The Experience: Celebrating our collective love of Disney movies

The Trick: Bouncing through a whole new world again and again

Image: DisneyMickey’s PhilHarmagic is illogically named. I understand that this is blasphemous to say, but it’s true. In reality, this short film is Donald’s PhilHarmagic, as everyone’s favorite Duck is the star of the show. A long time ago, Uncle Walt appreciated that he couldn’t have Mickey Mouse act the fool, and so he introduced Donald Duck as the mischievous, misfortunate best friend.

During PhilHarmagic, Donald Duck does something that he’s warned not to do. He touches Mickey’s hat aka the famous Sorcerer’s Apprentice hat. It magically brings the orchestra of inanimate musical objects to life and then transports him through a series of iconic Disney animated movie scenes. Throughout these sequences, Donald has but one goal in life. He must retrieve Mickey's hat to escape the chaotic situation.

From the debut of The Little Mermaid through the end of the 20th century, Disney animation went through a second golden age. They released a string of instant classics that have stood the test of time. Many of them have a presence in PhilHarmagic. Imagineers liaised with film animators and selected the ideal films and scenes for this event. Music played an integral role as well. After all, Donald’s trying to conduct an orchestra when things go awry.

Image: DisneyDisney films played during PhilHarmagic include The Lion King, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, and Fantasia. Due to the timing of the release, the lesser sequel, Fantasia 2000, also has a musical accompaniment during the story.

The integral part of the story is the seamlessness of it. Donald must have a good reason to interact with each batch of movie characters. When he gets thrust into another realm, he can’t see and asks for a light. It’s a brilliant way to introduce Lumière, as the candle illuminates the darkness for an extremely confused Donald.

After a sparkling rendition of Be Our Guest, Donald somehow sinks into the Broom Room from Fantasia and then washes away into The Little Mermaid’s undersea home. Donald temporarily forgets all about Daisy when he lays eyes on Ariel for the first time, a lovely touch.

Image: DisneyEventually, a shocking problem forces him to head toward the light in the water, which proves to be the sun from The Lion King. Next, Simba accidentally causes the Sorcerer’s Hat to explode into the air, where Donald encounters Tinkerbell. The two of them soar through the London sky as they hear the song, You Can Fly!

While high in the sky, Donald bumps into a magic carpet carrying Aladdin and Jasmine and has a lovely flight before Iago shows up and accidentally knocks off the hat, thereby knocking Donald back to his own realm. Here, Mickey returns for the first time since the opening two lines of dialogue. The more poised mouse successfully conducts the orchestra, while poor Donald suffers one final indignity as the show ends.

The genius of PhilHarmagic is that every single encounter has a purpose. And each scene displayed is among the most iconic in Disney history. Just as importantly, the segments feature memorable songs like A Whole New World, I Just Can’t Wait to Be King, Part of Your World, and Be Our Guest will have you singing along as you listen. The entire purpose of this story is to hypnotize viewers, enthralling them with a shared love of Disney.

Each scene with its accompanying music reinforces the greatness of Disney animation. Sure, it’s self-aggrandizing, but doesn’t Disney deserve that kind of adoration? And its core, PhilHarmagic is a celebration of all the things that caused us all to fall in love with Disney in the first place.