Thrifty Thursday: Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/clydeorama

One of my family’s favorite attractions at the Magic Kingdom is Mickey’s PhilharMagic. This indoor show is all about Disney; a fantastic example of Disney 4-D at its best!

During our recent trip, we were within a large crowd in Fantasyland, waiting for the cast members to drop the ropes following the Wishes fireworks show. We decided to head to Mickey’s PhilharMagic as it only had a 5-minute wait at the time. We noticed a man struggling to keep his daughter (approximately 4 yo) and his son (approximately 2 yo) entertained while trying to struggle with more patience himself. We suggested that they head to the PhilharMagic, too. He said he had not been inside asked what it was, so we told him it was a great show and that we thought the kids would love it. When we left the theater, we found him at the exit and asked him how they liked it. He said they loved it and thanked us for suggesting it. I thought I would take a few minutes today to share some information about this great FREE show as well.

When you first head into the lobby area, you will see posters of the concert hall’s past productions. For this show, Mickey Mouse is performing with his PhilharMagic Orchestra. You will need to grab a pair of “opera glasses” (3D glasses) and then wait for the auditorium doors to open when Goofy, the Concert Hall’s Stage Manager, welcomes you in for the show. You will notice that once the doors open, many visitors rush on in. Don’t be in a huge hurry as everyone will be expected to move all the way to the end of their selected row. We usually take our time, then pick a row that looks like we might end up toward the middle.

Once you are seated, you will be given the usual instructions about silencing your cell phones, no eating or drinking in the theater, no flash photography, etc. Just as the curtain rises, it is announced that Donald Duck is missing and the stage is bare. Donald is taking a siesta and when Mickey finds him he instructs him to unpack all the instruments and get them ready for the show, then Mickey places his magical Sorcerer’s Hat on the podium and tells Donald not to touch it.

Of course, the defiant little Donald does touch it, so all the instruments come to life. But when he scolds a stubborn little flute, all of the instruments rebel and in the craziness and mayhem he loses the sorcerer’s hat.  During the twelve minute show, Donald is invited to be a guest at the land of Beauty and the Beast, gets swept away by the brooms in Fantasia, goes under the sea with The Little Mermaid, spends time with the animals of the Lion King, flies above London with Peter Pan and glides on a magic carpet ride with Aladdin, all the while attempting to retrieve the hat.

All throughout Donald’s journey, you will marvel in all the elements that make Disney 4-D such a treasure. When Donald arrives in the set of Beauty and the Beast, you will enjoy the music to “Be our Guest” as he is offered all of the wonderful treats of a magical dinner. During this musical number, your senses will be heightened as you actually smell the aroma of apple pie when Donald holds it out for the audience to see, and feel the surprising bursts of air as champagne bottles are opened. You will also enjoy the musical favorites from The Little Mermaid, the Lion King and Aladdin as well.

Ultimately, Donald retrieves Mickey’s special hat, only to have it knocked away once again. Donald jumps after it and is whirled around in the whirlwind from which he came earlier. Then, our hero Mickey returns, grabs the hat and, in the way that only Mickey can, restores order to the orchestra and plays beautiful music. Donald, feeling that all the craziness is finally over, gets knocked into a tuba which then shoots him out and across the audience, plunging him right into the back wall of the theater.

This is a great show! It is nice to take a rest, enjoy some cool air indoors, see a bright, colorful, musical show with superior visual and stimulating sensory effects. Children love it, it is wheelchair accessible and there is also special seating for guests accompanying wheelchair guests. There is also fast pass available for this popular attraction. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is definitely one not to miss; we really enjoy it and I hope you will too!

Brenda is a native Texan born and raised on the Gulf Coast. She visited Disney World twice as a teenager and always dreamed of growing her family Disney. She took her first-timer husband and their three children to Disney World in 2000 and they now spend every Thanksgiving there. Brenda writes with a comedic twist on various Disney topics. She will be sharing tips she has learned during her travels and also hopes to enlighten people on little-known freebies that Disney has to offer. She wishes she could have met Walt Disney and considers herself to be a student of Walt. In parallel to his dream it is her wish that everyone would take at least one trip to Disney World in order to share in its magic with their families.