First Walt Disney Audio Animatronics Attraction!
The first-ever Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure will come to life in a brand-new stage show to run alongside Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This shares details, concept art, and everything we know about the plan–plus comprehensive commentary about why this is happening and whether we think these are potentially good or bad additions for the park. (Updated December 6, 2024.)
This news was announced during the “Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase” or Parks Panel presentation during the 2024 D23 Expo at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California. Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro offered a sneak peek at concept art for the future in addition and teased what was to come in a few years.
This was just one of several blockbuster announcements for Parks & Resorts at Horizons, during which D’Amaro revealed several ‘shovel to soil’ projects that will come online in the next 5 years, including over a half-dozen additions that will debut before the end of 2025. He and head Imagineer Bruce Vaughn followed through on their promise to deliver concrete details and not just tease more ‘Blue Sky’ possibilities.
As Walt Disney once said, “When we consider a new project, we really study it—not just the surface idea, but everything about it. And when we go into that new project, we believe in it all the way. We have confidence in our ability to do it right. And we work hard to do the best possible job.”
Josh D’Amaro gave a small glimpse of a fitting tribute coming to Disneyland. For the first time ever, you’ll actually be able to see Walt Disney through the magic of advanced Audio-Animatronics technology in “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” The past, present and future are finally coming together for this brand-new stage show.
Here’s concept art of Walt Disney Imagineering’s first Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt Disney that’s being created for this very special experience at Disneyland:
“I speak for our entire team when I say there is so much pride and excitement for everyone involved in this endeavor,” Josh told the crowd. He added that this is something the company and Imagineers have wanted to create for a while, but they wanted to wait until they could get it just right–when the technology caught up to their ambitions.
When “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts in 2025 on Main Street at Disneyland, visitors will have the chance to imagine what it would be like to stop by Walt’s office. Who knows what he might be dreaming up inside? Only time will tell with Walt.
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut inside the Main Street Opera House, and after its initial run, the attraction will play in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” A fitting acknowledgement of Walt’s significant advances with Audio-Animatronics about 60 years ago when he first introduced the groundbreaking technology.
December 6, 2024 Update: A couple of new developments on “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” to report as the company has shared the Full 2025 Calendar of Disneyland Events. Most importantly, the Disneyland 70th Anniversary Dates & Details have been announced, with that huge event and a ton of entertainment starting on May 16, 2025.
This will include the new stage show featuring the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure in the Main Street Opera House. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will open on May 16, 2025.
Additionally, the Walt Disney Family Museum (WDFM) board of directors has offered its endorsement to the attraction. The WDFM was founded by Walt’s daughter, Diane Disney Miller, and the current board includes five of Walt’s grandchildren and three of his great-grandchildren.
As always, we highly recommend a visit to the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco–it presents the real Walt Disney and is a moving tribute. We’ve taken “normies” who are not Disney fans and they came away with a greater respect and appreciation for the man and his legacy. WDFM isn’t just a great Disney museum, it’s a great museum period. (A bit of an aside, but we don’t get many excuses to enthusiastically recommend WDFM, so I’ve gotta take the opportunity when it comes!)
In a statement shared by the Orange County Register, Walt’s grandson Chris Miller called Imagineering’s work “stellar” and added that “they were very eager to be as accurate as possible in creating this..we came away confident that this is the right group to take on this important project.”
Other grandchildren of Walt Disney shared similar sentiment. However, not everyone is on board with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure. Joanna Miller, one child of Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller, has started a letter-writing campaign to persuade Imagineering to abandon plans to create an audio-animatronic version of Walt Disney.
“The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense,” Joanna Miller wrote on Facebook. “It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable.”
It is worth noting that Walt Disney himself created an Audio Animatronics figure of Abraham Lincoln to give a feel of who the living man was. In the years since, Disney has brought to life countless other presidents (literally all of them!) and other historical figures. To my knowledge, there has not been much fanfare or controversy from their families, just as there isn’t about biopics or books about history.
This might sound flippant, but I don’t really think the blessing of the family is necessary for this stage show. And that’s for the exact same reasons it isn’t with Hall of Presidents, American Adventure, Spaceship Earth, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, and other attractions that use the actual likenesses of historical figures.
It’s nice that most of the grandkids feel it’s stellar and tastefully done, which has me feeling more optimistic that “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will be a dignified presentation and not a self-serving one for the company (more on that in a bit). However, that’s not determinative–just as objections to the Walt AA from other grandkids shouldn’t carry much weight.
Prior to this, more details about the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure came out via an article in Fortune.
Imagineer Tom Fitzgerald told the publication that bringing the Walt Disney AA to life has been “a labor of love” as he showed the prototype to Fortune on a recent tour. Fitzgerald’s team is using advanced technology to create a moving, speaking version of Walt Disney, one that will stand up from the desk and tell a story. Through archived audio recordings, Walt Disney will tell his own life story in his own words.
