Disney invited us and a select few others into the secret halls of Walt Disney Imagineering to witness their groundbreaking project, bringing their founder back to life through the magic of Audio-Animatronics for Walt Disney - A Magical Life, celebrating Disneyland’s 70th anniversary. This project is brimming with respect, authenticity, meticulous attention to detail, and an abundance of Disney magic.
Set to debut at Disneyland's Main Street Opera House on July 17, 2025—precisely 70 years after Disneyland's grand opening—Walt Disney - A Magical Life will transport guests from around the world into Walt’s office, offering a deep dive into his life and the profound impact he had on the world of entertainment.
Though we didn't see the final Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney, the previews and discussions we experienced have filled us with confidence and excitement. Disney is on track to execute this ambitious and meaningful project with spectacular flair.
One Man’s Dream
During our visit to Walt Disney Imagineering, we were introduced to what guests can expect from Walt Disney - A Magical Life and why now is the perfect time to bring Walt back to the only Disney Park he ever walked in.
“It's a huge responsibility to bring Walt Disney to life through Audio-Animatronics,” said Tom Fitzgerald, senior creative executive at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’re giving the same care and attention that Walt and his team did with Lincoln decades ago. We've collaborated closely with The Walt Disney Family Museum and our archives, reviewing countless hours of footage and interviews to create the most authentic presentation possible. Walt’s story remains as valid and relevant today as ever. It’s about following your dream, overcoming setbacks, and turning those setbacks into successes. No matter what, keep following that dream.”
The team emphasized their commitment to doing this right, taking their time with a project that has been in development for over seven years. The concept of a Walt figure has been considered for decades, but it wasn’t until now that it felt right.
Seeing the project in action was a surreal experience, as if Walt Disney himself was in the room with us. “We’ve worked diligently for many years with the Walt Disney Family Museum, members of the Disney and Miller family, and the board,” said Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, executive producer at Walt Disney Imagineering. “We’ve ensured that the family is involved throughout this journey, presenting a faithful and theatrical representation that keeps Walt alive in the medium he pioneered and in the way we tell stories in our parks.”
To achieve this, they're authentically recreating Walt's hand gestures, his expressive eyebrows, and even the glint in his eye that many who knew him fondly remembered. The words spoken by the Audio-Animatronic are Walt’s own, meticulously compiled from interviews over the years.
Though we didn't see the final Audio-Animatronic, a moment we shared was unforgettable. A storyboard in the room revealed a glimpse of the tale guests will experience, and when it was pulled aside, a life-size model of Walt Disney, used as a reference for the Audio-Animatronic, stood before us. It felt as if Walt was right there with us.
The model captured every detail meticulously. Walt leaned against a desk, a pose he was known for, wearing a suit made from the same fabric he favored, with each strand of hair styled using his preferred grooming products. His hands were cast from a bronze mold created by Adrian E. Flatt in the 60s, and he wore his beloved Smoke Tree Ranch tie. The model even included skin blemishes, small hairs, and the weariness in his eyes with wrinkles, all contributing to an astonishingly lifelike portrayal. The glimmer in his eyes, thanks to a touch of Imagineering magic, added to the model's realism.
We’ll see how the final Audio-Animatronic turns out, but the model we saw was a true piece of art, crafted by a talented team at the peak of their creativity. It left us speechless.
“Today, with everyone's smartphones, guests can zoom in and do extreme close-ups of our figures,” Fitzgerald noted. “We’ve had to reinvent how we portray them. They must look good from a distance and just as believable up close. This is new for us, especially with human figures. We’ve innovated to create a look that’s as realistic and authentic as possible, bringing Walt Disney to life the way he did with Abraham Lincoln, but for a new era.”
The timing of this project is a blend of Disneyland’s upcoming 70th anniversary, technological advancements allowing them to do it justice, and having the right team in place to honor Walt's legacy.
A Legacy Well Preserved
Walt Disney’s daughter, Diane Marie Disney-Miller, who passed away in 2013, co-founded the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco, which opened in 2009 and houses over 30,000 Disney-related items.
The Walt Disney Family Museum played a crucial role in this project. I spoke with its director, Kirsten Komoroske, about Walt Disney - A Magical Life, the museum’s contributions, and the family's feelings about the project.
