Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom houses one of the most unique offerings in the entire Disney theme park library. I’m speaking of Mickey’s PhilHarmagic, an elaborate show that is accurately described as Disney Animation’s Greatest Hits. It’s the perfect presentation for Disney fans because it’s an attraction that’s really a movie. PhilHarmagic is a magical production and one of the hidden gems of Walt Disney World. Let’s go Behind the Show to learn how Imagineers created this brilliant production.
The Experience: An animated short film featuring Donald Duck
The Trick: The world’s largest purpose-built 3D screen…with extras!
Image: DisneyAt the turn of the millennium, Magic Kingdom officials embarked on an ambitious project. They attempted to tell an entirely “new” story using select scenes from favorite Disney classics. They wanted Donald Duck to go on a big screen adventure for the ages.
To accomplish their vision, Disney needed to meld the technical wizardry of Imagineers with the storytelling skills and animation abilities of Walt Disney Animation Studios. Mickey’s PhilHarmagic would become the first joint development between these groups in many years. In fact, it’s one of the rare instances of this kind of coalition since Walt Disney himself worked closely with his animation team back in the 1950s.
The project hinged on several factors. Disney needed a story worthy of the assembled talent, one that would entice theme park tourists to watch the show again and again. And they also required a facility capable of exhibiting the film that they had in mind. The latter required Imagineering to do the impossible yet again. They were forced to build something that didn’t exist.
Image: DisneyFrom the earliest stages, Imagineers understood that this project would require realism. To achieve that goal, they wanted to display their film in 3D. At the turn of the 21st century, 3D technology was still in its nascent phase. 3D cinemas were generally only available as part of IMAX theaters. Standalone 3D theaters simply didn’t exist.
For PhilHarmagic, Disney had to commission the largest screen ever made specifically for such a presentation. They fabricated a 150-feet wide movie theater screen that is also 28 feet high, a monolith of a 3D display. It stretches almost 180 degrees, meaning that it comprises virtually your entire line of sight including your peripheral vision. And they added a few special touches.
Disney advertises PhilHarmagic as a 4D experience. This bit of marketing is an old school horror movie trick started by auteurs like William Castle. To give some oomph to the scariest parts of movies, Castle and others would ask movie theater employees to make scary noises.
Frightening guests isn’t Disney’s thing, so they take a gentler approach. During the show, water will mist on guests, smells will fill up the theater, and winds will blow in the faces of viewers. This fourth dimension explains why PhilHarmagic is such an immersive experience.
The Experience: Celebrating our collective love of Disney movies
The Trick: Bouncing through a whole new world again and again
Image: DisneyMickey’s PhilHarmagic is illogically named. I understand that this is blasphemous to say, but it’s true. In reality, this short film is Donald’s PhilHarmagic, as everyone’s favorite Duck is the star of the show. A long time ago, Uncle Walt appreciated that he couldn’t have Mickey Mouse act the fool, and so he introduced Donald Duck as the mischievous, misfortunate best friend.
During PhilHarmagic, Donald Duck does something that he’s warned not to do. He touches Mickey’s hat aka the famous Sorcerer’s Apprentice hat. It magically brings the orchestra of inanimate musical objects to life and then transports him through a series of iconic Disney animated movie scenes. Throughout these sequences, Donald has but one goal in life. He must retrieve Mickey’s hat to escape the chaotic situation.
From the debut of The Little Mermaid through the end of the 20th century, Disney animation went through a second golden age. They released a string of instant classics that have stood the test of time. Many of them have a presence in PhilHarmagic. Imagineers liaised with film animators and selected the ideal films and scenes for this event. Music played an integral role as well. After all, Donald’s trying to conduct an orchestra when things go awry.
Image: DisneyDisney films played during PhilHarmagic include The Lion King, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasia. Due to the timing of the release, the lesser sequel, Fantasia 2000, also has a musical accompaniment during the story.
The integral part of the story is the seamlessness of it. Donald must have a good reason to interact with each batch of movie characters. When he gets thrust into another realm, he can’t see and asks for a light. It’s a brilliant way to introduce Lumière, as the candle illuminates the darkness for an extremely confused Donald.
After a sparkling rendition of Be Our Guest, Donald somehow sinks into the Broom Room from Fantasia and then washes away into The Little Mermaid’s undersea home. Donald temporarily forgets all about Daisy when he lays eyes on Ariel for the first time, a lovely touch.
Image: DisneyEventually, a shocking problem forces him to head toward the light in the water, which proves to be the sun from The Lion King. Next, Simba accidentally causes the Sorcerer’s Hat to explode into the air, where Donald encounters Tinkerbell. The two of them soar through the London sky as they hear the song, You Can Fly!