New methods are being employed to animate the hands and fingers. Other new techniques are being implemented to make the skin look maximally lifelike. A special light is pointed at the model’s face to draw out a twinkle in Walt’s eye. Fitzgerald commented on the challenges of creating the figure and quoted Walt, saying, “it’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”
From my perspective, the big news from the Fortune piece is that the company is using archived audio recordings to allow Walt Disney to tell his story in his own words. This is key. I was worried that they’d use AI and end up in uncanny valley territory or, worse yet, put words into Walt’s mouth that he never said.
This cannot be self-serving for the company. If they use Walt to further a narrative about the parks needing to change or whatever, it won’t be well-received. This has got to be a love letter to Walt Disney and his life, with no ulterior motives. Honestly, I don’t even care how advanced the AA is (although that’d be cool!). I just want a meaningful tribute to Walt Disney, as discussed in the commentary below.
Turning to commentary, this is news that was incredibly well-received by the home crowd of Californians at the D23 Expo. Probably not the loudest reaction to anything from Disneyland diehards, but up there–and disproportionate to the size and scope of the project. And it makes sense–who in their right mind would be anti-Walt Disney?! Ahem.
Here’s what I wrote previously about the Dreamers Point statue when it was announced: “There are some elements of the EPCOT transformation that make my eyes roll. Specifically, Dreamers Point and the new statue of Walt Disney. It strikes me as hollow and transparent–much like using a Walt Disney quote about progress to justify adding characters to somewhere they don’t belong.
More and more, it feels like Walt Disney is a corporate mascot to give ‘cover’ to various, potentially controversial changes. It’s an easy and mostly superficial way to score points with fans, sort of like the original pavilion logos. The D23 Expo audience went absolutely nuts for this Walt Disney statue, so maybe I’m alone in my jaded and cynical perspective.”
I’ve repeated similar sentiment many, many times over the years. Not because I am anti-Walt Disney. Quite the contrary. I hold the man in the utmost respect and esteem. Walt Disney was, without question, one of the greatest and most influential Americans of all-time.
He was someone who changed the course of history for the better, without whom my life–all of our lives–would be very different. A genius, patriot, and so much more. We highly recommend all fans read the best (and most accurate) Walt Disney biography for more about his life story.
This is precisely why I’m so protective, for lack of a better term, of Walt Disney. He shouldn’t be treated in a superficial manner as a mascot or shield from criticism for lazy and unambitious projects. The company should stop using him to “Walt-Wash” projects that are, frankly, bad.
Walt Disney should be treated with the utmost reverence, and only be attached to things that truly honor and are worthy of his legacy. (World Celebration most definitely is not.)
That’s the critical distinction between the World Celebration or Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris and this. Those are bad things having absolutely nothing to do with Walt Disney. The tributes there ring hollow because they are hollows.
This, by contrast, is an advanced Audio Animatronics figure of Walt Disney and a stage show dedicated to him. That’s literally what it is–nothing else! Disneyland is spending at least $5 million just to modify the stage in order to show both “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” and “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” simultaneously. Plus whatever the AA of Walt Disney costs, along with the show development costs and everything else. This is probably a $30 million project. Maybe more.
The difference between this, a thing wholly of substance, and a name or a statue, should be obvious.
Equally as important, younger generations are not learning about Walt Disney. Or worse yet, they’re consuming anti-Walt propaganda and learning about who he actually wasn’t. This worries me for the reasons stated above–that I view Walt Disney as one of the greatest people of all-time; a shining example of American ingenuity and spirit who should be studied as a role model.
Accordingly, I am on board with pretty much anything the Walt Disney Company does to combat this. It’s one of those instances when I’m thankful that this company is so good at brand management, and actually does treat its founder as a bit of a brand–because he needs some degree of safeguarding against morons and misinformation.
Ultimately, that’s where I come down on this. In my view, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is the sleeper announcement of the entire D23 Expo. It sounds like a lovely and meaningful tribute to Walt Disney, the man, and I am so happy to see the Imagineers finally have a chance to create a substantive show about Walt Disney that honors and educates. In a presentation full of news for 2026 to 2030, I also appreciate that I’ll be able to enjoy “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” starting on May 16, 2025!
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” announcement? Excited to finally see Walt Disney honored with a show and first-ever Audio Animatronics figure? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
The best news to come out of D23. #i1
I think he will be smiling ear to ear up there.
Considering all that the Disney company has done of late to dismantle or undermine Walt’s legacy, I’m fully on board with an eye-popping attraction that reminds us of what an amazing, innovative man he was.
Walt Disney was very ‘future-minded’ and I think he’d get a kick out of this. I believe he’d think if it’s good enough for Abe Lincoln, then why not him? Let’s all relax and enjoy this. I personally can’t wait to see it!
