Music can be a powerfully emotional thing. It can evoke a wide range of feelings; from elation and happiness to heartbreak and – even a bit of fright. But one of the most powerful feelings that music can create is that feeling of nostalgia. For that brief moment (like Anton Ego in Ratatouille) you can be transported back to a cherished moment in time. Perhaps it’s an early memory from when you were little…fleeting, elusive, but one that brings out that child in you. Or maybe it brings back memories of a milestone moment in your life. Or, and this is the best one of all, it simply takes you to your happy place…a place where all your cares wash away. Walt Disney World is filled with wonderful musical moments, but here are five that have always tugged at my heart strings. A caveat before we begin; the first item that would have definitely been on my list is the music from Spaceship Earth that you heard on your decent in the previous version of the attraction. However, since I’ve written about that one so many times, I thought I’d place that in my “Hall of Fame” case and talk about five other moments that are no less powerful.
Star Tunnel
The TTA is one of my all-time favorite attractions (admittedly that’s a pretty long list!), and part of what always made it so endearing was the Star Tunnel music you heard as you entered the inky blackness of outer space at Space Mountain. In the previous narration (the one that took you on a fictional tour of Tomorrowland, rather than the literal attraction-by-attraction tour you hear today), the music was much more pronounced as you took that sharp right past the Space Mountain logo and entered the attraction building. Coupled with the narration that fleshed out the fictional backstory of Tomorrowland, the music was a perfect complement to the retro-futuristic world that you were visiting. Not only was it suitably spacy, it was ethereal, calming, and made you feel like you were literally floating through outer space. While traces of a melody could be picked out here and there, it was the slow, ambient nature of the music that took you on that imaginative journey. Absence of any visual cues (until you saw the astronauts overhead), you were fully immersed in the music, and it always brought me back to childhood memories of being an astronaut, as well as transporting me to the world of the future where anything was possible. Of course, you soon started hearing the screams of Guests on Space Mountain, and you would think to yourself “perhaps the future isn’t all it’s cracked up to be!” But somehow…floating serenely through “space” on the slow-moving TTA while spaceships raced through the darkness in the near distance put you even more in the moment. Just remember to keep those tentacles in your car (you know who I’m talking to, visitors from Galaxy M31!)
Haunted Mansion
Ah, the Grim Grinning Ghosts! The Haunted Mansion has the rare feature of having a theme song that’s played in several different styles throughout the attraction. (“it’s a small world” would be another, and almost made my list…but we’ll save that for part two!). There’s the version in the ballroom, where the ghosts dance and cavort to the quirky, stilted, slightly out of key version played by the organist at the end of the hall. And then there’s the jaunty version that plays in the graveyard as the ghost come out to play. But for me, it’s the ominous, slow, version you hear in the stretching room that really send chills up and down my spine. The howling wind sounds that accompany it certainly don’t help put my mind at ease, but that’s what makes this version so perfect. The Haunted Mansion is one of those attractions that’s so intertwined with its music that you just couldn’t imagine it without it. (How creepy would it be if you were to experience the ride with no music?) Just like in any good film, horror or otherwise, the music of the Haunted Mansion plays a vital role in setting the mood for what’s to come…perhaps even more so than the scenery and characters. Though that caretaker still gives me the creeps…
Christmas on Main Street
Ah, Christmas at Walt Disney World! What could be better! The elaborate trees, the free hot chocolate on party night, the falling snow (-like substance), it all serves to create a winter wonderland that instantly takes you back to your childhood, especially during Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. And (in my case), when I say “takes you back to your childhood,” I’m talking specifically about the music. Growing up (and yes, I’m showing my age) my Christmas memories were filled with the old records my parents would play, filling the air with holiday tunes sung by Johnny Mathis, Mitch Miller, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, the Ray Conniff Singers and more. Today, though many radio stations play Christmas music 24/7 throughout the holidays, most of those songs tend to be newer (though a few classics can be heard here and there). But as you enter the Magic Kingdom on party night, those songs from my childhood ring throughout Main Street U.S.A. – and the first time I heard them I literally gasped… “wow, they’re playing MY songs!” At that moment I was a kid again, putting out cookies for Santa, listening for reindeer hoof steps on the roof, and calling out at 3 in the morning… “is it time yet??” You might expect the Christmas music played at the Magic Kingdom to be more current, or more Disney themed, but these are the true classics that most of us knew growing up. And if you hadn’t heard them in years, you’re instantly whisked back to that wonderful time, and you’re six years old again. It’s a nostalgic, heartwarming moment when the magic of Disney and Santa Claus come together….now if only they had free cookies. (Wait, they do!!! It’s a Christmas miracle!)
Wilderness Lodge
Neary every Disney resort has suitably themed music playing in the lobby, adding to the theming of that particular resort. When you think of those musical moments that stand out, the Grand Floridian Society Orchestra and piano player surely come to mind, but for me, my favorite is the Wilderness Lodge. The music there fits in so perfectly with the rustic Pacific Northwest theme of the resort that sometimes you don’t even notice it…but when you do you’ll swear you’re in the midst of a majestic forest, with groves of noble trees, babbling creeks, and even a hint of fog settling over the landscape and giving you a wintry chill. (Thank goodness for that fireplace!). With songs as varied as “The Buffalo Hunt” and “Ride to Fort Hays” by John Barry, and “Grand Canyon Suite: On The Trail” and “Buckaroo Holiday” by Leonard Bernstein, the soundtrack evokes images of the untamed wilderness of the great Northwest. This is a perfect example of how Disney uses music to set a mood, even when that music might not be readily apparent. But it’s there in the background, almost subliminally, and even though you’re just a few minutes away from the Magic Kingdom’s fairy tale lands, you’ll feel miles away. Now let’s go rustle up some chili…
We Go On
Second only to the aforementioned music from Spaceship Earth, the signature song from IllumiNations never fails to bring a tear to my eye. Written by Don Dorsey and performed by Kellie Coffey (who was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2018), this song perfectly embodies the spirit of IllumiNations, and of Epcot itself. It’s a hope that we can all live in harmony, and that we can (and will) move forward as one on this tiny little blue planet. The most moving part of the song is the false ending of sorts that precedes the launching of the final barrage of fireworks. As the final unity torch emerges from the Earth globe, followed by the launch of 1,000 white fireworks, the music builds to a heart-rending crescendo, and the message of the song is brought to life as hundreds of Guests watch the finale together, most of them singing along with Kellie. It’s a beautiful moment, and one that chokes me up every time (I confess I even get weepy when I listen to the soundtrack on CD!). Will the new nighttime shows coming to Epcot evoke the same emotions? I’m sure they will, and I can’t wait to see them, but there will always be a place in my heart for this wonderful song filled with hope and optimism.
Moving on
With a spirit born to run
Ever on
With each rising sun
To a new day
We go on
Yep, I’m crying.
So those are just a few of my favorite musical moments from Walt Disney World! Do you have any of your own? Share them with us in the comments below and we can celebrate the music of Disney together!
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