Sorcery in the Sky

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Sorcery in the Sky

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This was the first nighttime show at the Disney-MGM Studio and premiered on May 29, 1990. It ceased to be performed once Fantasmic! started in 1998, although different fireworks shows are still occasionally staged during special events after hours. The narration was done by Vincent Price but this was probably replaced once he died in 1993, as there are audio copies of the show floating around that have a generic male narrator. The following transcription was taken from narration that does not feature Vincent Price.

Sorcery in the Sky Script

(After a fanfare, the following announcement was made.)

Male Announcer: Ladies and gentleman, boys and girls, the Disney-MGM Studios proudly presents Sorcery in the Sky! Lights! Camera! Action!

Music than started that included silent film-type piano music and a movie projector sound. Other music included Puttin' on the Ritz, Over the Rainbow, Singin' in the Rain, Bridge On the River Kwai, Chim Chim Cher-ee, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Wars (with spaceship and droid sounds), and Raiders of the Lost Ark (noises including whips, punching, horses galloping and planes flying).

Male Announcer: Walt Disney had long dreamed of taking the art of animation beyond that of a simple moving comic strip. On the eve of November 13th, 1940, and in the very same theater where Mickey Mouse made his debut only a dozen years before, Walt's dream came true. A three year effort to marry film graphics to classical music had been completed just two days before the world premiere. The New York Times called the result "Motion picture history. Simply terrific!" The film was Fantasia.

Toccata and Fugue in D Minor played, followed by the Russian Dance, Waltz of the Flowers, and The Sorcerer's Apprentice (with water sound effects). During this portion of the show, a giant inflatable Mickey dressed as the Sorcerer's Apprentice appeared on the top of the Chinese Theater and a shower of sparks shot out of his fingers.

Sorcery and the Sky and the Private Event

On March 8th, 1994, I was on vacation to Walt Disney World with my parents, grandparents, brother, sister, aunt and cousin. We had spent the day at the Disney-MGM Studios. As we exited the park in the early evening, we saw swarms of people arriving. They mostly spoke Spanish. We figured there was a private party being held once the park was closed to the general public. My Grandpa, who was always very chatty with total strangers, was sitting on a bench and talking to an Australian man and it turns out that he and the other people coming into the park belonged to a convention of dealers who sold dietary and health-care supplements called "Herbalife". There was going to be fireworks and other special events. My Dad said we would go back that night to see them.

We thought he was crazy and told him that we couldn't re-enter the park for a private event but he was determined that we would go back for it. We probably would have just stayed in the park and waited but Cast Members were flushing everyone out. Later that night, we went back to the park. When we had left earlier, Dad had picked up a discarded Herbalife pamphlet that was lying on the ground. When we got to the gate, Cast Members stopped Dad. He talked to them for a few minutes while the rest of us stood in a circle. Dad talked to the people some more and showed them the pamphlet. Then he motioned for us to come inside. He had done it and all nine of us got to go inside! We couldn't believe my normally mild-mannered Dad pulled it off!

The park was filled with people and hardly anyone spoke English. Everyone was wearing buttons that said "Lose Weight Now! Ask Me How!" We were going to go to SuperStar Television but we sat down and waited for the fireworks to begin instead. An Herbalife blimp was circling above the park, reminding everyone to go the Herbalife Dance Party on New York Street after the fireworks. I mentioned to my Mom that I had never heard of Herbalife and she said something to the effect that it was a Pyramid scheme. Then there was a show near the Chinese theater with an Australian or British emcee who was really spazzy. He was getting everyone warmed up for the fireworks. He introduced the Hollywood Hitmen and then he asked someone who was pretending to be a little kid what their favorite thing was at Walt Disney World and she replied, "Sea World!".

The show began and after the fireworks shot out of Mickey's fingers, a sign that said "Herbalife" lit up. "Simply the Best" by Tina Turner was played and it must have been the unofficial Herbalife theme because everyone started to dance and clap along with the music. Even we were catching the Herbalife enthusiasm! We didn't stay for the party but as we left the park, we were given special commemorative Herbalife tickets. To this day, whenever we hear, "Simply the Best", we think of the time my Dad tricked Walt Disney World and Herbalife.

(The following story was shared for informational and historical purposes only. Walt Dated World does not condone entering a theme park without paying admission and warns you to do so is illegal and at your own risk.)

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