Photo of Joanna Miller speaking at a podium.
Share this @internewscast.com

WALT Disney’s granddaughter has slammed the entertainment giant for turning its late founder into a “robotic grampa”.

Disney is set to introduce an animatronic version of Walt Disney for the 70th anniversary of Disneyland this July, despite ongoing objections from his granddaughter, Joanna Miller.

Photo of Joanna Miller speaking at a podium.
Walt Disney’s granddaughter, Joanna Miller, blasts the company’s re-creation of an animatronic of its founder as ‘disappointing’Credit: Getty
Illustration of Walt Disney presenting a Disneyland model.
Miller says her grandpa – pictured in an illustration presenting a Disneyland model – would have hated being digitally revivedCredit: Disney
Illustration of an animatronic Abraham Lincoln on a stage.
Pictured is an illustration of an animatronic Abraham LincolnCredit: Disney

Joanna Miller expressed to the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday that her cherished grandfather, who died in 1966, would not have approved of becoming a talking mechanical replica.

“I think I started crying,” she said, recalling the moment she first saw the figure. “It didn’t look like him to me.”

Miller said she voiced her concerns early on, sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger when the idea was first proposed.

She mentioned that she subsequently met with Iger and the team in charge of the attraction’s creation, telling him: “I strongly believe the last two minutes with the robot will cause much more harm than good to Grandpa’s legacy.”

“They will remember the robot – and not the man.”

Despite Iger being “very kind” and despite his promises to protect her grandfather’s legacy, she said her request that they scrap the animatronic was ultimately ignored.

Miller said it “pains” her to call out the very company he created.

She said she was speaking solely on behalf of her grandfather and mother.

In a Facebook post in November, Miller blasted the company’s “idea of a robotic grampa”, writing that it made her feel “so so sad and disappointed”.

She explained: “The idea of a Robotic Grampa to give the public a feeling of who the living man was just makes no sense.

“It would be an imposter. They are dehumanizing him. People are not replaceable.”

Disney announces brand new theme park

She also argued that her late grandfather had “told Sam McKim that he never wanted to be an animatronic”, claiming that she has been provided with first-hand proof to back this up.

The figure will appear in a new attraction called Walt Disney – A Magical Life, located in the park’s Main Street Opera House.

The proposal to show “what it would be like to stop by Walt’s office” was announced by Disney last year.

The company said it would be “a fitting tribute” to the man who made “significant advances with Audio-Animatronics”.

Walt Disney co-founded The Walt Disney Company (originally called Disney Brothers Studio) in 1923, with his brother Roy O. Disney.

Walt is regarded as a pioneer of Audio-Animatronics, famously bringing Abraham Lincoln to life at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

Josh D’Amaro, chair of Disney Experiences, told people at D23, the company’s annual fan event: “Creating our first Walt figure is an idea that’s been whispered in the hallowed halls of imagineering for years, decades, even.”

He added: “We just had to wait for innovation to catch up with our dreams. And we’re finally ready.”

Disneyland California, which opened on July 17, 1955, will celebrate its 70th anniversary this July.

Sleeping Beauty Castle at Disneyland.
Disneyland California will celebrate its 70th anniversary this JulyCredit: Getty
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Inmates see an unlikely ally as they seek pardons: Trump

Inmates Find Unexpected Support in Trump for Pardons

The flurry of requests has been sparked by Trump’s frequent and eyebrow-raising…
Chicago-area ICE arrests challenged in court as 'unlawful,' Department of Justice contends enforcement follows US law

Court Battles Over Chicago ICE Arrests: Claim of Illegality vs. DOJ Assurance of Lawful Enforcement

CHICAGO (WLS) — The ABC7 I-Team got a closer look at what…
James Hagens is 2025 NHL Draft's wild card — with Islanders a possibility

Could James Hagens Be the Surprising Pick for the 2025 NHL Draft – Potentially by the Islanders?

LOS ANGELES — The mystery of the NHL draft Friday night surrounds…
Chicago shooting: Laquan McDonald's cousin wounded in Douglass Park shooting, allegedly by life guard, police report says

Chicago Incident: Laquan McDonald’s Cousin Injured in Douglass Park Shooting, Reportedly by Lifeguard, Authorities Say

CHICAGO (WLS) — Family members said a cousin of Laquan McDonald was…
'Squid Game,' 'We Were Liars'

“Squid Game and We Were Liars: What You Need to Know”

The (heat) wave of new and returning television shows is here. Summer…
Photo of a bride and groom on their wedding day.

Terrifying incident: YouTuber follows wife to safety spot before fatally stabbing her while she pushes baby in stroller

THIS is the chilling moment a YouTuber stalked his wife to a…

Fugitive Drug Lord “Fito the Lion” Discovered Hiding in Trapdoor Lair After 3-Year-Old Daughter’s Unintended Disclosure

WATCH the moment Ecuador’s most-wanted fugitive, a drug lord dubbed “The Lion”,…
Donald Trump-Canada trade talks: US president says he's terminating trade talks with Canada over digital services tax

Donald Trump Ends Canada Trade Discussions Over Digital Services Tax

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he is halting trade…
Authorities arrest fugitive Antoine Massey who police say posted on social media following New Orleans jailbreak

Authorities Capture Escaped Fugitive Antoine Massey After Social Media Post Ties Him to New Orleans Jailbreak

Authorities in Louisiana apprehended one of the 10 men who fled a…
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez kissing on a boat.

A Look Into Jeff Bezos’ Lavish $46 Million Wedding: Featuring $6 Million for Jet Security, $1.8 Million for Waiting Staff, and $1.6 Million on Roses

JEFF Bezos has poured an astounding $46 million into his lavish Italian…

Enigmatic Abandoned Maldives Resort: Eerie Decay of Villas, Murky Pools, and Dusty Massage Tables Unveiled

AN ABANDONED luxury resort rotting away in the Maldives with derelict villas…
DHS arrests 'worst of the worst' migrants in LA despite rioters, pols pushing back

DHS Detains ‘Most Dangerous’ Migrants in LA Amidst Opposition from Protesters and Politicians

As Los Angeles turned into a turbulent hotspot in opposition to President…