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More Shows at this Theater:
[ Mickey's Winter Wonderland ] [ Tarzan - The Encounter ]

More Venues at the Disneyland Park:
[ Chaparral Theater ] [ Fantasy Festival Stage ] [ Le Théâtre du Château ] [ Videopolis ] [ Captain Hook's Galley ]

Introduction
Where better to spend a winter day than in the snowy mountains? Mickey and his friends just do this - and invite the guests to follow them to a day full of fun, ice skating, ...	Wo kann man besser einen Wintertag verbringen als in den schneebedeckten Bergen? Mickey und seine Freunde tun genau das - und laden alle Gäste ein, sich ihnen für einen kurzweiligen Tag anzuschließen...

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Once guests enter the Chaparral Theater they face the ultimate location for a relaxing winter weekend: a cozy log cabin nestled to the slopping hills somewhere in the snow covered mountains, right on the shores of a small, frozen lake. Seems as if Donald shares this opinion as he is here too and tries to relax with some ice fishing. Not even the small avalanche of snow crushing down from the roof of his cabin, when he closes the door seems to bother him - quiet an achievement for loose tempered Donald. But let's be honest nobody came to the theater to watch Donald ice fishing...

In comes a younf couple on their skis on a cross mountain trip to enjoy the serene mountain atmosphere - surely something Donald could handle, if they would not be just the first two of a whole group arriving... only seconds later Pluto, Chip'n'Dale, Mickey and Minnie come sliding down the hills in their special winter clothing. Only Goofy is missing - late as always he arrives with a very special entrance as he comes crashing in amid a giant snow ball!! Soon the whole gang celebrates around the lake bringing up thir only wish left - "Let It Snow" in a raising rendition of the classic. And for sure only seconds later snowfall starts covering even the guests in the first rows! Donald is not yet ready to join in the fun and dancing around the lake, he is still hoping to catch some fish... which reminds our friends of the other use a frozen lake can be besides ice fishing: skating! Somewhere in the cabin for sure some skates should be... Luckily the couple have their skates already with them and can enjoy some romantic moments on the ice with the heart warming duet "Baby It's Cold Outside" and impressive figure skating before the gang is back and the "Winter Wonderland" provides the upbeat score for some fun and a conga line on the ice. 

Unfortunately Donald and his fish are not the only one who are disturbed by the fun and laughter ... out of the depths of a cave on the other side of the lake a deep growl comes and when Goofy is chosen by the crew to take a closer look what might be inside he comes rushing out after seconds followed by three sleepy bears!! Luckily its three Country Bears who are rather thrilled to see a ice and snow for the first time in their life and soon fool around before leading the gang in a true Country, sorry, Winter Hoedown - here every foot in the audience soon taps along. But such a full blown hoedown really drains the energy, especially in the cold winter air, so everybody, even Donald is ready for a hot chocolate in the cabin - the opportunity for Mickey to surprise his Minnie with a romantic song. Just seconds later the loving pair glides over the frozen lake in the most romantic duet the two ever had before the final kiss. How could such a fun and romantic filled day end? With a sleigh ride!! The horse drawn sleigh pulls in and takes Mickey and his Minnie and all their friends on their way back...

But not before a last song and dance performance. To proof once more that this show not only features a rich symphonic score but also some catchy well known songs like "Let It Snow" or "Oh, Susanna!" in all new arrangements. Set in the most beautiful (and romantic) setting of a snow covered mountain retreat the show already amazes thanks to its depth and natural element no indoor stage can create as the theater cleverly uses the natural surroundings as stage elements. Propably no show at Disney ever won the hearts of guests faster offering something for everyone. At the same time it never steps into the trap of just plugging different elements together to please everyone, instead it presents itself as one solid structure encorporating high energy fun with Goofy or Chip'n'Dale as well as sing-a-long moments with the Country Bears or a truely romantic duet of Mickey and Minnie gliding over the ice. The impressive figure skating of the human couple in the show adds an extra dimension especially for the adults among the guests and kind of symbolizes the high power performances the whole cast presents up to five times daily. 

A wonderful, rousing score, beloved classic hit songs, fun with Mickey and his friends, to romance and figure skating - the perfect combination for guests of all ages in a show that only has one problem: it's so entertaining, it seems to short even so it runs nearly 30 minutes. Clearly the show and the performance live up to the impressive setting that already sets the guests in wonder when they enter the theater. What needs to be pointed out especially is the unique achievement of the creative team and the cast not only to produce a highly entertaining show for all ages but also a true winter show, that manages to recreate the feeling of a winter day out in the mountain with friends and fits perfectly throughout the winter even once the Christmas Season is over. Or to say it as short as possible: a Must-See!

