The Magic, The Memories, and You! debuts at Magic Kingdom

Last week the Magic Kingdom rolled out the carpets for visiting media and VIPs to showcase the latest promotion for Disneyland and Walt Disney World, “Let The Memories Begin.” The centerpiece of that promotion will be a nightly show on Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom and the facade of It’s A Small World at Disneyland.

“The Magic, The Memories, and You!” is a new show is gracing the spires and turrets of Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. Sixteen digital projectors throw photos and videos of park guests and the history of the Walt Disney Company directly onto the facade of the castle using new digital mapping and projection technology. The result is a show that will amaze and move you as only Disney can do.

We saw the show standing about 4/5ths of the way across the hub (right near the popcorn cart). The angle wasn’t a problem, the projections cover both the front and the sides of the castle, but the distance was. To really make out all the details of the guest photos that are added to the show, you have to be somewhere between the Partner’s statue and the Castle stage. You will get a slightly different show from the sides, so maybe view it twice, three times if you want to view it from Main Street for the longer range view.

Overall I was impressed with how the show used the technology to wrap the castle with images and video. I don’t want to go into too much detail to the story and pacing since I’ve only seen it once. But as the show itself is only 10 minutes long and you can probably walk up and get a good spot 10 minutes before the show starts, I recommend you check it out for yourself on your next visit.

Follow below the jump for a special preview of the show and my complete show video, plus more on the magic behind the show:

Complete show video:

As many as 500 images shot that day will project onto the castle each night the show is presented, producers estimate. Disney PhotoPass photographers will capture guests creating new memories as they “smile for the castle.”

“Disney parks create family vacation memories to last a lifetime,” said Meg Crofton, president of Walt Disney World Resort. “What better canvas for those memories than Cinderella Castle, one of the most photographed icons in the world.”

After the sun goes down, 16 high-powered state-of-the-art projectors will bring the castle to life as that day’s photos (and videos taken from Disney’s “Let the Memories Begin” online hub) seem to dance about the famous facade, explained Alan Bruun, associate creative director, Walt Disney World Entertainment.

As classic Disney music weaves in and out of the new “Let the Memories Begin” theme song,turrets spin while the castle shimmers and magically transforms itself in playful and exciting ways to accompany the guests’ memories of fun, adventure and family experiences.

“The images dance to the music and culminate in a spectacular finale punctuated by animated and actual fireworks,” Bruun said.

As Disney Parks encourages families to “Let the Memories Begin,” guests have been celebrating their only-at-Disney memories by sharing their stories and by uploading photos and videos online at DisneyParks.com/memories.

BY THE NUMBERS: ‘The Magic, The Memories, and You!’ Nighttime Spectacle

* Height of Cinderella Castle: 189 feet
* Number of shows: up to two per night (select evenings)
* Length of each show: ten minutes (approx.)
* Projectors: 16
* Same-day guest photos per show: up to 500
* Total number of images projected per show: more than 5,000

Disney Preview Video:

New Mickey Floral at park entrance:

New welcome curtain in entrance tunnel: