Walt Disney has returned to Disneyland as an audio-animatronic figure for a new attraction called Walt Disney – A Magical Life.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life will debut at the Main Street Opera House theatre on 17 July as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary.
The experience begins in the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, where guests will discover new exhibits showcasing Disneyland’s design evolutions.
Visitors will also get to view awards and honours received by Walt Disney, and the Memories of Walt video presentation.
After exploring the exhibits, visitors will enter the theatre to view a new show.
The show’s finale is where guests will see the first-ever audio-animatronic figure of Walt Disney, situated in a recreation of his office.
Walt Disney – A Magical Life set to open
The audio-animatronic will share some stories and thoughts on his career and philosophy, taken from recordings spanning decades.
The figure was created by Walt Disney Imagineering through extensive research and innovation.
“From capturing the twinkle in his eyes to his expressive hands and eyebrows, the team pioneered numerous artistic and technological innovations to create the most lifelike performance of an audio-animatronics figure possible,” Disney said in a blog post.
Audio-animatronics were first introduced to Disneyland in 1963, when Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room opened with hundreds of talking birds, singing flowers and chanting tikis.
In more news from Disneyland, the park is set to start building its new Coco boat ride, as Walt Disney Imagineering has submitted its first plans for the attraction.
Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney’s parks and experiences division, said last year: “We’re bringing our skeletal cast of characters to life in a big way through the latest audio-animatronics technology.
“These figures will appear in ways you’ll have to see to believe.”
Images courtesy of Disney
