In this week’s mailbag, staff writer Mike Scopa responds to letters he received in response to his article “Music in the Disney Zone” (link).
Susan Edgington writes:
The music in the parks is a huge part of the Disney experience for me! Sometimes, it is half the reason I go. Magic Kingdom music always takes me back in my mind to a simpler era and I feel good. The Main Street music is mainly instrumental versions of songs from the musical Oklahoma, as well as other ragtime tunes, and I love it. One of my favorite things is walking up to Adventureland and hearing the jungle drumbeats. That’s when I really know the fun is starting. I adore the slow drawling tunes in Frontierland. It immediately whisks me into the old west and pioneer days. The instrumental Disney songs playing in Fantasyland make me feel lighthearted and magical. And of course, the futuristic Tomorrowland spacy sounds make me feel like I am in an exciting future world. I also love the Carousel of Progress song. And let’s not forget about Sonny Eclipse inside Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe. I love his songs, especially “Bright Little Star.” And I am one of those nutty people who know every word and sing along when I ride Splash Mountain or Pirates.
Epcot music is a real thrill for me. The moment I hear the entrance medley, I am in. I love hearing the instrumental versions of “One Little Spark,” “Golden Dreams,” and others. The Soarin’ music is both exciting and soothing, like you said. And I love all the music playing in the air in Future World. I really wish they would sell that music, as well as the complete entrance medley, because it is one of the best things about Epcot. Also, I would love to have the songs from the rides. I love the music on Spaceship Earth, and I adore the song on El Rio del Tiempo. I pretty much love all the music played everywhere at Epcot. The classical music in France’s movie, awesome. And each country has their own music playing that immediately helps transport me from one to the next. It is all wonderful.
MGM Studios music is mainly famous tunes from musicals and movies, and I love that too. I often hear the beautiful and melancholy theme song to Dr. Zhivago, or the joyous tunes from Oklahoma, or the thunderous song from Star Wars. There are so many, and it fits MGM’s magic of movies theme. And I love hearing the good old rock and roll songs outside the Rock ‘N Roller coaster. I also love the instrumental 1920s music playing outside the Tower of Terror. They should sell that music, too.
Animal Kingdom also has great music that sets the mood and tone of the park. I love the Tree of Life theme, it just feels like nature. And I think the oldies playing in Chester and Hester’s Dinorama is fun. I love the majestic music played during the preshow to the Dinosaur ride. I also like to hang out inside Restaurantosaurus to hear such tunes as “Walk the Dinosaur” and “It’s the End of the World as We Know It.” The buggy versions of Broadway musicals inside the tree is also fun. And of course there are the Asian and African tunes that take you right into those sections of the park.
Even Blizzard Beach has music I love. They play such songs as Walking on Sunshine and other beach tunes, but also have the jingle bells ringing before announcements and such.
Downtown Disney also has great background music, mainly Disney songs, usually pop versions, which fits the mood of the area.
In conclusion, the music is a huge and very important part of the Disney magic and experience for me. I listen to my Official Album or my new 50th anniversary set whenever I am in the Disney mood. I live right nearby now, and can visit often, and I never tire of hearing all the wonderful music that is Disney World.
After reading your letter there is no doubt in my mind that the music of Walt Disney World is very important to you.
As far as those pieces of music that you long to hear, you may want to check out www.mouseworldradio.com as that site often plays the theme park background music that usually puts us in the zone.
Pammer writes:
What a wonderful article; I look forward to reading the next part!
I love Disney music and my way to keep the magic close to me is to purchase those wonderful compilation CDs and listen to them whenever I can… that way I can get into the Disney Zone even when I’m not at the parks.
I have an old CD which contains about 26 songs of both Disneyland and WDW, including music from the original attractions at Epcot such as ‘Horizons’. When I listen to this CD, I’m able to relive the days when I first visited WDW and those now-defunct attractions.
I love walking down Main Street and hearing songs from the great musicals of the past… ‘Oklahoma’, ‘The Music Man’, etc. Usually we’re rushing from one land to another and rarely take the time to listen to them, but Main Street can be very special.
Other favorites of mine from Disneyland include the music from Disney’s Electrical Parade and the new 50th Fireworks show… outstanding.
Hey, just reading your article brought me to the Disney Zone.
Where would we be without those CDs? I’ll tell you, we’d be in some serious Disney Zone withdrawal. Those CDs certainly bridge the gap between trips for me and I would guess for you as well.
You mentioned how you sometimes find yourself rushing around to the various lands in Magic Kingdom and don’t take the time to just listen. It was when I consciously made it a point to listen that the experience of visiting WDW became an even more rewarding experience. Try it.
Danny Bereza writes:
WOW! It’s amazing. Its like I wrote your article. I can’t believe how much we all have in common. When we walk into the parks in search of that moment to relive again and again.
There are several “connections” among all Disney and Walt Disney World fans. I think that the Disney Zone connection is right at the top. Thanks for the note.
Megan writes:
Your article on music and the Disney Zone was spot on! The park music is so a part of my childhood and life, that just a few bars and I close my eyes and I’m walking through Adventure Land or I can picture the Emporium.
One song you didn’t mention, and it is gone, but it’s one I know I’ve heard from many others it’s a favorite is the original “One Little Spark” from imagination. I can still remember seeing Figment for the first time and that song will always be THE SONG for Imagination no matter what else they come up with!
I have to let you know that I have received almost a dozen emails that echo
your feelings on “One Little Spark” which by the way is sort of still in the
Imagination Pavilion at Future World.
