Travel | Mickey’s Magical Map

EXCLUSIVE – Hispanic Lifestyle was invited to the World Premiere of Mickey’s Magical Map attraction at Disneyland Resorts. Eddy Collins along with our friend Mickey Mouse gave a play by play breakdown of the show which is true multimedia performance, mixing live action, singing and dance with animation.

Mickey Mouse and a cast of beloved Disney characters will embark on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer’s map in “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the all-new live show coming to the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland Park May 25.

Created by Disney Creative Entertainment, “Mickey and the Magical Map” was conceived for children of all ages and represents the return of Disney storytelling to the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, a venue that merges the tradition of live outdoor performances with theatrical technology.

“We’re very excited to welcome guests to the Disneyland Resort this summer to enjoy all the entertainment and attractions that make this a world-class, family vacation destination,” said Michael Colglazier, President of the Disneyland Resort. “We’re particularly thrilled to debut our captivating new show ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ and to invite guests to experience Fantasy Faire, a new themed area with Disney Princess encounters and two live shows based on favorite princess stories.”

Performed in the most magical of lands, Fantasyland, the new show reveals a mischievous Mickey Mouse.

Mickey’s Magical Map

“Each new show we create is a chance to push storytelling in a new direction,” said Michael Jung, Theatrical Development Executive, Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment. “At Disney, we love the challenge of continuously looking at our classic tales and most recent stories to see how we can bring live entertainment and excitement to today’s audiences.”

“Mickey and the Magical Map” presents Mickey in his timeless role as the sorcerer’s apprentice. Wise sorcerer Yen Sid directs his Mapmakers, a singing-dancing ensemble cast that paints a wondrous map – capable of taking dreamers to any place imaginable and so large it spans the entire stage of the outdoor Fantasyland Theatre.

Apprentice Mickey lets his curiosity get the better of him and he stumbles upon the map’s magical powers, which take him, along with the audience, on a fantastic journey of imagination in the company of the Mapmakers. The journey, presented through theatrical stage wizardry, unveils wonderful worlds of music, color, adventure and beloved characters with each new direction – all set to an original song, “Journey of the Imagination,” and music from classic Disney films.

The show, scheduled for five daily performances this summer, comes alive with appearances and songs by King Louie from “The Jungle Book” (“I Wan’na Be Like You”), Pocahontas (“Just Around the Riverbend”), Mulan (“Reflection”), Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” (“I See The Light”) Princess Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog” (“Dig a Little Deeper”), and Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid” (“Under the Sea”). Also included is the song “Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride” from “Lilo and Stitch.”

“Mickey and the Magical Map,” which can be experienced only at Disneyland, where the magic began, will be a highlight of 2013 at the Disneyland Resort, which also features recent additions such as princess encounters in the new Fantasy Faire in Disneyland, and the spectacular new Cars Land and Buena Vista Street in the expanded Disney California Adventure Park.

The exciting show also complements the variety of theatrical and live entertainment found at Disneyland Resort that includes these: “World of Color,”  “Aladdin – A Musical Spectacular,” the Mariachi Divas and “Disney Junior – Live on Stage!” at Disney California Adventure, and “Fantasmic!,”  “Mickey’s Soundsational Parade,” the Laughing Stock Company at Golden Horseshoe Saloon, the Dapper Dans and Disneyland Band on Main Street, U.S.A., and the nightly summer fireworks show “Magical” at Disneyland.

Guests also enjoy nightly dancing to live bands at Tomorrowland Terrace at Disneyland and the “Mad T Party” on the Hollywood Backlot at Disney California Adventure, which also features live street performances with Five & Dime and the Red Car News Boys at Carthay Circle on Buena Vista Street, the “Pixar Play Parade,” “Phineas and Ferb’s Rockin’ Rollin’ Dance Party” at Paradise Pier, “DJ’s Dance ‘n Drive at Cars Land” – and more!

