Walt Disney World has made a surprise announcement that the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building is replacing Star Wars Launch Bay at Hollywood Studios, and will house an all-new family experience, “The Magic of Disney Animation.” This shares full dates & details, plus our commentary about why we’re excited for return of the extinct attraction and the longer-term future of Animation Courtyard.
For those who are unfamiliar with it or recognize that this sounds vaguely familiar but aren’t sure why, the Magic of Disney Animation Tour opened at Disney-MGM Studios on May 1, 1989. The tour began with the film “Back to Never Land” hosted by Walter Cronkite and Robin Williams, which guided guests through the different stages of animating a feature-length film by turning Williams into an animated character in the form of one of the “Lost Boys” of Peter Pan.
Following that film, guest would witness the process of animation, first-hand, from elevated, glass-enclosed walkways within Disney’s actual animation studio. The third segment was a short film with Disney Animators describing the art of animation. A finale film entitled “Classic Disney” presented a montage of key moments from classic animated Disney films.
Elements of the Magic of Disney Animation tour changed over the years, especially after the Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida ceased in 2003. We covered the backstage portion of this building, where the animators worked recently via Inside Walt Disney World’s Historic Backstage Building That Might’ve Doomed MuppetVision. (Now we know why Walt Disney World shared that out of nowhere!)
I remember the fully-fledged tour back when I was a kid in the 1990s. It was absolutely awesome, and I remember having friends who wanted to pursue careers in animation as a result. I’d hazard a guess that there are many such stories among actual Disney animators of today. Although the tour didn’t leave as indelible of an impression on me, it definitely deepened my love of Disney animated films. By the time Sarah and I started visiting as adults, the Magic of Disney Animation was more like an exhibit.
There are similar ‘Art of Disney Animation’ experiences in Disney California Adventure, Hong Kong Disneyland, and the Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris. All of those are more or less akin to the post-2003 ‘Magic of Disney Animation’ at Walt Disney World. After limping along for over a decade, the Disney’s Hollywood Studios version of the attraction finally closed on July 12, 2015.
It was replaced by Star Wars Launch Bay, which was always assumed to be a stop-gap measure during the construction of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Aside from light repurposing and redecorating (I’d stop well short of calling it a “reimagining”), not a ton was changed. It was widely expected that Launch Bay would close shortly after Galaxy’s Edge debuted, but the whole “sacred timeline” and “COVID closures” probably derailed those plans.
Anyway, all of that sets the stage and brings us to the 2026, when the ‘Magic of Disney Animation’ is returning to Disney’s Hollywood Studios! It’ll be an all-new attraction in the same beloved building. Here’s the announcement from Walt Disney World:
‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ Returns in 2026!
Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, California, is a place of pure magic. Artists enter, beloved characters and films come out. Now, imagine stepping inside those iconic walls and seeing Disney Animation characters leap off the screen and into our world.
That was the heart and premise of the Emmy Award-winning short film, “Once Upon A Studio.” (As we covered in ‘Once Upon a Studio’ is Pure Disney Magic, this was the highlight of Disney100, and one of the most heartwarming works of art that Disney has created in years.)
“Once Upon a Studio” will soon inspire a brand-new experience at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Housed in a building reminiscent of the iconic Roy E. Disney Animation Building, this upcoming family experience, “The Magic of Disney Animation,” is getting ready to bring the wonder of animation to life like never before.
In 2026, the current home of Star Wars: Launch Bay will transform into a place where kids and kids at heart can laugh, draw, dream, and explore animated new experiences. Topping the building will be Mickey’s iconic Sorcerer Hat, which is just like the real building in California.
The story of this newly reimagined “The Magic of Disney Animation” begins as the animators have temporarily stepped away, but the building is still buzzing with activity as the characters have come to life and they’re ready to play.
Inside, guests will interact with and explore silly takes on the iconic Disney Animation headquarters, including the many different studio departments. Only this time, some of our favorite pals have taken over to create the fun adventures.
The playful and interactive moments will be around every corner. You’ll see portraits come to life before your eyes just like they did in “Once Upon A Studio.” You’ll find inspiration with a short film (with a twist, of course). You’ll even pencil in some time to learn how to draw your very own character sketch.
Young animators-to-be can explore the “Drawn to Wonderland” playground filled with an oversized flower garden with musical instruments, a Mad Tea Party playset and a Tulgey Wood exploration area, all inspired by the original “Alice in Wonderland” concept art from Disney Legend Mary Blair. It’ll be the perfect whimsical indoor play area for little ones to grow “curiouser and curiouser!”
