“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is the brand new stage present opening for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary to protect the historical past and legacy of the corporate’s founder. It’s a labor of affection that introduces the person behind the magic to a brand new era of company through Imagineering’s most lifelike Audio Animatronics determine ever. This overview covers the strengths and weaknesses of the latest attraction on Foremost Road in Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom.
Upon getting into Disneyland, the primary attraction company go is the Foremost Road Opera Home, house to “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Whereas the attraction and its foyer are the brand new attraction aimed toward introducing Walt to a brand new era and honoring one of the patriotic and consequential People in our nation’s historical past, the whole thing of Foremost Road is sort of a residing tribute to Walt Disney. Impressed by his hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Foremost Road recreates the distinctive appeal and quaintness of small-town America on the flip of the twentieth century, stuffed with hope and optimism.
Throughout “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” company will first expertise a cinematic journey by way of an adaptation of the movie, “One Man’s Dream” that additionally exhibits at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Following that, the attraction will culminate in a go to with Walt in his workplace, made doable by way of the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut on the seventieth anniversary of Disneyland’s opening day, July 17, 2025.
The finale of the present will increase the curtain on the primary Audio-Animatronics determine of Walt Disney ever created. Company will encounter Walt Disney like by no means earlier than, by way of a medium he helped pioneer along with his staff once they created the Audio-Animatronics determine of Abraham Lincoln.
Company will uncover Walt in a re-creation of his workplace on the Studio, the place he’ll share a number of tales and ideas on his profession and philosophy. Taken from recordings spanning many years, unique audio recordings of Walt’s personal phrases have been seamlessly blended to create these “nice moments” for the efficiency.
The whole run time of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is roughly 17 minutes, with the majority of that being “One Man’s Dream.” (About 14 minutes for the movie and three minutes for the Audio Animatronics.) Disneyland has revealed that “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will use a digital queue at first, which is generally as a result of restricted seating within the theater; we’d anticipate that to be gone earlier than August rolls round.
After its preliminary run, the Foremost Road Opera Home will welcome again “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which is able to play in rotation with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage contained in the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable permitting for each productions to play in rotation. There aren’t any present, story, or script adjustments to “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Other than a modified set to suit on the rotating turntable back-to-back with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the Lincoln presentation stays unchanged.
Throughout a panel presentation, Senior Artistic Government Tom Fitzgerald shared how Walt Disney Imagineering has spent greater than 7 years engaged on the ‘Magical Life’ undertaking. Though the concept for a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine has floated round in WDI for a lot longer, they obtained began in earnest on July 17, 2018, and commenced consulting with the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Household Museum on that date.
Government Producer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz defined how the staff at Imagineering had put nice care into guaranteeing the authenticity and accuracy of the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine, and the present as a complete. They dug by way of previous interviews, discovering historic footage and audio recordings of Walt Disney in his personal phrases.
The inventive staff selected the approximate time interval of 1963 when figuring out Walt’s look and for the ‘timeframe’ of the present. Imagineers defined this was accomplished as a result of it confirmed Walt on the pinnacle of his profession–after a number of profitable movies, the opening of Disneyland and first huge park enlargement, as early work started on securing land for the Florida Mission, and on the precipice of the 1964 World’s Honest.
In the course of the present, we see Walt Disney on the top of his success, already an exemplar of the American Dream. This gives a becoming finale to “One Man’s Dream,” which spends a lot of its runtime targeted on Walt’s youthful years, overcoming adversity, huge bets on himself, and eventually attaining success.
Painstaking element was put into each side of the manufacturing, and Imagineers collaborated with the Walt Disney Household Museum to make sure accuracy in every little thing they did, from the precise contents of his workplace proper right down to the precise rings he wore and hair product he used.
A number of historic sources that includes dialogue of Walt are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring efficiency of the Audio-Animatronics determine. Imagineers reiterated as soon as once more that it was vital that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used. It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, with the one changes made being sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the interviews from totally different unique sources stream seamlessly collectively.
It’s additionally a full circle second, as bringing Lincoln to life was considered one of Walt’s largest ardour tasks, and now that is that for present-day Imagineers. As youngsters, these creatives watched Walt Disney come into their residing rooms on Sunday night time tv, equally to how Walt realized of Lincoln as a baby.
Previous to the debut of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” I’ve been a fierce advocate of this undertaking. For my part, it’s the most consequential attraction opening this yr, and a vital one. Though there’s been debate oriented round whether or not Walt or all of his household need this, I’ve discovered that unpersuasive–as defined in commentaries right here, right here, and right here.
At this time’s youthful generations are usually not studying about Walt Disney. Or worse but, they’re consuming anti-Walt propaganda and studying about who he truly was not. Walt now not comes into our residing rooms on Sunday nights, however slander about him is ubiquitous on our telephones.
This worries me. Walt Disney as one of many best individuals of all-time; a shining instance of ingenuity who needs to be studied as a task mannequin as exemplifying the true spirit of America.
No matter different arguments for or in opposition to a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics which may’ve existed at one time, this is the one which wins out for me in 2025, almost 60 years after Walt Disney’s passing. Retaining his story and legacy alive for future generations is of paramount significance. Showcasing how the American Dream is attainable for those who wager on your self is vital. With all the cynicism that exists on this planet, we’d like extra optimists like Walt. He issues; his story issues.
Accordingly, I’m on board with the Walt Disney Firm attempting to appropriate the report and fight this, as long as it’s not self-serving to company pursuits. Its founder wants some extent of safeguarding in opposition to morons and misinformation, and his legacy wants preserving in the identical manner the corporate zealously protects Mickey Mouse.
Suffice to say, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is badly wanted; the world has modified a lot from when Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour aired each weekend. That is exactly why it’s probably the most vital attraction coming to both coast within the subsequent 5 years, and I’m “biased” in direction of its existence.
Throughout a media preview forward of its official opening, I used to be invited by Disneyland to expertise “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Right here’s my tackle the strengths and weaknesses of the attraction.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life Evaluate
Earlier than even attending to the present itself, company will encounter a brand new gallery within the foyer and pre-show of the Foremost Road Opera Home. This options a whole bunch of photographs, artwork and artifacts spanning from Walt’s early profession to the place we are actually, celebrating 70 years of The Happiest Place on Earth. A few of this has by no means been on show publicly, and there are some true deep cuts right here.
Highlights embody a show that partially re-creates Walt’s non-public residence in Disneyland. There are additionally many, many awards–his 1955 Emmy award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and naturally, his pigeon-racing achievement award. There’s additionally a incredible Audio Animatronics show that features a few working AAs. (It’s uncommon to have non-static AAs on show outdoors of attraction.) This gallery is actually a treasure trove, and the perfect that I’ve ever seen within the Foremost Road Opera Home.
I’m hoping to do a second submit simply concerning the Foremost Road Opera Home, as a result of it’s completely incredible. Large kudos to the passionate individuals from Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Archives, and Walt Disney Household Museum who put this collectively. That is an absolute home-run, and unequivocal success. I look ahead to spending many, many sizzling afternoons poring over these galleries.
The stage present begins with a movie adaptation of “One Man’s Dream,” which you may be conversant in from Walt Disney World the place it performs at Walt Disney Presents (which was once referred to as One Man’s Dream). The documentary is basically narrated by Walt himself, and chronicles his life as a baby within the Midwest, service in World Battle I, transfer to California, early animation, failure in dropping the rights to Oswald, creation of Mickey Mouse, success with Snow White and Mary Poppins, and finally culminates within the creation of Disneyland and dream for the Florida Mission.
Since it is a condensed model of the “One Man’s Dream” movie, present Disney CEO Bob Iger has been added as a second narrator. Whereas I personally would’ve most popular Julie Andrews or Steve Martin or Kurt Russell for this function, Iger helps streamline the presentation. I doubt any followers would’ve given this second thought or have any robust opinion about Iger’s presence a method or one other if simply watching the present. He doesn’t stick out in any respect, for higher or worse.
My one nitpick with the movie portion of the presentation is that it’s too lengthy. Don’t get me flawed–I may (and have!) watched hours and hours of Walt Disney documentary. However on this case, the movie to Audio Animatronics ratio is out of whack. I might additionally add that there’s no purpose for the Florida Mission to be current on condition that that is Disneyland, and in mild of the time interval chosen for the stage present itself. It’s particularly odd to finish on idea artwork of EPCOT Heart, the theme park. There was truly a logical finish level solely a minute or so earlier within the movie, with the World of Colour splash display screen and dialogue introducing Walt Disney–that will’ve been the proper segue!
Even earlier than it debuted, one huge level of competition with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” was the dialogue that the Audio Animatronics would ship. Imagineers made clear that it was vital to them that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used.
It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, a lot of which comes from the wide-ranging interview by Fletcher Markle for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1963. Nonetheless, some totally different interviews have been used, and the one changes made have been for sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the various supply audio flows seamlessly collectively.
