Musical masterpieces play a big part in Disney’s top attractions, creating the right atmosphere, sending a memorable message, and hopefully carving a little spot in the listener’s heart.
Many attractions will send you away humming a little tune, but some will leave with you the same song looping through your head all day.
Readers beware: the following list may leave you with an iconic Disney tune on the brain, too!
1. The Enchanted Tiki Room
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room
All the birds sing words, and the flowers croon
In the tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki, tiki room
This 11 minute show features 55 audio-animatronic birds, singing plants, and a chorus of tiki gods. Though the full track features versions of Let’s All Sing Like the Birdies Sing, Hawaiian War Chant, and Heigh-Ho, it’s the signature chorus that’s most recognizable.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me!
The iconic theme song for Pirates of the Caribbean was written by X. Atencio, the same songwriter responsible for Grim Grinning Ghosts. This song repeats throughout the attraction, but changes its tone significantly from the eerie whispers heard in the grotto, to the bold drunken chorus of the pirates in the burning city. The most troublesome part of having this song in your head is the fact that most of the lyrics beyond “Yo ho” are difficult to discern. Never fear, a little drunken mumbling sounds perfectly appropriate if you’re singing along.
3. Carousel of Progress
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
Shining at the end of every day
There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow
And tomorrow’s just a dream away
The song for the Carousel of Progress was written by the Sherman Brothers. If you weren’t familiar with them before, you may recognize them better after their portrayal in Saving Mr. Banks. B.J. Novak plays Robert and Jason Schwartzman is Richard Sherman. The same song, Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow, is played at the end of each scene in this rotating theater, but the music changes slightly to fit the time period, from the jazzy 1920’s to the futuristic pop version written for the final scene.
4. it’s a small world
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small world after all
It’s a small, small world
The small world music is another masterpiece courtesy of the Sherman Brothers. It was originally written as a slow ballad before it evolved in the almost painfully cheerful song heard on the attraction today.
5. Haunted Mansion
When the crypt doors creak, and the tombstones quake
Spooks come out for a swinging wake
Happy haunts materialize
And begin to vocalize
Grim grinning ghosts, come out to socialize
Grim Grinning Ghosts, the theme song for the Haunted Mansion, was written by X Atencio. All of the musical variations heard throughout the ride are built off of this one tune. A line in Shakespeare’s poem Venus and Adonis served as the inspiration for this song, reading “Grim-grinning ghost, earth’s worm, what dost thou mean.”
6. O Canada!
Canada
My Canada
You’re a lifetime journey for the traveler
The video for O Canada! in Epcot was updated in 2007 to include host Martin Short. While the theme song remains in the new video, it’s sung by a new voice – the Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila.
7. The Seas with Nemo and Friends/Finding Nemo: The Musical
The Big Blue World song was written for the musical, but debuted in the ride at Epcot, which opened first. Finding Nemo is the first non-musical movie to have songs written exclusively for the attraction version. While there are several songs in the stage show to leave you humming, it’s probably Big Blue World that you’ll walk away with. This is most certainly the tune you’ll leave The Seas at Epcot with.
In the big blue world
We’re gonna go explore
In the big blue world
Things we’ve never seen before
What’s waiting out there
We can never know
In the big blue world
We’re ready to go
8. Journey into Imagination
One little spark of inspiration
Is at the heart of all creation
Right at the start of everything that’s new
One little spark lights up for you
Written by the Sherman Brothers, the catchy One Little Spark song has accompanied the ride through all incarnations. From 1983 to 1998, it was known as Journey into Imagination with the Dreamfinder. In 1999 it become Journey into YOUR Imagination with Dr. Nigel Channing from Honey, I Shrunk the Audience, taking over as host. This version lasted only until 2001. In 2002, the ride took its current form as Journey into Imagination with Figment. The little purple dragon who accompanied the Dreamfinder returned to work alongside Dr. Nigel Channing, causing havoc in every scene.
