Walt Disney World has shared new details about new attractions & experiences coming to “The Magic of Disney Animation” in the new-look Walt Disney Studios Lot land at Hollywood Studios, including an Olaf Audio Animatronics figure and more. This shares the latest announcements, an opening timeline, and our commentary about the good, bad & ugly of this news.
As basic background, Animation Courtyard is currently being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot at Hollywood Studios. The biggest change is that the Roy E. Disney Animation Building is replacing Star Wars Launch Bay, and will house an all-new family experience, “The Magic of Disney Animation.”
The Walt Disney Studios Lot and “The Magic of Disney Animation” will open in phases during Summer 2026 (more on the timeline below). The existing courtyard, minus the Little Mermaid musical, all closed late last September. Character meet & greets have been relocated around the park to accommodate the closure.
Construction crews have been hard at work on Animation Courtyard in the months since it closed. The biggest visible changes are pavement replacement and new hardscape work to add more green spaces for play and relaxation; as we reported earlier this month, that includes in the installation of mature trees, glorious trees!
Another key component of the Walt Disney Studios Lot project is the transformation of Star Wars Launch Bay into the Roy E. Disney Animation Building. Crews are presumably hard at work on reimagining that space, and have been since last September. The biggest visible (to us) milestone is a giant Sorcerer Mickey hat that should soon be added (permits were recently filed for that work).
Walt Disney World has made some new announcements about what’ll be inside “The Magic of Disney Animation” when the new-look attraction debuts in Summer 2026. Let’s take a look inside, starting with what’s newly-announced…
Once Upon a Studio
As you explore The Magic of Disney Animation, you’ll discover an enchanted art gallery, a beautifully curated space filled with artwork featuring beloved Disney Animation characters. At first glance, it feels like a traditional gallery, but with a little pixie dust your favorite character may spring to life in all-new animations created exclusively for this experience!
From there, your journey continues in the Once Upon A Studio Theater, where you can enjoy the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio. Inside this dedicated theater honoring more than a century of Disney Animation storytelling, enhanced effects add an extra layer of magic.
As you enjoy the film, you may spot characters popping up within the artwork along the theater walls, placing you right in the middle of this enchanting story.
Off the Page Character Meet & Greets
You’ll also be able to venture into “Off the Page!” This is an area where you can meet some of your favorite friends from Walt Disney Animation Studios stories while celebrating the artistry behind every frame.
Each space offers incredible photo opportunities with some of your favorite characters. You can meet Mulan in the Story department, posing in front of an oversized storyboard panel. Or step into the Layout department where Rapunzel waits in a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera where you’ll see layers of backgrounds and painted cells come together like magic.
Together, these spaces highlight key stages of the animation process, each brought to life through character encounters. Some of character you may see are:
- Mulan in Story
- Rapunzel in Layout
- Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy in CG Animation
- Goofy in Lighting
- Stitch in Effects
Every corner of “Off the Page!” is designed to immerse you in the craft of animation, as this experience is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios. Dan Abraham, Walt Disney Animation Studios Director and co-director of the Once Upon a Studio short, says he can’t wait to see what guests dream up after visiting the space.
“It’s so cool because you’re waiting in line to have fun with the characters… and you’re getting to see a bit of history of the studio as well,” Abraham said. “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.”
We already knew that “Off the Page” would feature six different character meet & greets; we just didn’t know the characters. That’s a really healthy number for a single land, but not surprising. Disney’s Hollywood Studios really has a robust roster of character meet & greets. We would’t be surprised to see a few relocated from elsewhere in the park to this space.
An Audio Animatronics Olaf Draws!
Step into a new Animation Academy experience with Olaf Draws!, where everyone’s favorite snowman takes center stage as your cheerful host. With his signature warmth, optimism, and playful humor, Olaf invites guests of all ages to explore the art of character drawing.
Brought to life as an all-new Audio-Animatronics figure, Olaf welcomes you into a space inspired by one of his most memorable moments from Once Upon A Studio sitting at an animator’s desk, joyfully discovering the art of drawing.
Stepping into a reimagined animator’s studio with playful nods to Frozen, guests of all ages are invited to sit down and learn to draw.
