I am a huge huge Disney fan, being able to set aside any hurt and mistrust generated by Disney's personal politics, his lack of respect for females in the workplace, and the sanitizing of all the great fairy tales. None of that matters when I hear Jiminy Cricket, or see Pongo and Perdida and Cruella, or the song and dance numbers from Mary Poppins.

The preview began with a special performance by Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel from Little Mermaid. She sang a Beauty and the Beast medley, Spoonful of Sugar, Colors of the Wind, and Part of Your World. Jodi had a lovely aqua dress on with sparklies that flared out like a mermaid tail. She REALLY knows how to work a crowd. The 10 and under segment was thoroughly entranced and I saw more than one kid singing along to every song.

After Jodi sang everyone was welcome to check out the exhibit. Unfortunately the exhibit seemed kind of small and lackluster compared to the big sound and effects of the Sky Church. There was lots of noise, but it was very hard to hear any great Disney music like Jodi's mini-concert had just afforded us.

The biggest hit was a quiz game that Aaron helped work on. This is one of the only true-to-life comps from the EMP's website. The sound effects room and the Lion King costumes are there, but I saw no Peter Pan and no Mary Poppins installments.

Still, any true Disney fan should try to go. If you are out of the area or can't afford it the next best thing is simply to rent all the great older movies and turn up the volume. Or buy the soundtrack!

One thing the exhibit brought up was that, before VCRs and DVDs, buying a Disney soundtrack was the only way for people to re-experience the movie. And luckily the music of the older movies is fantastic. I'm also really intrigued by the Musical History of Disneyland below...

OH! What made the WHOLE exhibit worth it for me was four pieces of original art on display near Belle and Wissell's quiz--a big beautiful collage by Mary Blair, a concept sketch of the Tiki Tiki Room, and watercolors of the organist from the Haunted Mansion and some pirates from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride ( I can't remember who did them!) all done in the 1960s.