A brand-new, family-friendly animation experience is taking shape at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and I have not been this excited about that corner of the park in years. Here is what your family can see now and what is coming later this summer.
By Favorite Grampy | Last Updated: May 2026 | Details verified against Disney’s official announcements
What Is the Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios?
The Magic of Disney Animation is a new collection of animation experiences at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It opens in late summer 2026. The surrounding courtyard, now called The Walt Disney Studios, opened May 26, 2026.
The indoor building holds four main experiences: Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page!, Olaf Draws!, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater. Disney confirmed all four in its May 28, 2026 announcement on the Disney Parks Blog. The building is inspired by the real Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, with Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat on top.
This addition is built for families with kids, especially little ones. The Drawn to Wonderland playground is designed for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Across the building, families can meet six characters, take drawing classes with nine different Disney artists, and watch an Emmy Award-winning short film. It replaces the former Star Wars: Launch Bay space, and it brings the park’s original animation roots back to life.
The courtyard itself is free to explore as part of regular park admission, and I will walk you through every piece below.
| Experience | What It Is | Best For | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Walt Disney Studios (courtyard) | Open-air studio lot with shade, treats, and hidden characters | All ages, a relaxing break | Open now (May 26, 2026) |
| Drawn to Wonderland | Indoor Alice in Wonderland play area by Mary Blair | Ages 6 months to 5 years | Late summer 2026 |
| Off the Page! | Six character meet-and-greets across animation departments | Photo-loving families | Late summer 2026 |
| Olaf Draws! | Drawing classes hosted by an Olaf Audio-Animatronics figure | Kids and aspiring artists | Late summer 2026 |
| Once Upon a Studio Theater | Screening of the short film plus an enchanted art gallery | All ages, a sit-down break | Late summer 2026 |
Swipe left to see all columns on mobile.
The Magic of Disney Animation Quick Facts
When does the Magic of Disney Animation open?
The indoor experiences open in late summer 2026. The surrounding Walt Disney Studios courtyard already opened on May 26, 2026.
Where is it located at Hollywood Studios?
It sits in the reimagined Animation Courtyard, now called The Walt Disney Studios, near the center of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It replaces the former Star Wars: Launch Bay.
What ages is the Magic of Disney Animation for?
It is built for families with kids of all ages, and the Drawn to Wonderland playground is specifically designed for children ages 6 months to 5 years old.
What’s Open Now Versus Coming Later This Summer?
Right now you can walk the new Walt Disney Studios courtyard. The indoor Magic of Disney Animation building opens in late summer 2026.
The courtyard opened on May 26, 2026, as part of Disney’s Cool Kids’ Summer kickoff. According to the Disney Parks Blog, this open-air space draws from the architecture of the legendary Burbank studio lot, complete with shaded spots to relax and tasty treats. It features hidden details like Pluto’s Corner, plus character surprises tucked into the branches and the grass.
A nearby soundstage now hosts Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!, which is also open. Disney describes it as an interactive show where Mickey and Minnie lead a search for their missing friends, and your kids clap, cheer, and dance to help. The neighboring Studio Theater continues to house “The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure.”
The four indoor experiences, the heart of the project, arrive later in the summer. So your family can enjoy the courtyard and the live show today, then return for the full attraction once it debuts.
What Can Families Do at Drawn to Wonderland?
Drawn to Wonderland is an immersive indoor playground for little ones. Disney confirms it is designed for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. It is inspired by Mary Blair’s original “Alice in Wonderland” concept art.
If you have a toddler or preschooler, this is the spot I would circle on your map first. Disney Legend Mary Blair was the artist behind those bold, dreamy colors in the 1951 film, and her unmistakable style brings this whole space to life. Your littlest ones can climb, wander, and play their way through it.