For me, the most important ‘subject’ is what Walt would say. They couldn’t simply cherry decide Walt quotes to additional a self-serving narrative concerning the parks needing to vary or no matter. It wanted to be a love letter to Walt Disney and his life, with no ulterior motives. When it got here to the audio and brief period of the present, I used to be additionally fearful that it’d be a veritable grabbag of famous-but-superficial Waltisms.
Fairly truthfully, given the importance of this attraction, the one manner this might probably be ‘ugly’ will not be if the Audio Animatronics underwhelmed, but when he was became a company robotic. Fortunately, completely none of these fears got here to fruition.
There are a few well-known quotes in there, nevertheless it’s extra than simply that. The chosen dialogue each humanizes Walt Disney and presents him in a humbling method. Particularly, I like the anecdote on this video the place Walt describes an change with a child, describing himself as a bee who pollinates and stimulates the studio. This was an sudden inclusion, however a great one.
The dangerous is that regardless of being authentically Walt Disney, the audio doesn’t fairly sound correct from some seats within the theater. The speaker was positioned behind Walt Disney, so it’s as if he’s truly talking from on-stage. It’s a good suggestion in idea, however the execution leaves one thing to be desired. I used to be seated in direction of the again for my first viewing, and it didn’t sound correct. Seated entrance and middle for my second viewing, it sounded significantly better. However the hope is that this performs to packed homes, so having ~20% of the seats be near good and the remaining be spotty is a miss.
There nonetheless appears to be a little bit of a problem with the rebalancing or restoration. I don’t purport to be a sound skilled, however the voice heard coming “from” the Audio Animatronics doesn’t sound fairly the identical as “One Man’s Dream.” It’s nonetheless very clearly Walt Disney (as a result of it is Walt Disney), nevertheless it’s as if one thing obtained a tad overcooked in post-production. Apples and oranges, nevertheless it jogs my memory a little bit of the unique Disney DVDs that obtained heavy-handed with noise discount.
Then there’s the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics itself. This determine is extremely technically subtle. Walt Disney is probably the most lifelike human determine that Imagineering has ever created. The WDI staff achieved many inventions by no means accomplished earlier than in a humanoid determine, and really needed to look forward to expertise to catch as much as necessities for Walt Disney on which they might not compromise.
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics is extremely fluid and lifelike–Imagineers shared that it was vital to seize and convey the best way Walt spoke along with his palms, how he furrowed his forehead, and the twinkle in his eye.
The determine accomplishes the primary ‘lean to face’ movement for an all-electric determine and has a brand new kind of lifelike pores and skin. Imagineering studied Walt’s muscle construction and the nuances of talking and gesturing corresponding to how the mouth falls when the determine is talking, in addition to the very Walt mannerisms and actions.
The technological leaps to realize these far-reaching ambitions have been referred to as “moonshots” throughout the Imagineering staff that innovated them. Among the improvements have been pushed by necessity–there have been sure actions Walt had to have the ability to accomplish to look appropriately lifelike. Some simply happened naturally when it comes to pushing the bounds of the Audio Animatronics medium.
All of that is really spectacular. The undertaking was clearly a labor of affection for Imagineering, they usually nailed so lots of Walt’s mannerisms. As an everyday attendee of “Wednesdays with Walt” again when this identical theater at Disneyland hosted that, I’ve seen many episodes of Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour. In just a few minutes of the present, they managed to personify Walt Disney.
It was just like the Audio Animatronics really got here to life, proper right down to tapping his palms throughout the introductory narration as if to say, “get on with it.” The achievements with the Audio Animatronics, its fluidity, and people mannerisms are second-to-none. From a technical perspective, Walt Disney is the perfect human Audio Animatronics we’ve ever seen.
That’s why it pains me all of the extra to say that the facial options simply don’t nail Walt Disney’s look. There’s simply one thing barely off concerning the determine. I’m not totally positive what, or even when it’s one single factor. The face appears bloated, the cheeks and nostril aren’t fairly true to life, his neck is simply too stout–I’m unsure what else.
My hope is that it’s the underlying electronics that make replicating Walt’s extra slender and elongated facial construction not possible, and that over time, Walt’s head might be iterated on and changed as we’ve seen with different AAs. For now, his facial options and construction simply aren’t all the best way there.
This isn’t to say it’s dangerous; it isn’t. The presentation as a complete is spectacular in-person. That is doubly true for those who’re seated up shut and centered, and catch simply the correct gesture, look, and dialogue combo. There are seconds when suspension of disbelief is achieved and it seems like Walt Disney is correct there within the room. There’s a shifting second on the finish when the background comes alive, Walt gazes at Mickey Mouse, and that glimmer in his eye is distinguished.
However honestly, it’s the mannerisms doing the heavy lifting there, and the way they fluidly convey Walt’s physique language. The face itself is relatively underwhelming and appears off-model. It appears higher in individual and is satisfactory as ~80% of the best way there, however the first Walt Disney Audio Animatronics wanted to be good. And it isn’t.
If you’re sitting within the room, the totality of the expertise smooths over the faults. After initially being shocked by his face, I turned engrossed by the present and didn’t give a lot second thought to Walt being barely off-model. The issue is that this present isn’t simply being introduced to the in-person viewers. It’s going to be broadcast around the globe on YouTube, Instagram, and many others.
The entire purpose is elevating consciousness about Walt Disney, the person and embodiment of the American Dream. Ideally, the net viewers will exceed the real-life one, so I’m not totally persuaded by the argument that it appears higher in-person. It does, however that’s not how everybody will expertise “A Magical Life.”
In equity to Imagineering, creating an Audio Animatronics of Walt Disney is an unenviable process. He’s obtained to be one of the charismatic, animated, and distinctive-looking individuals to have ever lived. (Every time I watch “One Man’s Dream,” I’m reminded by simply how a lot little one Walt appears like grownup Walt.) Moonshots or not, there’s no manner a robotic was ever going to match the person himself.
The Walt Disney Audio Animatronics can also be accomplished no favors by the truth that the viewers simply completed watching ~13 minutes of actual life Walt Disney footage. That basically provides a simple and direct side-by-side comparability. That’s one thing with which Walt himself didn’t must contend when creating the Abraham Lincoln Audio Animatronics.
There’s no video of Lincoln, solely what exists of him in our minds and imaginations from the historical past books and historic photographs. His likewise could possibly be 80% there and that’d be wonderful. Heck, his voice actor may change through the years and most company wouldn’t bat a watch. (Other than these of us dorks who nonetheless miss Royal Dano.) Against this, just about each single Disney fan can shut their eyes proper now, and see and listen to Walt completely.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally honest to level out that Lincoln will not be the one human Audio Animatronics created by Imagineering within the final a number of many years. Far more just lately, we’ve seen three AAs of the sitting president. Whereas the primary a type of was largely derided for his ‘melty-face’ look (and believable conspiracy theories about initially beginning as a unique individual totally), the present era is just about spot-on. Arguably extra true-to-life than Walt Disney in “A Magical Life.”
Finally, it’s disappointing that Imagineering managed to nail a lot with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics, together with technological moonshots that I’d think about would’ve been harder to realize, however missed on the facial options. My hope is that they’ve an opportunity to revisit the mannequin sooner or later, simply as they’ve accomplished just lately with Corridor of Presidents.
The twinkle in Walt’s eye, actions, and mannerisms are all there. They knocked it out of the park with a lot of “Walt Disney – A Magical,” and it’s a incredible attraction-as-a-whole, from foyer to exit.
However that makes it all of the extra unlucky that the likeness is a little bit of a miss. That’s the factor on which most followers seeing photographs and movies are going to fixate. This might’ve been a ten/10 attraction, however as a substitute, the face goes to overshadow all the aforementioned excessive factors.
My different hope is that Imagineer provides an prolonged lower of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” sooner or later. As soon as I shortly obtained used to the likeness and stopped fixating on his facial options, that pale into the background (so to talk) and it actually was like listening to Walt speak about his life. And I may’ve listened to that for hours and hours.
That’s a great drawback to have, and if on the finish of the day, my largest criticism is that the Audio Animatronics Walt Disney wasn’t on stage for lengthy sufficient, that needs to be a reasonably robust endorsement of the present. Let’s simply get the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics all the best way to 100% by the seventy fifth Anniversary, as a result of I keep that that is an important attraction at Disneyland. Its very existence and being a love letter to Walt Disney that introduces the person and his personification of the American Dream is an asset to Disneyland, company, and fashionable society as a complete.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics? Is it sufficient to get his likeness ~80% of the best way there and nail the mannerisms and different options? Or did the corporate’s founder deserve nothing in need of perfection? Ideas on the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” stage present as a complete? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is the brand new stage present opening for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary to protect the historical past and legacy of the corporate’s founder. It’s a labor of affection that introduces the person behind the magic to a brand new era of company through Imagineering’s most lifelike Audio Animatronics determine ever. This overview covers the strengths and weaknesses of the latest attraction on Foremost Road in Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom.
