The Complete Philharmagic Show *ALOT of Spoilers*

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Well I was able to see Philharmagic around the 10 of August.

So because of a show of interest I will give a brief description of the attraction.
The theater is decorated with a beautiful gold Proscenium Arch (that surround the stage), on the arch are different instruments and musical notes in gold leaf. (I spy a hidden mickey) The curtains are deep red and the walls a blue velvet giving the whole room a grand style.

The show starts with an audio test done by Goofy. This test shows the seamless audio system that is used. It starts off with Goofy looking for Donald behind the curtain stage right. He cannot find him so Goofy walks around the entire auditorium and chaos ensues. This is similar to the effect in Fantasia 2000 when Micky goes through the different doors to find Donald. At this point Minnie announces that it is time to start the show. Mickey freaks because Donald has yet to set up the orchestra. In the mayhem, Goofy miss hears to raise the curtain. As the curtain rises we see Donald asleep in a box. He then wakes up, see the audience, freaks and then pulls all the instruments (even a grand piano and the conductors baton) from inside the tiny box. Then he places Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat on the podium. With a sly look, Donald puts on the hat. He then taps the stand with the baton, and all at once the instruments let out a loud noise. In disgust, Donald yells for quiet but a very boisterous flute keeps playing. (I think this is a tribute to “The Band Concert” sort) Donald then grabs the flute and starts to jump on it to stop it from playing. Then in outrage the instruments start to play a mincing theme, all at once they start to swirl around Donald (who at this time is looking really worried) All at once Donald is swept up in the whirlwind of instruments and the sorcerer’s hat is blown off of his head. At this time we get a great 3-D effect. Donald gets hooked on a slide trombone and is flung by the neck into the audience and pulled back. Then from the whirlwind Donald pleads to the audience to help him by “reaching out.” All of a sudden the theater goes black. We hear a match strike and we then see Lumere from “Beauty and the Beast.” This starts the be our guest scene and at this time we notice that the Proscenium Arch is completely gone. During this scene we are treated with two in theater effects. We smell the scent of apple pie when Lumere does his flambeau. ( Pie and Puddings au flambeau). You also get air jet blasts when the champagne corks burst. All the while Donald is trying to catch Mickey’s sorcerer hat. Donald finally spots the hat and then proceeds to grab it and ends up mucking up the celebration, and he gets showered with food. Now begins the next scene. Donald is lying on the floor full of food with the hat just a few feet away from him. As he gets up we hear the opening theme to the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. A door in the background opens and in walks the brooms with buckets of water in hand. One can guess where this is headed to. Things start to get wet VERY WET as Donald tries to find the hat the audience gets doused with a few LIBERAL splashes of water. The a smaller broom walks up to Donald, he starts to laugh, but as this happens a HUGE broom starts making his way to him (once again he doesn’t look too brave). He dumps his bucket onto Donald, the audience gets wet again, and this is the segway to the next scene. We are now under the sea with Ariel. She starts to sing “Part of Your World, as Donald swims around in the background trying to catch the hat. (During this scene fog is pumped into the theater and offers a great effect) Ariel then opens a treasure chest during the song and we get treated with another 3-D effect. The contents of the chest; some jewels, a pearl necklace, and even Ursula’s Crown float just out of reach of the audience. She then takes Donald by the hand and gives him a kiss. He starts to pine. (Very cute) The scene ends with the camera panning to the sun above the waves. The sun then changes to the hot sun of the savanna. We here the first few refrains from “The Circle of Life” and then we jump right on into “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King.” This scene is done in stylized “cut outs” of animals swirling in circles on the screen. A stylized version of the hat and Donald also gets put into the mix. Simba also produces a jump factor when he leaps towards the audience. At the end Donald is put on top of the pyramid of animals and he falls as the screen goes to a star-field. The camera pans down to Big Ben as Peter Pan and Tinkerbell land on the minute hand. We then hear Donald screaming as he falls from the sky and land with a thud onto the edge of the hand. Pete gives him a strange look, sprinkles him with Pixie Dust and a chorus begins “We Can Fly.” Donald again sees the hat and gives chase. At the last minute, he and the hat fall out the sky. He falls behind a cloud and instead of falling all the way through he pops out of the top on a magic carpet. We then see Aladdin and Jasmine on carpet with the hat riding in the back as they sing “A Whole New World” (During this scene the scent of jasmine is being pumped in) Donald gives chase through the streets of Agrabah and finally at the end of the song Jasmine gives the hat to Donald. Then the whirlwind reappears and sucks Donald back to the Philharmagic Theater. When this happens the Arch suddenly appears out of nowhere. Mickey runs on stage grabs the hat and baton and puts a stop to the madness by conducting the instruments in a very grand and noble version of “The Mickey Mouse Club March.” Donald falls into a tuba and at then end of the song is blasted toward the audience and is EMPALED into the back wall of the theater. As the curtain lowers we see Donald’s rear end sticking out of the wall as he kicks and screams.

