Goodbye Disney’s Animation Academy, and Thanks for the Memories
Disney’s Hollywood Studios has officially closed the Magic of Disney Animation to make room for another attraction.
To say I’m a little heartbroken is an understatement.
I always considered the Animation Academy one of my favorite spots at Hollywood Studios. It was a place my entire family enjoyed, a great spot for spending 30 minutes inside the air conditioning, giving our legs a rest, and learning from the best animators around. It was our go-to spot when we had to catch our breath, or a break from the rain.
Inside the Animation Academy, the Disney animators taught us how to draw our own Disney characters and we were always amazed at our final product.
I have sketches we’ve all done through the years, following the step-by-step instructions offered by the animators.
Through the years we’ve mastered Minnie, Winnie and on our last trip, Goofy.
We could look into the different animator offices and see peeks from the past of some of Disney’s best work.
It’s the most recent in a number of changes being made at Hollywood Studios. A name change for the park is coming, and the famous Sorcerer’s hat was removed earlier this year. The Studios Backlot Tour is also gone, along with the American Idol experience.
I’m all for updates, but this is one attraction I’m really going to miss on my trips to Disney. Maybe they’ll relocate the concept to another of the theme parks. Until then, I’ll consider our past art even more priceless.
July 13, 2015 @ 9:16 am
I would love to experience this… For now I shall be happy living vicariously 🙂
July 13, 2015 @ 10:00 am
Carla…the Disneyland version is still open… just bummed that the Disney on my coast closed it. Now I kick myself for not buying the book they offered in the gift shop.
July 13, 2015 @ 9:56 am
Oh boo! We didn’t do this on our last vacation but it looks awesome! There was something similar, at least where we were taught to draw Donald Duck, at Downtown Disney. Sorry to see this go! (Not happy that Maelstrom is leaving either. Change is hard!)
July 13, 2015 @ 9:59 am
Good to know about the Downtown Disney option… guess I’d feel better if I knew what they were putting in its place.
July 13, 2015 @ 11:09 am
Oh wow i didn’t know this and so sad we won’t be able to experience this. Do you know what attraction is going in place of it?
July 13, 2015 @ 11:46 am
@brianne_manz:disqus they haven’t said yet, though they’ve implied lots of Star Wars attractions are on the way.
July 13, 2015 @ 11:29 am
A Twinniversary Sighting! Love Natalie! I haven’t been to Disney with my kids yet, so I am sad this is closing.
July 13, 2015 @ 11:47 am
I love Natalie, too. There are still lots of fun things to do at Disney, don’t get me wrong, but this one always gave us the best souvenir to bring home. Natalie and I did this the year before at Disneyland together, so it was really fun to do with our daughters at Disney World earlier this year.
July 14, 2015 @ 7:44 am
Im actually really SAD about this – my entire family LOVED THIS