Mickey's PhilharMagic in the Fantasyland area at Magic Kingdom theme park is a 12-minute 3D movie starring Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck that features scenes from classic Disney films projected on one of the largest seamless screens in the world.
Even before the show starts, you can't help but be awed by the massive 150-foot-wide screen. Once you put on your "opera glasses" and the action starts up-in glorious 3D-the colorful animation and soaring music combine to create a dazzling spectacle that will put a smile on the face of any fan of classic Disney animation.
When Donald Duck decides to "borrow" Mickey's sorcerer's hat from Fantasia, he plans to conduct a magical symphony. But things do not go as expected, and he ends up on a whirlwind tour of some of the most memorable scenes in Disney animation history. Be on the lookout for a few extra special surprises!
Many classic Disney Characters were animated using computer graphics for the first time-specifically for Mickey's PhilharMagic. Whenever possible, the original animators were brought in to supervise the new animation.
Touring Tips
- When the crowd starts to back up for Mickey's PhilharMagic, folks overflow into the midst of Fantasyland, making walking through this area difficult.
- In the waiting area there are sets of doors opening into the main theater. The doors on the right lead to the back of the theater and the doors on the left lead to the front rows. Go for the left doors and try to get in one of the first five rows if you can. Make sure your view is as unobstructed as possible.
- As an aside, the seats are padded and very comfortable with lots of leg room. This is a great attraction to take in when you need a little break from being on your feet.
Synopsis
Mickey Mouse is performing with his PhilharMagic Orchestra at the Fantasyland Concert Hall. Inside, there are posters advertising the Concert Hall's past productions and performers, such as Hades from Hercules, Genie from Aladdin, The Big Bad Wolf, and The Three Little Pigs. Upon entering the theater's lobby, guests pick up their "opera glasses" (3-D glasses). During their wait, guests hear orchestral music from Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and other Disney animated films.
Goofy, the Concert Hall's stage manager, admits the guests into the main theater, where final preparations for the performance are underway. Minnie Mouse then tells the guests to put on their "opera glasses." Minnie then realizes that Donald Duck has gone missing and goes to tell Mickey. Goofy then raises the curtain to reveal that the stage is empty, except for a conductor's podium and Donald, who is sleeping in a box. Mickey races onto the stage in a hurry, quickly telling Donald to unpack the instruments. Mickey places his famous Sorcerer's hat on the podium, then leaves, telling Donald, "And don't touch my hat!"
After Donald unpacks all the instruments, including a grand piano, from the small box, he is tempted to try on the Sorcerer's Hat himself. He does so, which causes the magical instruments to come to life and play an extremely unpleasent melody. However, when Donald bullies a small flute, the other instruments rise up, creating a whirlwind of magic and music. Donald loses the hat in the storm and passes through different scenes from different movies while trying to retrieve the hat. After the whirlwind passes, Donald finds himself in the dark with Luemire, the candlebrara, who begins to sing "Be Our Guest." You can smell the food, and when the bottles pop, you feel a quick blast of wind in your face. The dark comes back for a second. When the light focuses, we find ourselves in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice," where Donald has shrunk. The walking brooms come in, spilling water on Donald. You feel the water on your lap. A broom Donald's size comes in, carrying a big bucket. Donald snatches the bucket away, but only gives it back when a giant broom comes in. The giant broom spills water on Donald, taking us to "The Little Mermaid," where Ariel is singing "Part of Your World." At the end of the song, an electric eel shocks Donald while trying to kiss Ariel. We are now in "The Lion King," where Simba is singing "I Just Can't Wait To Be King." After that, we go to "Peter Pan," where the chourus is singing "You Can Fly." Peter sprinkles pixie dust on Donald, which gives him the ability to fly. Finally, we go to "Aladdin," where Aladdin and Jasmine are singing "A Whole New World." This time, Donald retrieves the hat, by Jasmine placing it on his head. Unfortunately, the hat gets knocked away by Iago, and Donald jumps after it. He encounters the magical whirlwind from earlier. Donald gets sucked inside, finding himself back onstage, still in the whirlwind. Mickey returns, puts on the hat, and uses it's powers to restore order. As Mickey does the performance, Donald gets knocked into a tuba. As a fitting end, Donald gets shot from the tuba and into the theater's back wall.
Facts
- Opened January 24, 2011.
- It is shown on the largest purpose-built 3D screen ever made, at 150 feet wide.
- The film was directed by George Scribner, who is best known for directing Disney's 1988 animated film, Oliver and Company.
- Whenever possible, the original animators for the classic Disney characters were brought in to supervise the new computer animation.
History
The attraction is unique in being one of a very select amount of attractions in the Disney theme parks in which Walt Disney Imagineering has collaborated with another division of The Walt Disney Company - in this instance, it was Walt Disney Feature Animation. This same partnership developed the Fantasmic! shows at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios. Legendary Disney animator Glen Keane re-rendered Ariel from The Little Mermaid in 3D, returning after rendering her in 2D in the original film. Nik Ranieri, supervising animator of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, also returned to animate that character in 3D. Most of Donald Duck's dialogue is actually archival recordings by his original voice actor, Clarence Nash. Tony Anselmo, Donald's current voice actor, recorded only five new lines for the character in this attraction (such as the scene where Donald Duck hums to the tune of the song "Be Our Guest".)
Hidden Mickeys
- In the scene with Ariel when she throws the jewels at you, the inside of the band on the diamond ring is a classic Mickey head shape. When the ring turns the Mickey head is gone, and it's a normal circle band. The ring is on the right side of the screen.