15 Songs You Didn’t Know Were Missing from Your Disney Playlist

Disney music is seemingly a musical genre within its own right. There is a large discography of amazing songs from movies, shorts, and other projects that spread over decades. If you’re a Disney fan, chances are you’ve made a playlist that includes many of these songs.

When creating a Disney playlist, there’s no doubt that popular movie soundtracks are included. However, there’s also a large variety of songs that revolve around Disney vacations that would make great additions to your playlist!

Whether you travel to Disney often, or it’s a dream that you long for, these songs will fill your heart with some of the magic and happiness that’s felt during these trips.

Nighttime Spectaculars

It’s hard to imagine nighttime spectaculars at the Disney Parks without any music or sound. While the pyrotechnics, lights, lasers, water effects, and projections all create beautiful visual displays, it’s what we hear that makes these shows so touching. Through the use of songs, movie audio, and the spoken words, we’re given an emotional anchor that ties us to these nighttime shows for years to come.

1. Dreams That Soar (From “Disney Dreams That Soar”) – Omar Cardona & Brooke Weirick

In the summer of 2024, a drone show called “Dreams That Soar” debuted at Walt Disney World. Taking place in the sky above Lake Buena Vista at Disney Springs, this show displayed a variety of special moments from both classic and contemporary Disney movies.

During this show, you could expect to see visuals from movies such as Peter Pan, Dumbo, Wall-E, Big Hero 6, Up, Coco, and Star Wars. The drones also created images of special characters like Orange Bird and Figment. Accompanying this beautiful display, was an original song which held the same title – Dreams That Soar. A short portion of the song is used as an introduction to the show, but it is mostly showcased towards the end. The show wrapped up with the message, “There’s no limit to how far you can go, when you have dreams that soar”.

2. You Are the Magic (From “Disney Enchantment”) – Philip Lawrence & Kayla Alvarez

During the 50th Anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World, a new fireworks show, called Disney Enchantment, was featured at Magic Kingdom. Along with the show came a new song – You Are the Magic.

The song was used as a heartwarming start to the show and was heard again later on as a powerful ending. Intertwining the magic of Disney with the important message of self-positivity, You Are the Magic quickly grew in popularity among fans.

3. Fantasmic! Exit Music (Disneyland Park) – Bruce Healey & Barnette Ricci

Fantasmic! is one of the longest running nighttime shows in Disney Parks history. During the show, we get an inside look at Mickey Mouse’s imagination. With the use of pyrotechnics, water effects, live actors, boats, projections, and music, Fantasmic! shows us how powerful our imagination can be and reminds us that we’re in control of our own thoughts, both positive and negative.

Fantasmic! has a familiar tune that plays throughout multiple portions of the show. However, we can hear a full version of this song as we exit the show area. Since Fantasmic! is such a beloved show among fans, the music that goes along with it is extremely popular as well. The upbeat tune instantly puts some pep in your step and brings back fond memories for those who have enjoyed watching Fantasmic!.

4. Happily Ever After (Full Version) – Jordan Fisher & Angie K

Happily Ever After is a fan favorite fireworks show that debuted in Magic Kingdom in 2017. The show is very advanced and features pyrotechnics, lasers, lights, and projections that display on Cinderella Castle and along Main Street, U.S.A.. Besides being extremely impressive, Happily Ever After is also extremely heartwarming and emotional. A large portion of the feelings that Guests feel while watching this nighttime spectacular derive from the song that plays throughout the show.

Jordan Fisher and Angie K teamed up and put their powerhouse voices together to create the anthem for this show. With the same title, Happily Ever After, the song holds a special place in the hearts of many Disney park goers.

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Parades

Parades are a fun time to gather and celebrate. Whether it’s for a special event, holiday, or a standard park day experience, there’s nothing like watching your favorite characters put on an exciting, high-energy show as they go past you on beautiful floats, fun vehicles, or dancing down the street.

While it’s always exciting to see characters, these parades would really be lacking if they didn’t have the songs and music that accompany them. Some parade soundtracks have become iconic over the years and crowd favorites.

5. Better Together (From “Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration!”) – Matt from Middle School & Norelle

Each year at Disney California Adventure, Pixar Fest brings special entertainment, merchandise, food and drinks, and character encounters that’s all themed around favorite Disney•Pixar movies. This year, a new Pixar-themed parade was added to the entertainment line up – something that hasn’t taken place since Pixar Pier first opened in 2018!

