Dorothy McKim still remembers the day when she saw her favourite Disney movie, the 1967 classic, The Jungle Book.
“I remember when I went to the drive-in movie theatre with my two sisters and we went to see The Jungle Book and it brings back that memory, any time I see that film and I love the music,” she says. “I love the look of it — that watercolour, really loose lines of that film.”
McKim is now a producer with Walt Disney Animation Studios, and she believes that a new immersive show at the Edmonton Expo Centre will bring back memories of what it was like to see your favourite Disney movie for the first time.
“It is just really, really magical,” says McKim of Immersive Disney Animation, which runs until April 21. “We hope there will be the person that saw Cinderella for the first time when it came out in 1951, the person who saw The Jungle Book when it first came out; the person who saw Encanto; and they will remember where they were when the did see that film, and bring back those great memories. They can laugh and cry and jump and run around and just have a great time.”
Sure, there are cynics out there who will say it’s just another way for the Mouse to sell tickets and have your kids crying for the cute stuffies in the gift shop. But, really, it’s freaking awesome. Themed montages are made out of some of Disney’s most classic scenes and songs. There are themes of hopes, dreams, wishes and, yes, villainy. Understand that I have a soft spot for Disney movies, and that existed before my wife and I had kids. My parents took me to Disney World in Florida, and, as a parent, I’ve gone to Disneyland in California with the family. Twice. We’ve played Disney Villainous at home. And, yes, I am a sucker for bumbling princes, princesses-in-waiting, talking animals and black-and-white morality, even though I know the real world doesn’t work that way.
Disney has partnered with Lighthouse Immersive to create a show that surrounds you. First, you walk in and enjoy a few exhibits, like an animator’s desk, some Instagrammable Disney mock-ups, and the chance for the kids to draw their favourite characters.
Then, you walk through the curtain and into the show. The entire hall is a projection area. All four walls are filled with images from Disney movies, and your favourite Disney songs set the tone. The benches light up in different colours. And, the room takes on the feel of each and every movie that’s showcased. During the Frozen bits, snowflakes appear on the floor, tracing your footsteps — giving you the feeling that you could be an Ice King or Queen, too. When Encanto takes over, the floor transforms into brickwork, and they light up when you step on them.
Bubbles appear to mimic the sea during The Little Mermaid’s “Under the Sea,” and there’s even frozen bubbles that add to the wintry feel of the Frozen scenes, not that any Edmontonian needs to be reminded what winter is like.
Is it schlocky? Yup. Over-the-top? Hell yeah. Is it a case of “shut up and take my money?” Yes, yes and yes. There’s a reason Disney resonates with so many of us — when it comes to storytelling, this is our sugary candy, and many of us never grow out of wanting more.
“I come to each one of the openings,” says McKim. “It brings me such joy to be in the gallery and just watch people’s faces as they’re watching. They’re laughing and they’re crying and they are just running around. And some of the little ones are maybe seeing it for the first time; they’ve never seen anything Disney or maybe they haven’t been to a movie theatre. We’re also bringing Disney Immersive to cities that may never have a Disney park — so this is the closest thing they’ll ever have to do a Disney experience.”
Wait? Does this close the door on Disneyland Edmonton, for like, forever? Noooooooooooo!
