The Magic of Disney Animation is officially slated to open on September 14, 2026, at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, replacing the space previously occupied by Star Wars: Launch Bay in the park’s Animation Courtyard, according to reports. The incoming attraction marks the return of animation-focused experiences to the area for the first time since the original iteration closed in 2015.
Recreating the Burbank Campus
The outdoor public space features a park-like layout complete with landscaping details, hidden character surprises, and a recreation of Pluto’s Corner. Disney Animation Building, topped by Mickey’s Sorcerer Hat.
Props and Easter Eggs in the Lobby
Inside the building, all 64 feature films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios are represented across various interactive exhibits and displays, as reported. Visitors entering the reception area encounter a custom Lost and Found Department featuring props and objects such as the Map Sphere from Treasure Planet, Eeyore’s tail, the Sundrop Flower from Tangled, and a vase depicting Hercules fighting the Hydra, with the character Figaro positioned above the display. Additionally, the venue’s color scheme and tilework replicate design elements found inside the actual Burbank studio lobby.
Inside the Animator’s Office and Archives
The attraction’s interior includes several distinct zones dedicated to the filmmaking process and studio history. The Animator’s Office highlights the workspace of a studio artist through hidden easter eggs and props. Meanwhile, the Treasures Untold gallery displays archival keepsakes, color scripts, and storyboards—including materials tied to the studio’s upcoming November theatrical release, Hexed, alongside the Emmy Award won by the short film Once Upon a Studio.
Theaters and Neighborhood Entertainment
Guests can also experience the Once Upon a Studio Theater, which presents an enhanced screening of the studio’s short film alongside projection mapping effects along the walls that make animated characters appear to emerge from the surroundings. Adjacent to the theater, an enchanted art gallery features portraits that come to life and interact with one another. Alongside the new animation building, the surrounding Hollywood Studios zone continues to house live entertainment offerings, including The Little Mermaid – A Musical Adventure at the Studio Theater and Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! in a nearby soundstage.
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