All of those places to explore and create, and we haven’t even talked about character greetings… and there are lots! The whole family will be drawn to all the creative ways to play together when “The Magic of Disney Animation” opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios next year.
It sounds like “Cool Kid Summer” was a proof of concept, and this is that type of experience realized in fuller form with permanent venues and actual high-quality Imagineering and placemaking.
The Walt Disney Studios Lot Replacing Animation Courtyard
The pixie dusting from the Sorcerer’s Hat will extend far beyond the walls of “The Magic of Disney Animation.” What’s currently the Animation Courtyard will be reimagined into The Walt Disney Studios Lot. The new-look land will draw inspiration from several buildings found on the Disney campuses in Burbank, California.
This special nod to the legendary Walt Disney Studios Lot includes the Florida version of the Studio Theater, which will continue to house “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure.” Over at the soundstage, you’ll find a fresh Disney Jr. show.
While exploring the studio grounds and courtyard area, families can take a break to play, relax, or snack on tasty treats under lush trees. And make sure to look around, too. You never know who you might see playing in the branches, soaking up the sun or digging in the grass.
Disney Animation artists and Walt Disney Imagineers are working hand-in-hand to bring the wonder and nostalgia of Disney Animation films to the whole courtyard in new and immersive ways families will love.
Animation Courtyard Closing & Opening Timelines
“The Magic of Disney Animation” will open in 2026.
As Walt Disney World prepares for this transformation, Animation Courtyard, including Star Wars Launch Bay and Disney Jr. Play and Dance! will close beginning September 25, 2025.
During this time, guests will still be able to go under the sea with Ariel in “The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure” and enjoy the exhibits and film presentation at Walt Disney Presents.
Presumably, this is possible because the entrance for the Little Mermaid musical is close enough to the entrance of Animation Courtyard that walls can go on the other side of it. Walt Disney Presents is in no man’s land between Pixar Place and Animation Courtyard, so there’s no surprise it’s not impacted. Walling off that experience would also impact guest flow into Toy Story Land, which is obviously a no-go.
Our Commentary
I love this announcement about the Walt Disney Studio Lot replacing Animation Courtyard. Absolutely nothing of value is being lost, it’s a pure and unequivocal win for Walt Disney World fans. I don’t even see how any cynicism about this project is possible. As we’ve said repeatedly, Animation Courtyard has serious dead mall vibes and is the area in Walt Disney World in most urgent need of a reimagining. It’s honestly embarrassing, especially now that more guests venture back there for the Little Mermaid show.
In fact, I love this idea so much that I previously suggested it just last month in our commentary to the Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida building tour. From that: “Maybe that Orlando presence could be used to revive Animation Courtyard with a new-look Magic of Disney Animation and tours of this building?! I don’t actually think this will happen–and it seems far-fetched to even suggest that the studios park return to being a studios park–but I’d love to see it happen. And I think the circumstances have changed such that it’s at least plausible and worth discussing.”
As it turns out, I was sort of wrong. It wasn’t that far-fetched and is happening. But to be fair, that Armchair Imagineering was not just about the ‘Magic of Disney Animation,’ but about Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida as a working studio and a tour of that. There’s no reason to believe that’s happening in 2026.
Beyond that, this kind of explains why Muppets Courtyard was chosen for Monstropolis as opposed to Animation Courtyard. At least, in part. As you might recall, the two potential targets for the Monsters, Inc. miniland were either Animation Courtyard or Grand Avenue/Muppets Courtyard.
We explained the reasons for and against each location in What Will Walt Disney World Sacrifice for Monstropolis? That’s a lengthy rundown, and I’m not going to rehash all of that here. It’s nevertheless our understanding that, at the time the announcement was made, Disney had not landed on a location for Monstropolis.
Animation Courtyard was the obvious candidate because it offers a massive amount of underutilized capacity and, again, has dead mall vibes. Some fans who would mourn the loss of this corner of the park, but only because it would’ve been the final death knell for the ‘working studio’ conceit of the OG Disney-MGM Studios.
However, Monstropolis replacing Animation Courtyard would’ve been the costlier and more time-consuming project. It would’ve involved relocating a lot of backstage facilities and offices, including those now located in Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. That explains why Monstropolis didn’t move in then…and also why ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ is now.
It’s still our understanding that Animation Courtyard is destined to become a massive land that materially grows the footprint of Disney’s Hollywood Studios and makes the park easier to navigate. It’s not a question of if, but when. As I’ve said before, my guess is sometime in the 2030s.
