A new musical show is shining a spotlight on Disneyland Paris
In the 1996 animated film Toy Story, cowboy Woody rudely dismisses the serendipitously acrobatic entrance of his rival Buzz Lightyear by decrying, “That wasn’t flying, that was falling with style”.
From July 15, the delightfully self-deluded space ranger soars to the rafters of the Studio Theater at Disneyland Paris when Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure takes up permanent residence in the production courtyard of Walt Disney Studios Park.
Writer Thomas Maurion introduces the show’s lead character – a child called Charlie, who dreams of conducting their own orchestral composition at their school’s end-of-year gala – in mixed-reality video.
The musically gifted urchin loses the sheet music on the eve of the concert, heralding a speedy transition from 2D to 3D for the on-stage arrival of Woody, Bo Peep, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye, Lotso, Rex and Green Army Men to search every nook of Charlie’s digitally rendered room for the missing pages.
Sign language is cleverly integrated into character responses although younger audiences who don’t speak French may yearn for audio description or supertitles to slingshot sweetly around bilingual dialogue that is weighted heavily towards native speakers.
Performed five times daily, Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure goes un poco loco for technical innovation and heart-warming sentiment to celebrate the enduring power of community spirit.
Up to 38 artists and Pixar characters are on stage at any time, quick-changing more than 120 dazzling costumes created in collaboration with Paris-based workshop Bas et Hauts.
Two hundred spotlights magnify movements choreographed by Romain Rachline-Borgeaud and Céline and Cain Kitsaïs, including overhead footage of floor-based dancers in a Finding Nemo vignette which projects a kaleidoscopic clam shell fantasia à la Busby Berkeley onto a rear wall.
Their accompaniment on piano, violin, trumpet, cello, guitar, drums, saxophone, trombone, tuba, double bass, clarinet and percussion deepens symphonic swells of an original score infused with familiar Pixar film themes.
A euphoric new earworm, “Together We Are One” composed by Austin Zudeck, Justin Thunstrom, Tony Ferrari and Noemie Legrand, proves irresistible as the toe-tapping closing refrain.
Soaring chants across a sun-scorched savannah distinguish The Lion King: Rhythms Of The Pride Lands at Frontierland Theater in Disneyland Park, which has been exclusive to the French resort since 2019.
Staged atop giant African drums (one of which tips forward to provide Scar with a fittingly grand entrance), the reworked rites-of-passage drama scavenges elements from the Oscar-winning 1994 film and Tony Award-winning 1997 stage show to chronicle Simba’s grief-fuelled odyssey from cub to benevolent ruler.
The interactive shooting gallery straps intrepid explorers into two-person space cruisers mounted with infra-red laser guns. Direct hits at targets emblazoned with Emperor Zurg’s insignia score between 100 points (circular targets) and 10,000 points (triangular) although trigger-happy recruits should aim at the centre of Zurg’s armoured chest in the first and last scenes to collect a secret 50,000 points.
A short walk away, behind the Hyperspace Mountain rollercoaster, Mickey’s PhilharMagic 4D experience now includes a scene from Coco replete with a hidden Pizza Planet truck – an Easter Egg in almost every Pixar film.
Over in Walt Disney Studios Park, a hulking statue of Buzz Lightyear dominates the Worlds of Pixar area festooned with seven family-friendly attractions.
Jessie from Toy Story meets and greets fans and poses for rootin’ tootin’ photographs next to Crush’s Coaster. The spinning rollercoaster is exclusive to Paris and one of the resort’s most intense rides, propelling four-person turtle shells into the depths of the Coral Sea at the mercy of the swirling East Australian Current.
Cars Road Trip takes a leisurely drive along Route 66, pausing briefly for a simulated earthquake and flash flood in Cars-tastrophe Canyon (sit on the left-hand side of the ride vehicle if you’re happy to get wet during the deluge). Cars Quatre Roues Rallye is a family-friendly spinning teacup ride inside cute, anthropomorphic automobiles.
Strong stomachs are required for RC Racer, which accelerates back and forth along a half-pipe track and hangs almost 80 metres in the air at its highest point.
Simulated 25-metre plummets on the Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop elicit stomach-lurching screams, while Remy the rat cooks up his favourite dish on the Ratatouille: The Adventure 4D dark ride, heightened by delectable aromas of oranges and freshly baked bread in kitchen scenes.
Together: A Pixar Musical Adventure also stimulates audiences’ senses with scents. Comforting base notes of childhood wonder complement candyfloss wafts of sweet harmony. Breathe deeply.
How to plan your trip
Disneyland Paris (disneylandparis.com/en-gb/; 0344 800 8898) offers a two-night/three-day stay at Disney’s Hotel Santa Fe, including direct return economy flights with Easyjet from London Gatwick to Paris Charles de Gaulle, from £1612 for two adults and two children (ages 3-9), including park tickets. Price based on September 15, 2023 departure date.