Upon getting into Disneyland, the primary attraction company go is the Foremost Road Opera Home, house to “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Whereas the attraction and its foyer are the brand new attraction aimed toward introducing Walt to a brand new era and honoring one of the patriotic and consequential People in our nation’s historical past, the whole thing of Foremost Road is sort of a residing tribute to Walt Disney. Impressed by his hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Foremost Road recreates the distinctive appeal and quaintness of small-town America on the flip of the twentieth century, stuffed with hope and optimism.
Throughout “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” company will first expertise a cinematic journey by way of an adaptation of the movie, “One Man’s Dream” that additionally exhibits at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Following that, the attraction will culminate in a go to with Walt in his workplace, made doable by way of the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut on the seventieth anniversary of Disneyland’s opening day, July 17, 2025.
The finale of the present will increase the curtain on the primary Audio-Animatronics determine of Walt Disney ever created. Company will encounter Walt Disney like by no means earlier than, by way of a medium he helped pioneer along with his staff once they created the Audio-Animatronics determine of Abraham Lincoln.
Company will uncover Walt in a re-creation of his workplace on the Studio, the place he’ll share a number of tales and ideas on his profession and philosophy. Taken from recordings spanning many years, unique audio recordings of Walt’s personal phrases have been seamlessly blended to create these “nice moments” for the efficiency.
The whole run time of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is roughly 17 minutes, with the majority of that being “One Man’s Dream.” (About 14 minutes for the movie and three minutes for the Audio Animatronics.) Disneyland has revealed that “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will use a digital queue at first, which is generally as a result of restricted seating within the theater; we’d anticipate that to be gone earlier than August rolls round.
After its preliminary run, the Foremost Road Opera Home will welcome again “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which is able to play in rotation with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage contained in the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable permitting for each productions to play in rotation. There aren’t any present, story, or script adjustments to “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Other than a modified set to suit on the rotating turntable back-to-back with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the Lincoln presentation stays unchanged.
Throughout a panel presentation, Senior Artistic Government Tom Fitzgerald shared how Walt Disney Imagineering has spent greater than 7 years engaged on the ‘Magical Life’ undertaking. Though the concept for a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine has floated round in WDI for a lot longer, they obtained began in earnest on July 17, 2018, and commenced consulting with the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Household Museum on that date.
Government Producer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz defined how the staff at Imagineering had put nice care into guaranteeing the authenticity and accuracy of the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine, and the present as a complete. They dug by way of previous interviews, discovering historic footage and audio recordings of Walt Disney in his personal phrases.
The inventive staff selected the approximate time interval of 1963 when figuring out Walt’s look and for the ‘timeframe’ of the present. Imagineers defined this was accomplished as a result of it confirmed Walt on the pinnacle of his profession–after a number of profitable movies, the opening of Disneyland and first huge park enlargement, as early work started on securing land for the Florida Mission, and on the precipice of the 1964 World’s Honest.
In the course of the present, we see Walt Disney on the top of his success, already an exemplar of the American Dream. This gives a becoming finale to “One Man’s Dream,” which spends a lot of its runtime targeted on Walt’s youthful years, overcoming adversity, huge bets on himself, and eventually attaining success.
Painstaking element was put into each side of the manufacturing, and Imagineers collaborated with the Walt Disney Household Museum to make sure accuracy in every little thing they did, from the precise contents of his workplace proper right down to the precise rings he wore and hair product he used.
A number of historic sources that includes dialogue of Walt are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring efficiency of the Audio-Animatronics determine. Imagineers reiterated as soon as once more that it was vital that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used. It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, with the one changes made being sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the interviews from totally different unique sources stream seamlessly collectively.
It’s additionally a full circle second, as bringing Lincoln to life was considered one of Walt’s largest ardour tasks, and now that is that for present-day Imagineers. As youngsters, these creatives watched Walt Disney come into their residing rooms on Sunday night time tv, equally to how Walt realized of Lincoln as a baby.
Previous to the debut of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” I’ve been a fierce advocate of this undertaking. For my part, it’s the most consequential attraction opening this yr, and a vital one. Though there’s been debate oriented round whether or not Walt or all of his household need this, I’ve discovered that unpersuasive–as defined in commentaries right here, right here, and right here.
At this time’s youthful generations are usually not studying about Walt Disney. Or worse but, they’re consuming anti-Walt propaganda and studying about who he truly was not. Walt now not comes into our residing rooms on Sunday nights, however slander about him is ubiquitous on our telephones.
This worries me. Walt Disney as one of many best individuals of all-time; a shining instance of ingenuity who needs to be studied as a task mannequin as exemplifying the true spirit of America.
No matter different arguments for or in opposition to a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics which may’ve existed at one time, this is the one which wins out for me in 2025, almost 60 years after Walt Disney’s passing. Retaining his story and legacy alive for future generations is of paramount significance. Showcasing how the American Dream is attainable for those who wager on your self is vital. With all the cynicism that exists on this planet, we’d like extra optimists like Walt. He issues; his story issues.
Accordingly, I’m on board with the Walt Disney Firm attempting to appropriate the report and fight this, as long as it’s not self-serving to company pursuits. Its founder wants some extent of safeguarding in opposition to morons and misinformation, and his legacy wants preserving in the identical manner the corporate zealously protects Mickey Mouse.
Suffice to say, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is badly wanted; the world has modified a lot from when Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour aired each weekend. That is exactly why it’s probably the most vital attraction coming to both coast within the subsequent 5 years, and I’m “biased” in direction of its existence.
Throughout a media preview forward of its official opening, I used to be invited by Disneyland to expertise “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Right here’s my tackle the strengths and weaknesses of the attraction.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life Evaluate
Earlier than even attending to the present itself, company will encounter a brand new gallery within the foyer and pre-show of the Foremost Road Opera Home. This options a whole bunch of photographs, artwork and artifacts spanning from Walt’s early profession to the place we are actually, celebrating 70 years of The Happiest Place on Earth. A few of this has by no means been on show publicly, and there are some true deep cuts right here.
Highlights embody a show that partially re-creates Walt’s non-public residence in Disneyland. There are additionally many, many awards–his 1955 Emmy award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and naturally, his pigeon-racing achievement award. There’s additionally a incredible Audio Animatronics show that features a few working AAs. (It’s uncommon to have non-static AAs on show outdoors of attraction.) This gallery is actually a treasure trove, and the perfect that I’ve ever seen within the Foremost Road Opera Home.
I’m hoping to do a second submit simply concerning the Foremost Road Opera Home, as a result of it’s completely incredible. Large kudos to the passionate individuals from Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Archives, and Walt Disney Household Museum who put this collectively. That is an absolute home-run, and unequivocal success. I look ahead to spending many, many sizzling afternoons poring over these galleries.
The stage present begins with a movie adaptation of “One Man’s Dream,” which you may be conversant in from Walt Disney World the place it performs at Walt Disney Presents (which was once referred to as One Man’s Dream). The documentary is basically narrated by Walt himself, and chronicles his life as a baby within the Midwest, service in World Battle I, transfer to California, early animation, failure in dropping the rights to Oswald, creation of Mickey Mouse, success with Snow White and Mary Poppins, and finally culminates within the creation of Disneyland and dream for the Florida Mission.
Since it is a condensed model of the “One Man’s Dream” movie, present Disney CEO Bob Iger has been added as a second narrator. Whereas I personally would’ve most popular Julie Andrews or Steve Martin or Kurt Russell for this function, Iger helps streamline the presentation. I doubt any followers would’ve given this second thought or have any robust opinion about Iger’s presence a method or one other if simply watching the present. He doesn’t stick out in any respect, for higher or worse.
My one nitpick with the movie portion of the presentation is that it’s too lengthy. Don’t get me flawed–I may (and have!) watched hours and hours of Walt Disney documentary. However on this case, the movie to Audio Animatronics ratio is out of whack. I might additionally add that there’s no purpose for the Florida Mission to be current on condition that that is Disneyland, and in mild of the time interval chosen for the stage present itself. It’s particularly odd to finish on idea artwork of EPCOT Heart, the theme park. There was truly a logical finish level solely a minute or so earlier within the movie, with the World of Colour splash display screen and dialogue introducing Walt Disney–that will’ve been the proper segue!
Even earlier than it debuted, one huge level of competition with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” was the dialogue that the Audio Animatronics would ship. Imagineers made clear that it was vital to them that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used.
It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, a lot of which comes from the wide-ranging interview by Fletcher Markle for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1963. Nonetheless, some totally different interviews have been used, and the one changes made have been for sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the various supply audio flows seamlessly collectively.
For me, the most important ‘subject’ is what Walt would say. They couldn’t simply cherry decide Walt quotes to additional a self-serving narrative concerning the parks needing to vary or no matter. It wanted to be a love letter to Walt Disney and his life, with no ulterior motives. When it got here to the audio and brief period of the present, I used to be additionally fearful that it’d be a veritable grabbag of famous-but-superficial Waltisms.
