Walt Disney used to say, “It all started with a mouse,” but of course it all really started with the man who co-created the mouse with Ub Iwerks, Walt Disney himself. Disney’s new nightly show California Adventure, World of Color – One, recognizes this, not only by opening the show in Walt Disney’s voice, but by ending it that way as well. It’s the perfect way to start and end the show, but it almost doesn’t happen that way.
As part of the celebration of 100 years of wonders at Disneyland, which includes a look back at the history of Disneyland, Disney California Adventure has unveiled a new world of color that explains how one person can make a difference, so that history is supported by the voice of the man who founded the Walt Disney Company. I asked Jennifer Magill of Disney Live Entertainment (opens in a new tab) about the decision to open and close the show with Walt, and told me that Walt’s voice was not part of the original design of the show. maguillo said…
As we were putting the show together, we initially didn’t have it and started thinking, ‘What’s missing? What do we have here? and we said ‘Obviously we have to start and end with Walt.’
At the beginning of World of Color – One, we hear Walt Disney talking about how important it is to him that so many people appreciate the work he has done throughout his career. It’s the best possible way to start the show, because what follows is a series of movies, mostly Disney animated films, that exist thanks to the company that he founded. And, of course, it all takes place in a theme park that also exists thanks to his dream of building Disneyland.
The show then ends Walt-style, with Disney saying that everything we’ve seen is just a “dress rehearsal” for what’s to come. Walt Disney has always been a man focused on what was to come. Whether it was moving from animated shorts to feature films or building a theme park or dreaming of creating Epcot, a city of the future, Walt Disney has always looked to the future. He always said that Disneyland would never be complete and has remained an ever-evolving theme park ever since.
During Walt Disney World’s recent 50th anniversary, many fans felt that the event did not adequately celebrate the history of the park itself, including Walt Disney. Walt, on the other hand, is already present at the celebration of 100 years of wonders, with his name on the merchandising and his voice during the shows.
At the same time, while Walt Disney always looked to the future, he was also a man who understood the power of nostalgia. Main Street USA is inspired by the hometown you remembered as a child. And for many, Walt Disney himself is that nostalgia. Even for those of us born years after his death, his voice transports us to another place and time, making him the perfect entry into the story of World of Color – One. The show takes place every night at Disney California Adventure.
Source: Cinemablend
