Overview
- The Magic of Disney Animation soft-opened on Friday, September 11, giving guests early access to Olaf Draws!, Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page!, Once Upon a Studio Theater and the Enchanted Art Gallery.
- Olaf Draws! is an interactive drawing class led by an Audio‑Animatronic Olaf with recorded instruction from Disney animators, and Disney will use an in-person virtual waitlist with Cast Member sign-up and text return instead of the My Disney Experience app when crowding requires it.
- During the soft opening, roaming characters that appeared around the Walt Disney Studios courtyard this summer were moved into themed Off the Page! indoor meet spaces while Jiminy Cricket and the White Rabbit now rotate through the courtyard and Alice made special appearances inside Drawn to Wonderland.
- Disney posted operating hours that match the park for opening week but show a reduced daily window beginning September 28 with hours shifting to about 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., which will exclude early entry and shorten evening access.
- Soft openings can end without notice, so Disney is using this period to test guest flow, staffing and timing; visitors should expect in-person queue sign-up for Olaf Draws! on busy days and plan visits around the posted hours and possible changes.