When Fantasy Comes to Life: Walt Disney Animation Studios Experience to Debut at Disney’s Hollywood Studios This Summer

“Olaf Draws!” Takes Over Animation Academy as Audio-Animatronic Character Joins Forces with Legendary Artists to Inspire a New Generation

Walt Disney World Resort has unveiled detailed plans for “The Magic of Disney Animation,” a brand-new experience coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in late summer 2026. The highly anticipated project will transform the former Star Wars-themed area into a tribute to the legendary Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California.

“Olaf Draws!”: When Animated Characters Become Your Art Teacher

As the centerpiece of this new experience, “Olaf Draws!” will offer guests a unique animation drawing class like no other. This time, the host is not a live artist, but a brand-new audio-animatronic figure of everyone’s favorite snowman from Frozen. Inspired by his memorable moment sitting at an animator’s desk in the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon a Studio, Olaf will invite guests of all ages to explore the art of character drawing.

Olaf’s audio-animatronic will interact with visitors using newly recorded dialogue by Frozen star Josh Gad. “I’m so thrilled that a whole new generation of kids can dream of becoming animators one day and can actually begin their journey right there on the studio lot,” Gad shared in the announcement.

While Olaf can’t draw on his own, he will turn to the expertise of legendary Disney animators through pre-recorded video lessons. Each class will feature a different iconic Disney character, guided by a different artist, creating an impressive lineup:

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 & Nick Wilde, with Byron Howard director, (Zootopia, Zootopia 2)

“Off the Page!”: Meet Beloved Characters Throughout the Animation Process

Beyond the drawing classes, guests can explore a new area called “Off the Page!” Here, classic Disney Animation characters will greet visitors in scenes representing various animation departments, each highlighting a key stage of the filmmaking process:

Story Department: Mulan awaits in front of an oversized storyboard panel

Layout Department: Rapunzel is set against a classic multiplane camera installation

Hand-Drawn Animation: Chip ‘n’ Dale frolic in this space

CG Animation: Donald and Daisy Duck await guests

Lighting: Goofy demonstrates the magic of lighting

Effects: Stitch creates joyful chaos

An Immersive Journey: From Art Gallery to Themed Play Area

Guests can also wander through a “magical art gallery,” where seemingly traditional artwork springs to life with a touch of pixie dust, as characters appear in brand-new animations created exclusively for this experience.

The newly established “Once Upon A Studio Theater” will screen the Emmy Award-winning short film Once Upon A Studio, with artwork along the theater walls interacting with the film, placing guests in the middle of this enchanting story.

For younger visitors, the “Drawn to Wonderland” play area will feature an oversized garden playground inspired by Mary Blair’s original concept art for Alice in Wonderland, complete with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset, and a Tulgey Wood exploration area.

Fan Discussions: Nostalgia for Live Artists Amidst the Excitement

While the new experience is highly anticipated, the news that “Olaf Draws!” will no longer feature live artists has sparked discussion within the Disney fan community. Some fans have expressed disappointment on social media, suggesting that while the pre-recorded lessons are polished, they may not replicate the interaction and spontaneous joy that live artists brought to the former Animation Academy experience.

The Animation Experience at nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom has permanently closed as of today to make way for a new Bluey experience opening this summer. Some observers note that the reimagined experience could have continued employing live artists.

Nevertheless, many acknowledge Disney’s clear investment in quality. Concept art reveals a beautifully detailed area, blending the creative forces of Walt Disney Imagineering and Walt Disney Animation Studios. The combination of audio-animatronic figures and pre-recorded lessons from legendary animators aims to offer families a new kind of animation art experience while ensuring operational reliability.

Area Transformation: “The Walt Disney Studios” Theme Zone Arrives

Alongside “The Magic of Disney Animation,” the entire Animation Courtyard area will be reimagined as “The Walt Disney Studios,” inspired by the iconic buildings in Burbank. Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat will top the building, sprinkling pixie dust throughout the area.

“The Magic of Disney Animation” experience is scheduled to open at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in late summer 2026.