When Disney announced new details about The Magic of Disney Animation this week, Tangled fans had reason to celebrate—and reason to feel slightly disappointed.
The upcoming Hollywood Studios experience will include a Rapunzel meet-and-greet, marking the first time the character has received a dedicated, themed location at Walt Disney World. But if you've been holding out hope for a Tangled dark ride, you might want to sit down for this one.
What We're Actually Getting
Let's start with what Disney revealed: Rapunzel will appear in a character greeting area designed to look like an animation studio's Layout department. The theming incorporates the multiplane camera technique—where different art layers are photographed at various distances to create depth. Guests can supposedly line up their photos so the layered backgrounds come together seamlessly.
It sounds visually interesting and educational. What it doesn't sound like is the lantern-filled boat ride or tower adventure that fans have been requesting for over a decade.
The Bigger Picture
To understand the Rapunzel announcement, you need to know about “Off the Page!”—a collaboration between Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering that transforms six animation production stages into character greeting locations.
Here's the breakdown:
- Story Department → Mulan
- Layout Department → Rapunzel
- Hand-Drawn Animation Department → TBA
- Computer Animation Department → TBA
- Lighting Department → TBA
- Effects Department → TBA
Each space uses blown-up animation equipment and stacked artwork to create what Disney describes as “stepping into the art itself.”
This is all part of The Magic of Disney Animation, a walk-through experience coming to the redeveloped Walt Disney Studios section of Hollywood Studios. The attraction draws inspiration from “Once Upon a Studio,” Disney's recent short where animated characters leave their frames and interact with the real world.
Why This Feels Like a Letdown
Tangled came out in 2010. In the 15 years since, Disney has:
- Built a Frozen land
- Added a Little Mermaid dark ride at Magic Kingdom
- Created multiple Moana experiences
Meanwhile, Rapunzel has been relegated to generic princess greeting spots and occasional parade floats. The film made over half a billion dollars, launched a TV series, and created one of Disney's most recognizable modern princesses. The discrepancy is hard to ignore.
A themed meet-and-greet is better than nothing, but “better than nothing” is a pretty low bar for a film this successful and beloved.
What Else Is Included
To be fair, The Magic of Disney Animation offers more than just character photos. “Drawn to Wonderland” is an indoor playground designed around Mary Blair's Alice in Wonderland concept art, giving younger kids a space to burn energy. Throughout the experience, characters will pop out from artwork, join drawing activities, and create interactive moments.
Disney is positioning this as a multi-generational experience that combines play areas, character encounters, and appreciation for animation craftsmanship. It's designed to anchor the reimagined Walt Disney Studios area and represents the park's biggest animation-focused project.
The Real Question
The Rapunzel announcement raises an important question: Why does Disney treat some properties so differently than others?
Frozen and Tangled were both massive hits. Both have passionate fanbases. Both continue to generate significant merchandise sales. Yet one received entire themed lands while the other gets a corner of a meet-and-greet building.
Perhaps Disney views Frozen as having more longevity, or maybe the decision comes down to international appeal. Whatever the reason, it's clear that not all successful animated films receive equal theme park investment.
Bottom Line
If you're a Tangled fan, the Rapunzel meet-and-greet is something. After 15 years of minimal representation, having any permanent, themed presence is technically progress. But let's not pretend this is what anyone was hoping for when they imagined a Tangled attraction.
The Magic of Disney Animation opens late summer 2025 at Disney's Hollywood Studios. “Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live!” debuts earlier in the season.
Maybe someday we'll get that lantern ride. But today is not that day.
