Disney Animation Studio Secrets Revealed in Behind-the-Scenes Tour
A recent behind-the-scenes tour by Walt Disney Imagineering has revealed the intricate details of The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney's Hollywood Studios.
The tour, presented by the WDI team, covers every aspect of the new experience, from reception to Olaf Draws!, highlighting Easter eggs and hidden details that most guests might miss on a first visit.
The reception area is directly based on the Walt Disney Animation Studios lobby in Burbank, California, featuring a large tile color wheel mural with a paint chandelier whose colors shift with the lighting. The paint brushes on the chandelier carry colors chosen by the ink and paint department from films they've worked on.
The Once Upon A Studio Theater features brand new hand-drawn and CG animation created in partnership directly with Walt Disney Animation Studios, exclusive to this location, showing characters jumping out of their portraits. The playground within the Visual Development department is inspired by Mary Blair's artwork for Alice in Wonderland, featuring butterflies that physically pop off the surface as they appear to fly around the room.
The character greeting area is divided into sections reflecting different stages of the animation process, while Olaf Draws! features Chouinard-style animator desks for adult guests and Arendelle sleighs for younger kids. Each sleigh is themed to a different Frozen character's color palette.