Disney Adds 'Coco' to Mickey's PhilharMagic

July 1, 2021, 12:21 PM · For the first time since the show debuted in 2003, Disney is adding characters to its Mickey's PhilharMagic show.

The cast of Disney/Pixar's "Coco" will join the 4D film for a new scene featuring the song "Un Poco Loco." Composer Germaine Franco came back to score the new scene, which will debut at Disney California Adventure and Disneyland Paris when the film returns to those parks on July 17.

So that's the other part of today's PhilharMagic news from Disney - the film will reopen at those parks in a little over two weeks. Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom will get the Coco scene later this year for the 50th anniversary celebration that starts October 1. No word from Disney today on when (or if) the new scene will be added in Tokyo or Hong Kong, where the show also plays.

Coco in Mickey's PhilharMagic
Image courtesy Disney

The new Coco scene will be especially notable because Coco is a Pixar franchise. Since Donald Duck provides the through-line for Mickey's PhilharMagic, this new scene will mark the first time that Disney and Pixar animators have worked on a project where characters from both animation studios will be seen together on screen, Disney said.

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Replies (14)

July 1, 2021 at 12:46 PM

A long-overdue addition. With how many movies and songs available for Disney, I’m surprised this has never gotten the Star Tours route of randomized segments.

Also, props to Disney for resisting the urge to include Frozen?

July 1, 2021 at 1:11 PM

On that topic, how badly are Disney executives sweating out Tropical Storm Elsa right now? It's currently projected to arrive in Florida early next week. It's a gift to headline writers.

July 1, 2021 at 1:24 PM

Let it blow, let it blow…

July 1, 2021 at 1:50 PM

Took me a while to get that Hurricane Elsa reference. Crazy stuff. But anyway back to Coco, great new addition. That movie is awesome. As a person of Mexican heritage, whose grandma looks an awful lot like mama Coco herself, I can certify that the film does a great job of telling a story. Looking forward to its inclusion in Mickey's PhilharMagic!

July 1, 2021 at 2:51 PM

I wonder how well this new addition will mesh will the existing footage. The CG is really showing it's age and looks only slightly better than Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas. This is long overdue.

July 1, 2021 at 3:57 PM

Really is amazing it's taken so long to do some additions to this show. I mean, would have expected "Let it Go" to get a nod in there long ago. But a good touch for a movie all about the music and fits perfectly.

July 1, 2021 at 4:04 PM

I always thought it was a missed opportunity that they didn’t program special seasonal shows for Halloween or Christmas. Lord knows they’ve got the IP to cover it

July 2, 2021 at 5:53 AM

The recent run of Pixar films are all mind-blowingly awesome (Coco reduced me to a blubbering wreck). They are funny, intelligent, moving, emotionally mature, funny and simply great films that happen to be animated. They deserve to be featured far more prominently in the parks to my mind so this is excellent news.

July 2, 2021 at 7:57 AM

Now bring back a new "El Rio de Tiempo" with Miguel as a host to the Mexico Pavilion and bury that current abomination forever.

July 2, 2021 at 9:26 AM

I loved the movie Coco. I really liked Soul and Inside Out a lot, but Coco is my favorite Pixar movie of the last 10 years.

And I have to agree with NCPete - let's give El Rio de Tiempo a Coco makeover. A tour of Mexico with Miguel and Hector, culminating at a Day of the Dead celebration. It wouldn't be a particularly expensive revamp. Most of it would involve a bunch of new screen footage, and a few new animatronics to make it come together.

July 2, 2021 at 9:55 AM

The problem with adding Coco to Epcot is that they would probably have to shut down the pavilion to build a bigger queue. I think closing food and merchandise killed that idea.

The only work around I could think of would be to enter on the left side of the pavilion, reverse the ride and exit inside the pavilion.

July 2, 2021 at 1:25 PM

Perhaps I missed it somewhere, but is Coco being added to everything else already in the show, or has some other segment been "sun setted" to make room?

July 2, 2021 at 3:33 PM

That's the big question to be answered there.

July 2, 2021 at 8:24 PM

@Rob McCullough, the new Coco segment will be an addition, not a replacement for an existing scene.

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