As I moved through the new Magic of Disney Animation on opening day a manager sought me out and asked how my experience was with the new attraction. My response: You have taken my soul, turned it inside out and made it into an attraction. There are many reasons I love Disney’s Hollywood Studios, but this made the top of the charts immediately. I am so impressed with the level of attention, investment, and loving care that has gone into this project. This is made by people who love Disney and who love the art of Disney Animation. It’s an old space made new, but it might have well been something from the ground up. I’ve been processing the experience since, and have captured five reasons why I love this experience and can’t wait to take my family here. This is Disney at its best, and if this is a hint of things to come, I’m very excited about the future of the Disney parks. Join me in this somewhat emotional review of the JOY and The Magic of Disney Animation.

This podcast is produced by myself and Performance Journeys, which offers training, development and consultant support to organizations big and small and entrepreneurs new and established. With a wide variety of resources and long-time in-the-trench experience, we offer workshops, online learning, coaching and more to organizations that want to build their teams, raise organizational excellence, improve leadership and create customer loyalty. Check us out at PerformanceJourneys.com.

As with our podcast, be sure to check out this web site, Disney Insights where we offer key points, photos, videos, links and more. In today’s discussion, we will refer to several charts found on Disney Insights. Note that YouTube carries now carries our podcasts. So please subscribe to our Disney Insights YouTube page as it will be more a part of our social media strategy moving forward. We appreciate any positive ratings, reviews or referrals you make to others.

In particular, we have a colorful music video that overviews this attraction on YouTube. Check it out!

I have a link here to how The Magic of Disney Animation first came to Disney MGM Studios and what that experience looked like. I wanted to share more about how it evolved over the years, but suffice to say, the experience slowly went down hill over several decades until it was finally made into Star Wars Cargo Bay, in advance of Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge. Part of that was the evolution of the art form itself, which went from being largely hand-drawn to mostly computer-drawn. This ended Return to Neverland with Lost Boy Robin Williams and instead was replaced with Mushu, tied with the Florida Studio’s work with Mulan.

At the same time, with improved photo, video and mobile devices, guests were taking and sharing imagery that hadn’t gone to the screen yet, and I believe this drove attorneys crazy. So much of the work couldn’t be done in view of the guests, and in fact, much of the work was actually done in trailers out behind the building, and then subsequently in a beautiful new building that was created and attached behind this one. But other than the lobby, you saw little of it, and so to attract anyone toward it, substitutions to the experience were made to include meet ‘n’ greet experiences as well as “how to draw” classes. Operationally, over time the net effect was lessened as guests were much more interested in other attractions in the park.

So I was really surprised at the announcement of this attraction coming back–especially since Disney had left the Studio tour business. And when details came out about what this experience might hold, I began to anticipate that this might be the best thing coming to Walt Disney World–especially as bigger projects were still well behind it. When the courtyard reopened it was even more of the kind of detail and effort than I ever expected. And then when I visited the morning of its official opening, I was so blown away.

Five Reasons I Love The Magic of Disney Animation

1. It is an Oasis & Retreat

• Outer Courtyard–Reflective of Burbank’s Studio
• Inner Courtyard
• Inside the Studio–Seats & Benches Everywhere Plus Outlets and Air Conditioning

2. It Builds Upon Once Upon a Studio

1. 100th Anniversary Film–Worth Seeing on the Big Screen
2. Merlin Is Your Host
3. Frames on the Wall Come Alive
4. Film Gallery Builds From There
5. Big Picture of Walt as You Turn to Leave the Studio

3. Respectful & Insightful of the Art of Disney Animation

• Overview of The Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank and Vancouver
• A Wall Honoring Walt Disney Feature Animation in Florida
• Explanations and Examples of a Color Script
• Layout of an Animator’s Table
• Visual Development–Focus on Mary Blair
• )Story) Mulan, (Layout) Rapunzel, (Hand Drawn) Chip ‘n’ Dale, (Computer) Donald & Daisy, (Lighting) Goofy, (Effects) Stitch
• Upcoming Films–Hexed
• Olaf Draws–Uses Real Animators to Teach You
• Deep Dives on Up and Coming Films

