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Nearly sixty years ago, Disney registered the trademark for its first audio-animatronic, marking a groundbreaking innovation for theme parks. Disney Imagineers designed a creation that was far more than just a machine. Today, audio-animatronics are a staple in theme parks worldwide, with the technology advancing beyond our wildest expectations.
One of Disney’s most iconic attractions, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, was among the first to make extensive use of audio-animatronics. Since then, countless Disney attractions have incorporated these figures, and they have become an integral part of the park experience. However, not every animatronic has been a success.
Credit: Disney
Let’s take a look at some of the best and worst animatronics we have seen from Disney.
Best: The Amazing Spider-Man – Avengers Campus
Back in 2017, during the D23 Expo, Disney announced plans for a brand-new area at Disney California Adventure Park dedicated to Marvel Superheroes. In 2018, A Bug’s Land officially closed, and construction on Avengers Campus began. The new land was originally slated to open in 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening was delayed until June 2021.
Credit: Disney
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When Avengers Campus opened, fans were thrilled by the variety of Marvel heroes they could interact with. The land featured a show with Doctor Strange, training sessions from the Dora Milaje, a performance by Black Widow, and appearances by characters like Iron Man, Loki, Thor, and Captain America, all engaging with guests.
One of the standout attractions was the amazing Spider-Man stunt show, where Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, performed impressive stunts while communicating with F.R.I.D.A.Y.
The show concluded with Spider-Man executing a spectacular flip from one side of the building to the other. What made this flip truly remarkable was that it wasn’t a person performing the stunt—it was an animatronic!
@c_mrdck THEY WERE SHOOK🤣😭 #avengerscampus #spiderman #disneyland
Worst: Ripley – The Great Movie Ride
This is a tough one to write because The Great Movie Ride was such an iconic opening day attraction at Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), and fans were heartbroken when it closed in 2017.
The Great Movie Ride transported guests through some of the most unforgettable moments in cinematic history, including a journey down the Yellow Brick Road from The Wizard of Oz (1939), an adventure into the Temple of the Chachapoyan Warriors from Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), a scenic view over the rooftops of London in a segment from Mary Poppins (1964), and more.
Credit: Disney
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One of the most thrilling scenes occurs aboard the Nostromo, the ill-fated spaceship from the 1979 film Alien. In this scene, Sigourney Weaver’s character, Ellen Ripley, brandishes a flamethrower as she prepares to confront the alien that has already claimed the lives of her crew members.
Guests find themselves uncomfortably close to the alien, but it’s not the creature that’s the most frightening part of this moment.
Instead, that distinction goes to the animatronic version of Ellen Ripley. The animatronic’s jerky movements and lack of resemblance to Sigourney Weaver made for a disappointing experience in an otherwise exceptional ride.
The Great Movie Ride closed in 2017 and was replaced by Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which opened on March 4, 2020, just days before the theme parks had to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Best: Shaman of Songs – Na’vi River Journey
In May 2017, a new land debuted at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort—Pandora: World of Avatar. This breathtaking area, crafted by renowned Imagineer Joe Rohde, brings James Cameron’s 2009 film to life like never before, featuring everything from floating mountains to a bioluminescent rainforest.
Credit: Disney
Pandora introduced two new attractions: Avatar: Flight of Passage and Na’vi River Journey. On Na’vi River Journey, guests can experience one of Disney Imagineers’ most intricate and stunning animatronics.
The ride takes guests along the Kasvapan River and showcases Pandora’s unique creatures, such as viper wolves, hexapods, wood sprites, papyri, and fan lizards.
Towards the end of the journey, visitors meet the Shaman of Songs, an impressive animatronic whose fluid movements truly bring the Na’vi to life. The Shaman leads a musical celebration that honors their connection with Eywa, also known as the All-Mother or the Great Mother, the guiding force behind all ecosystems.
Credit: Jon Fiedler, Flickr
Related: Pandora – The World of Avatar Included References to ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ All Along
Worst: Ariel – Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
Let’s be clear: The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park is an enjoyable ride, filled with classic songs, vibrant colors, and an incredible Ursula animatronic. However, the focus isn’t on Ursula.
While much of the ride is fantastic, the Ariel animatronic in one scene is quite disappointing. Guests enter Ariel’s secret chamber, where she collects treasures from the human world, including a life-sized statue of Prince Eric that has sunk to the ocean floor.