Fairly truthfully, given the importance of this attraction, the one manner this might probably be ‘ugly’ will not be if the Audio Animatronics underwhelmed, but when he was became a company robotic. Fortunately, completely none of these fears got here to fruition.
There are a few well-known quotes in there, nevertheless it’s extra than simply that. The chosen dialogue each humanizes Walt Disney and presents him in a humbling method. Particularly, I like the anecdote on this video the place Walt describes an change with a child, describing himself as a bee who pollinates and stimulates the studio. This was an sudden inclusion, however a great one.
The dangerous is that regardless of being authentically Walt Disney, the audio doesn’t fairly sound correct from some seats within the theater. The speaker was positioned behind Walt Disney, so it’s as if he’s truly talking from on-stage. It’s a good suggestion in idea, however the execution leaves one thing to be desired. I used to be seated in direction of the again for my first viewing, and it didn’t sound correct. Seated entrance and middle for my second viewing, it sounded significantly better. However the hope is that this performs to packed homes, so having ~20% of the seats be near good and the remaining be spotty is a miss.
There nonetheless appears to be a little bit of a problem with the rebalancing or restoration. I don’t purport to be a sound skilled, however the voice heard coming “from” the Audio Animatronics doesn’t sound fairly the identical as “One Man’s Dream.” It’s nonetheless very clearly Walt Disney (as a result of it is Walt Disney), nevertheless it’s as if one thing obtained a tad overcooked in post-production. Apples and oranges, nevertheless it jogs my memory a little bit of the unique Disney DVDs that obtained heavy-handed with noise discount.
Then there’s the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics itself. This determine is extremely technically subtle. Walt Disney is probably the most lifelike human determine that Imagineering has ever created. The WDI staff achieved many inventions by no means accomplished earlier than in a humanoid determine, and really needed to look forward to expertise to catch as much as necessities for Walt Disney on which they might not compromise.
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics is extremely fluid and lifelike–Imagineers shared that it was vital to seize and convey the best way Walt spoke along with his palms, how he furrowed his forehead, and the twinkle in his eye.
The determine accomplishes the primary ‘lean to face’ movement for an all-electric determine and has a brand new kind of lifelike pores and skin. Imagineering studied Walt’s muscle construction and the nuances of talking and gesturing corresponding to how the mouth falls when the determine is talking, in addition to the very Walt mannerisms and actions.
The technological leaps to realize these far-reaching ambitions have been referred to as “moonshots” throughout the Imagineering staff that innovated them. Among the improvements have been pushed by necessity–there have been sure actions Walt had to have the ability to accomplish to look appropriately lifelike. Some simply happened naturally when it comes to pushing the bounds of the Audio Animatronics medium.
All of that is really spectacular. The undertaking was clearly a labor of affection for Imagineering, they usually nailed so lots of Walt’s mannerisms. As an everyday attendee of “Wednesdays with Walt” again when this identical theater at Disneyland hosted that, I’ve seen many episodes of Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour. In just a few minutes of the present, they managed to personify Walt Disney.
It was just like the Audio Animatronics really got here to life, proper right down to tapping his palms throughout the introductory narration as if to say, “get on with it.” The achievements with the Audio Animatronics, its fluidity, and people mannerisms are second-to-none. From a technical perspective, Walt Disney is the perfect human Audio Animatronics we’ve ever seen.
That’s why it pains me all of the extra to say that the facial options simply don’t nail Walt Disney’s look. There’s simply one thing barely off concerning the determine. I’m not totally positive what, or even when it’s one single factor. The face appears bloated, the cheeks and nostril aren’t fairly true to life, his neck is simply too stout–I’m unsure what else.
My hope is that it’s the underlying electronics that make replicating Walt’s extra slender and elongated facial construction not possible, and that over time, Walt’s head might be iterated on and changed as we’ve seen with different AAs. For now, his facial options and construction simply aren’t all the best way there.
This isn’t to say it’s dangerous; it isn’t. The presentation as a complete is spectacular in-person. That is doubly true for those who’re seated up shut and centered, and catch simply the correct gesture, look, and dialogue combo. There are seconds when suspension of disbelief is achieved and it seems like Walt Disney is correct there within the room. There’s a shifting second on the finish when the background comes alive, Walt gazes at Mickey Mouse, and that glimmer in his eye is distinguished.
However honestly, it’s the mannerisms doing the heavy lifting there, and the way they fluidly convey Walt’s physique language. The face itself is relatively underwhelming and appears off-model. It appears higher in individual and is satisfactory as ~80% of the best way there, however the first Walt Disney Audio Animatronics wanted to be good. And it isn’t.
If you’re sitting within the room, the totality of the expertise smooths over the faults. After initially being shocked by his face, I turned engrossed by the present and didn’t give a lot second thought to Walt being barely off-model. The issue is that this present isn’t simply being introduced to the in-person viewers. It’s going to be broadcast around the globe on YouTube, Instagram, and many others.
The entire purpose is elevating consciousness about Walt Disney, the person and embodiment of the American Dream. Ideally, the net viewers will exceed the real-life one, so I’m not totally persuaded by the argument that it appears higher in-person. It does, however that’s not how everybody will expertise “A Magical Life.”
In equity to Imagineering, creating an Audio Animatronics of Walt Disney is an unenviable process. He’s obtained to be one of the charismatic, animated, and distinctive-looking individuals to have ever lived. (Every time I watch “One Man’s Dream,” I’m reminded by simply how a lot little one Walt appears like grownup Walt.) Moonshots or not, there’s no manner a robotic was ever going to match the person himself.
The Walt Disney Audio Animatronics can also be accomplished no favors by the truth that the viewers simply completed watching ~13 minutes of actual life Walt Disney footage. That basically provides a simple and direct side-by-side comparability. That’s one thing with which Walt himself didn’t must contend when creating the Abraham Lincoln Audio Animatronics.
There’s no video of Lincoln, solely what exists of him in our minds and imaginations from the historical past books and historic photographs. His likewise could possibly be 80% there and that’d be wonderful. Heck, his voice actor may change through the years and most company wouldn’t bat a watch. (Other than these of us dorks who nonetheless miss Royal Dano.) Against this, just about each single Disney fan can shut their eyes proper now, and see and listen to Walt completely.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally honest to level out that Lincoln will not be the one human Audio Animatronics created by Imagineering within the final a number of many years. Far more just lately, we’ve seen three AAs of the sitting president. Whereas the primary a type of was largely derided for his ‘melty-face’ look (and believable conspiracy theories about initially beginning as a unique individual totally), the present era is just about spot-on. Arguably extra true-to-life than Walt Disney in “A Magical Life.”
Finally, it’s disappointing that Imagineering managed to nail a lot with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics, together with technological moonshots that I’d think about would’ve been harder to realize, however missed on the facial options. My hope is that they’ve an opportunity to revisit the mannequin sooner or later, simply as they’ve accomplished just lately with Corridor of Presidents.
The twinkle in Walt’s eye, actions, and mannerisms are all there. They knocked it out of the park with a lot of “Walt Disney – A Magical,” and it’s a incredible attraction-as-a-whole, from foyer to exit.
However that makes it all of the extra unlucky that the likeness is a little bit of a miss. That’s the factor on which most followers seeing photographs and movies are going to fixate. This might’ve been a ten/10 attraction, however as a substitute, the face goes to overshadow all the aforementioned excessive factors.
My different hope is that Imagineer provides an prolonged lower of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” sooner or later. As soon as I shortly obtained used to the likeness and stopped fixating on his facial options, that pale into the background (so to talk) and it actually was like listening to Walt speak about his life. And I may’ve listened to that for hours and hours.
That’s a great drawback to have, and if on the finish of the day, my largest criticism is that the Audio Animatronics Walt Disney wasn’t on stage for lengthy sufficient, that needs to be a reasonably robust endorsement of the present. Let’s simply get the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics all the best way to 100% by the seventy fifth Anniversary, as a result of I keep that that is an important attraction at Disneyland. Its very existence and being a love letter to Walt Disney that introduces the person and his personification of the American Dream is an asset to Disneyland, company, and fashionable society as a complete.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site inns in our Anaheim Lodge Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics? Is it sufficient to get his likeness ~80% of the best way there and nail the mannerisms and different options? Or did the corporate’s founder deserve nothing in need of perfection? Ideas on the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” stage present as a complete? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is the brand new stage present opening for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary to protect the historical past and legacy of the corporate’s founder. It’s a labor of affection that introduces the person behind the magic to a brand new era of company through Imagineering’s most lifelike Audio Animatronics determine ever. This overview covers the strengths and weaknesses of the latest attraction on Foremost Road in Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom.
