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Cast Member Previews Begin for The Magic of Disney Animation at Hollywood Studios
The curtain is getting ready to rise on The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, with Cast Member previews now underway ahead of the attraction’s official opening on September 14th. Cast Members have been spotted entering the newly reimagined experience inside the Walt Disney Studios Lot, giving us one of the clearest signs yet that Disney is putting the final touches on the project.
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Construction walls have already come down around the area, and Disney Imagineering has steadily been adding finishing details throughout the courtyard. It is not currently clear which Cast Members are eligible for the previews or how long the preview period will run. Disney also has not announced whether guests could see a public soft opening before September 14th, although Cast Member previews typically mean an attraction is getting very close to being ready for its big debut.
The Magic of Disney Animation is part of the larger transformation of the former Animation Courtyard into the Walt Disney Studios Lot. The original Animation Courtyard closed in September 2025, with the reimagined courtyard reopening to guests in May 2026 while work continued inside the attraction. Disney has since shared previews of several experiences coming to the space, including Drawn to Wonderland, Off the Page, and Olaf Draws, along with a new Olaf Audio-Animatronic.
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With Cast Members now stepping inside, we are officially in the home stretch before The Magic of Disney Animation welcomes guests on September 14th. Whether Disney sneaks in a soft opening before then remains to be seen, but we will be keeping our eyes on Hollywood Studios for any extra animation magic. If you are planning a Walt Disney World trip and want to check out The Magic of Disney Animation for yourself, our partners at Get Away Today can help you put together the perfect Hollywood Studios getaway.
