The Mickey and the Magical Map previews I attended were great, but nothing could have prepared me for the show’s premiere last Thursday at the Fantasyland Theater. Shortly after 6p.m., the Fantasyland Theater filled with invited guests and media and Disney executives for the show’s grand premiere, which was preceded by an introduction from the Resort’s new president Michael Colglazier.
If you haven’t been following my posts (I won’t hold it against you, but you can see some pretty cool behind the scenes stuff if you click here), Mickey and the Magical Map follows Mickey Mouse in his role as the curious apprentice to sorcerer Yen Sid. (By the way, I just discovered “Yen Sid” is “Disney” spelled backwards. Cool, right?)
Yen Sid (from “Fantasia) 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.”The show clocks in at about 22 minutes–which is just about as long as little tikes can handle sitting in one place (or mine at least) and makes for a child’s great first introduction to live stage entertainment. The show runs five times each day, seven day a week during the summer. Guests visiting after the summer season may find an abridged schedule, so be sure to check the entertainment schedule prior to planning a visit.
What did I like most about the show? The act featuring Pocahontas, Mulan and Rupunzel was pretty tough to top with their incredible voices and beautiful songs we have come to know and love. I suppose a piece of me felt a bit nostalgic sitting in the Fantasyland Theater listening to Pocahontas belt out “Just Around the River Bend” like I did so many times in the 1990s.
This summer and for many summers to come, Mickey and the Magical Map is sure to delight families with kids of all ages and with the innovative technology the map uses, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some changes to the show in the future, like what we’ve seen with World of Color, to keep it fresh and new.
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I look forward to seeing this show later this summer. Glad to see that space is being used again for a show.