I’m pretty conflicted over this one. On one hand, Walt Disney, the human being, deserves more reverence and respect in his own theme parks. This could be a wonderful way to do that. On the other hand, I’m not sure Walt would have wanted to be turned into an audio-animatronic. Diane Disney Miller certainly didn’t want that. I think a better, more respectful way to use Walt’s own words to educate younger generations about who he was and what he accomplished is through existing audio and film clips. The Disney Archives surely has hundreds of hours of footage to work with.
My bigger problem with all of this is the way current Disney leadership uses Walt as a shiny object they dangle in front of devoted fans to distract them from the fact that they’re dismantling what he created piece by piece. The studio he built from the ground up that took risks and valued creativity? It’s now only sequels and reboots and prequels to “live-action” remakes. The amusement park he created so that families could have fun together in elaborately themed lands? Soon it will be a theme-less ooze of thrill rides and IP. Bob Iger, Josh D’Amaro and the Imagineers constantly feign reverence for Walt Disney, but it’s just talk. Their recent actions and announcements prove that. And this Walt Disney audio-animatronic feels like part of that lip service. Mere pandering to longtime fans to keep them from abandoning the company altogether.
To each their own, but I think actual lip service would be a film or another statue. That would be relatively cheap, whereas this is probably going to cost at least $30 million when all is said and done. For me, that makes it the opposite of lip service–it’s something real and consequential.
I take your points about the other decisions that are at odds with the spirit of Walt Disney and his creative legacy. From my perspective, it’s easy to blame current leadership for all of that, and less so to point the finger back at ourselves. If consumers are eating up remake, prequel, and sequel slop…that’s what we’re going to get more of. I’d love to see more of the original movies succeed (and all of the aforementioned cash grabs flop), as that’s how we get more of them.
Finally, the problem with a Walt film–for me–is that it doesn’t actually accomplish anything. It would be watched by exactly the audience that doesn’t need to see it, and be overlooked by the one that does. That’ll happen to some extent with a stage show, but hopefully it’ll have more mainstream appeal.
I am surprised this is all Disneyland is getting for its 70th anniversary next year. It’s true there is no time to build anything else in time, but there should at least have been some new anniversary entertainment (as Tom himself speculated) which would be feasible within the year. My guess is bigger announcements (utilizing the Disneyland Forward space) will be kept in reserve for the 75th anniversary in 2030 and announced during the next D23 in two years’ time. I really hope the Moana water ride is going into an Adventureland expansion under the berm.
This is not all that Disneyland is getting for the 70th. Stay tuned!
I don’t want to be too cynical, but creating a representation of an historical character implies that character, be it an actor, AI, or AA, can be instructed to promote anything the company wishes to promote in a consistent, verifiable manner. It will be so easy to interject ‘Walt WOULD /COULD have said’ alongside accurate, documented quotes until truth can’t be told from fiction.
This sounds like a fitting tribute. It will never cease to bother me when Disney characterizes Epcot, the current park, and every addition and change, as the realization of Walt’s vision of EPCOT. It may be the Walt’s vision was, and is, unachievable. It may be impractical. It may have been just a bad idea. I suppose we’ll never know because Epcot is not and never has been Walt’s vision of EPCOT, and that’s not the goal. That’s all fine. But for better or worse Walt’s vision was spelled out pretty clearly, and just as clearly, Epcot park isn’t it. There is a significant difference between saying that if we believe in ourselves and work hard we can make our dreams come true, and repeating something often enough that we confuse and distort what’s real.
I absolutely love this show idea and that it is also in Disneyland. I am at senior age and many times through the years have watched past interviews and shows with Walt. Just trying to grasp at what he saw in his mind at the time to what has become Disneyland and, theme parks in today’s age. I have been to the San Francisco museum and it is a wealth of knowledge plus entertaining as long as you like to read. Very much worth a visit if you are in the area then have a fabulous picnic on the Presidio green grounds with views that will captivate you. I think it is very important for our younger generation to understand what it took to make Disneyland. What Walt so persevered in doing when there was not a road map for him to follow.
I’m so excited for this!
Thanks for going above and beyond for D23.
I love this addition. At least Disneyland got a little love. I was really hopeful when they flashed the Tomorrow land sign up during the opening number.
Now how long until we see a Walt skin in Fortnite? Thankfully, I’m guessing they would need the family’s blessing.
I like that it’s going in the same building as “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” It’s almost like they’re saying “If Walt Disney didn’t want to be an animatronic after he died, then he shouldn’t have built one of Abraham Lincoln in 1964.”
This is super creepy.
Will this AA of Walt Disney be in Disneyland or in WDW?
You mentioned Main Street opera house. Is that in Disneyland?
There is a Walt Disney tribute in Hollywood studios at WDW, BUT it is not audio animatronics
Maybe you should actually read the article because it states which park it is several times.
I tend to agree with all your sentiments above. But can’t help but feeling Walt would not like this. He was widely quoted/known to not want a statue built and they’re literally a feature of every park now (and with merchandise that sells them!) I also hope it’s done better than the Disney 100 hologram deal. That was creepy.