Young animators in the making can spark their creativity at sleigh‑themed tables, while animator‑desk–style workstations invite kids at heart to feel as though they’ve stepped right into the studio.
The happy snowman’s spirit of curiosity and encouragement is what inspired Josh Gad, the voice of Olaf, as he recorded original dialogue for the experience while also considering what it might spark in young artists.
“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 shared, underscoring how Olaf Draws! turns imagination into possibility.
Since Olaf can’t quite draw on his own, he turns to the expertise of some legendary Disney Animation artists whose pre-recorded guidance brings the class to life. Together, they guide you step-by-step through the creative process, sharing tips, techniques, and stories straight from the studio as you learn how beloved Disney Animation characters come to life.
Each class features a different character, inspired by timeless classics and modern favorites, giving you a unique reason to return again and again. You may find yourself sketching:
- 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)
Here are photos released by Walt Disney World of the animators and directors who will appear via video to co-host Olaf Draws at the Animation Academy:
Walt Disney Studios Lot Opens in Summer 2026
Walt Disney World previously announced that the new Walt Disney Studios Lot will open in Summer 2026. This means the land/area/miniland itself, including the terrific trees. We expect this to happen around May 26, 2026, which is the kickoff to this year’s Cool Kid Summer. It’s been implied that’s when the Walt Disney Studios Lot will open, but an official date has not yet been announced. The new-look land opening that early would be good news; that’s a fast turnaround time.
Also expected to debut along with the trees in Summer 2026 is “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” This dance party features Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse embarking on a road trip to find some of their best pals – Goofy, Daisy and Pluto – for the party. This show is currently shown at DCA, and soon guests will be able to join the fun in the newly reimagined Walt Disney Studios area at Walt Disney World.
As someone who has experienced “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” dozens of times, I can say with authority that it’s shockingly good. Better than it has any right to be, quite honestly. The only downside is that it ends (spoiler alert) with an abridged version of the Hot Dog Song, when really that should be played on loop. (Speaking of which, hopefully it is part of the BGM loop for the Walt Disney Studios Lot.)
The bad news is that Walt Disney World has pretty consistently indicated that the “The Magic of Disney Animation” won’t open alongside the rest of the Walt Disney Studios Lot. They previously used the phrase “later in summer 2026” but have now switched to “late summer 2026.” This is a distinction with a difference.
Later in summer technically means any date after the land itself opens. It could be a single day later (but obviously wouldn’t be–they’d wait to open it all at once) or it could be a couple of months later. It’s purposefully ambiguous!
By contrast, late summer in Disney parlance typically means the end of June or July. Sometimes August if the project is a race against the clock, which very well might be the case here given the ambition level. Disney does not use the astronomical calendar; summer ends with Labor Day at Walt Disney World. If “The Magic of Disney Animation” ends up being delayed beyond that, it’s Fall 2026.
I’m not going to offer any predictions as to the opening date for “The Magic of Disney Animation.” As is clear from the above, this reimagining is fairly transformative and ambitious, so I could see it taking a while. Even a full year would be impressive turnaround. It doesn’t help that we have zero visibility as to what’s happening inside the building; that’s not something aerial photos can reveal!
Our Commentary
In terms of commentary about the Animation Academy, I’m truly torn about this announcement. Adding an Olaf Audio Animatronics figure is great news. We are adamant advocates of Audio Animatronics and want to see more of them pretty much everywhere.
The ugly of this news is the flipside, which is that robot Olaf replaces a human host animator.
All previous versions of Animation Academy have been hosted by a live Cast Member who led the drawing class. This included the original Disney’s Hollywood Studios version of the class, as well as those in other parks.
In quite the coincidental timing, two versions of these classes just ended.
The Animation Experience at Rafiki’s Planet Watch in Animal Kingdom is now permanently closed as of today as Walt Disney World begins construction on a Bluey takeover. Today also marks the end of the EPCOT Festival of the Arts, which has its own Animation Academy. It’s unclear whether that’ll offering will return during the 2027 version of the event.
The cynic in me wonders whether this is partly being motivated by reducing labor costs, as the Olaf Audio Animatronics is presumably non-union (at least, not until the prophecy of Terminator is fully fulfilled…and we’re racing in that direction).