Upon getting into Disneyland, the primary attraction company go is the Foremost Road Opera Home, house to “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Whereas the attraction and its foyer are the brand new attraction aimed toward introducing Walt to a brand new era and honoring one of the patriotic and consequential People in our nation’s historical past, the whole thing of Foremost Road is sort of a residing tribute to Walt Disney. Impressed by his hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Foremost Road recreates the distinctive appeal and quaintness of small-town America on the flip of the twentieth century, stuffed with hope and optimism.
Throughout “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” company will first expertise a cinematic journey by way of an adaptation of the movie, “One Man’s Dream” that additionally exhibits at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Following that, the attraction will culminate in a go to with Walt in his workplace, made doable by way of the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut on the seventieth anniversary of Disneyland’s opening day, July 17, 2025.
The finale of the present will increase the curtain on the primary Audio-Animatronics determine of Walt Disney ever created. Company will encounter Walt Disney like by no means earlier than, by way of a medium he helped pioneer along with his staff once they created the Audio-Animatronics determine of Abraham Lincoln.
Company will uncover Walt in a re-creation of his workplace on the Studio, the place he’ll share a number of tales and ideas on his profession and philosophy. Taken from recordings spanning many years, unique audio recordings of Walt’s personal phrases have been seamlessly blended to create these “nice moments” for the efficiency.
The whole run time of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is roughly 17 minutes, with the majority of that being “One Man’s Dream.” (About 14 minutes for the movie and three minutes for the Audio Animatronics.) Disneyland has revealed that “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will use a digital queue at first, which is generally as a result of restricted seating within the theater; we’d anticipate that to be gone earlier than August rolls round.
After its preliminary run, the Foremost Road Opera Home will welcome again “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which is able to play in rotation with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage contained in the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable permitting for each productions to play in rotation. There aren’t any present, story, or script adjustments to “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Other than a modified set to suit on the rotating turntable back-to-back with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the Lincoln presentation stays unchanged.
Throughout a panel presentation, Senior Artistic Government Tom Fitzgerald shared how Walt Disney Imagineering has spent greater than 7 years engaged on the ‘Magical Life’ undertaking. Though the concept for a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine has floated round in WDI for a lot longer, they obtained began in earnest on July 17, 2018, and commenced consulting with the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Household Museum on that date.
Government Producer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz defined how the staff at Imagineering had put nice care into guaranteeing the authenticity and accuracy of the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine, and the present as a complete. They dug by way of previous interviews, discovering historic footage and audio recordings of Walt Disney in his personal phrases.
The inventive staff selected the approximate time interval of 1963 when figuring out Walt’s look and for the ‘timeframe’ of the present. Imagineers defined this was accomplished as a result of it confirmed Walt on the pinnacle of his profession–after a number of profitable movies, the opening of Disneyland and first huge park enlargement, as early work started on securing land for the Florida Mission, and on the precipice of the 1964 World’s Honest.
In the course of the present, we see Walt Disney on the top of his success, already an exemplar of the American Dream. This gives a becoming finale to “One Man’s Dream,” which spends a lot of its runtime targeted on Walt’s youthful years, overcoming adversity, huge bets on himself, and eventually attaining success.
Painstaking element was put into each side of the manufacturing, and Imagineers collaborated with the Walt Disney Household Museum to make sure accuracy in every little thing they did, from the precise contents of his workplace proper right down to the precise rings he wore and hair product he used.
A number of historic sources that includes dialogue of Walt are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring efficiency of the Audio-Animatronics determine. Imagineers reiterated as soon as once more that it was vital that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used. It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, with the one changes made being sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the interviews from totally different unique sources stream seamlessly collectively.
It’s additionally a full circle second, as bringing Lincoln to life was considered one of Walt’s largest ardour tasks, and now that is that for present-day Imagineers. As youngsters, these creatives watched Walt Disney come into their residing rooms on Sunday night time tv, equally to how Walt realized of Lincoln as a baby.
Previous to the debut of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” I’ve been a fierce advocate of this undertaking. For my part, it’s the most consequential attraction opening this yr, and a vital one. Though there’s been debate oriented round whether or not Walt or all of his household need this, I’ve discovered that unpersuasive–as defined in commentaries right here, right here, and right here.
At this time’s youthful generations are usually not studying about Walt Disney. Or worse but, they’re consuming anti-Walt propaganda and studying about who he truly was not. Walt now not comes into our residing rooms on Sunday nights, however slander about him is ubiquitous on our telephones.
This worries me. Walt Disney as one of many best individuals of all-time; a shining instance of ingenuity who needs to be studied as a task mannequin as exemplifying the true spirit of America.
No matter different arguments for or in opposition to a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics which may’ve existed at one time, this is the one which wins out for me in 2025, almost 60 years after Walt Disney’s passing. Retaining his story and legacy alive for future generations is of paramount significance. Showcasing how the American Dream is attainable for those who wager on your self is vital. With all the cynicism that exists on this planet, we’d like extra optimists like Walt. He issues; his story issues.
Accordingly, I’m on board with the Walt Disney Firm attempting to appropriate the report and fight this, as long as it’s not self-serving to company pursuits. Its founder wants some extent of safeguarding in opposition to morons and misinformation, and his legacy wants preserving in the identical manner the corporate zealously protects Mickey Mouse.
Suffice to say, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is badly wanted; the world has modified a lot from when Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour aired each weekend. That is exactly why it’s probably the most vital attraction coming to both coast within the subsequent 5 years, and I’m “biased” in direction of its existence.
Throughout a media preview forward of its official opening, I used to be invited by Disneyland to expertise “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Right here’s my tackle the strengths and weaknesses of the attraction.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life Evaluate
Earlier than even attending to the present itself, company will encounter a brand new gallery within the foyer and pre-show of the Foremost Road Opera Home. This options a whole bunch of photographs, artwork and artifacts spanning from Walt’s early profession to the place we are actually, celebrating 70 years of The Happiest Place on Earth. A few of this has by no means been on show publicly, and there are some true deep cuts right here.
Highlights embody a show that partially re-creates Walt’s non-public residence in Disneyland. There are additionally many, many awards–his 1955 Emmy award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and naturally, his pigeon-racing achievement award. There’s additionally a incredible Audio Animatronics show that features a few working AAs. (It’s uncommon to have non-static AAs on show outdoors of attraction.) This gallery is actually a treasure trove, and the perfect that I’ve ever seen within the Foremost Road Opera Home.
I’m hoping to do a second submit simply concerning the Foremost Road Opera Home, as a result of it’s completely incredible. Large kudos to the passionate individuals from Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Archives, and Walt Disney Household Museum who put this collectively. That is an absolute home-run, and unequivocal success. I look ahead to spending many, many sizzling afternoons poring over these galleries.
The stage present begins with a movie adaptation of “One Man’s Dream,” which you may be conversant in from Walt Disney World the place it performs at Walt Disney Presents (which was once referred to as One Man’s Dream). The documentary is basically narrated by Walt himself, and chronicles his life as a baby within the Midwest, service in World Battle I, transfer to California, early animation, failure in dropping the rights to Oswald, creation of Mickey Mouse, success with Snow White and Mary Poppins, and finally culminates within the creation of Disneyland and dream for the Florida Mission.
Since it is a condensed model of the “One Man’s Dream” movie, present Disney CEO Bob Iger has been added as a second narrator. Whereas I personally would’ve most popular Julie Andrews or Steve Martin or Kurt Russell for this function, Iger helps streamline the presentation. I doubt any followers would’ve given this second thought or have any robust opinion about Iger’s presence a method or one other if simply watching the present. He doesn’t stick out in any respect, for higher or worse.
My one nitpick with the movie portion of the presentation is that it’s too lengthy. Don’t get me flawed–I may (and have!) watched hours and hours of Walt Disney documentary. However on this case, the movie to Audio Animatronics ratio is out of whack. I might additionally add that there’s no purpose for the Florida Mission to be current on condition that that is Disneyland, and in mild of the time interval chosen for the stage present itself. It’s particularly odd to finish on idea artwork of EPCOT Heart, the theme park. There was truly a logical finish level solely a minute or so earlier within the movie, with the World of Colour splash display screen and dialogue introducing Walt Disney–that will’ve been the proper segue!
Even earlier than it debuted, one huge level of competition with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” was the dialogue that the Audio Animatronics would ship. Imagineers made clear that it was vital to them that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used.
It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, a lot of which comes from the wide-ranging interview by Fletcher Markle for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1963. Nonetheless, some totally different interviews have been used, and the one changes made have been for sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the various supply audio flows seamlessly collectively.
For me, the most important ‘subject’ is what Walt would say. They couldn’t simply cherry decide Walt quotes to additional a self-serving narrative concerning the parks needing to vary or no matter. It wanted to be a love letter to Walt Disney and his life, with no ulterior motives. When it got here to the audio and brief period of the present, I used to be additionally fearful that it’d be a veritable grabbag of famous-but-superficial Waltisms.