While high in the sky, Donald bumps into a magic carpet carrying Aladdin and Jasmine and has a lovely flight before Iago shows up and accidentally knocks off the hat, thereby knocking Donald back to his own realm. Here, Mickey returns for the first time since the opening two lines of dialogue. The more poised mouse successfully conducts the orchestra, while poor Donald suffers one final indignity as the show ends.
The genius of PhilHarmagic is that every single encounter has a purpose. And each scene displayed is among the most iconic in Disney history. Just as importantly, the segments feature memorable songs like A Whole New World, I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Part of Your World, and Be Our Guest will have you singing along as you listen. The entire purpose of this story is to hypnotize viewers, enthralling them with a shared love of Disney.
Each scene with its accompanying music reinforces the greatness of Disney animation. Sure, it’s self-aggrandizing, but doesn’t Disney deserve that kind of adoration? And its core, PhilHarmagic is a celebration of all the things that caused us all to fall in love with Disney in the first place.
The Experience: Fun in multiple dimensions
The Trick: Enhancing 3D with special touches
Image: DisneyThe 3D parts of PhilHarmagic are easy to spot. The first element occurs when a frustrated Donald throws his conductor’s wand at the audience. It whirls in motion as if it’s going to smack the viewer in the face before boomeranging back on him. Soon afterward, other musical instruments fly through the air as they join our ducky friend in getting sucked into a void. Numerous other 3D elements add a touch of flair to the proceedings.
From the earliest stage, Imagineers knew that they needed 3D animation to bring PhilHarmagic to life. There was just one problem. Most of the movies that they intended to feature in the presentation were never converted into 3D. In addition, Disney planned to rely on computer animation for every frame of the film. Since none of the animated movies mentioned here employed computer graphics, Disney had to start from scratch.
Imagineers animated the entire show this way. The help that they received from Disney’s film studio was invaluable in this regard. Alex Keane, the character designer for A Goofy Movie and story artist for Treasure Planet, even wrote the script for PhilHarmagic. Due to the three-year creation process for the presentation, he simultaneously worked on this project and Treasure Planet.
Disney received a helping hand from other proven artists. Glen Keane, the award-winning illustrator and Disney Legend, re-did his work from The Little Mermaid, turning Ariel and friends into 3D characters. Nik Ranieri did the same for Lumière during the Be Our Guest sequence.
These scenes feel so realistic and authentic because Imagineers went straight to the original source. And they even recycled dialogue from Clarence “Ducky” Nash, the original voice of Donald Duck, for much of the show. That’s Tony Anselmo during Be Our Guest, though. Finally, the director of PhilHarmagic is George Scribner, who helmed a classic Disney animated film, Oliver and Company.
The special touches in PhilHarmagic occur beyond the screen. While the 3D effects are remarkable, the mesmerizing elements are the mists and scents. These aren’t new tricks at Disney shows, but the “4D” aspect is what makes the production so engrossing.
Image: DisneySince you wear 3D glasses aka “Opera Glasses” throughout the show, you don’t have your ordinary peripheral vision. Disney takes advantage of this fact by tantalizing your other senses. At the start of the show, an audio trick will build the illusion that Goofy is desperately running around backstage, worrying about the absent orchestra. These sound effects “move” across the surround system to complete the effect.
At crucial moments, the entire stadium will shake. The most notable instance is when Donald gets shot out of a cannon-like musical instrument across the whole movie theater. It’s the final visual of the show, the one where duck feet are hanging from the wall. Imagineers are so proud of this trick that it carries over into the adjoining gift shop. Attentive visitors will appreciate that part of Donald is still visible in the wall here.
The other 4D features are ones familiar to Disney guests. They’re used in other shows like It’s Tough to Be a Bug! Disney constructs unique vents that can distribute misting water. The spray isn’t tricky technology, but it’s incredibly immersive. The same is true of the wind that wafts in your face as the champagne corks pop. While the effect is excellent, it’s just a pressurized fan at work.
Similarly, the scents like the apple pie smell are the same Disney trick you’ve known for ages. They have proprietary technology that pipes in the appropriate smells. Something you may not know is that you can buy a similar device for your home. The ScentHD mimics many of your favorite Disney fragrances. And it’s basically the same technology that you’ll find in PhilHarmagic.
All of these interactive components evolve PhilHarmagic into something greater than a simple short film. As you watch the 3D animation and listen to your favorite Disney classic songs, the various mists and scents will engage you on a deeper level. It’s the purest Disney magic imaginable.
Here’s one final fun fact about Mickey’s PhilHarmagic. When the attraction opened, it was the first time Mickey Mouse ever appeared in 3D!
