One of my favorite theme park attractions, Disney's Animation Academy, is returning to the Walt Disney World Resort.
Well, not with that name. But the new Animation Experience at Disney's Animal Kingdom promises to be the old Animation Academy in all but name, providing Disney visitors once again with the opportunity to learn how to draw a beloved Disney character and to take that drawing home with them as one of the best free souvenirs on property.
Keeping with the wildlife theme of the park, the characters taught at The Animation Experience will be Disney's animal characters, including Simba, Pumbaa, and Timon from The Lion King, which Disney is promoting this summer due to the rebooted movie's release next month.
The Animation Experience will be located in the Conservation Station at Rafiki’s Planet Watch, which is reopening July 11. Fastpass+ will be available for the classes and those reservation times will open later today.
As at the Animation Academy, each class will feature a different character, so there's plenty of incentive to come back and experience The Animation Experience again and again. While the Animation Academy remains open at Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney World's versions of that show closed with the old Animation pavilion at Disney's Hollywood Studios and with DisneyQuest in Disney Springs.
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I'm old enough to vividly remember the old Animation Building and MGM studios. I can still recall walking through the lobby with artwork for the then "future projects" of Aladdin, Lion King and more. Really miss that place.
Pleasant surprise here. The animation academy at DCA is truly an awesome experience. It is a fantastic way to spend 30 minutes at the park. I'm assuming Jungle Book characters will also be a part of this experience. Good stuff here.
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Woohoo! I am really looking forward to it. The only part I don’t like is when the train to get back has a long line or breaks down.