There was a lot of talk online over the past several months about the innovative new show “Mickey and the Magical Map” coming to Disneyland Park, but I still wasn’t totally sure just what to expect when I headed to the Disneyland Resort a couple weeks ago to attend the premiere. However, I grew up watching stage productions of Disney stories like Beauty and the Beast and Pocahontas, so I was thrilled about live entertainment returning to this venue and the opportunity to introduce my son to the magic of seeing favorite characters come to life onstage.
“Mickey and the Magical Map” is presented in the newly-refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, which now seats about 1,800 guests. I’d heard that a big part of the show is the map itself, which is presented on a huge LED screen spanning nearly the entire length of the stage. When I arrived for the premiere, I realized just how big it was! Nearly 1 million pixels and more than 35,000 square inches of screen surface dance with vibrant color during each performance, making the innovative map a key character in the show.
As Lisa mentioned in her “Mickey and the Magical Map” review, the story opens with Yen Sid, a wise sorcerer from Disney’s classic Fantasia, and follows a somewhat mischievous Mickey Mouse as he sets out on a journey within the mystical map. I’m a lover of musicals, and there is no shortage of great tunes since the 22-minute show features seven songs from beloved Disney films like The Jungle Book, The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch and The Princess and the Frog, plus one original song called “Journey to Imagination.” With each direction of the map’s compass, the audience is transported to a dazzling new world of color, music and much-loved characters!
My favorite part of “Mickey and the Magical Map” is a musical medley featuring Pocahontas, Mulan, Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. I saw the show three (yes, three!) different times over the course of my long weekend at the Disneyland Resort, and that scene tugged on my heartstrings every time. The incredibly talented performers belting out songs I listened to as a child, in addition to a song I now sing to my son, was really moving. The on-screen effects during this portion, which incorporate elements from all three princesses’ story lines, are also visually stunning. I think the audience shared my excitement, because each princess was greeted with cheers and applause upon her arrival onstage. The enthusiasm and positive energy in the theatre was so tangible!
This is a cutting-edge show unlike any other that has been presented at the Disneyland Resort, and I had the pleasure of speaking with Michael Jung, Disney’s Vice President of Theatrical Development, about what makes “Mickey and the Magical Map” unique.
The show will be offered five times a day, seven days a week throughout the summer. When you go (and I definitely recommend you do), be on the lookout for those magical “How did they do that?!” moments…I missed a few the first time around because I was fiddling with my camera!
As I said, I saw three performances of “Mickey and the Magical Map” during my visit, but it’s such a dynamic show that each time I noticed something new and enjoyed it even more. My son, Mason, who is not quite 3 years old, sat mesmerized throughout the two performances I took him to, and he has been talking about the “Mickey show” ever since. As a proud Disney mom who has a passion for the arts, I call that a mission accomplished!
