Since Disneyland opened its doorways in Anaheim, California, music has been an important a part of the magical expertise that comes with visiting Disney theme parks. Songs that had been written particularly for sights have turn into agency favorites with guests and memorable music from the films has discovered a brand new lease of life soundtracking much-loved rides. Through the years, extra parks have adopted – Magic Kingdom in Florida, Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Hong Kong Disneyland – all of which place music on the coronary heart of the Disney expertise. Right here’s our choose of the very best Disney park songs.
Take heed to the Disney Heroes playlist now.
When You Want Upon A Star
“When You Wish Upon A Star,” written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney’s 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio has turn into synonymous with all issues Disney, not least its parks. The tune has performed an integral half in such memorable exhibits as Bear in mind… Desires Come True (the spectacular fireworks show that celebrated Disneyland’s fiftieth anniversary and Tokyo Disneyland’s thirty fifth anniversary) and Needs: A Magical Gathering Of Disney Desires on the Magic Kingdom. “When You Wish Upon A Star” stays a timeless and magical reminder that something is feasible – an ideal tune for the Disney theme park expertise.
Heigh-Ho
One other tune from a beloved Disney film that has turn into an important a part of Disney theme parks is “Heigh-Ho,” from the 1937 animated movie, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. Within the film, “Heigh-Ho” introduces us to Snow White’s seven sidekicks as they mine for diamonds and rubies. It’s a call-and-response working tune, designed to maintain spirits up throughout a tough day on the mine. The immediately recognizable “Heigh-Ho” options within the Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare, a curler coaster that opened within the Magic Kingdom in 2014 and was replicated within the Shanghai Disneyland Park two years later. A model of the tune with altered lyrics additionally performs on the finish of the Enchanted Tiki Room present, an attraction primarily based at each Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom – right here, our seven heroes thank visitors for watching the present as they depart.
Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me)
Subsequent is a tune that was featured within the Disney theme parks earlier than it hit the silver display screen. “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me)” was the bawdy theme tune for the unique Disneyland Pirates Of The Caribbean attraction, the place it was sung by a bunch of rowdy pirates. The tune – written by composer George Bruns and lyricist Xavier Atencio – is a pirate anthem, reveling within the daring and dastardly actions that include life on the excessive seas. “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life For Me)” appeared within the massively profitable spin-off film Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl and went on to function all through the franchise.
Grim Grinning Ghosts
One other common attraction that later impressed a film is The Haunted Mansion, a experience that opened in 1969 at Disneyland and was later recreated on the Magic Kingdom and Tokyo Disneyland. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” was composed by Buddy Baker with lyrics by Xavier Atencio and have become the attraction’s theme tune, with snippets of the melody and variations on its themes audible all through the experience. The tune’s whipsmart wordplay and spooky melody made it a agency favourite with parkgoers through the years and has even impressed cowl variations from Los Lobos and Barenaked Women. “Grim Grinning Ghosts” additionally featured prominently when The Haunted Mansion was tailored right into a 2003 live-action film starring Eddie Murphy.
It’s A Small World
When songwriting brothers Robert B. and Richard M. Sherman had been challenged by their boss, Walt Disney, to write down a tune “that can be translated into many languages and be played as a round,” they hit the jackpot. Written for the Disney theme park attraction initially named “Children Of The World” the Shermans’ tune was a plea for understanding and unity that was as easy and catchy as a nursery rhyme. Earlier than transferring to Disneyland, the attraction premiered on the 1964 New York World’s Truthful. Since then, variations of the water-based boat experience have gained hearts at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland, proving the power of the tune’s message.
In The Huge Blue World
A way more latest favourite, “In The Big Blue World” is a key tune in Discovering Nemo – The Musical, written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, the married songwriting workforce. The tune follows Nemo, a younger clownfish with a severe case of wanderlust, and his father Marlin as they put together for Nemo’s first day in school. Whereas the hero of the musical is worked up to discover the oceans, his father is cautious of the risks that lurk within the “big blue world.” The reside puppet and musical stage present opened in 2007 at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World and was relaunched in 2022 as Discovering Nemo: The Huge Blue… and Past!.
Dancin’ A Catchy Rhythm
Since opening on April 12, 1992, Disneyland Paris has introduced the enjoyment of Disney to Europe, changing into the continent’s most visited theme park. Clearly, the Disney park wanted a theme tune and that’s the place the upbeat and infectious “Dancin’ A Catchy Rhythm” is available in. The tune, written by composer Vasile Sirli and lyricist Jay Smith, was initially a part of The Fantastic World Of Disney Parade on the resort, soundtracking a procession of floats that showcased a few of Disney’s hottest characters. “Dancin’ A Catchy Rhythm” quickly took on a lifetime of its personal and was even launched as a CD single in 1998. When the attraction was changed by The Princess Parade in 2003, “Dancin’ A Catchy Rhythm” was given an even bigger function, changing into a bona fide park anthem.
There’s A Nice Huge Stunning Tomorrow
One other immortal tune by the Shermans originated from the 1964 New York World’s Truthful. “There’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” is a winningly optimistic present tune that soundtracked the Carousel Of Progress, an attraction that used “Audio-Animatronics” (programmed robots) to inform the story of a traditional household’s relationship with expertise all through the a long time. The attraction was moved to Tomorrowland at Disneyland in 1967, earlier than reopening within the Magic Kingdom in 1975, the place it stays. The tune has a particular place within the coronary heart of many Disney followers, not least as its writers thought of it to be a tune for Disney’s founder. Richard Sherman later stated the tune “had a wonderful positiveness about it. In a way, it was Walt’s theme song, because he was very positive about the future. He really felt that there was a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.”
Take heed to the Disney Heroes playlist now.
