The first-ever Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure is finally coming to life in a brand-new stage show to run alongside Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. This post 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.
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.
August 16, 2024 Update: More details about the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics figure have come out thanks to 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 2024 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. I emphatically encourage every fan to visit the Walt Disney Family Museum to learn more about the ‘why’ of all that or to read the best (and most accurate) Walt Disney biography.
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 in 2025–that’s next year!
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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!
