Neil Patrick Harris performed a song titled Disney Animatronic in the opening of the Horizons: A Carousel of Progress parks and experiences panel at D23. The song was sometimes irreverent yet fun, and full of references to Disney Parks and viral mishaps.
D23 always has one panel many of us look forward to and that is the Parks and Experiences panel showcasing new attractions and what’s coming to Disney Parks. This year, that panel was called Horizons: A Carousel of Progress, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris.
The panel’s opening featured a song Disney Animatronic performed by Harris.
Disney has released the video of this performance.
I really enjoyed the Ellen DeGeneres Universe of Energy animatronic reference. My son referred to that animatronic simply as “Ellen with a pointy stick.”
There were so many amazing references to animatronics, including Ellen, a Monk from Spaceship Earth, Disco Boots computer scientist from Spaceship Earth, The Cassablanca scene from The Great Movie Ride, Abraham Lincoln, Pirates of the Caribbean with rolling pin chase, Hitchhiking Ghosts with Madame Leota, the Caretaker, and dancers from The Haunted Mansion, the Yeti from Expedition Everest, It’s a Small World, falling Olaf, and characters from The Carousel of Progress.
Harris performed the song, which poked fun at Disney’s mistakes and maintenance of the parks.
Here are the lyrics to Disney Animatronic in case you were wondering
The song was performed by Harris along with other special guests making cameos.
In this great big beautiful world or land, there’s a job that’s waiting for me.
Where the air is sweet, and the sound pre-planned, and admission is perpetually free.
A role that lasts forever, with no bad days whatsoever.
Part of history, Wish I could be…
Animatronic
Where life is a ride.
Entertaining all day while air-conditioned inside.
Animatronic where life is a breeze.
I’d never feel my age because I’d have robotic knees.
I’d spend all day greeting fans with guts made of gears
While that same symphonic music plays on loop in my ears.
I’d like to be a Disney animatronic and live
My life on a ride
Right? Can you imagine? It’s perfect
Animatronic. I like the routine. Each day is the same and every night I get cleaned.
And since my job is iconic then I’d never bore.
Just take it from an A1 model who’s been here since 1964.
Tig Nitaro. (Segment with guest cameo Tig Nitaro dressed as Abraham Lincoln)
Animatronic. You never get old. Rehearse when you’re remote control.
I’d like to be catatonic and wired with glee.
Yo ho yo ho. An animatronic light for me. (Segment with Darren Criss and Skyler Aston)
Maybe I could be a handsome pirate gesturing to treasure or a pair of skulking skeletons devoid of earthly pleasure.
Megan Hilty as Madame Leota appears.
Serpents and spiders, tail of a rat.
Call in the spirits wherever they’re at.
Goblins and ghouls, the souls who are trapped. I’m not actually animatonic, I’m projection mapped.
So are we. (Harris, Criss, and Aston appear as the Hitchhiking Ghosts)
In the endless hallway I’ll sing my tune. Like a Hatbox Ghost, you appeared too soon.
Yeah. Yeah. Seriously, Disney World hat goes after Leotaa, not before. Rolly Crump would never.
I can dance and scare as a haunted host
While we disappear like Pepper’s Ghost
Happy Haunts materialize
And Begin to Vocalize
Grim Grinning Ghosts come out to socialize
Jack McBrayer appears as the Haunted Mansion Caretaker
Robots.
I could dance on my servos and glide on my slide or just chill in Everest because my mechanism died.
Tig Nataro comes back out dressed as the Yeti
It’s great to be a Disney animatronic and live my life on a ride.
Isn’t technology amazing?
See how the facial expressions progress throughout the years.
Here’s Walt himself trailblazing.
I’d give my life to be crafted by those boss Imagineers.
Paige O’Hara makes a brief cameo
I could DJ like Rex or be a small child doll
Or join an It’s a small world after all.
All right. Animatronic roll call.
I’ll keep moving. I’ll keep ticking. And like Carlos, won’t be chicken.
Grab a knife and grab a fork with a crooner from Yu Nork.
And like Skippy, I’ll be stationed in suspended animation.
Don’t care if I’m last gen or advanced like Kylo Ren.
I’ll move like a Na’vi shaman unless B mode is more common.
Be a scientist who’s foxy or a gangster full of moxy.
I’ll impress. I’m unplugged.
Asking tourist for warm hugs.
Do you want to build a snowman?
Oh. Oh yeah. Right.
Then at last I’ll last forever cause forever is what it’s worth
To live each day the exact same way in the happiest place on earth.
When you are animatronic, your life is divine.
You don’t feel pain or need the Lighting Lane to skip the line.
Cause when you’re animatronic, the magic’s inside!
So let’s get electronic!
In stereophonic
No need to eat or drink, so I can skip my colonic!
All I want in life is to be animatronic
Animatronic…animatronic…animatronic…animatr….
(The stage goes dark and the performers pretend to be shut-down animatronics)
Voice-over, like a paused attraction, starts playing while Imagineer Joe Rhode pretends to fix Neil Patrick Harris.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing a temporary delay. Please remain seated with your seat belt securely fastened. The opening number will resume shortly.
Animatronic!
And live my life (background singers) There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow.
Live my life (background singers) Shining at the end of every day.
Live my life on a Disney theme park
Well it looks like the robins are getting ready for D23
Ride.
There you have it.
It was a fun song poking fun at issues with the Disney parks like the frozen Yeti, malfunctioning robotic Olaf, the newly added Hatbox Ghost that appears too early in The Haunted Mansion, and more.
It was a very fun way to kick off the Parks and Experiences panel.
Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.
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