Disney and Pixar’s newest animated film had a massive opening weekend, and Hollywood Studios guests can now step inside the world of Hoppers at a brand-new exhibit inside Walt Disney Presents.
Hoppers debuted in theaters on March 6 and pulled in $88 million globally during its opening weekend. The film earned $46 million domestically and $42 million overseas across 40 territories, giving Pixar one of its strongest theatrical openings in recent years. The numbers validate what fans who caught the sneak preview at Walt Disney Presents already suspected: this one has broad appeal.
Walt Disney Presents Is Now a Hoppers Showcase. The Walt Disney Presents attraction inside Hollywood Studios quietly transformed its lobby and exhibit spaces into a full Hoppers experience ahead of the film’s release. Guests walking in are greeted by floor-to-ceiling character murals wrapped across the theater doors, showcasing the film’s colorful cast of animals including King George the bear, the beaver duo Mabel and her crowned counterpart, a grinning shark, a grumpy pink fish, a goose, snakes, frogs, and a butterfly.
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Inside, two separate display cases feature maquettes — the unpainted sculptural models Pixar uses during production to establish a character’s three-dimensional form before animation begins. One showcases King George, described in the exhibit placard as “leader of the pond and king of the mammals,” a larger-than-life beaver with a personality to match his size. The placard notes that although King George did not set out to be king, he embraces the role with enthusiasm every day and created some rules to help everyone in the pond get along. Pond Rules.
The second maquette features Mabel, the film’s protagonist, who hops her consciousness into a life-like robotic beaver. With help from her new animal friends, Mabel learns the ropes of the animal world while journeying from the lab to the great outdoors, eventually uncovering shocking secrets and rallying the entire animal kingdom against a major threat. The character is voiced by Piper Curda, with Bobby Moynihan playing King George.
Concept Art and Sketches Round Out the Experience. Beyond the maquettes, the exhibit walls are lined with framed concept art and early sketches from Pixar’s visual development process. One standout piece is a loose, playful ink drawing showing a lizard-like character in various poses, including juggling, reading, and running through grass. Framing notes explain that visual development artists create thousands of concept sketches during early production to establish the overall look, feel, and personality for every character and environment.
The Walt Disney Presents marquee out front is also promoting a Hoppers sneak preview screening inside the theater, paired with a “Meet Ariel from the Live-Action Story” character experience. The combination gives guests a full entertainment stop anchored around the film’s theatrical debut.
The exhibit is open now inside Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios and does not require a separate ticket or reservation. The Hoppers sneak preview runs on a scheduled basis inside the theater. The film is now playing in theaters everywhere.
The exhibit is open now inside Walt Disney Presents at Hollywood Studios and does not require a separate ticket or reservation. The Hoppers sneak preview runs on a scheduled basis inside the theater. The film is now playing in theaters everywhere.
