Guests at Disney's Hollywood Studios got a pleasant surprise this week when The Magic of Disney Animation quietly soft-opened inside the Walt Disney Studios Lot — several days before its officially announced September 14 debut. The experience completes the transformation of the area formerly known as Animation Courtyard and gives visitors something genuinely different from the park's blockbuster lands and thrill rides.
Rather than pulling guests into a single franchise world, the space celebrates the broader history of Disney animation. Inside, Drawn to Wonderland offers a hands-on creative environment, Olaf Draws! brings an interactive character element, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater honors decades of animated storytelling. Disney has also woven in pencil sketches and Easter eggs tied to classic films — including The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad (1949) and The Fox and the Hound (1981) — giving longtime fans plenty to discover at a slower pace.
Outside, the Walt Disney Studios Lot features roaming characters who interact with guests in a more spontaneous way than traditional meet-and-greets, adding an unpredictable, lively quality to the entire area. For those who remember when Hollywood Studios leaned into its movie-making identity, the combination of artwork, animation history, and character encounters will feel like a meaningful nod to the park's roots.
Anyone planning a visit should pay close attention to operating hours, which change across the opening weeks. The attraction runs 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. from September 14 through 17, shifts to an 8:30 a.m. start on September 18 and 19, returns to 9 a.m. openings September 20 through 27, and then settles into a significantly shorter 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. window beginning September 28. Guests visiting during the official opening stretch will have considerably more time to explore than those arriving later in the fall. If you're thinking about planning a Disney World trip around this opening, the earlier weeks offer the longest daily access.
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This story was first reported by Disney Fanatic.
