All-New “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney” Fun Facts

The All New “World of Color – Celebrate! The Wonderful World of Walt Disney,” opens tonight at Disney California Adventure park as part of the Disneyland Resort Diamond Celebration. Neil Patrick Harris joins Mickey Mouse as host of the all-new show that features segments from the parks and movies, including “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

We’re happy to share more details on the new show including this preview video:

“World of Color – Celebrate!” unfolds in five sequences:

• Opening: The “World of Color” overture and the magic of Tinker Bell’s pixie dust introduce our hosts, Neil Patrick Harris and Mickey Mouse.
• It Was All Started By A Mouse: From black-and-white cartoons to Technicolor stardom, “World of Color – Celebrate!” honors Mickey Mouse.
• The Golden Age of Animation: A dazzling exploration of Disney animated features stirs hearts with a kaleidoscope of happy memories.
• The Dream of Disneyland: A celebration of Disneyland, the “Happiest Place on Earth,” from Walt’s opening day dedication to creating smiles around the world.
• Finale – Infinity & Beyond – A Celebration for Years to Come: The inspiring finale expresses the wish that everyone stay “Forever Young” and hold on to their dreams

Musical Fun Facts

• Academy-award nominated film composer John Debney composed the score for “World of Color – Celebrate!” Debney’s film scores include “The Princess Diaries,” “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Hocus Pocus” and Disney’s upcoming live-action feature, “The Jungle Book.”  His father, Louis Debney, served as a producer for Disney film and television productions such as “Zorro” and “The Mickey Mouse Club.”
• The lush score, which interweaves a variety of themes and tunes into a single piece of music, was recorded by an orchestra in London, England, at famed Abbey Road Studios.

“World of Color – Celebrate!” – The Cast

• Emmy- and Tony- award-winner Neil Patrick Harris is a longtime Disney fan whose numerous acting credits include starring roles on Broadway, television and films. His energetic, youthful voice can be heard during the launch sequence of the California Screamin’ attraction in Disney California Adventure park.
• Mickey Mouse was the first great star of Disney animation and has appeared in more than 125 short films, many of them Oscar-nominated, He also gave an unforgettable performance as “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” in Disney’s feature film “Fantasia.” Mickey has long been a beloved international star and continues to play a key role in Disney films, television, parks and resorts.
• The uniquely talented “World of Color” stars, the 1,200 dancing fountains, generate excitement through their synchronized, computerized movements. From geysers to dancers to butterflies to chasers to grids to water whips to flower spouts, they’re all just beneath the surface of the bay, anticipating their big moments.  With hours of rehearsal behind them, they’ll leap at any chance to perform.

Enduring Popularity

• Since its premiere in 2010, “World of Color” has been performed more than 2,600 times and experienced by more than ten million guests at Disney California Adventure.

Theatrical Technology 

• More than five minutes of new animation was created by Walt Disney Feature Animation to allow Mickey Mouse to step into the imaginative new journey of “World of Color – Celebrate!” Pixar animators also created new animated footage, allowing Mater to kick up his wheels with the baby tractors.
• The show’s theatrical technology features a 380-foot wide water screen used for digital projection. The water screen takes on live characteristics, changing shapes, creating special effects, and interacting with a variety of other media in the show: color, fire, lasers and fog.
• There are more than 30 million pixels in the “World of Color – Celebrate!” screen. A high definition television image uses 2 million pixels.
• The creative development for “World of Color – Celebrate!” took more than 18 months, followed by three months of programming.
• The show’s flexibility has made it possible to add and subtract special sequences since its 2010 debut: a July 4 Independence Day pre-show, a New Year’s Eve pre-show, and scenes focusing on “TRON: LEGACY,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” and “Brave.”

Are you planning on seeing the updated World of Color show on your next trip to the Disneyland Resort?

(Photo courtesy Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland)