During a Q&A at Walt Disney Imagineering in Glendale, California, Imagineers stated that they have found no record of Walt Disney stating that he never wanted an Audio-Animatronic of himself constructed.
Walt Disney Imagineering Says There’s No Record That Walt Never Wanted His Own Animatronic
The Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic show was first announced at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event in 2024. Titled “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” the show will debut in the Main Street Opera House on July 17, 2025, Disneyland’s actual 70th anniversary. The show was previously scheduled to open on May 16, but was delayed.
An Audio-Animatronic of Walt Disney has long been rumored for the Disney Parks and is controversial among members of the Disney community, with long-running discourse that not only is the Disney family against it, but that Walt reportedly never wanted a figure of himself constructed, either.
Shortly after the announcement of the figure and the new show, a member of the Disney family spoke out against the figure — namely, Joanna Miller, who is Walt’s granddaughter through his daughter, Diane.
Miller’s sentiments were first shared on the Facebook page, “It All Started With Walt Disney,” by its organizer, Leo N. Holzer.
Isn’t it strange that Disney trotted out Roy Pat Disney and not one of Walt’s own grandchildren to deliver a stamp of approval on the Audio-Animatronic Walt Disney for a show in Disneyland’s Opera House?
Well, after I shared the information with Joanna Miller, Walt’s eldest granddaughter and who is as much as a bulldog as her mother Diane when it comes to protecting and preserving the Disney name and legacy, she IS NOT IN FAVOR.
“I am overwhelmed with disgust and anger. Mom would be ready to fight. I think it shows a lack of respect for Grampa.
“Walt is already BRANDED and used by the company everyday. Yet that he exists in film that was for his company and we have the real thing to see and listen to we do not need to turn him into a robot. I rather feel he is being used, victimized by the company.
“As someone else (posted), they will be able to make him do and say what they choose. The movements are not nessessarily ’his.’ Already the smile is wrong.
“I had thought he had built the company and that Grampa would be amazed at what it encompasses now. I thought that (the company/Bob Iger) was sensitive to the memory of Walt and the sentiments of his daughter, my mother, Diane.”
Joanna is arguably the most publicly active member of Walt’s side of the family. She attends many events at Walt’s Barn and recently completed a period-specific renovation of Uncle Robert Disney’s house. The craftsman home on Kingswell Avenue is where Walt first stayed upon his arrival in Los Angeles.
Leo N. Holzer, organizer for the “It All Started With Walt Disney” Facebook page
Holzer also shared the following screenshot from Miller’s personal Facebook page, which is not public.
Everyone PLEASE STOP THE MADNESS>>>Do not let them turn Grampa into a ROBOT!………….My Mom tried to stop this years ago and they respected her wishes. There is plenty of film so people can see him and hear him talk. He has told you everything on TV show lead ins and specials. EVERYONE WHO STEPPED FORWARD when Uncle Robert’s House was going to be destroyed and YOU DID IT. Thank you we have that protected because of all of you. PLease [sic] help protect the memory and legacy of GRAMPA.
Joanna Miller, via a Facebook post
Roy P. Disney, Walt’s great-nephew, appeared onstage at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event as part of the announcement, confirming he had visited the Imagineering campus to see progress on the project. Some of Walt’s grandchildren have also approved of the figure, saying that it is “stellar” and “as accurate as possible.”
During the Q&A at WDI’s Flower Street office, Imagineers were asked about the Disney family objecting to the figure, as well as Walt’s reported wishes.
In all of our research, we never found any documentation of Walt saying that [he never wanted to be an animatronic]. We know it’s anecdotal, and we can’t speak to what was told to people in private, and we can’t speak to Joanna’s feelings about the project.
We have worked very dilligently for many years with The Walt Disney Family Museum, with members of the Disney-Miller family, with the Board, and so we’ve taken care to ensure that the family is along the journey with us. We feel that we’ve presented a faithful and theatrical presentation that keeps Walt alive in the medium that he pioneered, and in the way that we present stories in our parks.
Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Executive Portfolio Producer for Walt Disney Imagineering
During the same presentation, Imagineers shared that the Audio-Animatronic of Walt will feature several innovative “moonshots” that will change the Disney theme park game forever. Guests will get to see this new show and the animatronic for themselves when it opens this summer as part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary celebration.
In addition to the appearance of the Walt animatronic, the new show will also include a presentation of the “Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream” film, and an exhibit packed with never-before-seen art and original furniture from Walt’s apartment.
What do you think about the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic project? Do you agree with Miller, or are you excited to see Walt come to life in this medium? Share your thoughts with us in the comments and on social media.
Read about every new detail we learned about “Walt Disney – A Magical Life.”
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