Disneyland tried to make magic happen with the unveiling of its brand-new Walt Disney animatronic — but the internet had other ideas.
Yesterday, Disney fans were treated to a sneak peek of the animatronic set to debut July 17, 2025, as part of a new tribute show to the man who started it all. The short video shared by Disney showed the figure rising from a desk and delivering a speech — a high-tech nod to Walt’s legacy, enhanced by sophisticated movement and lifelike detail. But almost immediately, that lifelike detail became the center of controversy.
While some applauded the fluidity and realism of the animatronic’s motion, others zeroed in on one key detail: the face. Or rather, the fact that it didn’t look like Walt Disney at all.
“Some guy ate Walt!” — the internet reacts
The first reactions dropped like clockwork on Reddit, where fans wasted no time picking apart the figure’s likeness.
“He’s chonkier than I expected,” one user joked — and the roast session was officially on.
From there, the comments came fast and brutal:
“Camera adds 10 pounds?”
“How many cameras are on him?”
“Some guy ate Walt!”
“How many cameras did he eat?”
Some attempted to defend the figure’s size by noting Walt’s age at the time depicted (circa 1963), while others argued that Disney went too far in choosing a version of Walt that doesn’t match what guests are familiar with.
“It’s a choice for sure to make him not look like the version we’ve all seen on TV for decades.”
Even deeper into the Reddit thread, one user pointed out that Walt was battling cancer in his final years, and that the animatronic doesn’t resemble the actual last company photo taken of him.
“While he was thinner when he was young, he was also battling cancer when he was 65… [he] looked thinner than the figure.”
Is it Tom Hanks? Or… a guy named Marino?
Things really went off the rails when comparisons started rolling in. Some said the figure looked more like actor Tom Hanks than Walt — possibly a byproduct of Hanks’ role as Walt in Saving Mr. Banks.
“Did you get a cast preview? It looks like Tom Hanks haha.”
But perhaps the most savage (and hilarious) take came from a user who said the animatronic resembled someone a little less…famous.
“This isn’t Walt Disney, this is the original owner of my local pizza place who passed in 2017. Lunga vita a Signore Marino! Best Sicilian pizza on the West Coast.”
Ouch.
“No smoking” Walt? That’s not authentic either
Another hot topic was the apparent sanitization of Walt’s iconic look. The real Walt Disney was rarely seen without a cigarette — a habit that played a large role in the health issues that ultimately claimed his life. But thanks to Disney’s strict no-smoking policy across all parks and branding, this animatronic version is squeaky clean.
One Redditor called it out directly:
“Disney’s anti-smoking policy has forced Imagineers to create Walt Disney, the non-smoking edition.”
For purists, this is a problem. They argue that if Disney is going to immortalize the man with robotics, they need to commit fully to historical accuracy — vices and all.
Could it look better in person?
Despite the flood of criticism, a few fans tried to calm the storm by noting that video might not capture the full picture.
“Honestly, it depends on the angle. The shots in the blog look fine to me.”
Others said the animatronic actually looks better in motion, urging skeptics to watch the video posted by reporter Scott Gustin.
“Just watched the clips Scott Gustin posted and it’s definitely looking much more Walt in video versus photos… maybe it’s just not captured as well in freeze frame.”
And one fan dared to dream that the figure might be more than just a static piece in a show.
“I will lose it if robo-Walt walks around at all. That would just be too cool.”
Disney fans are picky for a reason
Make no mistake — the intense reactions stem from love. Walt Disney isn’t just a corporate figure to fans; he’s the man whose personal vision shaped Disneyland and the entire Disney Parks experience.
This animatronic is more than just a prop. It’s meant to be a living tribute to the founder himself, and with that comes enormous expectations. When Imagineering gets it right, the praise is endless. But when it misses the mark — even slightly — fans don’t hesitate to say so.
And in this case, many think the figure needs another round of fine-tuning. Maybe a facial resculpt. Maybe fewer cameras.
Final verdict? TBD
Disney hasn’t responded to the backlash or confirmed whether they plan to make any changes before the figure officially debuts. The animatronic is still set to appear in a brand-new Disneyland show launching on July 17.
For now, the debate rages on — and you can bet that on opening day, there’ll be plenty of guests watching very closely to see whether this version of Walt Disney really captures the magic… or leaves fans feeling like they just paid tribute to the wrong man entirely.
