Guests visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios can expect to see roaming characters continue to pop up around the Animation Courtyard. Disney has confirmed that the character appearances will remain in place after The Magic of Disney Animation officially opens on September 14.
That confirmation does raise an interesting question, though: who exactly will be roaming the courtyard?
Several of the characters currently appearing in this area are about to have a new home inside The Magic of Disney Animation. Rapunzel, Mulan, Chip ‘n’ Dale, Donald and Daisy, Goofy, and Stitch are all expected to become part of the Off the Page meet-and-greet experience inside the new attraction. That means the courtyard lineup will have some spots to fill.
Disney could certainly turn to characters who already have established meet-and-greet locations elsewhere in Hollywood Studios, but that would seem to defeat some of the appeal of this particular experience. Mickey, Minnie, Olaf, and the Toy Story characters already have their own dedicated locations throughout the park, so I would love to see Disney use this opportunity to bring some less-common faces into the mix.
More importantly, I hope Disney keeps the wonderfully unpredictable combinations that made these roaming appearances so much fun in the first place. There was something particularly entertaining about seeing characters like Stitch and Mulan or Rapunzel and Donald sharing the same space. The unexpected pairings created a little bit of controlled chaos that felt different from a traditional character meet-and-greet.
So, if Disney is looking for a new group of characters to take over the courtyard, here are a few I think could be particularly good fits:
Clarabell Cow
Clarabell would immediately bring some personality and energy to the area. She’s recognizable to Disney fans but still relatively uncommon compared with the characters guests encounter throughout the parks. She has a devoted following without being such a major draw that every appearance would likely turn into a massive crowd. For longtime Disney fans, getting the chance to randomly encounter Clarabell would be a pretty special addition.
Asha
I’m still not entirely convinced that Asha’s presence at EPCOT is the best long-term fit, and Hollywood Studios could arguably give her a more natural home. Since Wish hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as some of Disney’s biggest animated franchises, Asha could also provide some representation without immediately becoming one of the most difficult characters to encounter. She brings plenty of personality and could be especially fun for younger guests.
Genie
I don’t have a particularly complicated argument for this one. Genie just feels like he belongs here. He’s energetic, unpredictable and naturally suited to an experience built around spontaneous character interactions. If Disney wants to preserve some of the playful chaos that made the previous lineup work, Genie seems like an obvious candidate.
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit
This one feels almost too obvious. Why isn’t Oswald already at Hollywood Studios?
The Animation Courtyard is surrounded by the history of Disney animation, making it an especially appropriate place for Oswald. As one of Walt Disney’s earliest major animated characters, he could represent a piece of Disney history that most guests don’t get to experience in the parks. Having Oswald casually roaming around the animation courtyard would be a fantastic touch.
With the upcoming Oswald Disney+ miniseries, this one feels almost too obvious.
Snow White
If Disney wants to lean even further into the history of animation, Snow White would be another excellent choice. As the star of Disney’s first full-length animated feature, she represents one of the most important chapters in the company’s history.
With Rapunzel and Pocahontas moving into Off the Page, adding Snow White would also help maintain a stronger Disney Princess presence in the area. And unlike some of the newer characters, Snow White connects directly to the animation legacy that this entire area is supposed to celebrate.
