Voicetek Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Kind of sad about this. I always loved doing the studio tour and learning how to draw a character. http://www.insidethemagic.net/headlines/magic-of-disney-animation-at-walt-disney-world-to-close-next-month-characters-on-the-move/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 In its heyday, it was a great attraction featuring Robin Williams and Walter Conkrite and really gave visitors an in-depth look at the animation process, including a window down into which people could see animators working below. However, once Disney moved the vast majority of its animation overseas (and sent the rest to Burbank) and the movies became ever-more CGI-reliant, the need was no longer there. On my last visit, the movie had long since stopped playing, and the attraction was a ghost of what it once was. I don't think I saw a single animator working, though there were desks which were set up to look as if someone was at work and storyboards lined the walls (of Pixar movies, of all things). If the park is going to expand Pixar place, this wold be a logical place to do it, given its central location. Star Wars will be expanded on the other side where the backlot tour once was and over and around to the former Honey I Shrunk the Kids playset. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voicetek Posted June 30, 2015 Author Share Posted June 30, 2015 The last time I took the animation tour was back in the spring of 2004. They were just finishing up "Home on the Range" and made the announcement that it was going to be the last hand-drawn animated feature. Also while there, the tour guide was busy giving incorrect facts to the guests on the tour. People would ask him questions and he would respond with the wrong answers. He would say things like, "The first use of the multi-plane camera was on the movie Cinderella" and stuff like that. One guest asked him if there had been any recent Mickey Mouse shorts and he said "no." He completely forgot about "Runaway Brain" back in 1995. Since I've been studying Disney Animation since kindergarten, it was rather frustrating. Oh well, what do you do? My wife and I went back down there last October and visited Hollywood Studios. You're right Gabe, it was a ghost of what it once was. There was no longer a tour or a video showing. They did have a few desks on display, but no actual animators there. They did have the drawing tutorial where they taught you how to draw a character, but that was pretty much is except for some interactive displays and some character meet and greets. The whole thing is a shame really. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 The building occupies a prime space in the park and I don't think it could be easily re-purposed from its current state. Disney will likely demolish it for a future Pixar attraction. The construction walls were bad enough when the BAH was being dismantled; I can only imagine the congestion this will cause when the walls go up around the building! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaron88stang Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 Isn't it about time for Disney to start announcing some attractions coming to Hollywood Studios? I know all the rumors but nothing has been announced and they have taken away so much in the last year or so. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyrider Posted June 30, 2015 Share Posted June 30, 2015 I agree that Disney needs to announce something soon as to what they are doing with Disney Hollywood Studios. Many things have or are closing and no confirmed announcement on what is coming is becoming very frustrating. I am so glad that I went there last summer as I would have a hard time justifying visiting this park this summer with so many attractions now closed. They need to start building something in the areas already closed like the Studio Backlot Tour, just adding another track to Toy Story is not enough in my book. I wonder when attendance at DHS will be affected as Frozen is a draw for some but then next year there will be the ride opening at Epcot. They Disney execs probably have a plan but they need to hopefully share it soon with the general public! Update: Here is an interesting article that confirms attendance is being affected by all the attraction closings happening at Disney's Hollywood Studios. http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/06/30/disney-worlds-worst-park-is-shrinking.aspx 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark6495 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 I disagree. It would be nice for them to share it but as we have said in other threads, they dont have to share it. They sell Disney World on the magic of Disney and the entire experience. I havnt read what else is closing in Hollywood Studios, but as of right now, I can say its a full day in the park (1-2 shows + Tower of Terror, Aerosmith, Character meet and greets, character lunch at the divine Hollywood and Vine, Muppet area, Star Tours, and Toy Story. We did go into the animation building, and I didnt know/remember that the offices set up were at one point real animation desks. They were set up and felt more like a display case than actual usable space. Pretty cool. It does stink that the animation has been moved but it is what it is. Does Burbank offer a behind the scenes tour of an actual studio? I remember as a kid taking the tram through the costume department (at either Hollywood or Universal). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 I am more sad this is closing because it was a great place to meet characters and the occasional rare character. The Queen was probably the neatest character we ever met there. This along with the Characterpalooza they do over by ToT made the Studios a great place to meet characters. Honestly at this point they haven't closed anything major at the park, the Backlot tour was a shell of its former self when Lights Motor Action went in. I could potentially see some kind of announcement at the upcoming D23 expo. Would love a Monsters Inc ride and maybe with the late closing of this area they could go with an Inside Out attraction, which would equal awesomeness. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingsislandfan1972 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 The last time I was there, they were showing a preview for Meet The Robinsons, I also played the what Disney Character are you game........... I got Clocksworth from Beauty and The Beast . I also got to meet The Incredibles and Bolt, all in all it was a pretty amazing place. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongLiveTheSmurfRide Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 When my wife and I went to Disney World this past January, we loved the art class (we did it twice). It was definitely a highlight and I'm sad that it's closing. Last I'd heard they may be expanding the class because it was so popular; so maybe that's still on the table. If not, that's too bad. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gabe Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 I disagree. It would be nice for them to share it but as we have said in other threads, they dont have to share it. They sell Disney World on the magic of Disney and the entire experience. I havnt read what else is closing in Hollywood Studios, but as of right now, I can say its a full day in the park (1-2 shows + Tower of Terror, Aerosmith, Character meet and greets, character lunch at the divine Hollywood and Vine, Muppet area, Star Tours, and Toy Story. We did go into the animation building, and I didnt know/remember that the offices set up were at one point real animation desks. They were set up and felt more like a display case than actual usable space. Pretty cool. It does stink that the animation has been moved but it is what it is. Does Burbank offer a behind the scenes tour of an actual studio? I remember as a kid taking the tram through the costume department (at either Hollywood or Universal). Disney does not currently offer a public tour of its studios in Burbank, but has, from time to time, opened it up for tours in conjunction with big events like D23. Paramount and WB also have studios in Burbank, and I believe each offers a limited tour of some sort. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XGatorHead 8904 Posted July 1, 2015 Share Posted July 1, 2015 The then future Mrs. Gator and visited this attraction back in 1995, and I remember looking down on the animators from that big window, and being told that the next feature was going to be The Hunchback of Notre Dame (and I thought "Really?!? How are they making that kid friendly?" I still don't care too much for that movie). Mrs. Gator & I took GatorGirl to the Animation Academy there in 2013. OK, I was kind of dragged there by the other two because I went in thinking it was going to be a waste of time drawing a character... boy, did my opinion change! It was actually fun to learn how to draw the way they taught us. I'm not artist, but my Buzz Lightyear turned out pretty good. This instantly became a "must do" and I looked forward to doing it again in future visits. Hopefully they relocate that part of the attraction. If not, I'm sure the new attractions will mre than keep us busy though. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Voicetek Posted July 1, 2015 Author Share Posted July 1, 2015 ^Last October when my wife and I visited Hollywood Studios, we did the Animation Academy twice. The first time we were learning how to draw Eeyore. Well, I must have gotten my circles placed wrong because my Eeyore ended up looking more like Bullseye from Toy Story lol. The second time around we drew Mickey Mouse and I was careful to place everything correctly. It's amazing how good you can draw when actually shown the correct method. This was an attraction I was always excited to do. I'm with you though, I kind of hope they relocate it! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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