Fantasyland Theatre, a classic Disneyland venue, was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (former spelling) which showed Disney cartoons and Mouseketeer footage from 1955 to 1964.  The current theatre debuted in 1985 as Videopolis, a dance location, which quickly drew crowds for stage productions including “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy Starring in Diamond Double Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker,” and one of Disney’s first stage productions of “Beauty and the Beast.”

In 1995, the venue was renamed Fantasyland Theatre with the debut of “The Spirit of Pocahontas.”  “Animazement – The Musical” enjoyed a popular three-year run and “Snow White—An Enchanting Musical” played for two years. The theatre was then converted to an area where guests could meet Disney Princesses.

“Mickey and the Magical Map” has writing by Carolyn Gardner and is directed by Tracy Halas.  The production designer is Steve Bass; the creative director is Sylvia Hase; the music is produced by Bruce Healey, supervised and arranged by Timothy Williams and supervised by Matt Walker.  The show producer is Ray Coble.

FUN FACTS

• The innovative Map features nearly 1 million pixels and more than 35,000 square inches of LED screen surface.
• Sections of the Map are moved on wagons that weigh more than 9,000 pounds each. The total weight of scenery installed is approximately 71,000 pounds.
• Tiana’s showboat in the finale reaches 18 feet tall, stretches 11 feet wide and weighs nearly 1,200 pounds.
• More than six miles of cable serve as communications pathways between the lighting, show control, audio and video systems.
• Audio for “Mickey and the Magical Map” features 9.1 surround sound from more than 60 speakers. The production’s magical soundtrack was recorded at major Los Angeles recording studios, by nearly 100 musicians and vocalists.

Fantasyland Theatre

• For “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the Fantasyland Theatre has been thoroughly refurbished and remodeled, with new lighting and audio systems, a new tech booth, enhanced wheelchair access and improved guest flow.
• New benches provide seating for more than 1,800 guests.
• The Theatre stage has been built up to support the spectacular Map for “Mickey and the Magical Map.”
• Today’s Fantasyland Theatre originally was called “Videopolis.” It debuted in 1985 as a dance location featuring a 5,000-square-foot dance floor and 70 TV monitors showing music videos.
• Even in its earliest days, “Videopolis” hosted live daytime stage shows such as a “Mickey Mouse Club Reunion” show and “The Magic of Christmas” holiday show.
• Large scale stage productions in “Videopolis” included “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy in Diamond Double-Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
• In 1995 the name of the venue changed to Fantasyland Theater with the opening of “The Spirit of Pocahontas,” followed by “Animazement – The Musical,” “Mickey’s Detective School” and “Snow White: An Enchanting New Musical,” which opened in 2004.
• When “Snow White” closed in 2006, Fantasyland Theatre became the home of “Princess Fantasy Faire.”
• Fans of Disneyland history will know that the Theatre’s name was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (different spelling), which, from 1956 to 1981 screened Disney cartoons and short films featuring the Mouseketeers of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” The original theater stood on the site of what is now the Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction in Fantasyland.

Mickey and the Magical Map

• The show stars Mickey Mouse as the curious and slightly mischievous apprentice to sorcerer Yen Sid. Yen Sid (“Disney” spelled backwards) first appeared in the Disney animated classic “Fantasia.”
• Yen Sid sets his mapmakers to work painting an enormous map, so large that it covers the width of the Fantasyland Theatre stage. The Map has the power to take dreamers to any place imaginable. When Mickey attempts to paint the one unfinished spot on the map, his adventures begin, taking him into fantastic worlds of music, color, excitement and beloved Disney characters.
• Mickey’s adventures include scenes with King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid,” Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Pocahontas, Mulan and an on-screen visit with Stitch from “Lilo and Stitch.”
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” runs approximately 22 minutes and includes six Disney production numbers, featuring classic songs and an original number, “Journey to Imagination” written especially for the show.
• The show is scheduled to run five times per day, seven days a week, during the summer. Show schedules will adjust in the fall.
• By opening day, May 25, the cast for “Mickey and the Magical Map” will have spent more than 40 days of rehearsal and training.
• More than 900 hopefuls auditioned for the show and the final company includes more than 50 dancers and singers.
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” can be seen only in the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland.