The Walt Disney World theme parks are always in a state of motion, and now we have some more exciting changes happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios as the Star Wars Launch Bay is closing for a new Disney Animation experience!
This all-new interactive experience will bring Hollywood Studios back to its animation roots and give guests a look at what it’s like to step inside Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California and seeing Disney Animation characters leap off the screen and into our world.
The new experience is based on the Emmy Award-winning short film, “Once Upon A Studio” and will open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios sometime in 2026. Ironically, the new experience will take over the Star Wars Launch Bay building, which will transform into a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences
Fittingly, the building this experience will be located in is reminiscent of the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building. And did you notice from the artwork what is on the outside? That’s right, Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat is back at Hollywood Studios, just like the one on the real building in California. The hat will also cast a spell with pixie dust.
The description from Disney is as follows:
“Our story in this newly reimagined space begins as the animators have temporarily stepped away… but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play!
Inside, you will interact with and explore silly takes on the iconic Disney Animation headquarters, including the many different studio departments. Only this time, some of our favorite pals have taken over to create the fun adventures.
The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in “Once Upon A Studio;” you’ll find inspiration with a short film (with a twist, of course); and you’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.“
What will there be to do?
Some of the things you can expect to experience inside The Magic of Disney Animation include:
- Living Portraits: Similar to the magical moments in Once Upon a Studio, portraits will come to life as characters interact with visitors.
- Short Film Experience: A reimagined short film screening with interactive elements.
- Character Meet and Greets: There will be numerous character encounters with some of Disney Animation’s most popular characters.
- Drawing Studio: Guests can learn to sketch classic characters with help from animation guides.
- Drawn to Wonderland: This is a new indoor play area for young children. The area is designed by Mary Blair’s concept art for Alice in Wonderland and includes
- Oversized Musical Flowers
- A Mad Tea Party playset
- A Tulgey Wood exploration zone
Animation Courtyard
Not only will the inside of the main building be changing, but the entire outside of Animation Courtyard will receive a thorough reimagining.
“The pixie dusting from the Sorcerer’s Hat will extend far beyond the walls of “The Magic of Disney Animation” as the entire courtyard is reimagined into “The Walt Disney Studios,” taking inspiration from several buildings found in Burbank. This special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot includes our version of the Studio Theater, which will continue to house “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure,” and over at the soundstage, you’ll find a fresh Disney Jr. show.
While exploring the studio grounds and courtyard area, families can take a break to play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees. And make sure to look around, too. You never know who you might see playing in the branches, soaking up the sun or digging in the grass.“
Overall, we really like this change. It looks like Disney is finally bringing some life to a section of the park that has been sorely lacking for many years now. There is literally no point in keeping the Star Wars Launch Bay around in Hollywood Studios when you have a whole Star Wars land only a few hundred yards away.
It also makes us wonder about the future of Star Tours, although that is a discussion for another day…
We are happy that Imagineers are working hard together with the Disney Animation Artists to bring back some of the nostalgia of the Disney Animation films to Hollywood Studios, and we think the whole idea has big potential.
Will Disney deliver on this experience and make it a can’t-miss attraction on most visits? That is the question yet to be answered, but so far we are hopeful this is a start at bringing back some of the old magic back to this park.
When will it open? Right now we don’t have an exact date, only that it will open sometime in 2026. Seeing as it’s not a new attraction with some complicated ride system, we think that a 6 to 9 months is a realistic timeframe for work to be finished. That means we could possibly see The Magic of Disney Animation open in Winter/Spring 2026.
That is just a guess at this point and we’ll have a clearer timeline when construction begins.
That wraps up our look at the new Disney Animation experience coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. I’m sure we’ll be finding out more info in the coming months so stay tuned for more!
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Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about the new Disney Animation Experience coming to Hollywood Studios…
- Are you happy Star Wars Launch Bay is closing for this?
- What would you like to see included here?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.