There are so many new and exciting additions coming to Disneyland!
Disneyland
At D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event, so many new projects were announced for both Disney World and Disneyland. It was revealed that Avengers Campus would double the number of rides currently in the land. Also in Disney California Adventure, a new ‘Coco’ boat ride was announced along with an ‘Avatar’ expansion. While a majority of the changes are taking place in DCA, Disneyland will be getting a new attraction that will rotate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. We have finally gotten a look at what the new animatronic in this new show will look like.
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln was created for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Walt Disney was fascinated with the life of Abraham Lincoln, and this show debuted the first Audio-Animatronics version of Lincoln. The show is now on Disneyland’s Main Street, and soon it will rotate with a new show about Walt Disney himself!
Main Street Opera House welcomes Walt Disney — A Magical Life
The show is called “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” and will be presented in the Main Street Opera House.
“Walt Disney — A Magical Life”
For the first time in history, guests will “see Walt Disney through the magic of Audio-Animatronics technology.” The show is set to make its debut in 2025. As mentioned, the show will rotate with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, but for the show’s initial run, it will be the only show playing at the Main Street Opera House.
“Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln”
When the new attraction was announced at D23, Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D’Amaro shared, “Creating our first Walt figure is a huge responsibility,” and “I speak for our entire team when I say there is so much pride and excitement for everyone involved in this endeavor.”
Exhibits inside the queue
This Walt Disney figure is a BIG deal, and when we saw him, well, we had thoughts (as did the rest of the internet).
Walt Disney — A Magical Life
Our reporters thought it was a stunning tribute to Walt Disney and Disneyland, and truly believed the movement was so lifelike. They thought this was for the true Disney Adults of the group, and while many will skip this attraction, it’s a great honor to Walt. They did think that his face wasn’t quite what they were expecting, but they could see the resemblance.
Walt Disney — A Magical Life
What do guests have to say about it? When we posted videos and pictures on Instagram, we received real-time feedback on what everyone thought. Some said, “I think we all want to love it, but don’t,” and others said, “It doesn’t look like him. It doesn’t sound like him.” Although audio was taken from these recorded speeches, many felt that it didn’t sound like Walt.
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., on July 17, 2025. The attraction features a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney’s journey, culminating in a visit with Walt in his office, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
One poster said, “I thought that was Robert De Niro,” and “If I didn’t know this was supposed to be him, I would never guess this is supposed to be Walt Disney.” Others called him a “Temu version” of Walt. Many called it “creepy” and “just felt off.”
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland Park in Anaheim, Calif., on July 17, 2025. The attraction features a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney’s journey, culminating in a visit with Walt in his office, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. (Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort)
What do you think? Share your thoughts in the comments, and if you’d like to see the show, it opens in Disneyland on July 17th. Make sure you keep following Disney Food Blog for more Disney news!
WE JUST GOT AN EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK AT THE NEW WALT DISNEY ANIMATRONIC SHOW AT DISNEYLAND
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Are you excited that Walt Disney will have his own show? Let us know in the comments!
Disclosure: In nearly all circumstances, Disney Food Blog writers and photographers pay full price for their own travel, hotel, food, beverage, and event tickets. We do this because it’s important to us as journalists to ensure not only that we give you unbiased opinions, but also that you can trust us to do so since we’re paying our own way. On rare occasions, when we are invited by a company to attend a preview as media, and when we choose to accept that invitation, we will always make you, our readers, aware of that situation. Today, we were invited by Disneyland to attend their media preview of Walt Disney — A Magical Life. Note that when we attend events as media we are 1) Not required to review that event/food on any of our channels, and 2) Not required to review that event/food favorably. You can always count on DFB to give you a 100% unbiased and honest review of any event that we attend, food that we eat, or beverage that we drink. You can see more in our Disclosure Policy. Thank you for reading. — AJ
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It’s a very lifelike audioanimatronic figure, but it doesn’t look like Walt. It was a big risk to try to turn such a beloved person into an audioanimatronic figure. I feel like it’s more of a fail than a win from the photos, however maybe in person it’s different???
