Disney’s Hollywood Studios is just days away from welcoming guests into one of its newest experiences, but some people are already getting an early look inside.Cast Member previews have officially started for The Magic of Disney Animation, giving Disney employees an opportunity to experience the reimagined space before it opens to everyone on September 14, 2026.Credit: DisneyDisney leadership and members of the creative teams behind the project have also been seen visiting the building, while additional previews are planned before opening day.That makes this an important week for the project.For months, guests have watched Disney transform this corner of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Much of what was happening inside remained hidden behind construction walls and closed doors. Now, Disney has reached the point where people are actually walking through the finished experience.And Cast Members are only the beginning.Cast Member Previews Are Now UnderwayCast Members have started entering The Magic of Disney Animation ahead of its September 14 debut.Photos from the preview showed groups gathering around the attraction entrance and checking in for the event. The building’s large Animation marquee is also now serving as the backdrop for the first groups getting inside.These previews give Disney a chance to put the experience through its paces with actual visitors before the general public arrives.That can be particularly useful with a location like The Magic of Disney Animation because it isn’t simply one ride or show. The building combines several different experiences, including character interactions, drawing classes, a theater, artwork, and a children’s play area.In other words, there are a lot of moving pieces.Preview periods allow Cast Members to become familiar with how everything works while Disney gets a better idea of how people move through the building.There’s another reason these previews are notable, too: we’re finally reaching the point where reactions from people who have actually experienced the attraction are beginning to emerge.One guest visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios reported seeing people leaving a Cast Member preview carrying drawings from Olaf Draws! According to that account, one person who attended described the experience as “adorable” and believed it would be popular with families.Of course, that’s only one early reaction. We’ll get a much better idea of the overall response as more previews take place.Disney Leadership Is Getting an Early Look TooCast Members aren’t the only people going through the building.Senior Walt Disney World leadership was spotted leaving The Magic of Disney Animation during the preview period. That reportedly included park vice presidents along with senior representatives from Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment.Their presence makes sense considering how close Disney is to opening day.Credit: DisneyThe attraction is essentially entering its final testing period with guests inside. After months of construction and preparation, the focus is shifting toward the actual experience people will have once they walk through the doors.Disney also has another round of previews coming.Social media influencers and members of the media are scheduled to experience The Magic of Disney Animation this week. That means guests waiting for September 14 probably won’t have to wait until opening day to see considerably more of the finished interior.Until now, Disney has controlled most of what people have seen from inside. These upcoming previews should change that quickly.The Magic of Disney Animation Is More Than One AttractionPerhaps the biggest thing guests should understand before September 14 is that The Magic of Disney Animation isn’t designed like a traditional Disney attraction.There isn’t one ride vehicle to board or one show that defines the entire experience.Instead, Disney has packed several smaller experiences into one building, giving families the ability to spend time exploring different areas.One of the biggest additions is Olaf Draws!, which brings an all-new Audio-Animatronics Olaf into a drawing-class experience.Guests will receive instruction connected to real Disney Animation artists, with nine characters rotating through the drawing lineup.That could make Olaf Draws! one of the more repeatable parts of the building. Guests who return could potentially have a different character to draw depending on which session they attend.It also brings back something Disney fans have long associated with animation-focused experiences: actually sitting down and learning how to draw a Disney character.Characters Will Have a Major PresenceThe new building will also offer several character meet-and-greet opportunities through an area called Off the Page!Disney has assembled a fairly large character lineup for the space.Guests can encounter Mulan, Rapunzel, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Stitch. The individual meeting spaces will connect back to the animation process rather than simply functioning as generic character locations.Credit: DisneyThat gives the building another important role inside Disney’s Hollywood Studios.Not everyone visiting the park wants another major thrill ride. Families with younger children may be looking for characters, air conditioning, interactive activities, or somewhere they can spend time without worrying about height requirements.The Magic of Disney Animation appears built with those guests in mind.Once Upon a Studio Gets a Permanent TheaterAnother part of the experience will revolve around Once Upon a Studio (2023).Disney is creating a dedicated Once Upon A Studio Theater inside the building, where guests can watch the Emmy Award-winning short with enhanced effects.The connection goes beyond the theater.The entire building takes inspiration from the real Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California, while its overall theme also draws from Once Upon a Studio (2023).That helps tie together what could otherwise feel like a collection of unrelated activities.Characters, drawing, artwork and the theater all come back to Disney Animation.Younger Children Get Their Own SpaceDisney has also included something specifically designed for some of the youngest visitors at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.Drawn to Wonderland will serve as an indoor playground intended for children between 6 months and 5 years old.The area takes inspiration from Mary Blair’s concept artwork for Alice in Wonderland (1951).Credit: DisneyThat could make the building particularly valuable for families who need a break during a long park day.Disney’s Hollywood Studios has several attractions geared toward older children and adults, so an indoor area where very young children can play gives families another option.And because everything is indoors, it also provides an escape from Florida’s heat and afternoon storms.Disney Animation Artwork Will Come to LifeThe final major component announced for the building is the Enchanted Art Gallery.Disney describes the area as a collection of curated Disney Animation artwork that “springs to life.”That fits with the larger idea behind the project.Rather than concentrating exclusively on one Disney movie or character, The Magic of Disney Animation celebrates the broader animation process and the characters that have come from it.It’s an approach that should allow Disney to feature several generations of its animation history in one location.September 14 Is Almost HereAt this point, the long wait is nearly over.The beginning of Cast Member previews represents one of the final major steps before The Magic of Disney Animation officially opens at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on September 14, 2026.And the next several days could be particularly interesting.With Cast Members already experiencing the attraction and influencer and media previews scheduled this week, considerably more information about the finished building should begin appearing before opening day.For guests, that means the mystery surrounding the interior is about to disappear.Credit: DisneyMore importantly, Disney’s Hollywood Studios is about to gain an experience that serves a very different purpose from the park’s biggest rides.Guests won’t come here for a massive coaster or elaborate ride system. Instead, they’ll be able to draw a Disney character, meet familiar faces, watch Once Upon a Studio (2023), explore animated artwork, and give younger children somewhere designed specifically for them.Now that previews are underway, Disney has entered the final countdown.On September 14, the doors open to everyone.The post Disney Opens Doors to Select Guests at New Hollywood Studios Experience Before Official Debut appeared first on Inside the Magic.