animator (“Big Hero 6,” “Encanto”)
- Judy Hopps & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard, director (“Zootopia,” “Zootopia 2”)
We hear there will be a Virtual Queue in place on busier days, but otherwise, it will be a standby line. The entire building is meant for free roaming, so there isn't a pattern you have to follow. You can “draw” your own experience!
Off the Page
Like the Disney short, “Once Upon a Studio”, your favorite Disney characters leap “off the page” and into our world for IRL meet-and-greets! Each character is in a different part of the animation studio, from the multi-plane glass panels of layout once used to create depth to the computer animation used today. The backdrops are as much of an experience as the perfect photo op!
Here’s who you may meet:
- Mulan in Story
- Rapunzel in Layout
- Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy in Computer Animation
- Goofy in Lighting
- Stitch in Effects
And there's so much more…
There is so much to see here; after all, we are talking about 100+ years of Disney animation history. Disney Imagineers say this space was built for families to play, and they want you to explore like a kid, no matter how old you are.
So stop by here to savor the moment and the nostalgia of the Disney films that captured your heart, and create new forever memories with your kids!
More ways to experience Disney Animation IRL:
- Explore the Walt Disney Presents exhibit at Hollywood Studios to learn about the history of Disney Animation.
- Go see Cirque Du Soleil “Drawn to Life” at Disney Springs
- Book a stay at Disney’s World of Animation Resort
- Learn more: disneyanimation.com (You can also learn about career and internship opportunities here.)
Is your child an aspiring artist or creator? There’s an art class for that in Tampa Bay:
- Tampa Museum of Art hosts Digital & Animation Workshops for teens.
- Tampa Theatre will soon be expanding its film education programs for all ages.
- Dunedin Fine Arts Center offers storytelling and creative writing classes for character development, along with art classes for kids and teens.
- Check the classes offered at your local library!