Disney has officially revealed fresh details about a whimsical new addition coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Summer 2026. As part of the larger transformation of the former Animation Courtyard into what’s now being called The Magic of Disney Animation, guests will soon encounter a brand-new drawing class experience starring everyone’s favourite cheerful snowman, Olaf from Frozen.
The new experience is called “Olaf Draws!” and will be integrated into The Magic of Disney Animation located in the park’s Animation Courtyard. Unlike previous versions of the Animation Academy — where a live artist would teach guests how to draw beloved Disney characters — this version will feature an Audio-Animatronics figure of Olaf seated at an animator’s desk, inspired by his appearance in the short film Once Upon a Studio. Olaf will welcome guests and help guide them through the basics of character drawing with his trademark infectious optimism.
The setting has been thoughtfully redesigned to resemble a working animator’s studio. Younger guests will find playful details such as sleigh-themed tables, while older artists at heart can sit at animator-style desks that evoke the feeling of being in a real studio. Pre-recorded segments featuring actual Walt Disney Animation Studios artists will provide step-by-step instruction for drawing a variety of iconic characters.
Voice actor Josh Gad, who voices Olaf in the Frozen films, returned to the recording booth to provide original dialogue for the attraction. His contributions aim to inject that familiar warmth and humour into the experience, encouraging creativity and curiosity among young artists and fans alike. “I’m so thrilled that a whole new generation … can actually begin their journey right there on the studio lot,” Gad shared in comments published alongside the announcement.
“Olaf Draws!” is part of a broader reimagining of the animation space at Hollywood Studios. The entire area is being reimagined to celebrate Disney animation’s past and present — with galleries, theatrical presentations of Once Upon a Studio, interactive spaces, and more character encounters planned when The Magic of Disney Animation opens later this summer.
Not all fans are entirely pleased with the shift from live instruction to animated automation, however. Social-media reaction has reflected some disappointment that the human element of a live drawing instructor will no longer be part of the new experience — something many fans felt lent a personal touch and spontaneity to the classic Animation Academy format.
Even so, Disney’s latest announcement marks an exciting expansion of storytelling and interactivity at Hollywood Studios, where technology and imagination continue to blur the line between art and experience.