Disney is drawing a mixed response to the animatronic version of Walt Disney, which was unveiled at a Disneyland press preview at Disneyland.
The figure representing the company’s founder and namesake is coming to Anaheim as part of the park’s 70th anniversary celebration in a Main Street Opera House stage presentation called “Walt Disney — A Magical Life.”
The animatronic already drew the ire of Disney’s own family, but for the media members who saw it in person Monday, there was almost all praise for the fluidity of the animatronic’s movements and expression.
The animatronic Walt Disney is an incredible technical achievement and a truly special addition to Disneyland
— Dirk Libbey (@themeparkdirk.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I got to see an early preview of Walt Disney – A Magical Life. Opening on July 17, it’s a celebration of Walt the man. There’s a wonderfully detailed pre show, a video recounting his life, and it’s all capped off by a stunning animatronic. This is the future of theme park tech!
— Anthony Taormina (@anthonyt.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 3:06 PM
Here’s 30 seconds of the Walt Disney audio-animatronic at Disneyland, including our favorite moment when you see the glimmer in his eyes as he talks about Mickey pic.twitter.com/8XwyepBYhY
— WDW News Today (@WDWNT) July 14, 2025
The online reaction to the new videos and photos was less positive, including some unfavorable comparisons to the real Walt or posts suggesting the animatronic actually resembled some other public figures instead of the Disney founder.
do the Disney Imagineers have eyes?
The new Walt Disney animatronic looks like it wants to sell me a my pillow and tell me all about how the 2020 election was stolen
— kevbo9 (@kevbo9.bsky.social) July 14, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This is why I never get invited anywhere. I would legit have laughed in the room. Like audibly gawfawed in a way that would have shaked the windows on Main Street.
— Disney Dan Becker (@DisneyDan) July 14, 2025
The animatronic movements are incredible, but it just doesn’t look like Walt Disney to us.
From animatronics magazine pic.twitter.com/jYtyHjtXvJ
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) July 14, 2025
Nope nope nope… this is terrible. pic.twitter.com/ckXeTuZYHt
— Skyler Shuler (@SkylerShuler) July 14, 2025
When “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” debuts at Disneyland this Thursday, July 17, the show will operate on a virtual queue system. Those entering the Main Street Opera House will be greeted with new exhibits about the development of Disneyland and Disney animatronics.
For anyone looking for the Opera House’s usual occupant, “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” Disney has planned for that show to return at a later date thanks to a turntable which will rotate the Abraham Lincoln animatronic with the one of Walt Disney.