Category: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

With Inside Out hosting the biggest opening weekend ever for a completely original film, one might wonder why you can’t meet Joy or Sadness at the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios right now. Well, the reasoning seems to be that the location, or at least most of it, will be closing soon for major changes.

If what we are hearing is true, the Magic of Disney Animation will close in a few weeks time, leaving the park without the “Mushu film”, Animation Academy, and the character meet and greets that currently are hosted in the space. The Incredibles meet and greet already moved out a few weeks back, being replaced in the budget by Doc McStuffins who now meets outside of Disney Junior: Live on Stage.

Should the space return, rumor has it that the Animation Academy will return in a new or expanded space (possibly multiple theaters) to better accommodate the hoards of guests who love the “learn-to-draw” attraction. It is unclear what would happen to the remaining space in the attraction beyond this. If the plan comes to fruition, the long-unused outdoor queue at the Magic of Disney Animation should become a stand-by queue for Animation Academy, while FastPass+ guests are routed past eh queue and inside through doors near the former Incredibles meet and greet.

Details are still sketchy, and the only really solid information we have is that the space is closing for some reason very soon. Obviously, this is all connected to the ongoing, unannounced expansion of Disney’s Hollywood Studios which may or may not finally be announced at the 2015 D23 Expo and this is a park-capacity change that would help them handle crowds better during periods of heavy construction.

Stay tuned for more details as they become available.

Last week, we told you about rumors that the Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios will be closing. This week, some more solid information has been released to cast members at the attraction.

According to the cast, July 12th will be the final day to meet Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Hiro & Baymax (Big Hero 6) meet and greet experiences inside of the attraction. These meet and greet closing are confirmed, however, we are still not 100% certain on the exact date. We assume that the rest of the attractions inside including the “Mushu” show, interactive exhibits, and the Animation Academy will close the same day, but that has yet to be confirmed.

Mickey and Minnie will be moving to a new, yet-to-be-announced meet and greet location at Hollywood Studios, while Hiro and Baymax are leaving the park entirely with no new home in sight.

No other details are available at this time.

Now that things have become official, more details are spilling on the July 12th, 2015 closure of the Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

• The entirety of the Magic of Disney Animation will close at the end of their operating hours on July 12th. This includes all of the meet and greets, the Mushu show, the interactive exhibits, and Animation Academy.
• Minnie Mouse will once again join the other characters who meet in the central hub of the park, in front of the Chinese Theater.
• Mickey Mouse will move to a new home across from the Studio Catering Company, exactly what the means is still to be determined, but we’re thinking the former AFI building.
• The Animation Gallery store at the exit of the attraction will remain open until August.
• It is still unclear if portions of the attraction will return or if there will be widespread demolition. This area of the park was not rumored for any major expansion as of yet, but plans may have shifted or changed recently.

Similar to Backlot tour, the future of this space remains unclear, but again, something BIG is up at Hollywood Studios and an announcement has to be close…