This is NOT the first article I’ve read about about this. And so much negativity! Yall are missing the point! There is no way to create an exact image of Mr. Disney. It can’t be exact! Take it for what it is. A brief moment in time with the Magic Maestro himself. Having met him briefly years ago…I appreciate it for what it is. Lighten up, people!
Having seen the video, I think it’s a wonderful tribute to Walt. I’m surprised that some people feel that it doesn’t sound like him since the recordings are of his voice. I do see why many think that the face isn’t perfect and I agree buts it’s close enough to get the point across. The best part though, is the movement. And when he steps back and leans against the desk at the end, that’s pretty magical.
I grew up with Walt Disney. He was a guest in our living room every Sunday evening when we watched “Wonderful World of Color.” The gray suit is very close as are the body movements. Sadly, the face, facial expressions and voice are not Walt’s. Disney should keep trying. I adored Walt Disney and vividly remember my Mom calling my brother and I inside to tell us that Walt Disney had passed away. That was a sad day for us; for the whole world. Walt Disney was a key aspect of my childhood. This is why I am so critical at times of the current Disney executive leadership and their “vision.”
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
I really wish they had used “Young Walt.” This looks more like the MyPillow Guy. Yeesh!!
As the old saying goes …. Good Help is Hard to Find
I have never seen this attraction at Disneyland. I have only been once in October of 2024 and this attraction was closed. Honestly I feel like the neck of the Walt Disney animatronic looks tooooo big.
Does this surprise anyone? Disney’s current MO is to over promise and under deliver. The only success in a vast number of colossal failures is Guardians. Star Wars hotel, Splash Mountain, Tron, shall I go on??
All the mechanical parts are there, the body, hands and movements. Maybe they can rework the face to be a bit more accurate and update it later. I guess a big problem is most of us do not really know what Lincoln exactly looked like, no video or instagram. A lot of us know what Walt looked like.
Walt’s face was definitely thinner than this guy. This doesn’t do Walt justice at all in my opinion. Doesn’t look like him. Disney needs to go back to the drawing board. That’s my opinion.
Here we go again. Disney created something new and Disney fans have thoughts and feelings. Geez, Disney fans can never be satisfied. I swear they aren’t happy unless they are unhappy. The animatronic looks fine. The audio, taken from his recordings, is accurate. People need to relax and enjoy it for what it is. I can’t wait to see it in person when we visit Disneyland.
They should have captured him when he was younger. I remember him from the Sunday night show he appeared on. I think he wore his suits a little tighter and I don’t think his suits had the “break” in the trousers to his shoes. Didn’t they look at “stock” photos of Walt?
My first impression is that his face is too short. I feel like if they elongated his face just a tad, it would look more proportionate. His neck also seems a little short. It’s weird. Like, because I know it’s Walt, I can see it. However, if I had no context, I’m not sure if I’d be able to ID this animatronic. I am going to hope that the view from the seating in the Opera House will provide the proper perspective that will allow this figure to look amazing. In other words, perhaps a different angle/perspective is needed. If not, and I’ll find out in October, my conclusion will remain that it is disappointing. I really expected better.
Ha!Ha! Definitely not bringing the Walt vibes! Mustache is too big and face too full – back to the animatronic drawing board!
Should have gone with a little bit younger Walt but I am glad they are doing this.
How can the Navi animatronic look so good ? Universals animatronics are so impressive too ! And this is what Disney gives us as “their best” ??? Shameful. Walt should have been taken care of and deserved the best of the best. What a let down.
It doesn’t look like Walt Disney at all!!
So, now seeing videos from the live show rather than still shots, I have to say he looks better. I think a lot of the issues are related to perspective/angle. Is he perfect? No. But, overall, his movements and voice and mannerisms are great. Can’t wait to see this new animatronic in October. 🙂
Walt Disney used to ask his Imagineers to “plus it” and they 100% failed him on this animatronic! That face does not ever resemble Walt Disney. Looks more like a cross between Tom Hanks, who portrayed Walt in film, and Mike Lindell, the My Pillow guy. Even Walt’s family is upset by this abomination. The nose is wrong, the mustache is wrong, the cheeks are too full, NOTHING is right about this project, and it makes me sad. Feels disrespectful 🙁