Disneyland Just Built a Walt Disney Animatronic and It’s Freakishly Lifelike (In the Best Way)

Cue the emotional music and grab a churro. On July 17, 2025 - Disneyland's 70th birthday - the park is debuting a brand-new show called Walt Disney - A Magical Life, and it ends with something that feels like it belongs in both a museum and a sci-fi film: a fully animatronic Walt Disney.

Yes. Disney built Walt. Again.

Set inside the Main Street Opera House (aka the only spot in Disneyland where you're encouraged to sit, cry, and learn), the show takes guests through Walt's life story - told by Walt himself. The Imagineering team pulled audio from decades of recordings and stitched them together so it sounds like Walt is guiding you through the whole thing. It starts with a short film version of One Man's Dream and ends with the curtain rising on a full-sized, eerily accurate animatronic Walt Disney, standing in a recreation of his office, talking to you like it's just another Monday.

The entire setup is like Disney's version of the Hall of Presidents but more personal, more emotional, and let's be honest - way more surreal. You'll also find exhibits in the lobby that showcase Disneyland's history, from attraction blueprints to awards and some rare behind-the-scenes treasures.

The real magic, though? That animatronic. From the twinkle in his eye to the expressive way his eyebrows move when he talks about Mickey Mouse, this thing is pure Imagineering wizardry. It's respectful, it's moving, and yes - it's a little uncanny. But mostly, it's a beautiful reminder of the guy who started it all.

Watch the animatronic come to life in the video below: