I guess it's nostalgic for some but even as a kid back when the chain first rolled out I recognized right away that the animatronics were low rent versions of earlier Disney animatronics that were much better (albeit, significantly more complex and thus more expensive).

I guess if you're a toddler it's still a big, colorful, moving stuffed animal that talks, which might seem fascinating. But for an older kid it wasn't entertaining or engaging while the Disney animatronics still were.

Reflecting now on why one worked on me and the other didn't, I think the lack of variable speed motion had a lot to do with it because ease-in/out can add so much life and expression.