Fairly truthfully, given the importance of this attraction, the one manner this might probably be ‘ugly’ will not be if the Audio Animatronics underwhelmed, but when he was became a company robotic. Fortunately, completely none of these fears got here to fruition.
There are a few well-known quotes in there, nevertheless it’s extra than simply that. The chosen dialogue each humanizes Walt Disney and presents him in a humbling method. Particularly, I like the anecdote on this video the place Walt describes an change with a child, describing himself as a bee who pollinates and stimulates the studio. This was an sudden inclusion, however a great one.
The dangerous is that regardless of being authentically Walt Disney, the audio doesn’t fairly sound correct from some seats within the theater. The speaker was positioned behind Walt Disney, so it’s as if he’s truly talking from on-stage. It’s a good suggestion in idea, however the execution leaves one thing to be desired. I used to be seated in direction of the again for my first viewing, and it didn’t sound correct. Seated entrance and middle for my second viewing, it sounded significantly better. However the hope is that this performs to packed homes, so having ~20% of the seats be near good and the remaining be spotty is a miss.
There nonetheless appears to be a little bit of a problem with the rebalancing or restoration. I don’t purport to be a sound skilled, however the voice heard coming “from” the Audio Animatronics doesn’t sound fairly the identical as “One Man’s Dream.” It’s nonetheless very clearly Walt Disney (as a result of it is Walt Disney), nevertheless it’s as if one thing obtained a tad overcooked in post-production. Apples and oranges, nevertheless it jogs my memory a little bit of the unique Disney DVDs that obtained heavy-handed with noise discount.
Then there’s the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics itself. This determine is extremely technically subtle. Walt Disney is probably the most lifelike human determine that Imagineering has ever created. The WDI staff achieved many inventions by no means accomplished earlier than in a humanoid determine, and really needed to look forward to expertise to catch as much as necessities for Walt Disney on which they might not compromise.
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics is extremely fluid and lifelike–Imagineers shared that it was vital to seize and convey the best way Walt spoke along with his palms, how he furrowed his forehead, and the twinkle in his eye.
The determine accomplishes the primary ‘lean to face’ movement for an all-electric determine and has a brand new kind of lifelike pores and skin. Imagineering studied Walt’s muscle construction and the nuances of talking and gesturing corresponding to how the mouth falls when the determine is talking, in addition to the very Walt mannerisms and actions.
The technological leaps to realize these far-reaching ambitions have been referred to as “moonshots” throughout the Imagineering staff that innovated them. Among the improvements have been pushed by necessity–there have been sure actions Walt had to have the ability to accomplish to look appropriately lifelike. Some simply happened naturally when it comes to pushing the bounds of the Audio Animatronics medium.
All of that is really spectacular. The undertaking was clearly a labor of affection for Imagineering, they usually nailed so lots of Walt’s mannerisms. As an everyday attendee of “Wednesdays with Walt” again when this identical theater at Disneyland hosted that, I’ve seen many episodes of Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour. In just a few minutes of the present, they managed to personify Walt Disney.
It was just like the Audio Animatronics really got here to life, proper right down to tapping his palms throughout the introductory narration as if to say, “get on with it.” The achievements with the Audio Animatronics, its fluidity, and people mannerisms are second-to-none. From a technical perspective, Walt Disney is the perfect human Audio Animatronics we’ve ever seen.
That’s why it pains me all of the extra to say that the facial options simply don’t nail Walt Disney’s look. There’s simply one thing barely off concerning the determine. I’m not totally positive what, or even when it’s one single factor. The face appears bloated, the cheeks and nostril aren’t fairly true to life, his neck is simply too stout–I’m unsure what else.
My hope is that it’s the underlying electronics that make replicating Walt’s extra slender and elongated facial construction not possible, and that over time, Walt’s head might be iterated on and changed as we’ve seen with different AAs. For now, his facial options and construction simply aren’t all the best way there.
This isn’t to say it’s dangerous; it isn’t. The presentation as a complete is spectacular in-person. That is doubly true for those who’re seated up shut and centered, and catch simply the correct gesture, look, and dialogue combo. There are seconds when suspension of disbelief is achieved and it seems like Walt Disney is correct there within the room. There’s a shifting second on the finish when the background comes alive, Walt gazes at Mickey Mouse, and that glimmer in his eye is distinguished.
However honestly, it’s the mannerisms doing the heavy lifting there, and the way they fluidly convey Walt’s physique language. The face itself is relatively underwhelming and appears off-model. It appears higher in individual and is satisfactory as ~80% of the best way there, however the first Walt Disney Audio Animatronics wanted to be good. And it isn’t.
If you’re sitting within the room, the totality of the expertise smooths over the faults. After initially being shocked by his face, I turned engrossed by the present and didn’t give a lot second thought to Walt being barely off-model. The issue is that this present isn’t simply being introduced to the in-person viewers. It’s going to be broadcast around the globe on YouTube, Instagram, and many others.
The entire purpose is elevating consciousness about Walt Disney, the person and embodiment of the American Dream. Ideally, the net viewers will exceed the real-life one, so I’m not totally persuaded by the argument that it appears higher in-person. It does, however that’s not how everybody will expertise “A Magical Life.”
In equity to Imagineering, creating an Audio Animatronics of Walt Disney is an unenviable process. He’s obtained to be one of the charismatic, animated, and distinctive-looking individuals to have ever lived. (Every time I watch “One Man’s Dream,” I’m reminded by simply how a lot little one Walt appears like grownup Walt.) Moonshots or not, there’s no manner a robotic was ever going to match the person himself.
The Walt Disney Audio Animatronics can also be accomplished no favors by the truth that the viewers simply completed watching ~13 minutes of actual life Walt Disney footage. That basically provides a simple and direct side-by-side comparability. That’s one thing with which Walt himself didn’t must contend when creating the Abraham Lincoln Audio Animatronics.
There’s no video of Lincoln, solely what exists of him in our minds and imaginations from the historical past books and historic photographs. His likewise could possibly be 80% there and that’d be wonderful. Heck, his voice actor may change through the years and most company wouldn’t bat a watch. (Other than these of us dorks who nonetheless miss Royal Dano.) Against this, just about each single Disney fan can shut their eyes proper now, and see and listen to Walt completely.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally honest to level out that Lincoln will not be the one human Audio Animatronics created by Imagineering within the final a number of many years. Far more just lately, we’ve seen three AAs of the sitting president. Whereas the primary a type of was largely derided for his ‘melty-face’ look (and believable conspiracy theories about initially beginning as a unique individual totally), the present era is just about spot-on. Arguably extra true-to-life than Walt Disney in “A Magical Life.”
Finally, it’s disappointing that Imagineering managed to nail a lot with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics, together with technological moonshots that I’d think about would’ve been harder to realize, however missed on the facial options. My hope is that they’ve an opportunity to revisit the mannequin sooner or later, simply as they’ve accomplished just lately with Corridor of Presidents.
The twinkle in Walt’s eye, actions, and mannerisms are all there. They knocked it out of the park with a lot of “Walt Disney – A Magical,” and it’s a incredible attraction-as-a-whole, from foyer to exit.
However that makes it all of the extra unlucky that the likeness is a little bit of a miss. That’s the factor on which most followers seeing photographs and movies are going to fixate. This might’ve been a ten/10 attraction, however as a substitute, the face goes to overshadow all the aforementioned excessive factors.
My different hope is that Imagineer provides an prolonged lower of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” sooner or later. As soon as I shortly obtained used to the likeness and stopped fixating on his facial options, that pale into the background (so to talk) and it actually was like listening to Walt speak about his life. And I may’ve listened to that for hours and hours.
That’s a great drawback to have, and if on the finish of the day, my largest criticism is that the Audio Animatronics Walt Disney wasn’t on stage for lengthy sufficient, that needs to be a reasonably robust endorsement of the present. Let’s simply get the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics all the best way to 100% by the seventy fifth Anniversary, as a result of I keep that that is an important attraction at Disneyland. Its very existence and being a love letter to Walt Disney that introduces the person and his personification of the American Dream is an asset to Disneyland, company, and fashionable society as a complete.
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site inns in our Anaheim Lodge Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
What do you consider the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics? Is it sufficient to get his likeness ~80% of the best way there and nail the mannerisms and different options? Or did the corporate’s founder deserve nothing in need of perfection? Ideas on the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” stage present as a complete? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is the brand new stage present opening for Disneyland’s seventieth Anniversary to protect the historical past and legacy of the corporate’s founder. It’s a labor of affection that introduces the person behind the magic to a brand new era of company through Imagineering’s most lifelike Audio Animatronics determine ever. This overview covers the strengths and weaknesses of the latest attraction on Foremost Road in Walt Disney’s unique magic kingdom.
