Magic of Disney Animation Gets a Facelift from TS3

OK, I'm just going to admit it: The Magic of Disney Animation is one attraction in Disney's Hollywood Studios that our family tends to skip over. It's not that we're not interested, per se, it's just that with a 3- and 6-year-old, we tend to focus more on the shows and a preschool-friendly attractions. However, back in the day--you know...when you could actually see Disney animators at work on this interactive walk-through tour--I really enjoyed this attraction. Now, the artists' desks are still there, and some of them are even "decorated" as if they're still at work. But they're not. At least not in WDW. They packed up and moved to California. As the old saying goes, "The lights are on, but there's nobody home." (Probably not exactly the best use of that phrase, but you get my meaning.)

Since I can't accurately comment on the nature of the current tour (we did catch part of the animation "show" on our last vist, but it has been a few years since we've gone through the entire exhibit), I'll have to rely on Disney's own explanation:

The Magic of Disney Animation is an informative 20-minute show at Disney's Hollywood Studios theme park where Guests of all ages are invited to discover the process of creating animated characters.

Go behind the scenes of animated Disney classics like Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion Kingfor a look at how Disney animators create your favorite characters. Join Mushu from Mulan and a real Disney animator as together they illustrate—in a humorous and an easy-to-understand way—the basics of creating animated characters and character development.

After the show, embark on a guided walk to a special landing and snap a picture of the former studios of Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida. After a brief discussion about animation with your guide, take some time to join in a number of different workshops that bring the magic of Disney animation to life.

Wow...maybe we will need to take in this attraction on our next visit. Actually sounds kind of cool. Oh, and adding to the coolness factor (at least in my children's eyes) is the addition of a Toy Story 3display. You can now see story boards, posters, character renderings, and assorted artwork from the film as you tour the former animation studio. For a few recent pictures, courtesy of WDWNewsToday, click here and scroll down just a bit.