Better Together: A Pixar Pals Celebration highlighted a variety of Pixar movies, ranging from originals such as Toy Story and Monsters Inc. to some of the most recent titles like Turning Red, Soul, and Luca. The parade was a great opportunity for Guests to see characters that are rarely seen at the parks. Accompanying the parade was a new, upbeat song titled “Better Together”. As the title suggests, the song focuses on the idea that while we are capable on our own, we’re better when we do things together.

6. Magic Happens (From “The Disneyland Parade, Magic Happens”) – Todrick Hall

Magic Happens premiered at Disneyland in early 2020 as part of the park’s 65th Anniversary celebration. Unfortunately, it was short-lived due to the impact of COVID-19 and the park’s necessary closure. However, the parade returned in 2023 for the celebration of Disney’s 100th Anniversary.

There’s no doubt that Disney always puts on fantastic parades, but this one is one of the best. With bright colors, beautiful floats, and a perfect collection of characters and movies, the only thing that makes this parade even more impressive is the soundtrack. Magic Happens has an amazing lineup of songs. The titular song, Magic Happens, has a sound and rhythm that’s very offbrand for Disney, but somehow fits in perfectly. It fills the parade with a unique energy and makes it extremely enjoyable for viewers.

Seasonal Parades

There are multiple Disney parades that are curated specifically for the holidays that have very memorable songs as part of their soundtrack. Some of these favorites can be heard in Mickey’s Boo-To-You Parade and Disney’s Christmas Fantasy Parade. Unfortunately, not every song that Disney uses for its entertainment is available for public consumption and these ones are some that are not. However, while you won’t be able to add them to your Disney playlist, you can listen to them on YouTube!

Attractions

Music is something that can be heard within almost every area of the Disney Parks, not just during entertainment offerings. Each ride and attraction has its own unique set of songs that plays during the experience. In many cases, there’s at least one song on the attraction that’s almost as iconic as the ride itself. These attraction songs are must-have additions for any Disney Park-lover’s playlist.

7. Nothing Can Stop Us Now (From “Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway”) – Mickey & Minnie

Joining other silly rides in Mickey’s Toontown and taking center stage at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was Mickey’s debut ride at the Disney theme parks. Since its opening day, this ride has remained quite popular among Guests at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, keeping pretty long lines throughout most days.

It’s completely understandable. This is a great ride. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a trackless dark ride that takes a combination of physical props, screens, animatronics, and special effects to take Guests directly inside the cartoon world. On this attraction, you’ll go on an adventurous train ride and see favorite pals like Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, and Daisy.

At the beginning and end of the ride, Mickey and Minnie sing an extremely catchy song together called “Nothing Can Stop Us Now“. This song is somewhat infectious, making it hard to fight the urge to sing along whenever it’s playing.

8. Special Spice (Music from “Tiana’s Bayou Adventure”) – Anika Noni Rose

The opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure was one of the most anticipated events happening at Walt Disney World and Disneyland in 2024. This reimagining of Splash Mountain gave Princess Tiana an opportunity to shine as she takes Guests on an all new adventure through the bayou.

Along with the new re-theme of the ride, comes an extended storyline of Tiana’s life, new characters, and new music. One of the new songs that you’ll hear at the end of the attraction is Special Spice. This song is a celebration of both individuality and community, making it known that everyone is welcome and everyone is special.

9. The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room – Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman

Within Disney theme park history, The Enchanted Tiki Room is very important. This is one of the few attractions that Walt personally had a hand in designing. It was also the very first attraction where audio-animatronics were used. The audio-animatronic birds that can be found within the attraction had the unique ability to move, talk, and sing. The details on these birds were so intricate that you could even see their chests move while they were “breathing”. For the time, this was a very impressive accomplishment.

As Guests gather in the Tiki Room, they are met with a variety of musical tunes as they are serenaded by these tropical birds, flowers, and tiki gods. The most well-known of these songs is “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room”, the opening number for the attraction. The room comes to life while all of the beautiful, brightly-colored birds come into view and welcome Guests to the Tiki Room with this introductory song. While this upbeat song can easily get stuck in your head, it can just as easily bring a smile to your face.

10. Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life For Me) – Xavier Atencio, Paul Frees, Thurl Ravenscroft, J. Pat O'Malley & The Mellomen

Pirates of the Caribbean was another attraction that Walt was personally involved with. Unfortunately, he passed away prior to the ride's completion and opening date. While he was unable to see how it performed, the ride's success would have made him proud. After Pirates of the Caribbean opened to the public, it quickly became very popular. To this day, it remains a fan-favorite.

The ride has many unique attributes. However, there are two things that most often leave an impression on Guests – the scent of the water and the song. The water’s unique smell (which comes from the bromine that is used to keep it sanitary) greets Guests well before they even enter the queue. However, what they leave with is the sound of the melodic pirate tune, Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me).

Instrumental versions of the song can be heard during different portions of the attraction. However, it’s most remembered for being sung by a scraggly clan of pirates towards the end of the ride. The joyful song that’s sung with carefree glee really gets you in a “pirate-y” mood. Before the ride comes to an end, you’ll be ready to gather your own crew and set sail on the seven seas.

11. Grim Grinning Ghosts – The Mellomen, Paul Frees, Betty Taylor, Bill Lee & Thurl Ravenscroft

The Haunted Mansion is one of the most popular Disney rides. On the ride, Guests are taken through the corridors of the mansion, getting a first hand look at some of the Happy Haunts that reside within. Most of the ride has a creepy feel to it as you slowly make your way through the eerie scenes.

However, towards the end of the attraction, you’ll find that you’ve left the mansion and have entered a graveyard. Surprisingly, this is the least spooky part of the ride. In the graveyard, you’ll find yourself surrounded by ghosts and spirits. Luckily, rather than coming out to haunt, they’ve come out to socialize. This graveyard soiree is accompanied by a lively song, Grim Grinning Ghosts, which is sung by a quintet of singing busts. 

Instrumental portions of the song are also played throughout other portions of the attraction. However the graveyard scene is what Guests most commonly refer to. The song has grown in popularity along with the ride. It's been used for a variety of things such as parades, fireworks, shows, musical covers, and within The Haunted Mansion movies.

12. It's a Small World – Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman

“it’s a small world” is a quaint boat ride that takes Guests on a journey throughout the world. During the ride, almost 300 audio-animatronic dolls, bright sets, beautiful clothing, and different languages, are used to represent different nations, cultures, and customs.

While we can see that there are things that make us all different, “it’s a small world”, along with its titular song, is intended to show Guests that we’re actually all quite similar. This important message is displayed perfectly within the lyrics.

“It’s a world of laughter, a world of tears. It’s a world of hopes, and a world of fears. There’s so much that we share, that it’s time we’re aware. It’s a small world after all.”

13. There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow – Jean Shepard

The Carousel of Progress is a phenomenon of an attraction that was initially created for the 64/65 New York World’s Fair. While the attraction may seem dated now, when it first premiered it was ahead of its time. The intent of the attraction was to showcase the progress of technology throughout the years.

Played throughout the entirety of the attraction is a song called “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”. The song expresses that a beautiful tomorrow is only a dream away. While this theme can be applied to the technological advancements that are displayed on the attraction, it can also be applied to any aspect of our lives. The lyrics showcase the importance of having a dream, following it through, and then enjoying the outcome of a dream come true.

Anniversaries

Disney is big on celebrating anniversaries. In the past few years, we’ve celebrated the 65th Anniversary of Disneyland, 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World, 25th Anniversary of Disney Cruise line, and the 100th Anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. With these celebrations came exclusive merchandise, food and dining options, parades, shows, and new music.

14. The Magic Is Calling (From “ Walt Disney World 50”) – Journi

The Magic is Calling was the anthem that rang throughout Walt Disney World for the 18 month celebration of the 50th Anniversary. The song was used for promotional videos, Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade, the lighting of the Beacons of Magic, and more. It quickly connected Guests to the 50th Anniversary, which truly felt like such a special time to be at Walt Disney World. The Magic is Calling was meant to help Guests feel the magic that flows throughout Walt Disney World and encourage them to return in the future.

15. Shimmering Seas (From “Disney Cruise Line”/25th Anniversary Theme) – Michelle Zarlenga

Disney Cruise Line celebrated its Silver Anniversary at Sea in the summer of 2023. Shimmering Seas was the signature song of the special 25th Anniversary of the cruise line. The fun, upbeat song fully expressed how magical and adventurous a cruise with Disney can be.

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