'The Magic of Disney Animation' Coming to Hollywood Studios Late Summer 2026

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Disney's Hollywood Studios is transforming its Animation Courtyard into a new family destination called The Magic of Disney Animation, inspired by the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio. Opening in late summer 2026, the experience will feature a new Olaf-hosted drawing class with an Audio-Animatronics figure, an enchanted art gallery, character meet-and-greets tied to animation departments, and an outdoor studio lot area that opened May 26.

'The Magic of Disney Animation' Coming to Hollywood Studios Late Summer 2026

Disney's Hollywood Studios will gain a major new family attraction in late summer 2026 when The Magic of Disney Animation opens in the former Star Wars: Launch Bay building, topped by Mickey's iconic Sorcerer Hat. Inspired by the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio, the experience immerses guests in a playful, character-filled version of the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, where the animators have stepped away and the characters have taken over. An outdoor courtyard area called The Walt Disney Studios opened earlier, on May 26, 2026.

Key Details

The Walt Disney Studios Outdoor Courtyard — Open Now

The transformation of Animation Courtyard began outdoors. As of May 26, 2026, the courtyard surrounding the main building has been reimagined as The Walt Disney Studios, an outdoor space modeled after the architectural atmosphere of the legendary Burbank studio lot. The area includes a version of the Studio Theater — which continues to house The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure — and a soundstage for Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, all set within a relaxed, park-like setting where families can explore, snack, and discover hidden Disney character details in the trees and grounds.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!
An aerial nighttime view shows a lively plaza with people walking between several buildings, one of which has a large sorcerer's hat icon.

Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!

Starting May 26, Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! brings the hit Disney Jr. series Mickey Mouse Clubhouse+ to a live stage show format. Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse kick off a big party, but when their friends go missing, the celebration becomes a playful search mission. Guests clap, cheer, and dance along as Goofy, Daisy Duck, and Pluto join in to complete the Clubhouse celebration.

The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A group of six performers, including Pluto, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Daisy Duck, and a female dancer, are on a brightly lit stage with their arms raised.

Inside the Sorcerer Hat Building: A Studio Taken Over by Characters

In late summer 2026, The Magic of Disney Animation itself opens inside the reimagined building crowned by Mickey's Sorcerer Hat — a nod to the real building in Burbank, California. The story premise: the animators have temporarily stepped away, and the beloved characters have come to life and taken over the studio departments.

Disney Animation-Inspired Experience Coming to Disney's Hollywood Studios
A colorful cartoon drawing depicts various Disney characters gathered around the Sorcerer's Hat, with the text "The Magic of Disney Animation" and "Disney's Hollywood Studios" prominently displayed.

Interactive moments are built into every corner. Guests will see portraits come to life before their eyes — just as in Once Upon A Studio — discover a short film with a twist in a dedicated theater, and have the opportunity to learn to draw their own Disney character sketch. The experience is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios is now open
An illustration depicts a fantastical tea party scene with teapots, cups, and chairs, and a small figure at the top of a winding table.
The Studio Store at the newly reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A pathway stretches through an outdoor area with benches, trees, and streetlights, leading towards a building with a blue wizard hat-shaped structure and two yellow towers.
The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard features Lucifer
A light-beige building with large, metallic block letters spelling out "STUDIO STORE" and a cartoon monkey character is visible in the frame, along with a green railing and windows on the upper level.
The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios with Disney characters
A black and white cartoon cat figurine with bright yellow eyes and an open mouth is placed on a red brick ledge, with a wooden bench visible in the background and green foliage surrounding it.
The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A collection of colorful concrete slabs show handprints, footprints, and names of characters in a close-up, high-angle shot.
Details at the newly reimagined Animation Courtyard
A light brown building with a painted sign depicting Mickey Mouse and the words "Walt Disney Studios Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony Sound Cartoons" on its facade, with green trees and a cloudy blue sky in the background.
The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard features Pua and Thumper
A directional signpost with various departments related to animation and cartoon characters pointing in different directions is shown in front of a building with textured walls.
Pluto's Corner at the newly reimagined Animation Courtyard
Two animal statues, a pig and a rabbit, sit on green grass with a blurred background of buildings and foliage.
The newly reimagined Animation Courtyard at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A low-angle shot shows a green and white curb with "PLUTO'S CORNER" written on it, bordering a patch of green grass under a bright sky.

