Overview
- The animatronic serves as the centerpiece of “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” at the Main Street Opera House, opening July 17, 2025 for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
- Joanna Miller, Walt Disney’s granddaughter, has called the figure “dehumanizing” because she says it fails to capture his essence, arguing he explicitly asked not to be recreated as an animatronic.
- Miller has urged supporters to write letters to Disney following a private meeting with CEO Bob Iger during which her objections did not lead to changes.
- The figure features Walt’s real voice recordings with lifelike movements, showcasing decades of audio-animatronic advancements since the 1964 New York World’s Fair.
- Other members of the Walt Disney family along with leaders at the Walt Disney Family Museum have endorsed the tribute as a fitting celebration of his legacy.