Last summer, Walt Disney – A Magical Life debuted in the Opera House on Main Street, U.S.A., as part of the 70th anniversary celebration of Disneyland. At the time, the show featured the first Audio-Animatronic figure of Walt Disney. During the run of the Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration, the show was scheduled to be presented in the Opera House. Following the conclusion of the celebration, the show would share the stage with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.

Since Walt Disney – A Magical Life premiered, there have been times when Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln has been presented for one reason or another. For the last week, this has been the case. This has led to the show about the 16th President of the United States to be shown on his birthday. President Abraham Lincoln is taking to the stage on what would have been his 217th birthday. Below is a video of Abraham Lincoln’s current speech:

Daps Magic team member took photos of President Lincoln in the Opera House on Wednesday night, just hours before his 217th birthday:

Here is the speech that President Lincoln delivers in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln:

President Abraham Lincoln Speech in Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing.

What constitutes the bulwark of our…liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts,…These are not our reliance against…tyranny…Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit, and you have planted the seeds of despotism around your own doors.

At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some trans-Atlantic military giant, to step the ocean, and crush us at a blow?

Never!

All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined,…could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years.

At what point then is the danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we ourselves must be its author and finisher. As a nation of free men, we must live through all times, or die by suicide.

Neither let us be slandered from our duty by false accusations against us, nor frightened from it by the menaces of destruction to the Government nor of dungeons to ourselves.

Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it.

While President Abraham Lincoln is making appearances on his birthday for the entire day (8:00 AM to 8:00 PM) on his birthday, this is not expected to be the norm. Walt Disney is still set to be the mainstay at the stage until the end of Disneyland 70th Celebration on August 9th. This is a beloved show that continues to have relevance so many years after President Lincoln first spoke them.

What do you think of Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln being presented on President Lincoln’s birthday? Have you seen it in its current version? What do you think of this show? What do you think of Walt Disney – A Magical Life? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!