Upon getting into Disneyland, the primary attraction company go is the Foremost Road Opera Home, house to “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Whereas the attraction and its foyer are the brand new attraction aimed toward introducing Walt to a brand new era and honoring one of the patriotic and consequential People in our nation’s historical past, the whole thing of Foremost Road is sort of a residing tribute to Walt Disney. Impressed by his hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Foremost Road recreates the distinctive appeal and quaintness of small-town America on the flip of the twentieth century, stuffed with hope and optimism.
Throughout “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” company will first expertise a cinematic journey by way of an adaptation of the movie, “One Man’s Dream” that additionally exhibits at Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. Following that, the attraction will culminate in a go to with Walt in his workplace, made doable by way of the magic of Audio-Animatronics storytelling. “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will debut on the seventieth anniversary of Disneyland’s opening day, July 17, 2025.
The finale of the present will increase the curtain on the primary Audio-Animatronics determine of Walt Disney ever created. Company will encounter Walt Disney like by no means earlier than, by way of a medium he helped pioneer along with his staff once they created the Audio-Animatronics determine of Abraham Lincoln.
Company will uncover Walt in a re-creation of his workplace on the Studio, the place he’ll share a number of tales and ideas on his profession and philosophy. Taken from recordings spanning many years, unique audio recordings of Walt’s personal phrases have been seamlessly blended to create these “nice moments” for the efficiency.
The whole run time of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is roughly 17 minutes, with the majority of that being “One Man’s Dream.” (About 14 minutes for the movie and three minutes for the Audio Animatronics.) Disneyland has revealed that “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will use a digital queue at first, which is generally as a result of restricted seating within the theater; we’d anticipate that to be gone earlier than August rolls round.
After its preliminary run, the Foremost Road Opera Home will welcome again “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which is able to play in rotation with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Walt Disney Imagineering redesigned the stage contained in the theater to accommodate a rotating turntable permitting for each productions to play in rotation. There aren’t any present, story, or script adjustments to “Nice Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” Other than a modified set to suit on the rotating turntable back-to-back with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the Lincoln presentation stays unchanged.
Throughout a panel presentation, Senior Artistic Government Tom Fitzgerald shared how Walt Disney Imagineering has spent greater than 7 years engaged on the ‘Magical Life’ undertaking. Though the concept for a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine has floated round in WDI for a lot longer, they obtained began in earnest on July 17, 2018, and commenced consulting with the Walt Disney Archives and Walt Disney Household Museum on that date.
Government Producer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz defined how the staff at Imagineering had put nice care into guaranteeing the authenticity and accuracy of the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics determine, and the present as a complete. They dug by way of previous interviews, discovering historic footage and audio recordings of Walt Disney in his personal phrases.
The inventive staff selected the approximate time interval of 1963 when figuring out Walt’s look and for the ‘timeframe’ of the present. Imagineers defined this was accomplished as a result of it confirmed Walt on the pinnacle of his profession–after a number of profitable movies, the opening of Disneyland and first huge park enlargement, as early work started on securing land for the Florida Mission, and on the precipice of the 1964 World’s Honest.
In the course of the present, we see Walt Disney on the top of his success, already an exemplar of the American Dream. This gives a becoming finale to “One Man’s Dream,” which spends a lot of its runtime targeted on Walt’s youthful years, overcoming adversity, huge bets on himself, and eventually attaining success.
Painstaking element was put into each side of the manufacturing, and Imagineers collaborated with the Walt Disney Household Museum to make sure accuracy in every little thing they did, from the precise contents of his workplace proper right down to the precise rings he wore and hair product he used.
A number of historic sources that includes dialogue of Walt are blended seamlessly to create the inspiring efficiency of the Audio-Animatronics determine. Imagineers reiterated as soon as once more that it was vital that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used. It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, with the one changes made being sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the interviews from totally different unique sources stream seamlessly collectively.
It’s additionally a full circle second, as bringing Lincoln to life was considered one of Walt’s largest ardour tasks, and now that is that for present-day Imagineers. As youngsters, these creatives watched Walt Disney come into their residing rooms on Sunday night time tv, equally to how Walt realized of Lincoln as a baby.
Previous to the debut of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” I’ve been a fierce advocate of this undertaking. For my part, it’s the most consequential attraction opening this yr, and a vital one. Though there’s been debate oriented round whether or not Walt or all of his household need this, I’ve discovered that unpersuasive–as defined in commentaries right here, right here, and right here.
At this time’s youthful generations are usually not studying about Walt Disney. Or worse but, they’re consuming anti-Walt propaganda and studying about who he truly was not. Walt now not comes into our residing rooms on Sunday nights, however slander about him is ubiquitous on our telephones.
This worries me. Walt Disney as one of many best individuals of all-time; a shining instance of ingenuity who needs to be studied as a task mannequin as exemplifying the true spirit of America.
No matter different arguments for or in opposition to a Walt Disney Audio Animatronics which may’ve existed at one time, this is the one which wins out for me in 2025, almost 60 years after Walt Disney’s passing. Retaining his story and legacy alive for future generations is of paramount significance. Showcasing how the American Dream is attainable for those who wager on your self is vital. With all the cynicism that exists on this planet, we’d like extra optimists like Walt. He issues; his story issues.
Accordingly, I’m on board with the Walt Disney Firm attempting to appropriate the report and fight this, as long as it’s not self-serving to company pursuits. Its founder wants some extent of safeguarding in opposition to morons and misinformation, and his legacy wants preserving in the identical manner the corporate zealously protects Mickey Mouse.
Suffice to say, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” is badly wanted; the world has modified a lot from when Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour aired each weekend. That is exactly why it’s probably the most vital attraction coming to both coast within the subsequent 5 years, and I’m “biased” in direction of its existence.
Throughout a media preview forward of its official opening, I used to be invited by Disneyland to expertise “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.” Right here’s my tackle the strengths and weaknesses of the attraction.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life Evaluate
Earlier than even attending to the present itself, company will encounter a brand new gallery within the foyer and pre-show of the Foremost Road Opera Home. This options a whole bunch of photographs, artwork and artifacts spanning from Walt’s early profession to the place we are actually, celebrating 70 years of The Happiest Place on Earth. A few of this has by no means been on show publicly, and there are some true deep cuts right here.
Highlights embody a show that partially re-creates Walt’s non-public residence in Disneyland. There are additionally many, many awards–his 1955 Emmy award, Presidential Medal of Freedom, and naturally, his pigeon-racing achievement award. There’s additionally a incredible Audio Animatronics show that features a few working AAs. (It’s uncommon to have non-static AAs on show outdoors of attraction.) This gallery is actually a treasure trove, and the perfect that I’ve ever seen within the Foremost Road Opera Home.
I’m hoping to do a second submit simply concerning the Foremost Road Opera Home, as a result of it’s completely incredible. Large kudos to the passionate individuals from Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Archives, and Walt Disney Household Museum who put this collectively. That is an absolute home-run, and unequivocal success. I look ahead to spending many, many sizzling afternoons poring over these galleries.
The stage present begins with a movie adaptation of “One Man’s Dream,” which you may be conversant in from Walt Disney World the place it performs at Walt Disney Presents (which was once referred to as One Man’s Dream). The documentary is basically narrated by Walt himself, and chronicles his life as a baby within the Midwest, service in World Battle I, transfer to California, early animation, failure in dropping the rights to Oswald, creation of Mickey Mouse, success with Snow White and Mary Poppins, and finally culminates within the creation of Disneyland and dream for the Florida Mission.
Since it is a condensed model of the “One Man’s Dream” movie, present Disney CEO Bob Iger has been added as a second narrator. Whereas I personally would’ve most popular Julie Andrews or Steve Martin or Kurt Russell for this function, Iger helps streamline the presentation. I doubt any followers would’ve given this second thought or have any robust opinion about Iger’s presence a method or one other if simply watching the present. He doesn’t stick out in any respect, for higher or worse.
My one nitpick with the movie portion of the presentation is that it’s too lengthy. Don’t get me flawed–I may (and have!) watched hours and hours of Walt Disney documentary. However on this case, the movie to Audio Animatronics ratio is out of whack. I might additionally add that there’s no purpose for the Florida Mission to be current on condition that that is Disneyland, and in mild of the time interval chosen for the stage present itself. It’s particularly odd to finish on idea artwork of EPCOT Heart, the theme park. There was truly a logical finish level solely a minute or so earlier within the movie, with the World of Colour splash display screen and dialogue introducing Walt Disney–that will’ve been the proper segue!
Even earlier than it debuted, one huge level of competition with “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” was the dialogue that the Audio Animatronics would ship. Imagineers made clear that it was vital to them that they not put phrases into Walt’s mouth–there’s no voice actor or AI used.
It’s all unique audio of Walt Disney, a lot of which comes from the wide-ranging interview by Fletcher Markle for the Canadian Broadcasting Company in 1963. Nonetheless, some totally different interviews have been used, and the one changes made have been for sound restoration and rebalancing in order that the various supply audio flows seamlessly collectively.
