LOVED Animation Academy

[MouseEarsJenny]

Just wanted to share that on our trip this past week, we had the most MARVELOUS time in the interactive area of The Magic of Disney Animation. We never actually took the tour part, but went in through the gift shop to the interactive area. In addition to the computer stations where our kids spent a good forty minutes playing, the whole area was FULL of characters!! Tons of characters! In air conditioning! With no lines! Rabbit, Donald Duck, Eeyore, Geppetto, Gideon, the Incredibles, Goofy... and that's just the ones I recall. Plus, the actual Animation Academy where you learn to draw a character was so much fun! My whole family agreed we could have just kept going back all day to learn different characters. We did Mickey and Stitch and my daughter hasn't stopped drawing either since.

I haven't really heard this attraction bragged up, so I thought I'd tell anyone with budding artists or character fans to check it out. We also loved the exhibits that showed the development of some of our favorite characters. One of the early sketches of what Ursula should look like looked just like Izma! And early Buzz and Woody were just WEIRD!

All and all, it was one of our favorite attractions in MGM.

 

[Momof4inFL]

Glad to hear you enjoyed it. This is probably one of my favorite attractions. I have seen the intro part a couple times and try to avoid it now, as I could probably repeat it for you, problem is...my son, who is 5, LOVES it! So....we usually end up sitting through it anyhow hehe. I agree, the part where you learn to draw the characters is really neat. I could sit there for hours. Of course the biggest plus is air conditioning!
~Patti

 

[kidd_freeper]

Where is this gift shop?

I would like to skip the tour as well.

 

[steelmagnolia]

Really glad to see someone mention this. We ( DD, DDBF and myself) thought it was great! The tour was very interesting and I can't wait to take my DH in September!

 

[Ruth B]

Thanks for this review- my son would ove this. What time of day did you go?

 

[smep013]

This is the second time I have heard about this on these boards.
But I have no idea where it is - or how it works - is there an extra cost?

Thanks for your help, I'll check it out in August!

 

[bobcat]

If you want to go through the entire attraction just line up for the animation tour, times are posted on your park time guide. To skip the movie and the now closed offices enter the gallery store to the left of the animation tour entrance. Go to the back of the store and down the hallway to get to the interactive area.

 

[smep013]

Thanks BobCat... I'm adding to my itineray right now.

 

[steelmagnolia]

Thanks for this review- my son would ove this. What time of day did you go?

We were there during the afternoon. Wonderful air conditioned break. Magic of Animation is located not too far from Rock n Roller Coaster, if I remember correctly. There's a film about animation, featuring Mushu. We then meanderd by glass enclosed displays that showed the development of many Disney characters. Amazing artwork. The interactive area was very spacious. I was able to park my wheelchair out of the way and watch the activities. The Incredibles were present for interaction, autographs and photo ops. They kept the little ones ( and their parents ) entertained while they waited their turn at the different activity stations. Lots to do and see. All the kids had a grand time including my not so young DD. She helped a little girl morph her image into Ariel when the child's mom couldn't be in 2 places at once.
Again, I'm so glad to see this attraction mentioned. I was starting to think I'd imagined the whole thing.

 

[Momof4inFL]

This attraction is nestled between and a little bit behind both Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney. It is not widely advertised so you might miss it. You will see the entrance to the gift shop where you can enter and skip the tour, or, as was stated, the line to take the tour is on the left hand side. If you do have the time to fit it in, it is indeed a neat show. Yes, Mushu is used. As well, seeing the old animation desks is kind of neat too. When we were there the Chicken Little cast was inside, but that was about 2 months ago. Just a neat little attraction kind of hidden away in the back.
~Patti

 

[Bouncing4Tigger]

I have not taken the tour in awhile, may just have to do that during my October trip. Last time I took the tour was when there were actual animators still working there.

 

[herodrx1]

We did this at DL two weeks ago and LOVED it. We got to draw Mickey, Goofy, and Donald. I can't wait to frame the pictures and put them on the wall. I hope they keep this so I can watch the drawings change each year we go back as the kids get older.

 

[MouseEarsJenny]

If you hang an immediate right at the Sorceror's Hat, it's easy to find. Go through the Art of Disney gift shop if you want to skip the tour. (And drool over the paintings and sketches if you like - I'm gonna have to save up for the next ten years, lol, and buy the $1700 Classic Pooh and Christopher Robin in the Hundred Acre Wood painting for my living room I think...) We went once right before Fantasmic and once at about 11AM-ish while we waited for a Mermaid fastpass. We'll probably do the tour next time - just had other things to do and wasted a TON of time here!