Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Returns to Disneyland For First Time Reported After Hiatus

Disneyland debuted a new Audio-Animatronics show this summer that features a figure of Walt Disney. The show is inside the Main Street Opera House in the same theater where the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show performs.

When they initially announced the new Walt Disney – A Magical Life show, they shared that the new show would eventually play in rotation with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. Now, the Lincoln show has returned for the first time. At Mickey Visit, we bring you the latest Disney news and planning information, including ride closures and other special events.

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Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln Returns to Disneyland

Disneyland's new Walt Disney show debuted on July 17, 2025, on the 70th anniversary of Disneyland. The new attraction was first announced at D23 Expo 2024. During that announcement, they shared that the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show would eventually play in rotation with the new Walt Disney show. The two shows were built on a turntable so that they can both play in the space. On the new marquee for the shows seen in the photo above, they are both displayed equally.

Yesterday, the Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show played at Disneyland. We believe this was the first time that the show has performed since Walt Disney – A Magical Life debuted this summer, though we have not been able to confirm that. Cast Members told guests that they ran the Lincoln show without announcing it due to technical issues with the Walt Disney figure. This may just be a one-off return for now. The Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln show closed April 16, 2024, for work to begin on the new Walt Disney Audio-Animatronics show.

In the lobby, the Frederick Douglass film was also playing above the fireplace. When guests entered the theater, the Lincoln silhouette was projected. No part of the show was noticeably changed beyond the set, which now has a different backdrop behind Lincoln to accommodate the Walt Disney show on the turntable.

Friend of the site Joseph Titizian @exploringthedisneyworld was in the park and shared the details on the show experience and the photos of the show included here.

The Disneyland website still has this notice about the return of the show. We haven't gotten an update from Disneyland yet about the ongoing return of the show.

“The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is temporarily unavailable while Walt Disney – A Magical Life, a new show that explores the life of Walt Disney, plays at the Main Street Opera House. The 2 shows will eventually be presented on a rotating basis.”

Disney describes the Frederick Douglass film as a “new video that brings to life the historic relationship between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, recognizing their work together in the fight against slavery. This special presentation—produced in collaboration with National Geographic—plays between busts and portraits of Douglass and Lincoln in the lobby of the Main Street Opera House, outside of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.”

The fact that the show performed on Saturday makes us believe that the two shows could play in rotation soon.

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The Abraham Lincoln Audio-Animatronics figure first debuted at the 1964 World's Fair. The show features an Audio-Animatronics figure of Abraham Lincoln and a touching video introduction. Walt Disney personally had a fascination with the life of Abraham Lincoln and championed the creation of the figure for the World's Fair. The show moved to its current home at Disneyland in 1965.

The current figure uses next-gen Audio-Animatronics technology to give Lincoln more emotion and vitality than ever before. Lincoln's own life mask was used to create the figure's face. No audio recording of Lincoln's voice exists, but actor Royal Dano provides a satisfying interpretation of Lincoln's immortal words.

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