Music from the Park is a CD that I bought in 1996 after I spent a memorable summer working for Disney World on the Walt Disney World College Program. I particularly bought this CD because from where I worked in the Magic Kingdom, I could hear the Spectromagic Parade music every night. Boy I love that music!!! This CD, Music From The Park are songs that you will hear on a trip to a Disney's parks, however, they're not the versions that play. Many of the popular artists personalized their versions of the songs. However, for the most part, the tunes are still recognizable.

1. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah - plays on the Splash Mountain Attraction. Patti Austin sings this and I swear if she starts out any slower she's going to fall asleep. The song does pick up a bit more, after about a minute or so into the song. At Disney World, this song plays while animatronics sing and I was incredibly surprised by the length of the Splash Mountain ride, it's well worth the wait on a hot day.

2. Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me) - plays on the Pirates of the Caribbean Attraction. The Pointer Sisters perform this song, and it's a lively tune. I think they sound funny singing Yo Ho, Yo Ho, but maybe that's just me. The Pirates of the Caribbean is a fun but kind of outdated attraction. One pirate in the attraction is suppose to be made in the likeness of Walt Disney himself.

3. It's A Small World/When You Wish Upon A Star Medley - by Etta James. It plays on It's A Small World Attraction. Again, another very slow rendition of this song. Very bluesy interpretation. My worst fear of going to work for Disney was that I would be stuck on the "It's A Small World" attraction and the music world drive me mad. However, I discovered that from where the cast members load guests into the boats the classic song cannot be heard.

4. The Ballad of Davy Crockett - performed by Tim Curry and can be heard in Frontierland. Tim Curry pretty much speaks the "song" and it is an odd idea to hear a British accent while talking about a frontier hero. He does a satisfactory job though, and the tale is quite entertaining.

5. Grim Grinning Ghosts - by the Barenaked Ladies. This song plays in the Haunted Mansion. The haunted mansion, with it's 999 happy haunts, is one of my favorite Disney Attractions so of course I love this song. I was SHOCKED when I saw that it was sung by the Barenaked Ladies. I was very impressed! They do a FANTABULOUS job! It's the highlight of the entire album. The haunted mansion has a hidden Mickey in the dining hall - check out the dinner plates! Also, Disney actually makes it's own dust to fill the mansion!

6. I Just Can't Wait To Be King/Hakuna Matata Medley - performed by the Rembrants. This song can be found in Fantasyland in "The Legend of the Lion King". The Rembrants do an OK job of the songs, however I love the movie version of these songs, so I don't really swoon over this version. However I do give the Rembrants credit for not trying to fandangle the song into their own unique version. It's sang just like the originals. That I do like. This stage production is performed by life-sized puppets and if you loved the movie, you will love this show.

7. Circle of Life/Can You Feel The Love Tonight Medley - performed by Richard Page. This song is also heard in Fantasyland in "The Legend of the Lion King". Again, Richard Page does a more than adequate job of performing these songs, however, compared to Elton John, there is no room to stand.

8. Spectromagic Medley (Instrumental) - performed by David Benoit and can be heard during the Spectromagic Nighttime Parade. Disney brought back the Main Street Electrical Parade shortly after I returned home after my college program days and Spectromagic was retired at that time. It has, to my extreme pleasure, been brought back to the Magic Kingdom. I bought this CD for this song - even if it was not the original. The power and energy that you hear in the park from this song does not come through in this piano version. The tune is intact and David Benoit holds the song to it's original version. I listened to this song play twice a night for 4 months, and it brings back wonderful memories of my time spent in Florida.

The Spectromagic Parade travels down Main Street, through Liberty Square and on to Frontierland where the parade exits. The park has white lines painted on the ground backstage. These lines reflect where a guest, standing in the park, can see backstage when the doors open to allow the floats to pass through. These are called Lines of Sight and cast members are strictly held to keeping this area clean and clear of clutter and are told to remain behind these lines while the doors are open.

9. A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes - performed by Linda Ronstandt and can be heard when inside of Cinderella's Castle. This version to me sounds the closest to the original of all the songs on the album. Linda does a great job of keeping the tempo and singing the exact lyrics. Rumor has it that Walt Disney's head is cryogenically frozen and kept in the top of Cinderella's Castle - however this is just a myth.

10. Part of Your World - by Olivia Newton-John. This can be heard on the Voyage of the Little Mermaid. This song is cute, Olivia has a very soft voice that fits the tune very well. It is a faster song on this album - most songs are really slow and relaxing.

11. Mickey Mouse March/Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Medley (Instrumental) can be heard being performed by the Walt Disney World Band, but is performed on this CD by The Disney Big Band. This is definitely one of the peppier tunes on the CD. I find myself singing along the words although it's just music. It's a great interpretation, and it will have you bouncing and tapping your foot along with it.

12. When You Wish Upon A Star - performed on this CD by Take 6 and can be heard in the park on Pinocchio's Daring Journey. Several male voices sing this song all together, a turn on the classic version. It's aucapella version as well.

13. Remember The Magic (theme song) performed by Brian McKnight. This song is the theme music for Walt Disney World's 25th anniversary. Brian McKnight does a spectacular job of performing this song. His smooth voice brings the song to life, he doesn't personalize it, he just sings it out as it was heard through out the park and on the TV commercials that aired during the anniversary. It's a great song to put on the album, as it helps me remember my magical summer spent at Walt Disney World.

Bonus trivia - Disney invited some guests back who attended and filmed the original opening of Walt Disney World. They combined the footage of them at the original opening with footage of them 25 years later with their families now, at the 25th Anniversary. These made wonderful commercials.

14. Bonus Track This bonus track is a collection from EPCOT of music from around the world showcase. It's a nice surprise track on a great CD and contains over 7 minutes of Disney music.




This CD contains many Disney tunes in a new light. It allows for flashbacks to wonderful times spent in the parks however it also allows some famous artists to put their twist on these classic songs. It is a must have for any Disney collector. One final bit of trivia - the cover of the CD shows the sun setting behind Cinderella's castle. This is an impossible shot, as the back of the castle faces the north, and the sun sets to the east.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: At Work