Outdoor theater at Disneyland
Fantasyland Theatre, formerly Videopolis, is the name of a 5,000-square-foot (460 m2) outdoor amphitheater at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Located in Fantasyland, it has 1,800 seats and functions as a venue for various shows. In 1995, the location was renamed to Fantasyland Theater.[1] In 2013, it was renamed to the English-classic spelling, Fantasyland Theatre, with the opening of the venue's show Mickey and the Magical Map.
Predecessor
The original Fantasyland Theater (different spelling) opened in 1956. This theater showed Disney cartoons and Mouseketeers of The Mickey Mouse Club featured short films. In 1981, it shut down in preparation for construction of the revamped Fantasyland and was then replaced with Pinocchio's Daring Journey in 1983.[2]
History
Videopolis opened on June 22, 1985, a short distance to the west of It's a Small World.[3] During the day, the theater was used for theme-park shows, but in the evening, it was used as a dance club with music videos. It featured 70 video monitors that displayed music videos and/or live feeds that allowed guests to watch themselves.[2] The venue included a snack bar called "Yumz" opening on June 19.[4]
The theater was featured in the television program of the same name on the Disney Channel. Filmed live at Videopolis, the show broadcast concert performances from an array of Top 40 bands and singers including Debbie Gibson, New Kids on the Block, Tiffany, Menudo, Glenn Medeiros, New Edition, Jody Watley, Taylor Dayne, Pebbles, Janet Jackson, and The Jets. The dance club concept was abandoned and closed on November 26, 1989, after several high-profile gang-related incidents. Videopolis was then converted for exclusive stage-show use.
Disneyland was successfully sued on two separate occasions by members of the LGBT community in 1985 due to dancing between the same-sex being prohibited at the club. The policy was dropped in 1985.[5]
The Children's Miracle Network Telethon also made use of Videopolis from 1982 to 1993.[2] The show's hosts included singer and The Dukes of Hazard actor John Schneider, Marie Osmond, Entertainment Tonight co-host Mary Hart, impressionist Rich Little, Olympic Gold Medalist Mary Lou Retton, Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, and the 5th Dimension's Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.[6][7]
From 1991-1992 Videopolis had a new Christmas show called Mickey’s Nutcracker. The show was a 31 minute musical based off the original Nutcracker with Minnie being the main character of this musical. In 1991 a TV special was made for this show, same for 1992. The story goes like this, Minnie was hosting a Christmas party at her house and was a success and the narrator gave her a nutcracker but the party was over. After the party it was past Minnie’s bedtime but she was too excited to sleep but when it struck midnight something magical happened, Her nutcracker came to life!
They went on a journey to Candy kingdom but the adventure was interrupted by the rat king who was once a handsome prince but was cursed, will Minnie and the nutcracker stop the rat king and break the curse? Mickey’s Nutcracker was performed again in 2006 but this would be the last time it would be performed at Disneyland before being replaced by Princess Fantasy Faire and brought to Tokyo Disneysea That only ran from 2005-2006.
On January 29, 2020, the Videopolis dance club was briefly revived for the Disneyland After Dark: 80s Nite event.[8]
In October 2020, it was reported that Mickey and the Magical Map along with Frozen Live at the Hyperion at Disney California Adventure would not return when the parks reopened (which eventually happened on April 30, 2021).[9]
On December 9, 2021, it was announced that the Fantasyland Theatre will reopen in 2022 hosting 2 shows that will move from Disney California Adventure to Disneyland. "Celebrate Gospel" will run in February on multiple dates while "Tale of the Lion King" will open in Spring 2022.
On January 7, 2024, Disneyland announced that Tales of the Lion King would be the final performance of the show, in Fantasyland Theatre.
On March 13, 2024, Disneyland announced that a new shows, Pixar Pals Playtime Party would be premiere on April 26, 2024, and take place until August 4, 2024, in Fantasyland Theatre, as part of Pixar Fest celebration.
Disneyland Paris
In Discoveryland at Disneyland Park, stands Videopolis; a large complex housing the Videopolis Theatre and the Hyperion Café counter service restaurant. It features one of the largest props in the resort: the Hyperion airship.[10]
