The Magic of Disney Animation at Walt Disney Studios is a new attraction that took over Animation Courtyard in Hollywood Studios, and while it officially opens to the public on September 14th, we got an early look to check it out!

The Magic of Disney Animation in Walt Disney Studios

We’ve had SO much fun exploring this new attraction and all it has to offer — we’re talking character meet-and-greets, we’re talking Disney history, we’re talking animation classes, and so much more, and now, we’re diving into all the hidden details you don’t want to miss when you visit the Magic of Disney Animation!

The Magic of Disney Animation is FULL of hidden details everywhere you look, and we’re sharing our favorite ones! As you enter, you’ll notice that the reception area is a nearly identical replica of the Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California…

Reception area

…complete with a paint chandelier representing the Ink & Paint department. Disney shared that the paintbrushes on the chandelier were chosen by the Ink & Paint department from films they’ve worked on.

Ink & Paint chandelier

There’s also a “Lost & Found” shelf along one wall, complete with items that Disney characters have lost in their films. We spotted Figaro, the Shepherd’s Journal from Atlantis, an ancient Greek vase from Hercules, a lantern from Tangled…

Lost & Found

…and the Black Cauldron!

The Black Cauldron

The Alice in Wonderland-themed playground features Mary Blair artwork, along with pink and purple lighting to match Mary Blair’s color palette for the movie, a Mad Tea Party table complete with interactive elements inspired by Blair’s original artwork, and butterflies that appear 2D at first, but then pop off the wall.

The Mad Tea Party at Drawn to Wonderland

Inside the Once Upon A Studio Theater, you’ll spot some familiar characters woven into the carpet, like Lilo & Stitch, Pegasus, Baymax, and Timon & Pumbaa. Inside the theater, you’ll find new hand-drawn and CG animation that shows characters jumping off the page.

Once Upon a Studio

Inside the Olaf Draws! space, there are Chouinard-style animator desks for adults, and Arendelle sleighs for kiddos closer to the stage.

Olaf Draws desks

The stage itself is full of animated film maquettes, 90s VHS tapes, toys, and props.

Olaf Draws!

You’ll also be able to spot a reference to Back to Neverland, a short that used to play before the original Magic of Disney Animation tour starring Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams. In the short, Robin Williams was turned into a Lost Boy.

Back to Neverland poster

Each character meet-and-greet in Off the Page! is in its own section representing different stages of the animation process, like Story, Layout, Hand-Drawn Animation, CG Animation, Lighting, and Effects. Inside the Hand-Drawn Animation section, you’ll find a reference to James Algar, who directed The Sorcerer’s Apprentice.

Off the Page!

In the CG Animation area, you’ll find a sketchbook that references movies like Mulan, Lilo & Stitch, Brother Bear, and My People, which was in development when Hollywood Studios still had an active animation studio.

Sketches

We’ll be on the lookout for additional updates about the Magic of Disney Animation that you need to know. In the meantime, make sure you stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest Disney news and beyond!

We Just Got a SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Olaf Animatronic in Disney World

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Are you going to check out the new Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios? Let us know in the comments below!

Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disney World to attend their media preview of the Magic of Disney Animation. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