Parts of Walt Disney World’s animatronic figure of Ellen DeGeneres, which appeared for years in an Epcot attraction and on her talk show earlier this year, is going up for auction next month in Los Angeles.
Robo-Ellen’s head and clothing will be part of Profiles in History’s animation and Disneyana auction on May 5.
Ellen’s Energy Adventure closed last year, and DeGeneres had quipped that she wanted her robot back. Her staff presented it to her as a surprise during a taping that celebrated her 60th birthday.
The figure had brown pants, red T-shirt, blue shirt, messed-up hair and bugged-out eyes.
“Is this real? This is … me?” DeGeneres said at the time. “This is not real. This is the robot they used for Ellen’s Energy Adventure? … That is so offensive.”
Her reaction went viral, which could boost the bidding. It is expected to sell for between $3,000 and $5,000.
At the time of the taping in January, a Walt Disney World spokeswoman said the company did not send the figure to the show; it was merely a gag from the “Ellen” staff.
“The head and clothing are from the attraction. They are displayed on a mannequin for display purposes,” reads the catalog for the auction. “The skin is made of painted cast vinyl. A zipper runs along the back of the head so it can easily be placed over the animatronics.”
No mechanical parts for the figure are included in the sale.
The Energy Adventure pieces are shown in the catalog with other park-oriented props, including a lantern from Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom, a “Fantasmic!” cast-member costume and C3P0 mast from Disney’s Hollywood Studios and a shrunken head from Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise.
Among other big-ticket items up for bids: Walt Disney’s last will and testament, a 23-page document signed by Walt Disney himself. It’s dated June 9, 1951, and it’s estimated to sell for $20,000 to $40,000.
Other items of interest in the auction involving Walt Disney World Resort include:
* A remote-control R2-D2 used at Disney World between 2004 and 2014. It makes 53 sounds from the original “Star Wars” trilogy. It is estimated to sell for $100,000 to $200,000.
* A vehicle from the Magic Kingdom version of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, used on opening day in 1971. It is estimated to sell for $15,000 to $25,000.
* Two concept drawings for “Pleasure Island Park” at Disney World, done in pen and ink by artist (and official Disney Legend) Harper Goff. They are estimated to sell for $1,500 to $2,500. (There are multiple Goff items available.)
* A wooden sign for WDW’s Skyway attraction that reads “This attraction is one way to Tomorrowland.” The Skyway closed at Magic Kingdom in 1999. Estimated auction price: $800 to $2,000.
For more information and to see all items for auction, go to profilesinhistory.com.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5477; Twitter: @ThemeParks
