‘Walt Disney — A Magical Life’ Features the First Audio-Animatronic…

When Disneyland opened on July 17th, 1955, Walt Disney delivered a heartfelt dedication: "Here 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 still fills the park. And in 2025, guests will be able to see, hear, and experience Walt Disney like never before.

A new show is coming to the Main Street Opera House: Walt Disney - A Magical Life, announced Disney Experiences Chairman Josh D'Amaro at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event Presented by Visa ® on Saturday. It will feature for the first time an Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt, advancing a technology he pioneered 60 years ago with Abraham Lincoln at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

"Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that's been whispered in the hallowed halls of Imagineering for years - decades, even," said D'Amaro at Horizons: Disney Experiences Showcase. "We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we're finally ready."

The Opera House theater will transform into Walt's studio office and will bring together the past, present and future of Disney storytelling. A Magical Life will play in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Tom Fitzgerald - Senior Creative Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering - said that "so much of Walt's philosophy is timeless, and as valid today as it was in his lifetime."

"We wanted the show and story to appeal to all ages, and while some of our younger audience may not know as much about Walt Disney, we felt his story could be inspirational to them," Fitzgerald said. "Follow your dreams, turn setbacks into success, never give up, and give the world your very best."

Bringing the new show to life is no easy task, however. Walt Disney is not just an iconic and beloved figure to The Walt Disney Company, but also to pop culture and millions of fans around the world.

Fitzgerald noted that Disney Imagineers took great care when it came to crafting an Audio-Animatronics figure that could capture Walt's essence.

"We've created so many Audio-Animatronics figures over the years from pirates to presidents, but to create a figure of Walt Disney is an honor and a challenge," he said. "How can we create a lifelike impression of Walt Disney, with the nuances that made him unique in person.  The twinkle in the eye, his expressive face - those eyebrows - and the way he used his hands to punctuate his thoughts and ideas?"

Fitzgerald added that the Imagineers "worked closely with the Walt Disney Archives to ensure we had the details as accurate as possible."

"We scoured through his speeches and documents to find the words that would bring him to life in a way that would feel as if we dropped into his office for a chat," he said. "Our hope is that the end result will give guests the best sense of Walt and his engaging and warm personality."

Brian Orr - Show Systems Studio Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering, who is responsible for Audio-Animatronics design and production for all Disney parks and experiences - added that "fans of Walt Disney, in some form or fashion, have the idea of Walt iconically in their head."

"Our job is to make sure Walt feels believable and connects with the audience, as he's done with so many people across the world," he said.

Designing a Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics figure simultaneously highlights to the company's heritage and its innovative future. Audio-Animatronics "are not only quintessential Disney technology, but also core to our Disney DNA," Orr said.

"As Walt said, 'we keep moving forward,' and this show is a clear illustration of that," Fitzgerald added. "The Audio-Animatronics figure of Walt will incorporate features and innovations that have never been achieved before. It will be the most lifelike human figure we have ever created. This project has been a labor of love for the team of Imagineers - one which we hope Walt would be proud of."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.