Animation Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Author: Chelsea Murphy Posted: April 4, 2022
Have you always wanted to learn more about being an animator for Disney? Have you ever wanted to take a step in their shoes? Well, The Animation Experience at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will let you do just that.
First, let’s see where this hidden gem is located.
The attraction is located in Animal Kingdom in Rafiki’s Planet Watch. In order to get to Rafiki’s Planet Watch, you have to board the Wildlife Express Train. It is recommended that you board the train about 40 minutes prior to the attraction time.
Be prepared to see some awesome wildlife on your train ride to Rafiki’s Planet Watch.
Upon arrival at the Conservation Station, you’ll be greeted by a cast member at the Animation Experience. They will let you know when you can be seated and will give you a lapboard, paper, and pencil.
At The Animation Experience, one of Disney’s animators teaches you how to draw your own version of popular Disney characters. It’s so easy, even if you think you can’t draw, believe me, you can do it.
The secret is that Disney’s animators get their inspiration from real live animals.
So, expect that right before you begin drawing, you will be shown a clip of an animal for your own inspiration. For example, if you are supposed to be drawing Timon from The Lion King, you would be shown a clip about meerkats.
The class is about 25 minutes long and will offer a variety of drawings, so you may get to draw something different each time you visit. The last two times that I have visited, I’ve gotten to draw Timon, from The Lion King, and Hopper, from The Bugs Life.
HISTORY OF THE ATTRACTION
The Animation Experience opened its doors on July 11, 2019.
The inspiration for this attraction actually came from a similar attraction at Hollywood Studios and DisneyQuest, called Animation Academy.
There are other versions of this around the world. One example is Shanghai Disneyland’s Marvel Universe, they have Marvel Comic Academy. Can you guess what they learn to draw? Marvel Comics.
FUTURE OF THE ATTRACTION
There will be an EPCOT version of The Animation Experience in the Play Pavilion opening in 2022. This version will feature Edna Mode from The Incredibles. They will be teaching you again how to draw different Disney Characters.
This is one of those attractions that are fun for the entire family. I hope the EPCOT version will be open during my next trip to Disney.
I can’t wait to see what the rest of the future holds for Disney.
Author: Chelsea Murphy
