Disneyland Park on July 17, 1955, and Disney is celebrating the 70^th anniversary with some show-stopping technology from the engineers at Walt Disney Imagineering.

A new park attraction based on Walt Disney, the man himself, called “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” recently debuted at the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland last week.

Disney says “guests will first experience a cinematic journey (approximately 15 minutes) through the film, “One Man’s Dream,” culminating in a visit with Walt in his office, made possible through the magic of Audio-Animatronics® storytelling.”

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Animatronic Walt Disney leaves commentators stunned

Perhaps the main draw of this new attraction is a lifelike, animatronic Walt Disney that moves, talks, and walks. The park says “guests will hear heartfelt stories, anecdotes and words of wisdom shared by Walt using historical recordings.”

Walt Disney Imagineering has been working on this project for seven years, and Disney says the idea for doing something like this goes back even further.

The dedication shows, apparently. ”Seated in the audience, I couldn’t figure out exactly how it works.” writes Jacob Krol of TechRadar. “There’s no visible harness or backing, not even leads from the desk. This is the first entirely electric figure to complete that lean-to-stand motion fully.”

He reports that the Imagineering team did deep research on the human facial features and movements, right down to the cornea bulge of the eye.

The level of detail and care that went into the research and the project left many feeling that Disney had done right by the man and his family.

“The expertise and care that Walt Disney Imagineering has devoted to this project is nothing short of remarkable,” said Kirsten Komoroske, Executive Director, The Walt Disney Family Museum. “I think that Walt would be thrilled with the blend of cutting-edge technology and artistry. And I think that he would be touched by the tribute.” 

Technology

So, how exactly did the Imagineering team achieve what they’re calling “the most lifelike figure that Walt Disney Imagineering has ever created?” It’s hard to find anything about specifics, only that the team referred to their innovations as “moonshots.”

Audio-Animatronics is the trademarked name of the mechatronic animatronic technology familiar to anyone who has been to Disneyland. They generally feature movement synchronized with external audio (think Pirates of the Caribbean). This Walt Disney attraction is the latest iteration of that, and one Disney seems particularly proud of.

The puppeteering works through a combination of motors, fluid power, solenoids, and cables. These mechanics are combined with programming to make sure everything works harmoniously. “Many of Disney’s Audio-Animatronics figures are designed to move in concert,” says Disney, “with choreographed movements timed by complex audio cues and digital signals. These movements require extensive engineering — courtesy of Disney Imagineers — and programming to create a seamless display of characters in action.”

The system of the animatronics relies on a combination of electric motors, solenoids, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, and cables to produce repeatable puppet movements that syncs to sound.[5]

The animatronic Walt is “the first ‘lean to stand’ motion for an all-electric figure,” according to Disney, and press material points to a ‘twinkle in the eye,’ a focus on “muscle structure and the nuances of speaking and gesturing such as how the mouth falls when the figure is speaking, as well as the very Walt mannerisms and movements including the way Walt used his hands.”

Typical of Disney, there was a commitment to detail. “We worked closely with the Walt Disney Archives and The Walt Disney Family Museum to depict the details of Walt and his office accurately in this theatrical presentation,” said  Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz, Portfolio Executive Creative Producer, Walt Disney Imagineering. 

“Most importantly, we were passionate about creating an Audio-Animatronics figure designed specifically for this attraction, delivering a portrayal that has his nuances, hand gestures, facial expressions, and more- all of the attributes that make this figure’s performance feel uniquely Walt and not simply creating a figure to look like Walt.”

See below for a review from a former Imagineer:

For more information, visit Walt Disney: A Magical Life.