What to expect at the Disney Music Festival

Mary Poppins and the Pearly Band. Image credit: Disneyland Paris/Marie Flament

 

 

The Disney Music Festival launched at the end of April and runs daily until September 7. It features a line-up of more than a dozen live concerts and musical ‘encounters’ every day including Donald and Daisy’s Accordionist, Miguel’s Fiesta Latina, Musical Meet-up with Rapunzel and Flynn, Timon’s Matadance and more. 

Shows run from early in the morning to late at night, so children with early bedtimes can see plenty of live music during the day. The festival spirit even extends to the decorations across Disneyland Park and much-loved characters dressed in sparkly, radiant costumes that shine bright even on a cloudy day.

 

Disney songs are well known and recognised by different generations. One of the key selling points for parents or even grandparents is that the festival includes Disney classics from before 1970 through to modern-day songs from films such as Frozen and Moana.

 

One of my favourite shows was the Disney Music Hits Concert, a pop-rock event performed four times a day in the Videopolis Theatre. Even though I couldn’t understand the sections in French, the energy from the performers made me want to get up to dance with them anyway. The finale sees bubbles and confetti streamers float down from the ceiling, which left every child in the audience looking up in awe as they danced to Chip and Dale’s DJ set.

Moana songs performed live at the Disney Music Festival. Image credit: Disneyland Paris/Marie Flament

 

Popular Disney characters

 

While taking a break from the rides, I strolled down Main Street USA and caught one of the five daily performances from Minnie’s Marching Band. Seeing Minnie Mouse leading a troupe of trombonists, saxophonists, percussionists and even a sousaphone player marching proudly behind her while playing songs from the films Frozen, Encanto and Beauty and the Beast was a true highlight.

 

The writer at the Disney Music Festival. Image credit: Lauren McCarthy

 

The final Disney Music Festival show of the day was The Grand Orchestra Finale at 7.30pm, which took place, fittingly, in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle. Goofy, dressed in the glittering black and blue bow tie and tails of a conductor, complete with music note motifs, opened the show by directing the water fountains to dance in sync with music. After the cast from each of the day’s shows had performed a reprise of their various musical numbers, Mickey Mouse emerged to conduct a closing performance of Disney Music Festival anthem, Viva La Musique.

 

Disney songs always find a way of getting stuck in your head, but this specially written track is so full of emotion, I think I will find myself singing along to Viva La Musique all summer – and reminding myself of the new memories I’ve made every time I hear it.

 

DJs Chip and Dale. Image credit: Disneyland Paris/Marie Flament

 

 

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Book it

 

Disneyland Paris offers a three-night stay at Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel, including tickets to the parks and all Disney Music Festival performances, from £2,641 in total, for two adults and two children (aged three to 11) sharing a Superior Room with Garden View between July 7 and August 31. Book by June 1 for a bonus gift card worth €150.
disneytravelagents.co.uk

 

Eurostar operates from St Pancras International to Paris Gare Du Nord, with one-way fares starting from £78. Children aged four to 11 get 30%-50% off the standard fare; under-fours travel free.
eurostar.com

 

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Ask the expert

 

Louisa Kriouche-Leroy, show director, Disney Music Festival

 

What was the inspiration behind the musical event?

 

We wanted to do something around the music that brings people memories of joy with friends and family. We always have music in our lives and in the UK, you have multiple music festivals – so we said let’s bring our own music festival to Disneyland Paris.

 

What makes the Disney Music Festival different from other shows and parades that are on regularly at the parks?

 

The live music makes such a difference. Disney music is iconic all around the world and we know songs from the movies from when we are very young. [Often, people] want to see two minutes of a show and move to another one but they stay and are hypnotised by the live music – it’s such magic.

 

During the day, you have 20 hours of continuous shows and to make it all work, we have a 200-person team.

 

What advice would you offer to get the most out of the experience?

 

Don’t miss the Grand Orchestra Finale because all the casts are in it. So if you didn’t catch the shows during the day, come at 7.30pm and you will have all the shows of the day represented.

 

Lead image credit: Disneyland Paris/Marie Flament