Olaf Draws! Down at Hollywood Studios After Opening

By Priya S. · Resorts & getting around · Kissimmee, FL

Published September 22, 2026 · Updated October 20, 2026

Olaf Draws!, the animatronic-hosted drawing show inside The Magic of Disney Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, was reportedly not operating on the morning of Tuesday, September 22, because of technical problems with the Olaf animatronic itself. As of 9:10 a.m. that morning, the show was down with no stated timeline for its return, according to reports.

As of Tuesday, September 22, the building housing the experience was also dealing with a separate audio issue affecting The Magic of Disney Animation more broadly, per the same reporting.

The Magic of Disney Animation opened earlier this month at Hollywood Studios, ahead of its originally scheduled September 14 debut. It occupies the former Animation Courtyard, now rebranded as the Walt Disney Studios Lot.

Olaf Draws! follows the step-by-step character-drawing format longtime guests will recognize from past Animation Academy-style offerings, with one change: the lesson is led by an animatronic Olaf rather than a live artist. Fans flagged the obvious risk when the show was announced — with no live performer, there is no one to step in when the figure goes down.

What we know

• Olaf Draws! (The Magic of Disney Animation, Disney’s Hollywood Studios) — reportedly not operating as of 9:10 a.m. Tuesday, September 22, due to animatronic issues.
• The Magic of Disney Animation — separate audio problems reported the same morning.
• The Magic of Disney Animation — opened earlier this month, ahead of its originally scheduled September 14 date.
• Drawn to Wonderland and the Once Upon a Studio Theater — other elements of the same space; no closure reported for either.

What’s not confirmed

Disney has not announced a reopening time for Olaf Draws!, has not said whether the downtime extends past September 22, and has not commented publicly on the cause or on the audio issues. There is also no announced alternative — such as a live artist substitute — while the animatronic is out.

Planning around this? Alert me when the wait drops for Olaf Draws!.

What it means for your trip

If Olaf Draws! is on your Hollywood Studios list, treat it as a nice-to-have, not a fixed stop. A single-animatronic show with no live backup can go down without warning, so check its status the morning you’re in the park rather than building a slot around it.

The rest of the Walt Disney Studios Lot area is worth the walk regardless — the sketch displays, Drawn to Wonderland, and the Once Upon a Studio Theater are separate experiences.

Don’t spend prime morning hours waiting to see if it comes back. Those first hours are your cheapest ride time at Hollywood Studios; use them on Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, or your Lightning Lane Single Pass plan for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and swing back to the animation building during the afternoon lull. SupaPark’s live operational status flags when an attraction goes down and when it comes back, which saves you the walk across the park to find a closed door.

What Is the Olaf Draws! Schedule?

This article doesn’t include a confirmed showtime schedule for Olaf Draws!, so check the attraction’s listing in My Disney Experience on the day you go. Disney sets operating times there, and they can change from day to day.

Why a posted time isn’t a guarantee

Olaf Draws! depends on a single animatronic, and there’s no live artist to take over if it fails. The outage reported the morning of Tuesday, September 22 showed what can happen. The show was down at 9:10 a.m., and no return time was given. A time on the schedule tells you when the show should run. It doesn’t promise that Olaf is working.

How to fit it into your Hollywood Studios day

• Morning: Don’t build your early hours around it. Use that time for Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror or your Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance plan, when lines are usually shortest.
• Midday or afternoon: This is a better time for the animation building. You can pair Olaf Draws! with Drawn to Wonderland and the Once Upon a Studio Theater, which are separate experiences in the same Walt Disney Studios Lot space.
• Before you walk over: Check its status first. The building is a hike from Toy Story Land and Sunset Boulevard, and it’s frustrating to arrive and find the show down.

About The Magic of Disney Animation in 2026

The Magic of Disney Animation opened in September 2026, earlier than its originally scheduled September 14 debut. It sits in the former Animation Courtyard, now called the Walt Disney Studios Lot. Because it’s still a new attraction, expect some early technical problems, like the animatronic and audio issues reported in September. Hours and show times may change as Disney works them out.

SupaPark’s live operational status tracks when attractions go down and come back up. Check it before you walk across the park.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Olaf Draws! closed permanently?

No. It was reported as not operating the morning of Tuesday, September 22, due to animatronic issues, with no timeline given for its return.

Is the rest of The Magic of Disney Animation open?

Reports indicate the building was open but experiencing separate audio issues on September 22. No closure was reported for Drawn to Wonderland or the Once Upon a Studio Theater.

Is Olaf Draws! still down after the September 22 outage?

The reported outage was the morning of Tuesday, September 22, and Disney gave no timeline for its return. This article has no confirmed update since then, so check the show’s live status on the day you visit.

Where can I find Olaf Draws! show times?

Look up Olaf Draws! in My Disney Experience on the day of your visit, because times can change from day to day. Before you head over, check its live status too, since a single-animatronic show can go down without warning.

Go deeper — the full guides: Star Tours Wait Times Are Cratering This September: How to Play It · Is Rise of the Resistance Too Intense for Kids? How to Decide (and Prepare)

SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.