The playground recreates favorite corners of Wonderland. Disney lists the playful chaos of the Mad Tea Party and the Mad Hatter’s house, the Queen of Hearts’ vibrant rose garden, and the Cheshire Cat’s mysterious Tulgey Wood. Every corner invites young guests to move and let their imaginations run wild.
For families, the real value here is twofold. Your kids get to burn off energy in a safe, air-conditioned space, and you get a place to sit, recharge, and stay out of the Florida heat. After a long morning of rides, that combination is worth its weight in gold.
Hollywood Studios runs hot by late morning, so I tell every family with toddlers to plan an indoor reset right around 11 a.m. A playground like Drawn to Wonderland is perfect for that. Let the little ones play hard for 30 to 45 minutes while the grown-ups sit, hydrate, and regroup before the afternoon. A mid-day break like this is the single best way to avoid the dreaded 2 p.m. meltdown.
Which Characters Can You Meet at Off the Page!?
Off the Page! is a set of six character meet-and-greets, each themed to a different animation department. Disney confirmed all six characters and their settings. Each space is built around the artistry of how animated films get made.
This is where I think parents and grandparents will smile just as much as the kids. The Disney Parks Blog explains that each room represents a real stage of the animation process, brought to life through a character encounter and a stunning photo backdrop. You might find Mulan posing in front of an oversized storyboard, or Rapunzel in a setting inspired by the classic multiplane camera.
Here are the six characters you may meet and their departments:
- Mulan in Story
- Rapunzel in Layout
- Chip n’ Dale in Hand-Drawn Animation
- Donald and Daisy in Computer Animation
- Goofy in Lighting
- Stitch in Effects
What I love is the variety. Stitch in Effects will draw the toddlers, while older kids who grew up on Tangled or Mulan get their own moment. According to Disney, the whole area is a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios. That partnership shows in how each backdrop teaches a little about the craft while you snap your photos.
How Does Olaf Draws! Work?
Olaf Draws! is a new attraction where an Audio-Animatronics Olaf hosts a character drawing class. Disney Animation artists guide you through recorded tips and techniques. It is inspired by Olaf’s desk scene in the short film “Once Upon A Studio.”
Here is where I get a little misty-eyed. I first visited this park a few months after it opened back in 1989, when it was still Disney-MGM Studios and I was just “Favorite Father” with four wide-eyed kids in tow. No grandkids back then. The original Magic of Disney Animation was a walk-through where you watched real Disney animators hunched over their desks, pencils flying. The backstage studio tour that day was the highlight of our whole trip, a tram ride through working soundstages and a special-effects canyon that left my kids talking for weeks. I have missed that feeling of seeing how the magic gets made, and this new attraction brings a piece of it back.
Now an animatronic Olaf, voiced by Josh Gad, sits at that same kind of animator’s desk and learns to draw right alongside you. Disney describes original dialogue full of Olaf’s signature warmth and humor. Each class teaches a different character, led on screen by a real Disney artist who actually worked on those films.
Disney confirmed nine drawing classes and their artists:
- 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 and Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard, director (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)
Eric Goldberg, the artist behind the Genie, teaching your kid to draw the Genie is the kind of detail that gives me chills. If your family has even one budding artist, this could be the highlight of the trip.
A word of caution for the littlest ones. If your kids are very young or have no interest in sitting and drawing, this experience may not hold them long. For restless toddlers, I would steer toward Drawn to Wonderland instead and save Olaf Draws! for the kids old enough to enjoy a guided class.
Bring a small autograph book or sketchpad for Olaf Draws! Your child’s finished character sketch makes a free souvenir that beats any plush toy in the gift shop, and it is the kind of keepsake families hang on the fridge for years. I still have a couple of my kids’ old Disney drawings tucked away, and they mean more to me now than anything we bought that trip.
What Else Is Inside the Magic of Disney Animation?
The fourth experience is the Once Upon a Studio Theater. Inside, you watch the Emmy Award-winning short film “Once Upon A Studio.” The same building also holds an enchanted art gallery.
