“Doesn’t Look at All Like Him,” Fans Furious at Disney’s Latest Controversial Depiction of Walt

Disneyland Resort is preparing to unveil a groundbreaking tribute to the legacy of Walt Disney himself, with the debut of the first-ever audio-animatronic of the man behind Mickey Mouse. As part of the 70th anniversary celebrations, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will premiere on July 17 at the Main Street Opera House. However, while many fans are eager to see the animatronic, the depiction has sparked significant backlash from some members of Walt’s own family and fans, who feel it’s a poor representation of the iconic figure.

Imagineering first announced the audio-animatronic at the D23 Expo 2024, calling it a tribute to Walt’s passion for robotic technology, which led to the creation of the now-famous audio-animatronics that populate Disney parks. The new show will be the first time any Disney Park guests will experience a robotic version of Walt Disney. Yet, while the animatronic represents a technological achievement, it’s also led to public criticism, particularly from Walt’s granddaughter, Joanna Miller, who voiced her concerns about the portrayal.

After seeing the animatronic for herself, Miller reportedly contacted Disney CEO Bob Iger to discuss her objections. “I strongly feel the last two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grampa’s legacy,” Miller said. “They will remember the robot, and not the man.”

Miller claimed Walt had privately expressed he didn’t want to be turned into a robot, though there’s no official documentation of these conversations.

“In all our research, we never found any documentation of Walt saying that,” said Walt Disney Imagineer Jeff Shaver-Moskowitz in response to Miller’s claims. “It’s anecdotal, and we can’t confirm private conversations.”

Despite these concerns, Disney is moving forward with the animatronic, having worked closely with the Walt Disney Family Museum, which was founded by Walt’s daughter Diane Disney Miller, and with Walt’s grandson, Walter E.D. Miller. Walt’s grandnephew, Roy P. Disney, has also publicly supported the project, attending the announcement at D23 Expo 2024.

On Monday, theme park journalist @ScottGustin shared a sneak peek of the animatronic on X (formerly known as Twitter):

NEW: Here’s a new look at the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic standing up from his desk in the new show “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” debuting on July 17 at Disneyland.

NEW: Here’s a new look at the Walt Disney Audio-Animatronic standing up from his desk in the new show “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” debuting on July 17 at Disneyland. pic.twitter.com/ApJhgSyfFY

— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) July 14, 2025

Many Disney Parks fans praised the animatronic. “Impressive, looks great!” said @Jrod24_.

Impressive, looks great!

— Jonathan Rodriguez (@Jrod24_) July 14, 2025

“That’s genuinely amazing,” @DirtyDanteFWC agreed.

That’s genuinely amazing

— Just Just (@DirtyDanteFWC) July 14, 2025

Still, others are far less impressed. Some fans feel that the likeness doesn’t resemble Walt Disney at all.

“Doesn’t look or sound at all like him…,” @MacFanJohn3 replied.

Doesn’t look or sound at all like him….

— MacFanJohn3 (@MacFanJohn3) July 14, 2025

“Dear God. Have they ever seen a picture of Walt?” @Corona3743 asked.

Dear God. Have they ever seen a picture of Walt?

— Florida Dad 🇺🇸🐊 (@Corona3743) July 14, 2025

As the July 17 premiere date approaches, Imagineering is likely fine-tuning the animatronic’s details, adjusting lighting, makeup, and other effects to perfect the final presentation.

Guests hoping to experience this historical moment in Disneyland’s 70th-anniversary celebrations must join the Virtual Queue, which will be available via the Disneyland Resort app. Virtual Queue registration opens twice daily: at 7:00 a.m. for guests with Disneyland Park reservations or Park Hopper ticketholders with reservations at either park, and at noon for guests inside Disneyland Park or Park Hopper ticketholders at Disney California Adventure Park.

“Walt Disney – A Magical Life” will temporarily replace Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln but will alternate performances after the initial run.

Does the Walt Disney audio-animatronic look enough like the man behind Mickey Mouse? Share your thoughts with Disney Dining in the comments!