Mickey’s PhilharMagic at Magic Kingdom (A Resorts Gal Guide)
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is an attraction located in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. This fun 3D film highlights classic songs from Disney’s most famous animated movies.
Below, we’ll discuss the specifics of experiencing Mickey’s PhilharMagic during your visit to Magic Kingdom. Given the nature of this attraction, it’s easy to experience most times throughout the day. But even so, you’ll want to plan strategically and see this short film when waits are longer at other places. Mickey’s PhilharMagic is also an excellent place to take a break in the heat of the day or visit during inclement weather.
Here’s a quick reference chart to see if Mickey’s PhilharMagic works for your group.
| Mickey’s PhilharMagic | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Fantasyland |
Height Requirement: | None |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 2 Category) |
Ride Type: | 3-D film |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Rows in a theater |
Duration: | Approx 12 minutes |
Rider Switch: | None |
Early Park Hours: | Yes |
Early Theme Park Benefit: | Yes |
Good For: | Taking a Break Inclement Weather Fans of Classic Cartoon Characters |
Scare Factor: | None |
Must-Do List: | Low Priority |
Perfect For: | All ages |
Special Mention: | This show requires 3-d glasses that are handed out at the entrance. |
Additional Info: Guests may remain in a wheelchair or ECV to experience this attraction. Additionally, an audio description, assistive listening, and handheld captioning are available.
Make sure to check our one-stop Lightning Lane Guide to plan your attractions.
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Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is located in Fantasyland at Fantasyland Concert Hall. The attraction’s entrance is between Cinderella Castle and Peter Pan’s Flight. A standby and Lightning Lane entrance are available for this attraction. However, the longest wait should be for the next showtime to begin. So, this would not be a good use of an individual Lightning Lane.
After entering, you’re greeted by a large waiting area. Various posters of performers line the walls of the lobby.
A poster featuring Mickey Mouse sits toward the front of the queue. It advertises the performance as “Mickey’s PhilharMagic with Lumiere, Miguel, Simba & Zazu, Jasmine, and more in The Kingdom’s Most Magical Musical Revue.”
As you continue through the lobby, you’ll pick up a pair of “opera glasses” for the show. These, of course, are required to see the 3-D show.
After picking up a pair of glasses, you’ll continue to a large open area outside the theater’s doors. When the current show ends, the theater doors open, and you’ll be asked to move down the rows so everyone can get a seat.
Here is a look at the theater.
After finding a seat, the theater darkens, and Mickey appears on screen with an orchestra. Soon, Mickey leaves and warns Donald Duck not to touch anything.
Well, we all know how that turns out. Donald decides to try out Mickey’s sorcerer hat, and suddenly, everyone, including the audience, is plunged into the film.
You’ll see Donald on screen as the sorcerer’s apprentice from Fantasia while brooms tidy the mess. A splash of water can be felt as dimensional elements seemingly come to life.
Other magical scenes include the song Be Our Guest, where dishes float before your eyes. The scent of freshly baked goods fills the air at just the right moment.
Ariel, the little mermaid, finds the sorcerer’s hat as she sings Part of Your World from her treasure trove. During this scene, some of the jewels from her treasures float out into the audience. It’s fun to see so many children reaching out to try and touch them.
A new scene featuring the song Un Poco Loco from Coco was added a few years ago. This scene adds a festive touch to the film.
Other scenes include I Just Can’t Wait to Be King (The Lion King), and You Can Fly from Peter Pan. Each of these scenes incorporates fun 3D elements.
Toward the film’s end, the sorcerer’s hat lands on a magic carpet carrying Aladdin and Jasmine. As Jasmine tries to return the hat to Donald, Iago knocks it off, and it falls into oblivion.
By this time, Mickey Mouse has realized what Donald has done and commands the hat to return. Mickey then briefly conducts the orchestra before sending Donald flying into the back of the audience. You’ll want to turn around and see Donald as he goes sailing through the back wall of the theater.
Fun Facts about PhilharMagic
This attraction features a collaboration of work by some exceptionally famous Disney artists, including animator Glen Keane, animator Nik Ranieri, Clarence Ducky Nash (original voice of Donald Duck), and Tony Anselmo (current Donald’s voice). Quite a few classic Disney tunes are part of PhilharMagic’s storyline. You even feel like flying along on a magic carpet at one point.
The Resorts Gal Spin on PhilharMagic
We give Philharmagic the green light. The longest you should ever have to wait for this attraction is for the next show to begin. So we deem this one suitable for any time. However, it’s not necessarily something we consider a must-do. But it is super cute, especially for the little ones.
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
Final Thoughts
PhilharMagic is a mild attraction, making it suitable for all ages. If you don’t like the movement associated with 3D, you can close your eyes. But this attraction doesn’t have too much sensation.
If you’ve never had the opportunity to see PhilharMagic, it’s worth taking a few moments of your day to see it. It’s also worth a visit if you haven’t seen it since the new scene was added.
For more attractions, you might enjoy these in the immediate area:
- “it’s a small world” at Magic Kingdom
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Ride
- Magic Kingdom’s Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Or you can preview the entire list of rides at Magic Kingdom.
Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Check out some of our resources, like our list of Walt Disney World Resorts. That article is an excellent starting point for planning your vacation.
We also have an Ultimate Disney World Dining Guide for planning dining reservations and a guide for understanding the Disney Dining Plan. Usually, we recommend scheduling at least one Disney World character dining meal and a Disney signature dining reservation.
If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we keep an updated list of Disney World Characters. That review links to every meet available in each of the four parks.
In the Comments
What do you think about Mickey’s Philharmagic? Do you plan to see it on your next vacation? Share your thoughts below in the comments.
