The Magic of Disney Animation is an interactive tour and attraction located at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. Inspired by the 2023 animated short Once Upon a Studio, the attraction portrays an "open house" at Walt Disney Animation Studios with the studio's canon of animated characters acting as hosts.
A previous incarnation of the attraction operated at the park from May 1, 1989 until July 12, 2015. In the original version, a live animator would show guests how the characters in Disney animated films were chosen and designed. In December 2015, the building began to be used to house the Star Wars Launch Bay.
Summary Originally, when the park first opened on May 1, 1989, the Feature Animation pavilion of "The Magic of Disney Animation", designed originally by award-winning experience designer Bob Rogers and his design team BRC Imagination Arts, included four connected experiences which explored the legacy of Disney animation. The tour commenced with the live action/animated short film entitled "Back to Neverland" in which veteran newscaster, Walter Cronkite and comedian Robin Williams guided guests through the different stages in 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 introductory film, guest would witness the process of animation, first-hand, from elevated, glass-enclosed walkways within Disney's actual animation studio. Several original cels from Disney films as well as several of the Academy Awards won by Disney films were on display at the attraction. The third segment of the animation tour was a short film in which Disney Animators described the joy of the art of animation. A finale film, entitled "Classic Disney" presented a montage of key moments from animated Disney films and shorts.
An expanded production area was dedicated and opened on April 22, 1998, the same day Disney's Animal Kingdom opened. Chairman Roy E. Disney noted it in his dedication speech.
Magic of Disney Animation productions Inside the building which housed The Magic of Disney Animation, were the former production facilities of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. Some of its productions included: Ink and paint for The Little Mermaid (1989) Two of the three Who Framed Roger Rabbit spinoff cartoons; Roller Coaster Rabbit (1990) and Trail Mix-Up (1993) The "Be Our Guest" sequence from Beauty and the Beast (1991) Off His Rockers short (1992) The concept design and animation of Jasmine from Aladdin (1992) The "I Just Can't Wait to Be King" sequence from The Lion King (1994) Mulan (1998) John Henry short (2000) Lilo & Stitch (2002) Brother Bear (2003)
Studio Closure
After the Orlando, Florida division of Walt Disney Feature Animation closed on January 12, 2004, the preshow was changed to one main showroom where a Disney animator showed guests how the characters in Disney animated films were chosen and designed, with the help of Mushu, the dragon from Disney's Mulan, (voiced in the show by Eddie Murphy's sound double, Mark Moseley.) After guests left the showroom, they were led to the area of the former studio with interactive games and a chance to meet characters from the latest Disney animated pictures. There was also a section called Animation Academy, where guests could draw their favorite Disney characters, under the guidance of a Disney animator.
On July 22, 2025, it was announced that Star Wars Launch Bay will close and The Magic of Disney Animation will reopen on September 14, 2026.The building facade renovated to resemble the Roy E. Disney Animation Building at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. The guest experience inside themed after the centennial short film Once Upon a Studio. The former Animation Courtyard renovated to resemble buildings on the studio lot at the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. More details were released in May 2026, which revealed that the attraction featured a number of experiences including Once Upon a Studio Theater, Olaf Draws!, Off the Page!, and Drawn to Wonderland.
Films shown during the attraction Original version Flowers and Trees Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Brave Little Tailor The Ugly Duckling Pinocchio Fantasia Dumbo Bambi Make Mine Music Song of the South Melody Time The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad Cinderella Alice in Wonderland Peter Pan Lady and the Tramp Sleeping Beauty One Hundred and One Dalmatians The Sword in the Stone Mary Poppins Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree The Jungle Book The Rescuers The Fox and the Hound The Black Cauldron The Great Mouse Detective
Updated version Steamboat Willie Three Little Pigs Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Pinocchio Fantasia Dumbo Bambi Cinderella Alice in Wonderland Peter Pan Lady and the Tramp Sleeping Beauty One Hundred and One Dalmatians The Sword in the Stone The Jungle Book The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Once Upon a Mouse The Little Mermaid Beauty and the Beast Aladdin The Lion King Pocahontas Mulan Tarzan Fantasia 2000 Lilo & Stitch The Princess and the Frog Tangled Winnie the Pooh Wreck-It Ralph Frozen Big Hero 6 Zootopia Moana Ralph Breaks the Internet Frozen 2 Raya and the Last Dragon Encanto Strange World Wish Moana 2 Zootopia 2 Hexed
List of Handprints in forecourt Marc Davis (May 1, 1989) Ken Anderson (May 1, 1989) Ken O'Connor (May 1, 1989) Ollie Johnston (May 1, 1989) Frank Thomas (May 1, 1989) Ward Kimball (May 1, 1989)
References
External links The Magic of Disney Animation - Official website Walt Disney World Resort - The Magic of Disney Animation Retrieved May 2012 Stories from Walt Disney Animation Orlando Retrieved May 2012