Magic of Disney Animation Soft Opens Today — Characters Move Inside, New Faces in Courtyard

By WDWMAGIC Staff · Friday September 11, 2026 9:52am ET · "The Magic of Disney Animation"
Magic of Disney Animation Soft Opens Today — Characters Move Inside, New Faces in Courtyard
Magic of Disney Animation soft opens at Hollywood Studios three days early. Characters move inside for dedicated meet-and-greets, with Jiminy Cricket and the White Rabbit now appearing in the…

The Magic of Disney Animation has soft opened today at Disney's Hollywood Studios, three days ahead of its official September 14 opening date.

Guests in the park right now are able to walk in and experience all of the new experiences inside the building, including Olaf Draws!, Off the Page! character meets, the Once Upon A Studio Theater, Drawn to Wonderland, and the enchanted art gallery.

Characters Move Inside

With the building now open, the characters that have been roaming freely in the Walt Disney Studios courtyard over the summer have moved inside to their dedicated Off the Page! meet-and-greet spaces. The courtyard isn't empty though — Pluto,  Jiminy Cricket and the White Rabbit are now appearing intermittently in the outdoor space.

Soft openings are not guaranteed and can end at any time, so if you're in the park today, head over to Animation Courtyard and check availability at the entrance.

The official opening date remains September 14.

Olaf Draws
Photo: DisneyOlaf Draws

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↩ replying to Casper Gutman
I have to give you credit.

You’re very consistent with dishing out criticism and sometimes I agree with you. This is not of those times. Those big empty rooms will be filled with guests at some point.

Disney prioritizes guest space first and foremost so it may seem like it’s wasted but that’s not the case with this attraction.
Perhaps this is what the PLAY pavilion would have been like... if that is the case, I am glad they shelved it for a better idea down the road...
It's cute and all...but probably not a place I would visit....
Soft opening today.
↩ replying to Bocabear
Yeah. Where's the slide for 50+ year olds?
Magic of Disney Animation Soft Opens Today — Characters Move Inside, New Faces in Courtyard
Magic of Disney Animation has soft opened at Hollywood Studios today, three days ahead of its September 14 official opening date. Characters have moved from the courtyard into dedicated meet-and-greet spaces inside, with Jiminy Cricket and the White Rabbit now taking over the outdoor area intermittently.

https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/The-Magic-of-Disney-Animation/news/11sep2026-magic-of-disney-animation-soft-opens-today-characters-move-inside-new-faces-in-courtyard.htm
And Alice is meeting inside as well.
↩ replying to IanDLBZF
I sincerely hope the wandering characters in the outside and inside continue long-term. In many ways I think it is the best part of this update.
Glad there’s still some characters free roaming around the courtyard. Honestly my favorite thing about this.
Olaf Draws is only drawing Mickey today.
↩ replying to JackCH
I am rather surprised they did this and am happy they did. I also have concerns, though, that it won't happen during the busiest weeks, because guest behavior during those times has a strange way of ruining good things. Aka. "Don't you know how much I paid to be here??? Get out of MY princess's way, you're hogging Rapunzel!!!"
↩ replying to MisterPenguin
Exactly! lol I am fine with having someplace like this...Just not my bag...woudn't have been when I was 13 either...
Yes I also hoped for a little more for the Alice in Wonderland space, but I love this addition overall. Charming use of this space!
↩ replying to Gusey
More McDonald's Playplace statues [thread]. Those belong in an outlet mall Disney Store.

Fiberglass statues are up there with off-the shelf drop ceiling acoustic panels [thread] as my biggest pet peeves about theming at WDW.
↩ replying to Mr. Engagement
I will forgive it just for this area as I think it adds to its character/charm.