Unfortunately, the Ariel animatronic has deteriorated over time. Her mouth doesn’t move correctly, and the material used for her skin appears to be melting. This creates an awkward experience, especially considering how fluidly the animatronics used to move. There is a striking difference between the attraction at the Magic Kingdom and the one at Disneyland Resort.
@avocadoisguac Please help her. #wdw #animatronic #ariel
Best: Hondo Ohnaka – Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
In 2019, a new land debuted at both Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disneyland Park at the Disneyland Resort, offering fantastic shopping and delicious dining options. This area also introduced two exciting attractions: Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
On Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, guests take on the role of pilots, assisting the legendary smuggler Hondo Ohnaka in retrieving two containers of Coaxium.
Before the ride begins, guests meet Hondo himself. His animatronic is so lifelike that it’s almost eerie. The natural fluidity of his movements and the incredible attention to detail are truly impressive.
Related: New Experience Announced for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
When Hondo Ohnaka was first unveiled, guests were amazed by his realism, and that sense of wonder continues to this day.
Best: Anna & Elsa – Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey
Two of Disney’s most impressive and awe-inspiring animatronics are also among its newest additions.
Anna & Elsa’s Frozen Journey opened in June at Tokyo DisneySea’s Fantasy Springs. This attraction is reminiscent of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure at Disney California Adventure Park and Journey of the Little Mermaid at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.
Guests are welcomed by Grand Pabbie, who narrates the story of Anna and Elsa. They then embark on a journey through a series of memories that recount the tale from Disney’s hit 2013 film, Frozen.
Credit: Tokyo Disney Resort
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Throughout the ride, visitors can sing along to beloved songs from Frozen, including “Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?”, “For The First Time In Forever”, “Love Is An Open Door”, and of course, “Let It Go.”
The highlight of the attraction occurs when Anna becomes completely frozen upon realizing that Hans, who does not truly love her, will not save her. Elsa rushes to her sister’s side, and it is their bond of true love that breaks the curse.
This moment showcases Disney’s animatronics in a remarkable way, as Anna seamlessly shifts from being completely frozen back to her human form. Guests are left in awe of this effect, marveling at how Disney achieved such a stunning transformation.
@disneyparks Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Journey (Olaf’s Version) ❄️☃️ #Disney #DisneyParks #TokyoDisneyResort #TokyoDisneySea #FantasySprings #Frozen #Olaf #Anna #Elsa
Worst: Broken Yeti – Expedition Everest
This one really stings because the ride is fantastic, and the Yeti had so much potential. Now, it stands as a reminder of what could have been.
Expedition Everest opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park in 2006 and quickly became one of Disney’s most beloved thrill rides, maintaining its popularity at Walt Disney World Resort even today.
On Expedition Everest, guests board a train and embark on a journey through the Himalayan Mountains to the base of Mount Everest. Along the way, they learn about the local residents’ deep respect and fear of the legendary Yeti.
Credit: Disney
The adventure takes a dramatic turn when the train suddenly stops due to a broken track. Guests find themselves traveling backward and experiencing a thrilling moment of complete darkness before the train halts.
They then hear a noise and catch a glimpse of the Yeti’s shadow as it tears up more of the tracks. The train plunges down a steep hill in a frantic attempt to escape the Yeti’s grasp.
Toward the end of the ride, guests encounter the fearsome Yeti and nearly fall victim to its claws.
When the attraction first opened, the Yeti moved and seemed poised to grab guests. However, the weight and force of its movements began to crack the animatronic’s base, jeopardizing the entire ride. As a result, Disney had to suspend the Yeti’s significant movements, leaving it mostly stationary.
Credit: Disney
Sadly, the Yeti has been out of commission for over a decade. Even more troubling, Joe Rohde has mentioned that restoring the Yeti to its former glory would require dismantling much of the attraction and redesigning it to prevent damage to the ride’s structure.
This means it’s very unlikely the Yeti will move like it once did.
As previously mentioned, Disney has developed hundreds of animatronics over the years, many of which are iconic and truly remarkable. With advancements in technology, these creations continue to improve. However, it’s clear that not every Disney animatronic has been a success, with some being downright subpar or in disrepair.
We know that Disney is tirelessly working to enhance every guest experience and make them as realistic as possible!
What’s your favorite Disney animatronic? Which one do you like the least? Are there any that you think need significant improvements or should simply be retired? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