Aaron Reese writes:
Personally, I get in “the Zone” when listening to “One Little Spark.” I was devastated when the original ride closed. When they brought Figment back, as well as the song, I was extremely happy. Whenever I go on that ride and hear Eric Idle (as Nigel Channing) and Figment sing the ride’s theme song, I literally get choked up. I always sing along with the ride no matter how many people are staring at me.
Also, I love the music on Splash Mountain. No matter how annoying the other people on the boat can be, I ignore them and get into the Disney Zone. The songs are just so perfect (another reason why Song of the South should have been released here, and I had to settle with a crappy bootleg). I just have to sing with the characters, because it makes the overall experience even more magical.
Yet another vote for “One Little Spark.”
I am more and more convinced that many of us have a special place in our hearts for the original pieces of music that first appeared in the parks and would like to hold onto the music as well as the memories associated with them.
Brett writes:
Thank you for your article on “Music in the Disney Zone.” It was fantastic!
Reading your article took me directly back to the parks. Where I stand for Illuminations, Spectromagic, Wishes, Carousel Of Progress, etc. The moment you mentioned music from a particular point in the park it just took me right back.
We were fortunate to learn about the theming for the Magic Kingdom music during our “Keys to the Kingdom” tour in July 2005. Our guide pointed out why they picked the music that they did and how it flows from each land to the next. He even pointed out that where you walk underneath the Columbia Harbour House between Liberty Square (close to the Haunted Mansion) and Fantasyland has its very own selected piece of music that helps in the transition from Liberty Square to Fantasyland.
We thought this was very cool and will be listening for it again when we go back. Thank you, again, for writing such a wonderful article.
It’s no coincidence that wherever we are in Walt Disney World we tend to say, “Boy this music just seems so right for where I am!” Obviously there are “signature melodies” in all of the parks and we associate those melodies with our own special memories of past trips.
If the music and songs were selected in a haphazardly manner my guess is that most of us would not feel the way we do when we hear the music.
Dave Tavener writes:
I just wanted to tell you you’re right on when it comes to the music in the parks putting you in the zone. I especially related to the effect Illuminations can have on you. My wife and I first saw Illuminations and the Tapestry of Dreams parade in 2002 and immediately purchased the CD. That music got us through some very dark times in our lives. It’s incredibly uplifting even without the visual aspect. When I finally got to share it with my own children last year, I couldn’t explain to them why a fireworks show had their dad in tears.
In my opinion, music is the only truly portable element of the Disney experience. Pictures, videos, and souvenirs trigger memories, but it’s still kind of a past-tense feeling. When I put on Illuminations and close my eyes, I’m there. I can easily make myself believe I’m standing in front of Canada looking out over the lagoon watching a full moon rise and waiting impatiently for the show to begin. Thanks for the great article.
PS – No chance you’re going to do this, but if you leave Festival of the Lion King out for Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you’ll receive another email from me…
Ah another Illuminations groupie. There are many more out there than we may know. My children still don’t understand the tears either although, like everyone else, their day will come. I agree that it is the combination of the images and the music that makes for the total experience.
I don’t think you’ll be disappointed when I discuss the Festival of the Lion King in Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park.
Joshua writes:
I wanted to start by thanking you for your many wonderful articles. Your insight is amazingly accurate and somehow manages to be both personal and yet general enough that everyone can relate on some level. Some of your thoughts have hit close enough to home for me that I find myself with tears in my eyes just as a result of memories your words evoke. Incidentally, that’s really saying something as I’m a big “tough guy” who is ex-US Air Force and I pride myself on being “hardcore” and maintaining my military bearing (the art of looking like you don’t care about anything no matter what you really think). It’s these things that lead me to one of my most powerful Disney music memories:
At one point in my military career, a female Seaman (Navy) had just taken the liberty of breaking my heart and, before I even made it back to the dorm that night, the whole flight (a flight in the AF is like a company in the army) had heard about it. Late that night, four of my buddies abducted me and took me down to D-Land to cheer me up. We arrived early in the morning and, outside the gate, the first thing I noticed was the riff from the reprisal (exit music) from “Fantasmic!” playing while we got our tickets. I don’t know why, but the whole theme of “Dream a fantastic dream” and by implication, wishes coming true… well, long story short, I had to excuse myself and wander out toward the street (Harbor Blvd.) so I could have a few minutes to get my bearing back.
I know that your article was about WDW music, and it’s more of a Disneyland memory for me, but I really hope you include “Fantasmic!” in your piece when writing about Disney-MGM Studios. It truly is an amazing piece of music. I’m always glad that they do the show in the dark. I don’t think that’s so you can see the fireworks well, I think it’s so you can’t see all the “hardcore” guys in the audience having a moment of quiet reflection with the help of Disney’s legacy of wonderful music.
Keep up the great work, and thank you once again for your wonderful articles which help me (and my mother and my two best friends and I’m sure many, many others) Relive the Magic!
PS: I don’t know who to ask (maybe I’ll talk to some cast members next time I’m down at one of the parks) but maybe you know the answer: Especially at WDW, the stage is pretty far from the audience, and the big rock that Mickey’s on is even farther… Can Mickey hear us cheering for him when he appears and/or at the end of the show? I hope he knows that full grown men still sit at the edge of their seats hoping he’ll triumph over evil… again!
We are not alone is discovering that The Disney Zone is not sexist and it affects both genders… tough guys included. Regardless of whether it’s Disneyland, Walt Disney World, or any of the Disney theme parks, the Disney Zone is there.
Your story certainly hits home with me. I think many of those who “get it” find that the Disney Zone serves many purposes and each individual somehow subconsciously molds the “zoning effect” to meet their needs.
And of course “Fantasmic” is in my sights for Part II. As far as Mickey hearing the crowd, I wouldn’t know for sure… but I’ve got to think he knows we’re cheering. Thanks for sharing and for the kind words.
