Last week I was fortunate enough to be invited to see a special sneak peek of Mickey and the Magical Map, the new show that will premiere at the Fantasyland Theatre on May 25. The all-new stage spectacular follows the sorcerer’s apprentice Mickey Mouse and a variety of other Disney characters as they embark on a series of musical adventures through the magical powers of a sorcerer’s map. 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 and even extends into the audience.

Mickey and the Magical Map is unlike any other show at the Disneyland Resort and is so technolocially advanced that it required a complete renovation of the Fantasyland Theatre. Each performance will feature up to 24 incredibly talented performers along with that magical map made up of 10,000-pound monitors. To accommodate the new show, a state-of-the-art booth has been built at the back of the theater to house the show’s techs and choreographers during each production. The theater also boasts a new lighting system and 61 speakers with 9.1 surround sound. One incredible system controls all of the technological aspects of the show and the special effects. That‘s 68 points of control all from one central system.

Auditions for the show began in Los Angeles in February of this year. In order to come up with the show’s 60 performers, the show’s creators met with more than 900 singers, dancers and musicians. Today the crew is hard at work and will have had seven weeks of rehersal before the show opens to the public on May 25. 

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 King Louie will be fully articulated.

Much like World of Color, the technology of the Magical Map makes it easy for seasonal overlays for the show and the options to add different “worlds” to the story. While this hasn’t been planned at this time, it is an option that could be used to keep the show fresh for guests.

Here’s your sneak peek of Mickey and the Magical Map!

And here is a video fully explaining the acts of the show!