The "Drawn to Wonderland" Playground

Younger guests can explore the "Drawn to Wonderland" indoor playground, filled with an oversized flower garden featuring musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area — all inspired by original Alice in Wonderland concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair.

Off the Page! — Character Encounters Through Animation History

The "Off the Page!" area lets guests meet beloved characters from Walt Disney Animation Studios in settings that highlight key stages of the animation process:

Rapunzel at Off the Page at Disney's Hollywood Studios 2026
A light-colored building with a large Dumbo movie poster on the right and a sign for "STAGE 1" on the left is partially obscured by green trees under a blue sky.

Dan Abraham, Walt Disney Animation Studios Director and co-director of the Once Upon a Studio short, described the experience as a gateway to the studio's legacy and future: "It could very well inspire people to move our studio into the future when they join Walt Disney Animation Studios and carry on this legacy that has meant so much to so many people."

Olaf Draws! — The New Animation Academy

At the heart of The Magic of Disney Animation is Olaf Draws!, a reimagined Animation Academy experience featuring an all-new Audio-Animatronics Olaf figure. Inspired by Olaf's memorable moment from Once Upon A Studio sitting at an animator's desk, the figure welcomes guests into a Frozen-themed animator's studio where they sit down and learn to draw Disney characters step by step.

Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, recorded original dialogue for the experience. "I'm so thrilled that a whole new generation of kids can dream of becoming animators one day and can actually begin their journey right there on the studio lot," Gad said. Legendary Disney Animation artists provide pre-recorded guidance alongside Olaf to walk guests through the creative process.

Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes Olaf Draws
A man and a boy walk toward a character, with trees and framed pictures in the background.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
An audience watches Olaf drawing Mickey Mouse on a screen, while others also draw at their desks.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A man in a red jacket smiles at the camera while holding a pen, with a large cartoon image of Mickey Mouse visible behind him and camera equipment in the foreground.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A woman in a red shirt sits at a wooden drafting table, smiling at the camera, with animation cels visible in the background.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A man with curly dark hair and a beard sits at a wooden drafting table, wearing a pink and purple shirt over a black t-shirt with a yellow collar, smiling and looking to the right with drawings visible on the wall behind him.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
An animated man in glasses and a colorful shirt is drawing at a desk while being filmed by a camera on a crane, with crew members in the foreground and screens showing his image.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A woman in a black dress sits at a drawing desk with a pen in hand, surrounded by video cameras and monitors, with character sketches and finished art displayed in the background.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A woman wearing glasses and a floral dress sits smiling for the camera in a room with a blue backdrop and a picture of Stitch in the background, with recording equipment in the foreground.
Magic of Disney Animation Drawing Classes
A man in a patterned short-sleeved shirt and jeans sits at a drafting table while a film crew with cameras and lighting equipment records him, with snowmen drawings on the wall behind him.

Drawing Class Lineup

Classes will rotate through a roster of beloved characters, guided by real Disney Animation artists:

An Enchanted Gallery and the Once Upon A Studio Theater

An enchanted art gallery filled with Disney Animation character artwork greets guests with a surprise — with a touch of pixie dust, favorite characters may spring to life in animations created exclusively for the experience. From the gallery, the journey continues into the Once Upon A Studio Theater, where guests can watch the Emmy Award-winning short film with enhanced theatrical effects. Characters may appear within the artwork along the theater walls, placing viewers inside the story.

The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A man wearing glasses and a maroon sweater draws on a lightboard in a studio setup with multiple cameras and microphones.
Sorcerer Hat at The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios
A man in a floral shirt sits at a drawing table with a camera rig overhead, facing another man whose back is to the viewer, while a monitor shows a woman on screen.

What This Means for Families Visiting Hollywood Studios

The arrival of The Magic of Disney Animation gives Disney's Hollywood Studios a family-focused creative hub centered on the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios. While the outdoor courtyard and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! are already open, the main attraction opens in late summer 2026 — making this summer a building moment for one of the park's most anticipated new additions. Note that Animation Courtyard and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! closed in September 2025 to enable this transformation; The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure and Walt Disney Presents remain open throughout. Catch the inspirational short Once Upon a Studio now on Disney+.

The Magic of Disney Animation concept art
Four people wearing hard hats and safety vests are looking up at a large blue wizard hat structure with a crescent moon and stars on it, flanked by two yellow cylindrical buildings under a cloudy blue sky.

Originally reported by disneyparksblog.com. GenieGrove rewrote this story; the original reporting is theirs.