The Magic of Disney Animation has a confirmed opening date. Disney has announced that its new indoor pavilion at Hollywood Studios, inspired by the Emmy-winning short Once Upon A Studio, opens on 14th September. The outdoor courtyard around it, along with a new stage show, has already been open to guests since late May.
Article Summary
- Opening date: The Magic of Disney Animation opens on 14th September, inside the building that used to house Star Wars Launch Bay.
- Already open: The reimagined outdoor courtyard, now called the Walt Disney Studios lot, and the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show have been open since 26th May.
- What's inside: A new indoor playground called Drawn to Wonderland, character meet and greets in Off the Page!, an Olaf Draws! drawing experience and the Once Upon a Studio Theater.
- Cost: Disney hasn't specified any extra cost for this experience so it's currently included in standard park admission.
- Timing for UK trips: The opening lands just before October half term, so it's worth building into an autumn Walt Disney World trip.
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Read on for what's already open, what to expect inside the new pavilion, and what this means if you're planning a Hollywood Studios day this year.
When Does The Magic Of Disney Animation Open
Disney has confirmed 14th September as the opening date for The Magic of Disney Animation, the new pavilion sitting in the middle of the reworked courtyard at Hollywood Studios. The building itself is modelled on the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, right down to a Sorcerer's Hat perched on top, and takes over the space that used to be Star Wars Launch Bay.
| Experience | Status | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Walt Disney Studios courtyard | Open now (since 26th May) | Reimagined outdoor space themed to the Burbank studio lot, including Pluto's Corner |
| Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! | Open now | Interactive stage show in the soundstage next to the courtyard |
| The Little Mermaid, A Musical Adventure | Unaffected, still running | Continues in the Studio Theater as before |
| The Magic of Disney Animation pavilion | Opens 14th September | Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page!, Olaf Draws! and the Once Upon a Studio Theater |
Dates as confirmed by Disney at the time of writing and subject to change.
If you're weighing up dates for a trip, our Walt Disney World offers guide for UK guests is a decent place to start comparing what's around for autumn travel.
What's Already Open At The Walt Disney Studios Courtyard
Even before the main pavilion opens, there's already a reason to swing by this corner of Hollywood Studios. The area formerly known as Animation Courtyard has been rebranded The Walt Disney Studios lot, with new landscaping, shaded seating and studio-style architecture replacing what was, by most accounts, a fairly bleak stretch of concrete.
Free-roaming characters have been turning up around the courtyard too, from Pluto's Corner to the odd spontaneous appearance in the grass or trees. Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! runs in the neighbouring soundstage, a participation-style show built around Mickey and Minnie's search for their missing friends, and The Little Mermaid, A Musical Adventure is unaffected in the Studio Theater.
None of this needs advance booking as far as we're aware, it's simply part of your standard admission to Hollywood Studios. If you haven't sorted your tickets yet, our Walt Disney World tickets guide for Brits covers the different options.
What To Expect Inside The Magic Of Disney Animation
Once the pavilion opens on 14th September, there'll be a fair bit to get through inside, so it's worth knowing roughly what you're walking into rather than just wandering in blind.
Drawn to Wonderland is an indoor playground for younger children, drawing on Mary Blair's original concept art for Alice in Wonderland. Expect the Mad Tea Party, the Queen of Hearts' garden and the Cheshire Cat's Tulgey Wood reimagined as climbing and play areas.
Off the Page! is the character meet and greet section, themed around different stages of the animation process. Disney has named Mulan (Story), Rapunzel (Layout), Chip 'n' Dale (Hand-Drawn Animation), Donald and Daisy (Computer Animation), Goofy (Lighting) and Stitch (Effects) as characters you might spot, spread across photo-friendly sets.
Olaf Draws! replaces the old live-animator Animation Academy format with an Audio-Animatronics Olaf hosting a drawing class, guided by recorded contributions from actual Disney animators. And the Once Upon A Studio Theater shows the short film that inspired the whole project, alongside a gallery where the artwork is said to spring into animation of its own.
You can read Disney's own rundown of the pavilion on the official Disney Parks Blog.
What This Means For UK Guests Visiting Hollywood Studios
Magic Of Disney Animation has an opening date, but it lands after most UK families will be back from their summer holidays. If you've got a Walt Disney World trip this summer/autumn, here's what's worth bearing in mind.
- Visiting before 14th September means you'll only see the outdoor courtyard and the Disney Jr. show, not the main pavilion.
- Families with younger children get a new play space in Drawn to Wonderland, the first of its kind at Hollywood Studios in some time.
- Character meet and greets in Off the Page! could mean added queuing in a park that hasn't traditionally had much of that outside Galaxy's Edge.
- Opening dates for new Disney experiences have a habit of slipping, so treat 14th September as the plan rather than a certainty until you're closer to travelling.
- If you're travelling over October half term instead, the timing works out well, as the whole pavilion should be open and settled in by then.
Hollywood Studios has never been the easiest park to fill a full day with younger kids, so this is a proper addition rather than a token one. If you're still finalising your Walt Disney World holiday, check the latest availability and prices for your dates below.
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Magic Of Disney Animation: Your Questions Answered
When does the Magic of Disney Animation open at Hollywood Studios?
The Magic of Disney Animation is set to open on 14th September, according to Disney's latest announcement.
Is the Walt Disney Studios courtyard open yet?
Yes. The reimagined outdoor courtyard and the Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! show have both been open since late May.
Where is the Magic of Disney Animation located?
It's inside the building that previously housed Star Wars Launch Bay, in the area of Hollywood Studios formerly known as Animation Courtyard.
What can you do inside the Magic of Disney Animation?
The pavilion includes Drawn to Wonderland, an indoor playground themed to Alice in Wonderland, character meet and greets in Off the Page!, a drawing experience called Olaf Draws!, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater.
Which characters can you meet at Off the Page?
Disney has named Mulan, Rapunzel, Chip 'n' Dale, Donald and Daisy, Goofy and Stitch as characters guests may spot across the different themed areas.
Do you need to pay extra for the Magic of Disney Animation?
I haven't seen anything from Disney suggesting an additional cost, so it should be included in standard Hollywood Studios park admission, though it's worth double checking closer to your visit.
Does Olaf Draws replace the old Animation Academy?
It's a similar concept, drawing classes guided by Disney animators, but reworked with an Audio-Animatronics Olaf as the host rather than a live animator.
Is the Little Mermaid show still running at Hollywood Studios?
Yes, The Little Mermaid, A Musical Adventure continues in the Studio Theater and hasn't been affected by the changes.
