Disneyland’s new marquee attraction starring a robotic version of Walt Disney won’t be ready for the launch of the upcoming year-long party celebrating the Anaheim theme park’s 70th anniversary.
Disneyland has quietly pushed back the debut of “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” in the Main Street Opera House from May 16 to July 17 as Walt Disney Imagineering continues to work on the Audio-Animatronic figure of the park’s visionary founder.
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The two-month delay means the new show starring a Walt Disney animatronic won’t open on May 16 with the kickoff of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
The new July 17 opening date for “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” falls on the anniversary of Disneyland’s grand opening in 1955.
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Disneyland will also roll out several new exhibits on July 17 in the Main Street Opera House that will look at the evolution of the park, the history of animatronics and plans for upcoming projects.
Combining the new displays and exhibits in the Main Street Opera House with the debut of “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” into one moment tied to the 70th anniversary of Disneyland on July 17 delivers the biggest impact and highest quality experience possible, according to Disneyland officials.
“A Magical Life” will let Disneyland visitors sit down in Walt’s office and listen to him talk about how he got started, his thoughts on his career and his dreams for the future.
The set for the new show approximates Walt Disney’s office suite on the Walt Disney Studios lot in Burbank when he died in 1966.
Concept art of the new animatronic show features a mash-up of elements found in Walt’s working office where he conducted company business.
An animatronic figure of Walt will lean against the edge of his desk wearing a gray suit with a white pocket square.
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The new “Walt Disney — A Magical Life” animatronic show will initially run solo before playing in rotation with “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”
The “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” attraction closed on April 16 for an extended refurbishment valued at $5 million, according to Anaheim building permits.
The 70th anniversary celebration of the original Disney theme park is set to run through summer 2026 at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.