Mr. Lincoln

[JoeCool]

There has been much speculation that Mr. Lincoln will not return to the Opera House after the special 50th exhibition leaves. So Mr. Lincoln return? If not, what would you like to see in that space? Vote in the poll and post your ideas.

[NWRREngineer]

Not only should he return, but they should improve the show by giving him a longer speech, like the one he used to do.

[fearsnda]

Not only should he return, but they should improve the show by giving him a longer speech, like the one he used to do.

Agreed! I can't believe this is even something that is being debated!

[felixthequick]

there is no exitement when it comes to mr lincoln. everyone always skips this non attraction. unfortunatly america sings was not installed in this place originally. i do not care for anymore 3d movies but something like philharmagic would be a fit. maybe something with AA. like the Mickey Mouse Revue in japan.

[VWSpawn]

My family likes Mr Lincoln. I hope he does come back. but if he doesnt, I at least hope they replace the show with something else. It would really stink if the building just sat there empty for years.

[Tom Chaney]

Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln may not be the most exciting attraction in Disneyland. I'm sure most guests pass it by on their way to the E-tickets. It is, however, one of Walt's treasures and a personal favorite of his. A huge part of Disneyland's magic derives from its traditions and history...something most other parks just don't have. Just as there cannot be a Disneyland without Mickey Mouse, Fantasyland, Submarines...etc. There cannot be a Disneyland without Mr. Lincoln.

[disneyfreeek]

It may be a favorite of Walts, but I'm sure he would appreciate that Disneyland is still on the move. I think as long as they replaced it with something spectacular, he would have been ok with it. And that is something I hope they do, something spectacular, not a clone, but I agree it's time for Lincoln to move on.

[Tom Chaney]

It may be a favorite of Walts, but I'm sure he would appreciate that Disneyland is still on the move. I think as long as they replaced it with something spectacular, he would have been ok with it. And that is something I hope they do, something spectacular, not a clone, but I agree it's time for Lincoln to move on.

Actually, I would mostly agree with you here. It may well be time to devote Mr. Lincoln's space to something more interesting to today's guests. Even so, I would think the park could, at least, find a small corner somewhere for Mr. Lincoln rather than just haul him backstage and store him in a box. His time as a major park attraction has come and gone. In the beginning, just the fact that he was audio-animatronic was something people had never seen. Much talk has been devoted on these forums to yester-attractions. As Disneyland celebrates its 50 years, I would love to see a small area devoted to the park's history. Mr. Lincoln would fit there nicely.

[LSPoorEeyorick]

Oh, I love the attraction, its history, its kitsch, its.. uh... titilating ear-blowing in its recent incarnation. It should return, indeed.

[travelmom]

Normally, I would totally agree with putting back such a unique long running attraction.
Ask me about Country Bears, and I say do whatever it takes to get them back!
But the problem with Lincoln is todays visitor just doesn't care, and its expense, and precious space being wasted. I was a loyal Lincoln visitor (although I enjoyed the old Walt Disney pre- show more), but even I don't go.
I think they should not just "shelve" Mr. Lincoln. He was such an important part of Disneyland history, ( I do remember my total amazement seeing him as a child). There just wasn't anything like that anywhere else. They could feature him somehow in the Gallery sometimes, telling the story of all that special imagineering going on back then. What an exciting time it must have been, to be on the cutting edge of such creations, setting the standard for the future in so many ways.

[alex-jmp]

I personly do not wish to see Lincon leave. However an update to the show would be highly accetable, something like what Linda did in "Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom" to the Hall of Presidents. <= Wow, how big of a geek am I? :o

[felixthequick]

why doent they try to finnaly make that liberty street. im sure they can make a small building the size of the theatre on main steet were they show steamboat wille for honest Abe. what else could that little parking lot be used for. then they can put in the edison attraction devoted to the history of electricity. and then they can probobly bring back yankee doodle and sam for a new version of america sings. plus have the lamplighting ceremony every day after dark. 200 mill tops for a whole new land.

[desertdweller]

The Disney designed attractions were the hightlights of the '64 NY World's Fair and Abe was probably the most astounding debut of an AA figure in the history of robotics.

I saw them all during my visit with our senior class and you can only imagine the excitement that was generated in Anaheim when most of them were transferred to DL following the Fair's closing.

After the novelty wore off and the repeated press releases about the Hall of Presidents never amounted to anything, guests seemed to dutifully make an obligatory visit to Abe in his new surroundings at The Opera House. Then attendance dwindled and word leaked out that it was going to close and suddenly there was this great outpouring of emotion for an attraction that few people cared about any longer.

Enter the new and improved Abe for the '90s along with those concerns about the sanitary condition of the headsets. I have no idea what the attendance figures have been for the attraction in the past few years. I haven't seen the show since the '80s.

I love The Opera House and think its facade adds a lot of ambience to Main Street. I've attended private receptions there and seen some of the animated feature films during CM preview showings over the years.

While it is a superb auditorium for viewing a film (I saw Beauty & The Beast and Alladin there), I've always envisioned it as a showcase for a period Disney Show. It's probably cost-prohibitive but I could see an AA/live action show take the stage.

Does anyone recall an old cartoon from the '30s titled "The Orphans' Benefit?" It could feature a live Mickey introducing various acts such as an AA opera singing chicken, a live illusionist, an AA bear band with Teddi Barra dropping down on her swing for a guest appearance, a live dog act and a costumed character finale. Running time at 20 - 25 minutes with several performances and only available through Fast Pass which would eliminate the need for a queue.

[dramaqueen]

Wasn't Lincoln one of the first fully functional AA's? He definitely belongs in Disneyland. That attraction is part of DLR'S national heritage- everyone knows Mr. Lincoln is there, even if they have never seen it. He was created to make history come alive, to give people the chance to feel like they met someone they never could have. If Mr. Lincoln is not what Disneyland is all about, I don't know what is.

[merlinjones]

Walt Disney's ORIGINAL Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln (or a shortened version) should reurn NOT the 1980's or more recent incarnations with revised speeches and material. The original take was more moving and relevant in content. Give us Walt's historic show back - not seen since the early 80's.

Why not give Walt's Lincoln show a smaller "salon" venue in Frontierland or New Orleans and the Opera House can switch to PhilharMagic or something that fills that large space?

[Disneykat]

i think it should come back AND I think Disney needs to put the Hall of Presidents in DL too!!! I loved that at WDW when I went oh so long ago!!

[phruby]

I remember seeing the Hall of Presidents at the MK. While it was a good show, it wasn't exactly packed. In fact, it looked as packed as Lincoln is. It seems alot of tourists ignore that one too. I'd rather see something totally new (non-movie) put in. The Liberty square idea is good except I wouldn't put in any presidents. A dark ride on american inventors or even history would be cool. Maybe a thrill ride based on the american revolution using the ride vehicles from the Spiderman ride?

[Skipper S]

I think they need to remove it, nice show great AA but not a big enough draw to for that space. if the can find somewhere to move it to great if not well sorry but time to move on. Walt would, he removed things even things he really liked.

[eichale misner]

I think that it should be turned into yet another cartoon character attraction like great moments with stitch or great moments with buzz lightyear. just kidding

[MegarooFifi]

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is one of my favorite attractions (it's possible that I'm a huge sucker for history though ). I love going into the airconditioned building on a super hot day and just relaxing during the show... it's a nice break from the craziness of Disneyland! I really hope that they bring it back.