Walt Disney comes to life in new animatronic at Disneyland
Even when it's practically (im)perfect, Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic still dazzles
Disneyland has unveiled its most advanced Audio-Animatronic human figure yet: Walt Disney himself, ahead of the public debut of the new show “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” on July 17, the park’s 70th anniversary.
The attraction, located in the Main Street Opera House at Disneyland Park, features a cinematic presentation of Walt Disney's life followed by an encounter with the Walt animatronic figure in his recreated office.
In a news release, Disney referred to the Audio-Animatronic as the "most likelike figure that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created." Disney also said it features the first-ever "lean to stand" motion ever created for an all-electric figure.
When Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, Walt Disney delivered a dedication describing the park as a place “where age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future.”
Seven decades later, Walt’s spirit remains at the heart of the park’s identity.
Walt’s own words
Using archival footage and restored audio recordings, Imagineers have created a show that aims to share Walt’s own words and story with new generations of park guests
The figure depicts Walt circa 1963, widely considered the pinnacle of his career, with historically accurate costuming and meticulous attention to his mannerisms and expressions during that time. This specific period was when Walt was working on the New York World’s Fair, Mary Poppins, Disneyland’s expansion, and the Florida Project. It was an era of great energy and vision, and it’s the one most familiar to fans who remember seeing “Uncle Walt” on TV.
Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering, shared how meaningful it was to finally see the attraction presented to a full theater. He said the goal was always about fulfilling a childhood wish: many people grew up longing to meet Walt Disney, and this experience tries to offer something close to that feeling.
Disney creatives explained how they created Walt’s voice for the figure entirely from his own words using archival interviews, television appearances, and speeches. They wanted the figure to feel like you were dropping into his office for a personal chat, hearing his philosophies and reflections on his life. Like the Lincoln show, which stitches together real Lincoln speeches, Walt’s speech is a patchwork of his actual words.
Walt’s mannerisms
The Imagineers and archive team described the painstaking level of detail in the new figure’s design. During the development process, they studied Walt’s clothing, ring, posture, and other personal items that were used as inspiration for the show. They also recreated the atmosphere of Walt’s real working office, not the TV set version, to make it feel as authentic as possible. Items on display include personal photos, books, props, and even a Pinocchio maquette from the 1930s that shows a blend of Walt’s past, present, and future interests.
Tom Fitzgerald, Senior Creative Executive at Walt Disney Imagineering, described the advanced features of this new Audio-Animatronic. They felt it was critical to replicate signature Walt details, like his expressive eyebrows and the distinctive “glint” in his eyes.
To achieve that, Imagineers studied anatomical features like the “corneal bulge” that creates a reflective sparkle in the eye. They also redesigned the figure’s hands to move more naturally and with nuanced gestures, since Walt was often seen speaking with his hands.
Walt stands
Another technological challenge was making it possible for the new figure to lean and stand during the show. Walt was known for leaning casually on his desk during TV appearances, so Imagineers developed a new approach to accomplish a relaxed, subtle animation of the figure. The team meticulously studied hours of footage to reproduce his characteristic poses and mannerisms.
“We’ve created many Audio-Animatronics figures over the years, but to create Walt Disney is both an honor and a challenge,” Fitzgerald said. “Our goal is to capture the nuances that made him unique: the twinkle in his eye, his expressive face, and the way he used his hands to punctuate ideas.”
The Main Street Opera House has also been updated and renovated to accommodate a rotating stage, allowing “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” to share the stage with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which will return at a later date. Disney has not provided a timeline for when the rotating shows will begin.
What I loved
The figure is undoubtedly impressive. Watching Walt stand up from his desk, lean casually, and then sit back down is truly a wow moment. His movements in those scenes are so fluid and lifelike. It really is the standout part of the show.
The mannerisms are spot on. The hand gestures, little posture shifts, and the subtle animation all look amazing on stage. It really mirrors what you’d expect when listening to “Uncle Walt” on TV.
I love that they went for the "twinkle" in his eye. It’s such an iconic part of Walt’s personality, and the team obviously worked hard to recreate it. However, it’s not perfect, with more on that in a moment.
The level of detail on Walt’s face is incredible. Even if you zoom in on the photos, you’ll notice the wrinkles, skin texture, eyebrows, and other facial features are some of the most impressive you’ll see on any Audio-Animatronic.
You can tell this was a project driven by real passion. This wasn’t just a checklist job. You can feel the love and care behind it, which counts for a lot.
What fell short
Walt’s face is going to be the big point of critique. Likeness is a really tricky thing to nail. It’s certainly not bad, but I think many people will say, “it looked like a Walt Disney animatronic” rather than “it looked like Walt Disney.” I know that might sound like nitpicking, but that's genuinely how I felt, and I know others who had similar impressions.
The twinkle in his eyes is impressive, but sometimes it veers into the uncanny valley territory when he’s being expressive. It feels like a great step forward, but could use a bit more refining over time.
Seating matters a lot here. The first time I watched the show, I sat toward the rear of the theater and thought the audio was kind of lacking. Because the audio speakers are on stage, projecting out like Walt is talking to you, it sounded much better when I sat closer and more centered for my second viewing. Overall, that second viewing was just a lot more enjoyable.
We keep moving forward
Overall, I’d say this show is a definite win for Disneyland, even if it has a few imperfections. I’d encourage everyone to go in with an open mind and appreciate what Disney can achieve when genuine passion is behind a project. The team clearly put a lot of care into honoring Walt, and that effort really comes through. I also think it’ll be exciting to watch this figure evolve over time. Disney has a history of refining and updating its Audio-Animatronics, so it’s a safe bet that Walt will see some improvements over the next 70 years.