As someone who feels strongly that Cast Members are quintessential to the Walt Disney World experience, the ways those human connections are being eroded really bothers me. Each one is only a “little thing,” but those add up.
A lot of automation has been positive (e.g. Mobile Order), but this strikes me as being more comparable to the removal of tour guides aboard the Living with the Land boats or former Great Movie Ride. Not completely the same, but in the same ballpark. It’s a way that human touch is going missing.
I don’t know how the math even makes sense. Disney spends like a drunken sailor when it comes to construction, but is as miserly as Scrooge when it comes to operations. It will probably take decades to recoup the initial investment in this Olaf Audio Animatronics, not to mention maintenance, and everything else developed for this, versus the labor costs of a Cast Member to serve as animator. It doesn’t seem like that really pencils out, but this type of thing is pretty common.
I’ll be honest with you, though. That was not the first thought that came to my mind as a parent.
Our daughter loves Olaf, who has inexplicably become one of her favorite characters alongside Woody from Toy Story. She loves all things Frozen, despite never having seen the movies. She also loves drawing. (Or rather, coloring–but we’re getting there.)
Olaf Draws! will combine two of her passions, and I foresee this instantly becoming one of her favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World. I wouldn’t be surprised if Animation Academy does for her and other kids her age the same the original attraction did for me–sparking a greater interest in art and animation.
Kids are going to love Olaf Draws; the Animation Academy will be more popular than ever before.
The optimist in me recognizes that popularity and guest satisfaction are what matters most, and if Olaf Draws delivers on those metrics, it’s a net positive.
The pessimist in me (again) would argue that it’s very difficult to quantify that aforementioned human connection, but that we already know Cast Members are the ‘secret sauce’ for Walt Disney World. Multiple CEOs have said as much, and we’ve attended presentations by Disney leadership focusing on how Cast Member interactions are integral to overall guest satisfaction scores.
It might not show up on a survey about this particular attraction, but loses like this absolutely do matter in aggregate. Of course, guests are still able to have as many interactions with Cast Members as they desire during their day at Walt Disney World, but by reducing or outright removing these routine engagements from the ‘guest journey,’ there’s a high likelihood that the average number of interactions is on the decline.
Guests might not be inclined to proactively reverse that, because they don’t know what they don’t know. Meaning that first-timers don’t visit Walt Disney World for the express purpose of interacting with Cast Members (very obviously not; they’re going for the big rides), but when surveyed after the fact, they report that Cast Members were hugely consequential to the quality of their trip. That matters a lot!
As Walt Disney World regulars with a daughter who loves interacting with Cast Members (they are the friendly and fun…and also the keepers of stickers) and also Olaf, this is probably a net positive for us. We can compensate for the lost human connection here by chatting with a Cast Member elsewhere. And we get another Olaf touchpoint. It’s a win-win for us.
But not everyone is us, and I worry that changes like this, will ostensibly positive, do have negative unintended consequences for the guest experience as a whole, especially that of first-timers. Like I said at the beginning, I’m truly torn about this.
As for the Walt Disney Studios Lot as a whole, we’re really looking forward to it. This new-look area looks perfect for young families, and will definitely appeal to us more than anything else in Disney’s Hollywood Studios (for now). It’s the park that offers the least to do for toddlers, and this will help remedy that.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot might be a stopgap, singles and doubles-style project–but it has the potential to be a massive improvement over Animation Courtyard, and a true asset to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Losing the dead mall vibes of this area is a huge win.
Gaining an outdoor space with mature trees that’s actually a pleasant, shaded place to spend time should be a massive win. Same goes for having an area and attractions that children who are too young for Toy Story Land can enjoy. It’s pretty incredible to me that this land is going to go from one of my most-hated in all of Walt Disney World to the one where, realistically, our family is probably going to be spending the most time in the next few years. We can’t wait for the Walt Disney Studios Lot to open in Summer 2026!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited about the addition of an Olaf Audio Animatronics figure at Animation Academy? Disappointed by the loss of an in-person human animator? Or a bit of both? What do you think about Animation Courtyard being reimagined into the Walt Disney Studios Lot? Looking forward to an all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Any other thoughts or commentary to add? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