What the company has announced thus far is essentially the 5-Year Plan for Walt Disney World, and leadership previously stated that spending would be “backloaded” into the second half of the decade (so 2030-2035). Most of the near-term projects are actually more efficient and cheaper by Walt Disney World standards, with the exception of Villains Land, but might be part of the second half of the 10-year plan.
There are a ton of rumors swirling for what’s next, all with varying degrees of veracity. The only one I’ve heard credibly from multiple sources is that Animation Courtyard is on the chopping block. You probably could’ve guessed that. Animation Courtyard is like the wing of a mall where Sears went out of business in 1998. It’s been prime for redevelopment since 2003.
Honestly, I don’t think this changes the equation on any of that.
Previously, it was our take that an announcement for an Animation Courtyard replacement wouldn’t come until the 2026 D23 Expo at the absolute earliest, and more likely, not until 2028 or beyond. And that’s just the announcement. The ambitious project is going to take ~5 years to come to fruition once revealed, whatever it ends up being.
Given this ‘Magic of Disney Animation’ news, I’d now bump a bigger-picture overhaul of Animation Courtyard and bona fide expansion announcement until 2030, with that being the last project of this 10-year plan. That makes this reimagining another stop-gap, kind of like Star Wars Launch Bay (except hopefully not as sad).
This should make sense, given the ~1 year turnaround time on transforming this building into ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ again. That’s really fast, which is presumably because it’s landscaping, a new facade, plus the reinstallation of exhibits in the existing space.
Alternatively, it’s also possible that Walt Disney Imagineering has landed on a concept for Animation Courtyard, has gotten that greenlit, and this is laying the ground for that. Instead of being a blockbuster new single-intellectual property land (e.g. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge or Toy Story Land), it’s going to be the Walt Disney Animation Studios Land.
In such a scenario, Imagineering could eventually build a family friendly dark ride in area that’s currently backstage, while retaining the current layout of Animation Courtyard and these buildings. This makes more sense from budgetary perspective, and also gives Walt Disney World a proper place to promote newly-released animated films. (I’m still skeptical of this, though.)
This could also make sense. Disney’s Hollywood Studios received a lot of attention during the last development cycle, and is getting Monstropolis in 2028. By the time the early 2030s roll around, it should be in pretty good shape. Does it really make sense to build a billion-dollar-plus land here when EPCOT and Animal Kingdom are in much greater need of significant investment? The more budget-conscious Walt Disney Studio Lot approach might be a more efficient approach that allows for the allocation of resources elsewhere.
Ultimately, all of this are absolutely fine by us. Yet again, Animation Courtyard has dead mall vibes. Waiting until Monstropolis is done before turning attention to this area would’ve been almost criminal, since it should’ve been the first to receive the reimagining treatment.
Thankfully, it won’t have to wait and instead is being given a placemaking project in the near-term that should breathe new energy into the area, making it more inviting and worthwhile.
That’ll give Animation Courtyard a new lease on life, extending its viability into the early 2030s. With that said, I would absolutely expect this to be something different by 2035. This is not a long-term play for Animation Courtyard.
We’re actually really excited for ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ on its own merits. We enjoy the other Animation Buildings in California, France and Hong Kong; those are obvious upgrades over Star Wars Launch Bay, which was bad when it opened and now just pathetic. Even simply restoring what was there as of a decade ago would be a huge win–and it sounds like Imagineering is doing a lot more than that.
As parents of a toddler, we’re even more excited for the reimagining of the Animation Courtyard into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. The Disney Jr. show at DCA has become our #3 attraction, followed closely behind Redwood Creek Challenge Trail (it’s like the Boneyard, but for bears). This announcement sure sounds to me like it’ll offer something like that, plus the Animation Building.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a headliner-heavy park and even though it has made strides, there still isn’t enough for families with small children or even the thrill-averse. This is a huge step in the right direction. The Walt Disney Studios Lot should be a big win for young families, or just anyone who enjoys pleasant indoor/outdoor spaces and dislikes dead malls. The only real loser here is enthusiasts of circa 1998 Sears stores. Otherwise, this is unequivocally excellent news!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about an all-new ‘The Magic of Disney Animation’ coming to Walt Disney World? Excited to see Imagineering bring back this classic attraction? Hope that the next step is a revival of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida? Or would you prefer a blockbuster new land that connects Toy Story Land to Sunset Boulevard? Any other thoughts or commentary to add? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
