Animation Courtyard

Several of the attractions in the Animation Courtyard continue the movie-museum theme of the Great Movie Ride; The American Film Institute Showcase, Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream, and Journey Into Narnia: Prince Caspian are walk-through attractions stuffed with memorabilia and artifacts.

Appropriately, One Man’s Dream is the best of the three, and though predictably hagiographic, it does give a somewhat comprehensive look at the life of the man behind the mouse. The Narnia exhibit, on the other hand, is little more than an air-conditioned commercial for the movie; as Disney has opted out of future Narnia films, this exhibit is likely to be pulled soon.

The AFI exhibit is really just a small exhibit space at the end of the Studio Backlot Tour; the theme of this space changes semiregularly, and you can visit it without going on the Backlot Tour ride. Still, going to Hollywood Studios [1] without going on the Backlot Tour would be like going to Universal without seeing Jaws. Be prepared to commit a good bit of your time to this attraction, as the various walk-through areas, special effects demonstrations, and of course, the tram ride through the Backlot [2] (complete with a very loud and explosive surprise) can take 30–45 minutes.

For the young ones who are less interested in movie magic and more interested in seeing their favorite characters, the Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney — Live on Stage are two live action performances. The former is heavily dependent on some impressive special effects, while the latter is driven by audience participation and lots of singing and dancing.