Whether you arrive by bus, boat, or Monorail, as soon as you step onto Magic Kingdom property, you are surrounded by the pleasant sounds of wondrous orchestration. Music seems to spring forth from every nook and cranny of the park’s entrance-way. Primarily a selection of classic Disney film score music, the initial experience makes you feel like you are either participating in your own Disney film or taking a break from reality and allowing the magic and whimsy to create a sense of temporary regression.
Walt Disney once said that Disneyland was “a family park where parents and children could have fun together.” And a visit to WDW’s Magic Kingdom goes slightly deeper by making us all (adults, teens, and children) feel the same innocent, wide-eyed joy of a child awakening on Christmas Day.
The Disney film music that invites us through the turnstiles is just magical enough to urge us forward but is tempered so as not to invoke an explosion of excitement. This, after all, is just the beginning of the adventure.
Once you get your bags checked, pass your ticket through the scanner, and squeeze through the turnstiles, you can either admire the Mickey Mouse-shaped topiary in front of the train station or get some early photos with random characters. If you happen to arrive at the park at rope-drop, you will be welcomed by what else but “The Welcome Song” – a light Broadway-style song-and-dance number that serves as a fun little introduction to your day. This is followed by a short rendition of SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN’s “Good Morning,” a bit of “Casey Junior” from DUMBO, a chorus of “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” from the unfortunately banned SONG OF THE SOUTH, and a reprise of “The Welcome Song”and then we get on with the adventure.
You then pass through the short tunnel that runs beneath the train tracks and enter the world of imagination. I liken this moment to the point in WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY when the kids enter the Chocolate Room for the first time (or when the kids in THE GOONIES first encounter One-Eyed Willy’s pirate ship). The result in every case is a breathtaking jolt of wonderment.
As you begin your journey through the Magic Kingdom, you subconsciously become aware that the constant barrage of music is actually your own personal soundtrack for the day. As you emerge from the tunnel, you most likely (if this is your first visit) do a double-take and rub your eyes, because you might swear that you stepped back in time. Before you sits Town Square and Main Street USA – an idealized representation of a turn-of-the-20th-century small town, complete with all the trimmings – a fire house, town hall, Chamber of Commerce, barber shop, horse-drawn buggies, and shops and eateries to whet any appetite.
While taking in the sights and perusing the wares, your ears are tickled by Rick Benjamin’s Paragon Ragtime Orchestra performing early 20th century, good-time music – from big band and swing to barbershop and ragtime classics, with a couple of Disney standards (notably from THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE and SUMMER MAGIC) for good measure. And during the early part of the day, you may also be treated to another appearance by the song-and-dance troupe from rope-drop performing a medley of “Walkin’ Down the Middle of Main Street USA” (which was first sung by Marie Osmond during Disneyland’s 30th anniversary celebration in 1985) and MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS’ “The Trolley Song” on and around, appropriately enough, a trolley!
Moving on, you approach the hub, with spokes veering off towards the different “lands” of the Magic Kingdom, but you are more drawn to the awe-inspiring vision straight-ahead – the 189-foot tall “real-life” version of Cinderella Castle! Though you are compelled to stand and stare at the marvel of construction, you will eventually walk beneath the portcullis, through the mural-encrusted tunnel beneath the castle and pay a visit to Fantasyland!
Continue on to Fantasyland!
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