A Nostalgic Disneyland Attraction Is Making an Epic Return

As a kid, I always loved venturing into the Main Street Opera House in Disneyland for a showing of “Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.” My friends and I would sit down in the cool, dark theater (a much-needed respite on hot summer days), and the multisensory attraction took us through President Abraham Lincoln’s entire life—from small moments like a visit to the hairdresser to his history-making Gettysburg Address. It closed in April 2024 for refurbishment, but we’ve gotten a new clue about when it’s returning.

Disney Parks Blog has confirmed that the Opera House will reopen on July 17 for “Walt Disney – A Magical Life,” highlighting the evolution of Disneyland over the past 70 years. Per the blog post, “After its initial run, ‘Walt Disney – A Magical Life’ will play in rotation with ‘Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.’”

No specific reopening date has been shared, but some visitors have noticed that the signage was recently removed to make way for the new show.

The first “audio-animatronics” version of the show, which presented a lifelike figure of the late president, was introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. By 1965, it moved over to Disneyland Park. 

This is one of many innovations and celebrations involved in this year’s 70th anniversary of Disneyland Park. Another look back on the early days of Disney is over in the Main Street Cinema, where you can see a tribute to the Sherman Brothers, who wrote the iconic song, “It’s a Small World.” There’s also a new verse they’ve added, which will debut at the “It’s a Small World” attraction on July 17.