For me, the most important ‘subject’ is what Walt would say. They couldn’t simply cherry decide Walt quotes to additional a self-serving narrative concerning the parks needing to vary or no matter. It wanted to be a love letter to Walt Disney and his life, with no ulterior motives. When it got here to the audio and brief period of the present, I used to be additionally fearful that it’d be a veritable grabbag of famous-but-superficial Waltisms.
Fairly truthfully, given the importance of this attraction, the one manner this might probably be ‘ugly’ will not be if the Audio Animatronics underwhelmed, but when he was became a company robotic. Fortunately, completely none of these fears got here to fruition.
There are a few well-known quotes in there, nevertheless it’s extra than simply that. The chosen dialogue each humanizes Walt Disney and presents him in a humbling method. Particularly, I like the anecdote on this video the place Walt describes an change with a child, describing himself as a bee who pollinates and stimulates the studio. This was an sudden inclusion, however a great one.
The dangerous is that regardless of being authentically Walt Disney, the audio doesn’t fairly sound correct from some seats within the theater. The speaker was positioned behind Walt Disney, so it’s as if he’s truly talking from on-stage. It’s a good suggestion in idea, however the execution leaves one thing to be desired. I used to be seated in direction of the again for my first viewing, and it didn’t sound correct. Seated entrance and middle for my second viewing, it sounded significantly better. However the hope is that this performs to packed homes, so having ~20% of the seats be near good and the remaining be spotty is a miss.
There nonetheless appears to be a little bit of a problem with the rebalancing or restoration. I don’t purport to be a sound skilled, however the voice heard coming “from” the Audio Animatronics doesn’t sound fairly the identical as “One Man’s Dream.” It’s nonetheless very clearly Walt Disney (as a result of it is Walt Disney), nevertheless it’s as if one thing obtained a tad overcooked in post-production. Apples and oranges, nevertheless it jogs my memory a little bit of the unique Disney DVDs that obtained heavy-handed with noise discount.
Then there’s the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics itself. This determine is extremely technically subtle. Walt Disney is probably the most lifelike human determine that Imagineering has ever created. The WDI staff achieved many inventions by no means accomplished earlier than in a humanoid determine, and really needed to look forward to expertise to catch as much as necessities for Walt Disney on which they might not compromise.
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics is extremely fluid and lifelike–Imagineers shared that it was vital to seize and convey the best way Walt spoke along with his palms, how he furrowed his forehead, and the twinkle in his eye.
The determine accomplishes the primary ‘lean to face’ movement for an all-electric determine and has a brand new kind of lifelike pores and skin. Imagineering studied Walt’s muscle construction and the nuances of talking and gesturing corresponding to how the mouth falls when the determine is talking, in addition to the very Walt mannerisms and actions.
The technological leaps to realize these far-reaching ambitions have been referred to as “moonshots” throughout the Imagineering staff that innovated them. Among the improvements have been pushed by necessity–there have been sure actions Walt had to have the ability to accomplish to look appropriately lifelike. Some simply happened naturally when it comes to pushing the bounds of the Audio Animatronics medium.
All of that is really spectacular. The undertaking was clearly a labor of affection for Imagineering, they usually nailed so lots of Walt’s mannerisms. As an everyday attendee of “Wednesdays with Walt” again when this identical theater at Disneyland hosted that, I’ve seen many episodes of Walt Disney’s Fantastic World of Colour. In just a few minutes of the present, they managed to personify Walt Disney.
It was just like the Audio Animatronics really got here to life, proper right down to tapping his palms throughout the introductory narration as if to say, “get on with it.” The achievements with the Audio Animatronics, its fluidity, and people mannerisms are second-to-none. From a technical perspective, Walt Disney is the perfect human Audio Animatronics we’ve ever seen.
That’s why it pains me all of the extra to say that the facial options simply don’t nail Walt Disney’s look. There’s simply one thing barely off concerning the determine. I’m not totally positive what, or even when it’s one single factor. The face appears bloated, the cheeks and nostril aren’t fairly true to life, his neck is simply too stout–I’m unsure what else.
My hope is that it’s the underlying electronics that make replicating Walt’s extra slender and elongated facial construction not possible, and that over time, Walt’s head might be iterated on and changed as we’ve seen with different AAs. For now, his facial options and construction simply aren’t all the best way there.
This isn’t to say it’s dangerous; it isn’t. The presentation as a complete is spectacular in-person. That is doubly true for those who’re seated up shut and centered, and catch simply the correct gesture, look, and dialogue combo. There are seconds when suspension of disbelief is achieved and it seems like Walt Disney is correct there within the room. There’s a shifting second on the finish when the background comes alive, Walt gazes at Mickey Mouse, and that glimmer in his eye is distinguished.
However honestly, it’s the mannerisms doing the heavy lifting there, and the way they fluidly convey Walt’s physique language. The face itself is relatively underwhelming and appears off-model. It appears higher in individual and is satisfactory as ~80% of the best way there, however the first Walt Disney Audio Animatronics wanted to be good. And it isn’t.
If you’re sitting within the room, the totality of the expertise smooths over the faults. After initially being shocked by his face, I turned engrossed by the present and didn’t give a lot second thought to Walt being barely off-model. The issue is that this present isn’t simply being introduced to the in-person viewers. It’s going to be broadcast around the globe on YouTube, Instagram, and many others.
The entire purpose is elevating consciousness about Walt Disney, the person and embodiment of the American Dream. Ideally, the net viewers will exceed the real-life one, so I’m not totally persuaded by the argument that it appears higher in-person. It does, however that’s not how everybody will expertise “A Magical Life.”
In equity to Imagineering, creating an Audio Animatronics of Walt Disney is an unenviable process. He’s obtained to be one of the charismatic, animated, and distinctive-looking individuals to have ever lived. (Every time I watch “One Man’s Dream,” I’m reminded by simply how a lot little one Walt appears like grownup Walt.) Moonshots or not, there’s no manner a robotic was ever going to match the person himself.
The Walt Disney Audio Animatronics can also be accomplished no favors by the truth that the viewers simply completed watching ~13 minutes of actual life Walt Disney footage. That basically provides a simple and direct side-by-side comparability. That’s one thing with which Walt himself didn’t must contend when creating the Abraham Lincoln Audio Animatronics.
There’s no video of Lincoln, solely what exists of him in our minds and imaginations from the historical past books and historic photographs. His likewise could possibly be 80% there and that’d be wonderful. Heck, his voice actor may change through the years and most company wouldn’t bat a watch. (Other than these of us dorks who nonetheless miss Royal Dano.) Against this, just about each single Disney fan can shut their eyes proper now, and see and listen to Walt completely.
Nonetheless, it’s additionally honest to level out that Lincoln will not be the one human Audio Animatronics created by Imagineering within the final a number of many years. Far more just lately, we’ve seen three AAs of the sitting president. Whereas the primary a type of was largely derided for his ‘melty-face’ look (and believable conspiracy theories about initially beginning as a unique individual totally), the present era is just about spot-on. Arguably extra true-to-life than Walt Disney in “A Magical Life.”
Finally, it’s disappointing that Imagineering managed to nail a lot with the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics, together with technological moonshots that I’d think about would’ve been harder to realize, however missed on the facial options. My hope is that they’ve an opportunity to revisit the mannequin sooner or later, simply as they’ve accomplished just lately with Corridor of Presidents.
The twinkle in Walt’s eye, actions, and mannerisms are all there. They knocked it out of the park with a lot of “Walt Disney – A Magical,” and it’s a incredible attraction-as-a-whole, from foyer to exit.
However that makes it all of the extra unlucky that the likeness is a little bit of a miss. That’s the factor on which most followers seeing photographs and movies are going to fixate. This might’ve been a ten/10 attraction, however as a substitute, the face goes to overshadow all the aforementioned excessive factors.
My different hope is that Imagineer provides an prolonged lower of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” sooner or later. As soon as I shortly obtained used to the likeness and stopped fixating on his facial options, that pale into the background (so to talk) and it actually was like listening to Walt speak about his life. And I may’ve listened to that for hours and hours.
That’s a great drawback to have, and if on the finish of the day, my largest criticism is that the Audio Animatronics Walt Disney wasn’t on stage for lengthy sufficient, that needs to be a reasonably robust endorsement of the present. Let’s simply get the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics all the best way to 100% by the seventy fifth Anniversary, as a result of I keep that that is an important attraction at Disneyland. Its very existence and being a love letter to Walt Disney that introduces the person and his personification of the American Dream is an asset to Disneyland, company, and fashionable society as a complete.
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Your Ideas
What do you consider the Walt Disney Audio Animatronics? Is it sufficient to get his likeness ~80% of the best way there and nail the mannerisms and different options? Or did the corporate’s founder deserve nothing in need of perfection? Ideas on the “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” stage present as a complete? Excited to lastly see Walt Disney honored with a present and first-ever Audio Animatronics determine? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
