Hey there, Stacy! Thanks for swingin’ by planDisney with your question. I am delighted to hEAR you’ll be visiting the Happiest Place on Earth in just over a week!
I got very excited when I read your question because my family and I LOVE visiting
Animation Academy at Disney California Adventure Park! This is such a relaxing break for us after hustling around the park. On colder days it helped us warm up, and on those hotter days it was terrific to cool down! I just checked the
schedule online and you’re in luck, during your visit there are more than 20 classes per day! The classes run about every 30 minutes. Typically, I have not seen the characters listed on the schedule online, but it should be posted outside the attraction. Since the Disney Animation Building is close to the entrance of the park, we usually swing by in the morning, check out the schedule and return for the class we are interested in. There is limited space in each class, so we try to arrive at least 20 minutes in advance. I have a collection of Goofy, Mickey, and Olaf sketches from over the years and find them so endearing. I don’t consider myself a very artistic person and it’s so interesting how the step-by-step instructions really make a difference – the characters I draw are somehow magically recognizable! It is such a treat to keep the sketch – a great complimentary souvenir.
While you’re in the Disney Animation Building, check out
Turtle Talk with Crush just down the hall. This is another one of our favorite chill-out activities, with shows typically every 30 minutes. It is usually easy to get seats AND the seats are comfy and cushioned to give you a welcome rest. It's an interactive, spontaneous show and Crush will make everyone laugh. He's a totally righteous dude!
As Crush would say, you so totally rock! Go with the flow and ride that current to the magic!
Kamini