By: Kendall Foreman
If you grew up in the 1980s and 90s, and you were a Disney fan, there is one song from which you undoubtedly know at least one lyric. The chorus goes a little something like this: Join right in, sing-along with your favorite Disney song…
Did you finish the lyric? If not, maybe you are like the poor little bird wearing the dunce cap: “But I don’t know all the songs.”
If you don’t know by now, these lines come from the theme song for the Disney Sing Along Songs series of VHS tapes. With over 20 volumes, nearly every melody in the Disney songbook was given the karaoke treatment, allowing children everywhere to learn the words to their favorite film and theme park songs. The question is, what was the greatest entry in the Disney Sing Along Songs collection?
There are four acceptable answers.
Either Disneyland Fun, Happy Haunting Party at Disneyland, Campout at Walt Disney World, or Beach Party at Walt Disney World.
Why are these the best? Well, if you love Disney Parks, the answer should be obvious. They each include some real hidden gems as far as songs and footage go: Disneyland Fun features The Great Outdoors (from the Country Bear Jamboree Vacation Hoedown) and the Sherman Brothers’ Magic Journeys classic Making Memories. Happy Haunting Party at Disneyland shows what Toontown looks like bedecked for the spooky season, and Campout at Walt Disney World was filmed at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. However, they are perhaps all eclipsed by the amazing piece of synergy that was Beach Party at Walt Disney World.
Disney’s Blizzard Beach opened on April 1, 1995, and it was almost as if this 1995 Disney Sing Along Songs entry was created solely to coincide with the promotion of Walt Disney World’s newest park. The whole premise of the short film is to show Mickey, his friends, and a group of young children visiting Disney’s iciest waterpark, making a trip to Typhoon Lagoon, sailing the Seven Seas Lagoon with Captain Hook, landing on the beach of Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and dancing the hula with the luau’s performers.
But, it is what occurs to finish out the musical adventure that makes Beach Party at Walt Disney World not only the best Disney Sing Along Songs but also perhaps one of the most-90s and most-endearingly-random things to ever hit Walt Disney World.
The finale song of this VHS tape/DVD is one made famous by Elvis Presley called Slicin’ Sand. It is a delightful combination of Hawaiian vibes and early rock n’ roll that was written for his film Blue Hawaii. Since it is a part of the beach party’s big finish, Mickey has pulled out all the stops and thrown a soiree the likes of which we would all love to attend.
It included the Electrical Water Pageant as a backdrop:
And, a one night only performance by Aladdin and Jasmine’s band (any guesses on the band’s name?):
Apparently, Aladdin made up with the palace guard because they are backing him up:
But it seems that Mickey couldn’t quite decide on a theme for the party so…
Tigger decided to rep the song’s history in his Elvis Presley leather jacket (while Ariel looks on, probably wishing she had legs so she could dance too).
Mickey looks like he also wanted to throw it back to the 50-60s in his varsity jacket:
Several others showed up in their 90s best.
Here is Minnie in a headband, oversized sweatshirt, and leggings:
Donald, Chip, and Dale chose satin, hip hop bomber jackets:
And, Goofy wanted to ride the line between the 80s and 90s with his horizontal striped rugby shirt and shorts over sweatpants:
That leaves all the kids, and they were a virtual what’s-what of 90s style.
Tiffany is rocking a spunky pair of colored overalls:
Brendon, in another bit of synergy, is sporting a Mighty Ducks jersey (the Walt Disney Company had launched the Anaheim Ducks just two years prior):
Mika is looking fresh in flannel:
And, this unnamed kiddo is wearing one of those “it’s Just a game…Yeah right! (insert your favorite sport here) is Life” shirts that almost every 90s kid owned:
All jokes aside, Slicin’ Sand is just plain fun. As a Disney Parks fan, it is amazing to see the Electrical Water Pageant and so many uniquely costumed characters in one place. If you have never seen Beach Party at Walt Disney World, it was released on VHS in 1997, DVD in 2005, and most assuredly exists out in the vast annals of YouTube. It is a crying shame that the entire Disney Sing Along Songs anthology is not available on Disney Plus – hopefully someday!
All screenshots copyright Disney.
Kendall has been a member of the WDW Radio Team since 2013. Today, you can read her work on the WDW Radio Blog or hear her join Lou for a number of WDW Radio podcast episodes. Kendall’s affection for Walt Disney World began with her very first family visit in the 1990s and has continued with each magical vacation since. Follow her on Twitter @kl_foreman.
