MK Walt Disney to Appear in Carousel of Progress with New Audio-Animatronic at Magic Kingdom

[Disstevefan1]

How many more years do you think before they add a M&G where you can hug a 19-year old dressed like Walt?

Minimum age to work at WDW is 18 , but can be younger if in college program

 

[Chester&Hester Enthusiast]

I'd like to imaging Walt creeping around like the Burger King in those commercials (and game), peeking out from behind things and sneaking up on guests to offer them some surprise "magic".

This is literally how I pictured it myself!

 

[HMF]

How many more years do you think before they add a M&G where you can hug a 19-year old dressed like Walt?

That would be the logical next step.

 

[FettFan]

How many more years do you think before they add a M&G where you can hug a 19-year old dressed like Walt?

Makes sense…years ago at Universal, you could M&G with Lucille Ball, the Marx Brothers, etc.

I always wondered about the legality of it. Certainly each of the celebs’ estates was well paid for using/usurping their likenesses.

But I suppose TWDC wouldn’t have quite that problem, seeing Walt has been reduced to just another commodity.

Cant wait for the popcorn bucket in the shape of Walt’s head.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Makes sense…years ago at Universal, you could M&G with Lucille Ball, the Marx Brothers, etc.

I always wondered about the legality of it. Certainly each of the celebs’ estates was well paid for using/usurping their likenesses.

But I suppose TWDC wouldn’t have quite that problem, seeing Walt has been reduced to just another commodity.

Cant wait for the popcorn bucket in the shape of Walt’s head.

I would expect a Walt's head plastic bowl serving Walt's Famous Chili for $39.99.

 

[jah4955]

Regarding yesterday's news (switching back to Lincoln early at Disneyland b/c they have ongoing problems with Walt...they say it's not the animatronic)...I hope this doesn't mean a delay/jeapordizing of the plans with CoP....I admit I'm more excited that the Walt animatronic saved CoP from the "chopping block" than I am excited about the Walt animatronic itself

 

[Disstevefan1]

Regarding yesterday's news (switching back to Lincoln early at Disneyland b/c they have ongoing problems with Walt...they say it's not the animatronic)...I hope this doesn't mean a delay/jeapordizing of the plans with CoP....I admit I'm more excited that the Walt animatronic saved CoP from the "chopping block" than I am excited about the Walt animatronic itself

This worries me. Lets say there really is problems with the Walt animatronic at DLR. Lets say they give up on Walt in CoP because of problems with the Walt animatronic, THEN the finance folks can make a case for cost savings by scrapping the the Walt animatronic in CoP and then CoP is BACK on the chopping block.

I hope this is just my irrational thoughts

 

[James Alucobond]

I hope this is just my irrational thoughts

Yep.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Yep.

Yesterdays irrational thoughts (like filling in RoA at MK) is today actual events. Welcome to today's TWDC

 

[Biff215]

Could the issue be the switching between the two shows? I don’t even know how this works at DL.

 

[EagleScout610]

This worries me. Lets say there really is problems with the Walt animatronic at DLR. Lets say they give up on Walt in CoP because of problems with the Walt animatronic, THEN the finance folks can make a case for cost savings by scrapping the the Walt animatronic in CoP and then CoP is BACK on the chopping block.

I hope this is just my irrational thoughts

Personally I don't think Walt will entirely save CoP from the chopping block. I think it'll buy the show a few more years, then once the Walt hype dies out and the show goes back to its state of falling apart and not packing crowds, it'll be right back on the block. .

 

[Disstevefan1]

Personally I don't think Walt will entirely save CoP from the chopping block. I think it'll buy the show a few more years, then once the Walt hype dies out and the show goes back to its state of falling apart and not packing crowds, it'll be right back on the block. .

True. Todays TWDC is all about MONEY and SELLING LLs.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Walt will be in a position where he can be covered with a curtain as CoP still runs. It’s a bit like throwing a sheet over a corpse but this whole thing is kinda macabre. With some green spotlights, we have a zombie Walt MNSSHP overlay…

 

[Moth]

Walt will be in a position where he can be covered with a curtain as CoP still runs. It’s a bit like throwing a sheet over a corpse but this whole thing is kinda macabre. With some green spotlights, we have a zombie Walt MNSSHP overlay…

"I hope we never lose sight, that it all started with BRAINNSSSS!"

 

[jah4955]

Personally I don't think Walt will entirely save CoP from the chopping block. I think it'll buy the show a few more years, then once the Walt hype dies out and the show goes back to its state of falling apart and not packing crowds, it'll be right back on the block. .

actually...I always felt that adding Walt animatronic was like layering another reason NOT to close CoP, another reason to upset people if they were to ever consider it. Almost 60 years since his passing. Those born the month he died could be living in 55+ communities for years now, etc/etc/etc....For better or for worse he's becoming more mythical in the eyes of many.

 

[HMF]

actually...I always felt that adding Walt animatronic was like layering another reason NOT to close CoP, another reason to upset people if they were to ever consider it. Almost 60 years since he's passing. Those born the month he died could be living in 55+ communities for years now, etc/etc/etc....For better or for worse he's becoming more mythical in the eyes of many.

Plus, all the myths and misinformation that has been spreading for decades that many younger demographics take as gospel.

 

[jah4955]

Plus, all the myths and misinformation that has been spreading for decades that many younger demographics take as gospel.

Lot's of misinformation....

....it didn't help that Ward Kimball joked about the "Frozen" rumor (as was always his trademark/style) but it gained traction b/c people took it seriously.

 

[Brer Panther]

I have the feeling that AJ LoCascio is gonna be the voice of the father in the new version. He's gotten to do Figment and Henry, so he seems to be Disney's go-to voice actor for park original characters.

 

[FigmentsBrightIdeas]

Regarding yesterday's news (switching back to Lincoln early at Disneyland b/c they have ongoing problems with Walt...they say it's not the animatronic)...I hope this doesn't mean a delay/jeapordizing of the plans with CoP....I admit I'm more excited that the Walt animatronic saved CoP from the "chopping block" than I am excited about the Walt animatronic itself

Wonder if this could give them time to figure out ways to fix the Walt figure to look & sound more accurate to how he should.

(Should use the Blaine Gibson sculpt for the partners statue for core sculpture reference/usage, and the audio should have the AI modulation taken out, present the clips as they were, properly restored/remastered) And if the Walt AA at the Carousel of Progress is gonna be dressed differently, etc. Maybe that one will be done right this time around. Time will tell. You’d hope they’d taken the guest (and even the Disney family) criticism to heart though.
Also, perhaps we could switch the opening film DL audio to Julie Andrews doing the narration again?

 

[Tha Realest]

This worries me. Lets say there really is problems with the Walt animatronic at DLR. Lets say they give up on Walt in CoP because of problems with the Walt animatronic, THEN the finance folks can make a case for cost savings by scrapping the the Walt animatronic in CoP and then CoP is BACK on the chopping block.

I hope this is just my irrational thoughts

Between this and the TBA advanced animatronics, maybe they should stop shooting for the stars and stick with what has consistently worked.