“Disney informed us about Walt Disney - A Magical Life well in advance to ensure the family, including Walt's grandchildren, were involved and felt comfortable,” Komoroske said. “The grandchildren felt that Walt would be fascinated by the technology, and the Imagineers believed their tech had advanced enough to do this justice, capturing Walt as he was in his professional life. It was done thoughtfully and respectfully.”
The museum donated over 30 items for the exhibit, including artifacts and furniture from Walt’s private apartment above the Fire Station on Main Street, such as a green velvet rocking chair, glass lamps, and a floral embroidered tilt-top table, never before displayed at Disneyland. The exhibit will also showcase Walt’s awards and humanitarian accolades, including his 1955 Emmy Award, the 1964 Presidential Medal of Freedom, and a plaque from the Racing Pigeon Association for his 1958 film ‘The Pigeon that Worked a Miracle.’
These items will be part of the "Evolution of a Dream" exhibit, opening alongside Walt Disney - A Magical Life, offering deeper insights into Walt’s life and work. Komoroske believes this exhibit continues the legacy of Walt and Diane's mission to preserve his memory.
“Diane wanted to tell the whole story of her father, from his humble beginnings to his significant failures, like losing Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and unfavorable distribution deals,” Komoroske said. “Despite these setbacks, he persisted, constantly trying new things. He could have stopped after Mickey Mouse, but he ventured into animated features, live-action films, and theme parks. Diane wanted to inspire people to believe that where you start doesn't matter, it's how you journey through life. The family is very grateful to have this message prominently featured at Disneyland.”
A Step Back in Time
The Walt Disney portrayed in this show will be from around 1963, inspired by his well-known Fletcher Markle interview on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
“This was when Walt was at his pinnacle,” Fitzgerald said. “He was developing shows for the New York World's Fair, working on Mary Poppins, the Secret Florida project, and Disneyland was thriving. He had numerous motion pictures in the works and was full of life and excitement to share it all with us.”
In the show, Walt will be standing in his office, welcoming guests to learn about his story. The office is a blend of his actual Burbank office and the set used for his TV appearances, filled with Easter eggs for keen-eyed visitors, including a photo of Abraham Lincoln and Disneyland plans.
While the exact content of Walt’s office talk remains a mystery, the overarching message is clear.
“Walt will start by talking about his legacy but will end with a profound thought,” Shaver-Moskowitz said. “Despite his incredible achievements in storytelling and animation, one of his greatest gifts was understanding the simple virtues of life and connecting with people on that level. He remained humble despite being an industry titan, and that’s the humanitarian aspect of Walt we’re excited to highlight.”
Throughout the presentation, there was a palpable sense of reverence and respect for Walt’s legacy and the importance of doing this project correctly. I also spoke with Disney historian Jeff Kurtti, who has authored over 40 books on Disney and served at the company. As Chapman University’s Presidential Fellow for Walt Disney Studies, he echoed these sentiments.
“Since Walt's death, there’s been no consistent way to present his reality, persona, and philosophy to new generations,” Kurtti said. “This attraction offers a way for new audiences to see and understand Walt Disney as a real person, not just a brand, and to grasp the philosophies that still influence the Disney Company and resonate in world culture. Walt Disney, like Abraham Lincoln, is unfamiliar to modern audiences. This is an excellent chance to bring Walt into current conversations.”
Kurtti emphasized that this project wasn’t driven by attendance or profit. “There's a sincerity in investing time, talent, and funding to celebrate the identity and ideals of the company’s founder, for those who remember him fondly and for new generations,” he said.
This commitment gives us hope that Walt Disney - A Magical Life will achieve its lofty goals. Disney is taking all the right steps to preserve Walt’s legacy and present it meaningfully for guests of all ages, including future generations.
We still have a wait until Walt Disney - A Magical Life debuts at Disneyland, but the beauty in this process and the show itself echoes one of Walt's most famous quotes: "Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world."
While Walt Disney - A Magical Life will be a complete show, it won't tell the whole story of Walt or each individual who visits. Instead, it aims to inspire millions to follow their own dreams and show that they can come true. Walt did it, and so can you.
For more on Walt's story, check out our feature on how a century of Disney magic began, celebrating Disney’s 100th anniversary.
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