When I saw it I was simply amazed. The show/theater/music/everything was far beyond all my expectations. The only way I could describe it was WOW.

Scenes:
Philharmagic Stage
Be Our Guest
Sorcerer’s Apprentice
Part of Your World
I Just Can’t Wait To Be King
You Can Fly
A Whole New World
Philharmagic Finale

In theater effects:
Water
Air Jets
Fog
Scent of Apple Pies
Scent of Jasmines
Lots of Light Effects (to me the light effects are what makes the show so immersing)

Technical effects:
The Proscenium Arch
Donald's Rear End

The screen is made with the 3-D film right in the middle and two 2-D screens on each side. The films are seemless and the the total screen is massive.

Out of all the 3-D shows this one is far more immersing. I absolutely loved the attraction and cannot wait to see it again.
 

DMC-12

It's HarmonioUS, NOT HarmoniYOU.
Very Cool! Thanks for the detailed report! :sohappy: :sohappy:

I cant wait to see this in person now :)
 

CTXRover

Well-Known Member
I didn't read your whole report because I want to save some of the details till I see it, but thank you for taking the time to write such a lengthy description! I'm very excited to see that you really seemed to enjoy this attraction. One quick question, how long does the show last? Is there a pre-show or a holding area before the main theater? Thanks in advance. :)
 

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
The show does not have a pre-show. While you are in the pre-show area there will be some automated spiels, but they were not in when I saw the attraction. The show itself is around 10 minutes (although it did feel longer for those who were worried about it being to short) with a 2 minute load/unload period.


Also in the queue there is a mural... and in the mural there are music notes well the notes are actually the notes to the "Mickey Mouse Club March"
 

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by surfsupdon
YES, thank you for writing such a detailed report. Sounds simply amazing.
The details in the show is what makes it amazing. I got to see it twice that day and you know what I wanted more. I could have just sat in the seat all day and watched every single show b/c it was just that detailed. The characters were beautifully done. No words can describe that.
 

CTXRover

Well-Known Member
I had one more question ;) Do the theater seats really look like the body of a violin as one update on WDWmagic mentioned or are the just normal theater seats? Thanks again :)
 

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by CTXRover
I had one more question ;) Do the theater seats really look like the body of a violin as one update on WDWmagic mentioned or are the just normal theater seats? Thanks again :)
Na just regular seats. Between each seat there is a scroll, like the scroll on the top of a violin. The support for the arms of the chairs have musical instruments in relief on them. The fabric used on the chairs is a durable fabric that is actually almost punture proof. (and please that was not a challenge:lol: )
 

Katherine

Well-Known Member
Great report! I think this might be one 3D movie that I can do(In the forth grade I started flipping out at It's tough to be a bug). We we'll just have to see.:veryconfu
 

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by Katherine
Great report! I think this might be one 3D movie that I can do(In the forth grade I started flipping out at It's tough to be a bug). We we'll just have to see.:veryconfu
For most ppl that freak out, it is NOT as in your face as Tough To Be a Bug. It's very child friendly.
 

Brett

Well-Known Member
Nifty!! I can't wait to get the chance to experience this!! Thanks a whole bunch for the great report!!
 

the-reason

New Member
How bout those in theater affects, do they have any like the mice things and the ones that tickle. I know about the water that I can handle, but are the 4d effects kinda like muppetvision wereas there really kid friendly.
 

Irrawaddy Erik

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
Originally posted by the-reason
How bout those in theater affects, do they have any like the mice things and the ones that tickle. I know about the water that I can handle, but are the 4d effects kinda like muppetvision wereas there really kid friendly.
All the theater effects are extreamly kid friendly nothing really jumps out at you. The only two "jump" points are when the champane bottles burst and when Simba jumps at the audience.
 

Shaman

Well-Known Member
Sounds like an awesome show, thanks for the great report Erik! One question, is the screen the biggest screen in WDW when it comes to these 4D shows (I know thats what was rumored...but I want to know for sure)?

Thanks again.

:wave: :sohappy:
 

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