Disney has confirmed The Magic of Disney Animation opens September 14 at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the building itself is a landmark in its own right, modeled after the real Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat and all. The building sits at the center of the reimagined Walt Disney Studios courtyard, which opened back in May, and now Disney has detailed exactly what guests will find inside once the doors open next month.
The full collection of experiences includes “Drawn to Wonderland,” an Alice in Wonderland-inspired indoor playground for younger kids, “Off the Page!,” a series of character meet-and-greets built around real animation studio departments, “Olaf Draws!,” a new drawing experience featuring an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure of Olaf, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater, which screens the Emmy-winning short that inspired the whole project alongside a newly confirmed enchanted art gallery. Danny Handke leads the Imagineering behind all of it, and it shows in every detail we have seen so far.
This is truly exciting to us. The courtyard that is already open has been so well received, and we can say firsthand that it is immersive, beautiful, and genuinely relaxing to walk through in the mornings. We have watched characters actually playing with kids the way they should, whether that is a game of Duck Duck Goose, storytime with Mulan or Rapunzel, Donald and Goofy tossing something around with a group of kids, or Chip and Dale just wandering the courtyard causing a little mischief. Our favorite moment every single time is finding Pluto hanging out at Pluto’s Corner under his own sign. We hope that same spirit carries straight through once the interior spaces open on September 14.
Drawn to Wonderland: A Playground Built From Mary Blair’s Concept Art
“Drawn to Wonderland” is an immersive indoor playground designed for younger animators-to-be, drawing directly from Disney Legend Mary Blair’s original concept art for Alice in Wonderland. The space moves through the playful chaos of the Mad Tea Party and Mad Hatter’s house, the Queen of Hearts’ vibrant rose garden, and the Cheshire Cat’s mysterious Tulgey Wood, all rendered in Blair’s bold colors and unmistakable style. It is built specifically for climbing, wandering, and open-ended play, giving families a place to recharge without ever stepping outside the story.
Off the Page!: Meeting Animation’s Behind-the-Scenes Cast
“Off the Page!” is where guests meet favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios characters while learning about the actual departments that make a film happen. Mulan appears in the Story department in front of an oversized storyboard panel, and Rapunzel greets guests in the Layout department against a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera, with layers of backgrounds and painted cells visibly coming together. Chip n’ Dale represent Hand-Drawn Animation, Donald and Daisy cover Computer Animation, Goofy is stationed in Lighting, and Stitch closes things out in Effects. Dan Abraham, the Walt Disney Animation Studios director and co-director of Once Upon a Studio, said it is “so cool to have fun with characters” guests already know while getting a glimpse into the studio’s real history.
Olaf Draws!: A New Animatronic and Real Disney Animators as Teachers
“Olaf Draws!” replaces the old Animation Academy with an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure of Olaf, seated at an animator’s desk in a scene inspired by one of his moments from Once Upon a Studio. Guests are guided step by step through the drawing process by recorded tips and stories from real Disney Animation artists, mixed with Olaf’s own playful humor throughout. The character lineup for the drawing classes is genuinely impressive, including Mickey Mouse with director Dan Abraham, Minnie Mouse with animator Hyun Min Lee, Donald Duck with animator Austin Traylor, Genie with legendary animator Eric Goldberg, Moana with story artist Samantha Vilfort, Stitch with director Fawn Veerasunthorn, Olaf with director Trent Correy, Ursula with animator Michael Woodside, and Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde with director Byron Howard. Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, recorded new dialogue specifically for the experience, saying he hopes “a whole new generation of kids can dream of becoming animators” after spending time in the space.
Once Upon a Studio Theater and the Enchanted Art Gallery
The Once Upon a Studio Theater screens the Emmy Award-winning short film that inspired the entire project, now enhanced with effects along the theater walls where characters appear to pop up within the artwork as the film plays. Guests can also explore a newly confirmed enchanted art gallery, a curated space filled with artwork featuring beloved Disney Animation characters that occasionally springs to life with all-new animations created exclusively for this experience.
How This Builds on What We Already Know
FLN has been tracking this project since Disney first announced it, including a detailed look at the Olaf Draws! concept back in February and every character hidden in the courtyard’s map guide when the outdoor space opened in May. September 14 is the date all of that finally comes together with the interior experiences fully open.
For the latest on everything coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in 2026, visit our Hollywood Studios guide, and join the Realm at fantasylandnews.com/the-realm.
