The Disneyland Story, presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is a nostalgic exhibit documenting the Disney success story, followed by an Audio-Animatronics patriotic presentation. The duration of the show is 15 minutes, including a preshow of Disney exhibits.
The attraction is a warm and well-presented remembrance of the man who started it all. Well worth seeing, it’s especially touching for those old enough to remember Walt Disney himself. The attraction lobby consists of a museum of Disney memorabilia. Especially interesting are rotating Disney Gallery displays of concept artwork and historical artifacts, most recently featuring the railroads found in every Magic Kingdom around the world due to Walt Disney’s life-long passion for train travel.
A short film starring comedian (and former Disneyland cast member) Steve Martin and Donald Duck screens in the lobby as a preshow. Beyond the Disney memorabilia, guests are admitted to a large theater where Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is presented. The patriotic performance stars an extremely lifelike and sophisticated Audio-Animatronics Abraham Lincoln delivering an amalgamation of his notable speeches (though the familiar “Gettysburg Address” is not recited in full) as originally recorded by actor Royal Dano for the 1964 World’s Fair.
Lincoln’s head is stunningly emotive, capable of wrinkling his brow and pursing his lips with unrivaled realism. Surround-sound effects and songs borrowed from Epcot’s American Adventure add to this brief but inspiring biography of America’s 16th president.
TOURING TIPS You usually do not have to wait long for this show, so see it during the busy times of day when lines are long elsewhere—or as you are leaving the park. Sit up close to best see the detail on the Lincoln figure, or sit a few rows back for a more comfortable view of the screen. For crowd-control reasons, The Disneyland Story shuts down during evening parades, a fact often not noted in the Times Guide.
For all there is to see and do at Disneyland, check out The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland by Seth Kubersky with Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa. All Disneyland fans should also check out The Disneyland Story: The Unofficial Guide to the Evolution of Walt Disney’s Dream by Sam Gennawey. If you enjoyed this post, sign up for our newsletter here.
Copyrights
Replica of the White House: By Anna Fox from San Jose, CA, USA [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Animatronic of President Lincoln: By Cory Doctorow from Beautiful Downtown Burbank, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Exterior of The Disneyland Story, presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attraction: By Brent Schmidt from Ft Sill, USA [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
