Fun Facts: ‘Mickey and the Magical Map’ in Fantasyland Theatre at Disneyland

The new, live stage production “Mickey and the Magical Map” premieres Saturday, May 25, in the newly refurbished Fantasyland Theatre, in Disneyland Park. Like all live entertainment at the Disneyland Resort, “Mickey and the Magical Map” is designed to bring children of all ages together for a magical storytelling experience. The innovative production also takes Disneyland storytelling in some exciting new directions as performers interact with the biggest “character” on the stage – the Map.

Mickey and the Magical Map

• The show stars Mickey Mouse as the curious and slightly mischievous apprentice to sorcerer Yen Sid. Yen Sid (“Disney” spelled backwards) first appeared in the Disney animated classic “Fantasia.”
• Yen Sid sets his mapmakers to work painting an enormous map, so large that it covers the width of the Fantasyland Theatre stage. The Map has the power to take dreamers to any place imaginable. When Mickey attempts to paint the one unfinished spot on the map, his adventures begin, taking him into fantastic worlds of music, color, excitement and beloved Disney characters.
• Mickey’s adventures include scenes with King Louie from “The Jungle Book,” Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled,” Sebastian from “The Little Mermaid,” Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog,” Pocahontas, Mulan and an on-screen visit with Stitch from “Lilo and Stitch.”
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” runs approximately 22 minutes and includes six Disney production numbers, featuring classic songs and an original number, “Journey to Imagination” written especially for the show.
• The show is scheduled to run five times per day, seven days a week, during the summer. Show schedules will adjust in the fall.
• By opening day, May 25, the cast for “Mickey and the Magical Map” will have spent more than 40 days of rehearsal and training.
• More than 900 hopefuls auditioned for the show and the final company includes more than 50 dancers and singers.
• “Mickey and the Magical Map” can be seen only in the Fantasyland Theatre in Disneyland.
• The innovative Map features nearly 1 million pixels and more than 35,000 square inches of LED screen surface.
• Sections of the Map are moved on wagons that weigh more than 9,000 pounds each. The total weight of scenery installed is approximately 71,000 pounds.
• Tiana’s showboat in the finale reaches 18 feet tall, stretches 11 feet wide and weighs nearly 1,200 pounds.
• More than six miles of cable serve as communications pathways between the lighting, show control, audio and video systems.
• Audio for “Mickey and the Magical Map” features 9.1 surround sound from more than 60 speakers. The production’s magical soundtrack was recorded at major Los Angeles recording studios, by nearly 100 musicians and vocalists.

Fantasyland Theatre

• For “Mickey and the Magical Map,” the Fantasyland Theatre has been thoroughly refurbished and remodeled, with new lighting and audio systems, a new tech booth, enhanced wheelchair access and improved guest flow.
• New benches provide seating for more than 1,800 guests.
• The Theatre stage has been built up to support the spectacular Map for “Mickey and the Magical Map.”
• Today’s Fantasyland Theatre originally was called “Videopolis.” It debuted in 1985 as a dance location featuring a 5,000-square-foot dance floor and 70 TV monitors showing music videos.
• Even in its earliest days, “Videopolis” hosted live daytime stage shows such as a “Mickey Mouse Club Reunion” show and “The Magic of Christmas” holiday show.
• Large scale stage productions in “Videopolis” included “One Man’s Dream,” “Dick Tracy in Diamond Double-Cross,” “Mickey’s Nutcracker” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
• In 1995 the name of the venue changed to Fantasyland Theater with the opening of “The Spirit of Pocahontas,” followed by “Animazement – The Musical,” “Mickey’s Detective School” and “Snow White: An Enchanting New Musical,” which opened in 2004.
• When “Snow White” closed in 2006, Fantasyland Theatre became the home of “Princess Fantasy Faire.”
• Fans of Disneyland history will know that the Theatre’s name was inspired by the original Fantasyland Theater (different spelling), which, from 1956 to 1981 screened Disney cartoons and short films featuring the Mouseketeers of “The Mickey Mouse Club.” The original theater stood on the site of what is now the Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction in Fantasyland.