Media was invited to attend the Disney Animation Immersive Experience at the Lighthouse ArtSpace (4416 Ridgefield Way, Nashville) along with their families. I brought two of my grandkids because I wanted to see what they thought of the show.

The Disney Animation Immersive Experience will be available to the public for three months. It is a multi-generational event that can be enjoyed by everyone from toddlers to grandparents. Nearly everyone alive today has grown up with some kind of Disney experience. The people at Lighthouse Immersive have found a way to tap into our collective memory as they show us an innovative way to immerse ourselves in the Disney magic even if we are unable to get to a Disney park.

Before it began, I talked to J. Miles Dale, the Oscar-winning producer of The Shape of Water who served as creative lead at this event.

He told me, “Nashville is such a great arts town, that [the experience] is perfect for a city that appreciates that. When you think about it there are two Disney Parks, one in Florida, and one in California. Not everyone gets a chance to go. You can feel that Disney magic without having to make a trip.”

That is what makes Nashville a perfect spot for this multi-sensory exhibit.

The gallery itself is about 12,000 square feet with millions of pixels and 60+ projectors. It’s a big space. That’s the point. You feel like you are in a new world. (Think Imax on steroids.) The interactive elements are what make it the next level. There are floors that move with you and bubbles in the air and interactive bracelets that light up on cue.

Under Dale’s guidance, they were able to collaborate with Disney and get access to their archives where 16 different Disney films were represented.

Dale explained, “You’re in the middle of it. You’re inside the characters and the movie. You can turn 360° and see the savannah with Lion King or be under the sea with Ariel.

Besides viewing the multi-sensory event, people will get a chance to learn how animation is created. You can see pencil sketches and storyboards.  Not only that, kids also get a chance to practice drawing various Disney characters.

Dale, being a respected and renowned filmmaker, provides a “peek behind the curtain” at how these Disney movies are made. The experience will inspire future artists and filmmakers as they choose their potential careers. It will expand the horizons of children’s already curious minds.

“It’s gratifying to watch kids respond to this as they get lost in the magic,” he states.

My grandson, Zachary, was delighted by the interactive experience. “You have these wristbands, and they change color and bubbles, and the ground changes as you walk around.”

Twelve-year-old granddaughter, Harley exclaimed, “[Disney Animation Immersive Experience] is a 10 out of 10 experience Everyone should take their kids.”

Zachary added, “Adults will like it too.”

As a longtime Disney fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the show and would see it even if I didn’t have grandchildren to bring along. However, one Disney show is not enough. I am patiently waiting for Disney Animation Immersive Experience Part 2, where hopefully they will feature my all-time favorite Disney songs, “Be Our Guest” and “I Wanna Be Like You.” That would be an immersive experience like none other.

The exhibit will only be available for a couple of months so get your tickets now. Dress up as your favorite Disney character for an experience you won’t soon forget.

For more information click here. https://lighthouseimmersive.com/disney/nashville/

Check our Disney Animation Immersive Experience photo gallery here.

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Bethany Bowman is a freelance entertainment writer. You can follow her blog, Instagram, and Twitter.