Walt Disney World has confirmed the closure of yet another attraction at Disney's Hollywood Studios, but this one played a role in creating several of Disney's animated classics.

The Magic of Disney Animation, once home to the studio that created films like "Mulan," "Lilo and Stitch" and "Brother Bear," and contributed animation to other Disney animated features, will close for good Sunday, July 12, a Disney spokeswoman confirmed Monday.

Work is underway on a new experience, and we look forward to sharing more information in the future.

The building was home to Walt Disney Feature Animation's Florida division, and guests at what was then Disney-MGM Studios could watch the animators at work through glass windows above their studios.

After the Florida division which shut down in 2004, but a hands-on Animation Station remained in the building, including the Animation Academy, where guests could learn how to draw a Disney character, and a 9-minute film about how Disney's animated characters are made, co-hosted by "Mulan's" Mushu the dragon.

The Magic of Disney Animation building has also been home to character meet-and-greets with Mickey Mouse in his "Sorcerer's Apprentice" hat and cloak from "Fantasia," as well as a frequently-changing spot where guests could meet characters from recently released Disney films like "Winnie the Pooh," "Wreck-It Ralph" and, most recently, "Big Hero 6."


(PHOTO/Walt Disney World)

According to a report on the unofficial website WDW News Today, Sorcerer Mickey will move to a new character spot across from the Studio Catering Company, the quick-service restaurant near the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids Movie Set Adventure playground.

The Animation Gallery gift shop next to the attraction will close in late August, Disney confirmed.


The changing landscape of Disney's Hollywood Studios

The Magic of Disney Animation joins the growing list of closures and demolitions at Disney's Hollywood Studios, including:

The Studio Backlot Tour's closure, in particular, appears to be connected to the upcoming expansion of Toy Story Midway Mania, announced in March. There has also been talk of plans to expand the Pixar Place area back to the now-former Backlot Tour area.

As for what new experiences could be coming to replace the closures at Disney's Hollywood Studios, all signs still point to "Star Wars."

Disney has already said it will add more Star Wars attractions to its theme parks, and Disney's Hollywood Studios is already home to the Star Tours ride and the annual Star Wars Weekends event.

It's possible Disney will reveal more details about its plans for Star Wars attractions and the parks in general at the upcoming D23 Expo in Anaheim, happening in August.


Movies made at the Magic of Disney Animation

Though the list of films animated almost entirely by Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida is short, the studio has also had a small hand in a number of well-known scenes during what's known as the "Disney Renaissance" from 1989 to 1999.

Here are 10 Disney animated movies made, at least in part, in Florida between 1989 and the satellite studio's closure in 2004:

The Little Mermaid (1989) — Florida animators at the newly opened Disney-MGM Studios contributed ink and paint support to the film that launched the Disney Renaissance.

The Rescuers Down Under (1990) — About 10 minutes of the 77-minute sequel to 1977's "The Rescuers" was animated in Florida, as well as 10 minutes of the Mickey Mouse short feature "The Prince and the Pauper" double-billed with the movie.

Beauty and the Beast (1991) — Florida animators assisted in making the "Be Our Guest" sequence, one of the movie's most memorable scenes.

Aladdin (1992) — Guests at Disney-MGM Studios in the early 1990s may have gotten a glimpse of supervising animator Mark Henn developing and animating Princess Jasmine.

The Lion King (1994) — About 20 minutes of the film, including the "I Just Can't Wait to be King" sequence, were animated in Florida.

Pocahontas (1995) — Animators at Disney-MGM Studios contributed about 18 minutes of the film, including scenes involving Pocahontas' father, Chief Powhatan.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) — In contrast to their involvement in the previous films, animators in Florida were only responsible for about 4 minutes of this movie, including scenes involving both Quasimodo and the villain Judge Frollo.

Mulan (1998) — This was the first animated feature film produced primarily by Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida at Disney-MGM Studios, all while theme park guests watched from above.

Lilo and Stitch (2002) — Made almost entirely in Florida, this film was nominated for an Academy Award for best animated feature.

Brother Bear (2003) — The last major film to be released by the Florida studio also received an Oscar nomination for best animated feature, but lost to Pixar's "Finding Nemo." Other projects Walt Disney Feature Animation Florida had begun after this were cancelled when the studio was closed in 2004.