Neil Patrick Harris Opens D23 Disney Experiences Showcase with an Animatronic-Filled Musical Spectacular

Neil Patrick Harris kicked off Horizons: A Carousel of Progress at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event with a huge musical number celebrating one of the most iconic pieces of Disney Parks history, Audio-Animatronics. The elaborate opening brought together Disney attractions, characters, Imagineering history, and a very specific dream from Harris: becoming a Disney Audio-Animatronic himself.

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The original number followed Harris as he imagined what life would be like permanently installed inside a Disney attraction, complete with robotic knees, repetitive music, air conditioning, and a very predictable work schedule. From there, the performance turned into an Animatronic roll call packed with references to attractions including Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Expedition Everest, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it’s a small world, and more.

Harris was joined by an impressive lineup of performers. Tig Notaro appeared as Abraham Lincoln before later transforming into the Yeti from Expedition Everest, while Megan Hilty took on Madame Leota. Jack McBrayer appeared as a version of the Haunted Mansion Caretaker, with Skylar Astin and Darren Criss popping up as pirates and Hitchhiking Ghosts. Disney Legend Paige O’Hara, the original voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast, also made an appearance, along with a surprise cameo from Disney Legend and former Imagineer Joe Rohde.

The music itself blended an original composition with familiar Disney melodies, including pieces of “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” from Carousel of Progress, “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, and “Belle” from Beauty and the Beast. A live band, The Phoenicians, and a large ensemble of dancers helped turn the opening into a full Broadway-style celebration of Disney Parks history.

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Disney fans also had plenty of Easter eggs to hunt throughout the performance. References ranged from the Hatbox Ghost and Na’vi Shaman to DJ R3X, Kylo Ren, Skippy from Alien Encounter, and even attraction B-mode jokes that longtime park fans will immediately understand. Harris also managed to work Lightning Lane into the number because apparently even becoming a robot cannot completely escape Disney vacation planning.

It was a fittingly over-the-top way to open a presentation named after Carousel of Progress, blending nostalgia, Imagineering history, and plenty of theme park humor before Disney moved into the night’s major announcements. And if all that talk about Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Galaxy’s Edge, and a great big beautiful tomorrow has you ready for your own Disney Parks adventure, contact our partners at Get Away Today to start planning your next Walt Disney World or Disneyland vacation.