Disney's Hollywood Studios is adding a dedicated screening space for the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon a Studio when The Magic of Disney Animation officially opens on September 14, 2026. The Once Upon a Studio Theater sits to the left upon entering the attraction and comes with a handful of thoughtful design touches that fans of Disney history will appreciate.
The entrance makes quite an impression before guests even walk through the doors. Logos from dozens of beloved animated films — including Frozen, Zootopia, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, and Atlantis, among many others — line the entryway, while a blue and gold banner featuring a filigree design and a hovering Tinker Bell marks the theater entrance. Inside, the carpet carries an all-over Mickey icon pattern in dark and lighter blues, with character artwork woven throughout. An enchanted art gallery just outside the theater features portraits that animate as guests pass by.
The film itself is a 2023 live-action and animated short written and directed by Dan Abraham and Trent Correy. Set inside the Roy E. Disney Animation Building, it depicts Disney characters coming to life after the animators have gone home for the day. Disney Legend Burny Mattinson — the studio's longest-serving employee — appears at the film's opening, and the short is dedicated to him; Mattinson passed away just a few months before the film's release. In a nod to Hollywood Studios history, the short also includes Robin Williams' Lost Boy character from the original version of The Magic of Disney Animation that once called this park home.
A digital screen beside the theater doors displays what is currently screening, giving guests an easy way to time their visit. The theater also features enhanced in-room effects to complement the film experience.
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This story was first reported by WDW News Today.