4. Inclusive of The Entire Disney Animation Portfolio

• More Easter Eggs Than Anywhere Else
• Created a Grid of Every Disney Animation Movie–Not Victory Over Air Power
• Only 2 Films I didn’t see characters from but I didn’t log the murals
• Statues of Characters in the Courtyard–New Ones Like Bolt & Oliver & Dodger staring down a hot dog
• Murals of Films In the Standby/Stroller Queue/Parking
• Once Upon a Time Film & Frames–Both Theater & Lounge
  • Clawhauser, Maleficent, Vultures, Luisa
  • Kaa, Rhino, Morph, Chicken Little, Shere Khan
• Stitch’s Animator’s Desk
• Murals Across the Walls
• Olaf’s Animator’s Desk
• Character Animation Props
• Prop Lost & Found–Black Cauldron
• Meet ‘n’ Greet Characters Inside & Out–Discuss Favorite Highlights
  • Follow Your Conscience with Jiminy Cricket
  • Six Meet ‘n’ Greet Locations
    • (Story) Mulan, (Layout) Rapunzel, (Hand Drawn) Chip ‘n’ Dale, (Computer) Donald & Daisy, (Lighting) Goofy, (Effects) Stitch
  • Alice

5. Alice in Wonderland

• Added Additional Space–Bigger than Original & Launch Bay
• Drawn to Wonderland is set in the Context of Mary Blair’s Contribution to Visual Design
• Flower Garden with Bread & Butterflies & Interactive Play Area
• Tulgey Wood with Slide
• Interactive Mad Tea Party with a dormouse that comes out of the pot
• Queen of Heart’s Garden with activities to paint the roses red
• Not quite as big as Honey I Shrunk the Playground, but it is air conditioned!
• This touches me as it reminds me of creating my high school set.

• Crowds are Loving This
• Operations All Over This–Upkeep is Essential
• Virtual Queue for Olaf–Get In That Queue First
• Need at Least an Hour–I Spent Nearly Two
• If Encanto, Monstropolis, Piston Peak or Villains Land has this kind of love, affection, and attention to detail, I am more than excited about the future

Again, don’t forget to check out the video on YouTube.

Want to Visit Disney?

Hopefully this podcast has made you realize you need help and support in planning your next trip to Disney. David and Leah with Zanolla Travel know Disney in ways few do and they can make your next trip on land or sea an exciting one–or at least less stressful! Be sure to contact them as you explore your next vacation, whether it is a Disney theme park vacation, a cruise, or an Adventure by Disney. There is no charge to utilize their services, but it will save you enormous time getting all the details right, and with their insight you can be assured you’re going to experience the best trip possible. Contact them today!

Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization

For over a year I’ve been capturing and sharing stories of Disneyland, while creating a new online tool for you to explore all of them in one place. It’s called Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization and it’s an interactive, multimedia experience. This is truly designed for those who are seeking to find new ideas that will guide you to 

1. Provide Individual & Organizational Leadership Excellence
2. Create Employee Engagement & a Team Culture
3. Offer a Superior Customer Experience

Not only does the content through examples, stories and models play to these themes, but each section provides “Souvenirs for You and Your Organization”. They are reflective questions that may be used to better the work or operation you may be lead or be part of. And in that instance, it is more of a business focus. In fact, many may utilize funding set aside in their organization for training and development to purchase this volume.

Click here to order Disneyland Insights: Inspiration, Ideas & Magic for You and Your Organization. It’s also available on the show notes page of our podcast. Whether you’re on a comfy sofa at home or on Main Street, U.S.A. this experience allows you to navigate through all nine lands to explore some 100 locations where you can find Disney insights that will be inspire and guide you and your organization. 

Books From Your Host at Disney Insights

Also, if you’re looking to grab something today, go to Amazon where you will find four of my books available for purchase. Three explore Disney at length, and one explores world class businesses to include Disney. Check them out!

My newest book, A Century of Powerful Disney Insights, Volume I 1923-1973, The Walt & Roy Disney Years is available! 

Also, check out my two of my other books, The Wonderful World of Customer Service at Disney and Disney, Leadership and You. 

Also, for those examining other business benchmarks beyond Disney, check out Lead with Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand Into World-Class Excellence.

Thanks for joining us for this podcast. Know that as in the title of my organization, Performance Journeys, it’s as much about the journey as it is about performance. Find the second star to the right, and keep going straight on till you reach it. Follow the compass of your heart, and know that with a smile and a song, a little faith, effort and pixie dust, your dreams can come true. After all, if we can dream it, we can do it. Until next time, bright suns, we’ll see you real soon!