This theater honors more than a century of Disney Animation storytelling. According to the Disney Parks Blog, enhanced effects add an extra layer of magic during the film. As you watch, you may spot characters popping up within the artwork along the theater walls, which places you right inside the story.
The enchanted art gallery is a quieter gem. Disney describes it as a beautifully curated space filled with artwork of beloved characters. At first glance it looks like a traditional gallery, but with a little pixie dust, your favorite character may spring to life in all-new animations made just for this experience.
For families, the theater is a welcome chance to sit in the cool and dark for a bit. Between the playground, the meet-and-greets, and the drawing class, a 10-minute film is the perfect way to rest little legs while still feeling fully immersed in the Disney magic.
Is the Magic of Disney Animation Worth It for Your Family?
For families with young kids, the Magic of Disney Animation looks like a strong addition to a Hollywood Studios day. It packs four distinct experiences into one air-conditioned building. Best of all, the courtyard and live show are already open.
Here is who will get the most out of it. Families with children under 6 hit the jackpot, thanks to the Drawn to Wonderland playground built just for them. Families with a kid who loves to draw or dreams of being an animator will treasure Olaf Draws!. And any family that enjoys character photos will fill a camera roll at Off the Page!.
Now for the balanced view. If your group is all teens and adults chasing big thrills, this area will likely be a quick walk-through rather than a main event. Hollywood Studios still leans heavy on rides like Rise of the Resistance and Slinky Dog Dash, and those will fill most of a thrill-seeker’s day. I would not build your whole visit around this experience unless you have little ones in the group.
The good news is that nothing here requires a long commitment. You can dip in for the playground and a drawing class, then head back to the rides. That flexibility is exactly what makes it such a smart fit for multigenerational families traveling together.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Magic of Disney Animation
Does the Magic of Disney Animation Cost Extra?
Disney has not announced any separate cost or reservation requirement for these experiences. Based on how similar attractions work, I expect them to be included with regular park admission, but I always tell my families to confirm the latest details before they go. A travel advisor can check this for you as your trip gets closer so nothing catches you by surprise.
What Happened to Star Wars: Launch Bay?
The Magic of Disney Animation is taking over the space that used to be Star Wars: Launch Bay in the Animation Courtyard. Star Wars fans still have plenty to enjoy at Hollywood Studios, since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and both of its major attractions remain open in a different part of the park.
Is This the Same as the Old Magic of Disney Animation?
Not exactly. The name is a nod to the original walk-through attraction that opened with the park in 1989, where guests watched real animators at work. This 2026 version is a brand-new, interactive collection of experiences built around the short film “Once Upon A Studio,” with an animatronic Olaf, character meet-and-greets, and a playground.
Can Babies and Toddlers Enjoy the Magic of Disney Animation?
Yes, and that is one of its biggest strengths. The Drawn to Wonderland playground is specifically designed for children ages 6 months to 5 years old. Combined with the Off the Page! character meets and a sit-down film, this is one of the more toddler-friendly spaces in the entire park.
How a Travel Advisor Helps You Plan a Hollywood Studios Trip
A new experience like this is exciting, but fitting it into a smart Hollywood Studios day takes planning. That is where a travel advisor earns their keep, and it is what I have seen make the difference for family after family.
Hollywood Studios is a park that rewards a good strategy. Between high-demand rides, dining reservations, the new animation experiences, and managing a mix of ages, there is a lot to juggle. A Favorite Grampy Travels advisor builds your day around your family, so you spend less time staring at a map and more time making memories.
When you work with one of our advisors, you get a real person who handles the details and answers your questions, right up through your travel dates. Your advisor may charge a planning fee based on the complexity of your trip, and most families tell us it is worth every penny for the time and stress it saves. You can meet our agents here and request your complimentary consultation here.
Trust me on this one. The families who plan ahead are the ones who actually get to relax and enjoy the magic. You will be glad you did.