 Even so it is not unusual for the waiting line to stretch all through the Cottonwood Creek Ranch to the Country Cookout Barbecue this does not mean, that you will be turned away. The Chaparral Theater has one of the largest capacities of any theater in the Disneyland Park, so even late comers will be seated most times making this a great attraction for those happening to walk buy just seconds before a show starts or for those who do not want to stand in line for a show.
Anyway it is still worth arriving at least 20 minutes before the show to get one of the best seats in the two middle sections of the auditorium. If you turned up late don't worry the view from the two sections to the left and right is very good too, only make sure that the huge coloumns lifting the roof up are not blocking a central part of your view.
If you show up only shortly before the show starts and the main entrance opposite of the Critter Corral is already closed take a look at the back of the stands, as the entrances there are open till the very last second as long as seats are still available. Very often the CMs will close the main entrance about 5 minutes before the show and direct all guests to the rear entrances next to the Frontierland Depot.

If your party includes young children you can shorten the waiting time a bit if one adult of your party leaves the line with the children and visits the petting zoo Critter Corral which is just opposite of the main entrance so he won't miss the opening of the doors and can return to the rest of the party in time.

Strollers are not allowed in the theater and must be parked near the main entrance in a designated area.

The first rows in the front (all on ground level) are reserved for guests with disabilities and young children, as they have a great, unobstructed view from there and are really close to the action. Parents should note that they are not allowed to sit next to their child in these rows, so all children must be able / willing to watch the show parted from their parents.

For a special experience try to see the first show of the day - with a little bit of luck the sun will just rise over the Rivers of the Far West and will shine through the wide open doors on the ride stageside bathing the whole snow covered mountainside in a truely wonderful, natural light adding some extra magic...
Also if scheduled shows after darkness has fallen are quiet a different experiences from daytime performances, as the lovingly created lightning then finally can show off as no longer the daylight falling through the open sides of the stage drowns it out.

Für ein besonderes Erlebnis empfiehlt sich der Besuch der ersten Show am Morgen - mit etwas Glück erhebt sich dann gerade die Sonne über die Rivers of the Far West und taucht durch die weit geöffneten Tore am rechten Bühnenrand die schneebedeckte Landschaft in ein wahrlich wunderbares, natürliches Licht, das noch eine Priese extra Zauber ergänzt...
Falls angeboten sind auch Shows nach Einbruch der Dunkelheit ob des völlig anderen Erlebnisses empfehlenswert, kommt dann doch endlich die Lichtregie zur Geltung, da kein Tageslicht mehr durch die offenen Seiten der Bühne fällt.

 On your way out after the performance you are sure to be humming some of the memorable songs heared during the show which features a unique soundtrack combining classic instrumental pieces as "La Valse des Patineurs" by Emile Waldteufel and songs from various composers and lyricists among them Jules Styne (Let It Snow), Bryant Boudheaux (Rocky Top) and Frank Loesser (Baby It's Cold Outside) in a wonderful score arranged by Vasile Sirli who also contributed some short new musical cues. What makes the soundtrack so outstanding is its feeling of being one piece of work even so it is combined from numerous sources bringing back some of the classic, up beat winter songs but also adding seldom heared material. It captures the mood of the whole show perfectly, from the catchy fun filled Winter Hoedown starring the Country Bears with songs like "Country Christmas" and "Oh, Susanna!", through romantic moments as with "Baby It's Cold Outside" all the way to the finale with "Sleigh Ride". The combination of well known material, a new arrangement and the all new symphonic recordings create the perfect winter score that fits just as well during the Christmas season as on a late, cold day in February.
Those who can't get enough of the up-beat soundtrack that is perfect for every winter day can find the complete soundtrack as used in the show missing only the vocals of the characters (but including those of the couple in the show) on the CD Frontierland en Musique (ED DA008-2). Due to the missing character-vocals the romantic pas de deux of Mickey and Minnie on the ice is not a song on the CD as in the snow but only the roughly three minute long instrumental score for the song. Still "La Valse Des Patinuers" is sure to touch the romantic heart in everyone listening...

An essential element of the atmosphere of this show is the really deep and especially wide stage with its snow covered landscape - which looks so natural because it is. Well, certainly the snow is not as the show usually runs from early November to early March, which means also at times when the temperatures are often above the melting point, but the trees on the slopping hills with their rock work are real as the Chaparral Theater actually is not a fully enclosed theater but a covered former open air stage, which is why it has been designed to allow the stage to make use of the natural setting with the trees growing "on stage" creating the perfect setting for this winter adventure in the mountains. And to answer one of the most often asked questions: yes, this is a true ice skating rink in the center of the stage!

The show is a returning favorite of guests since its premiere in 1998 and has stayed mostly unchanged - with one exception: when now Goofy ventures into the bears' cave all on his own before he flees from the growl of the awakening bears, originally in the first seasons a child was chosen from the audience that ventured into the cave and always proofed to be way more courageous than the whole cast of the show. The segment was changed as the introduction of the child slowed down the show and it was thought that an interactive element for a single child from the audience was not really fair toward all the the other children in the audience.

And for the record books: since the winter season 2002/2003 Mickey's Winter Wonderland is the longest running show in the Chaparral Theater - and based on the full house the show still plays to and the thundering applaus of the guests it is destined to continue its run for the forseeable future. 

Ein wesentliches Element der Atmosphäre der Show ist die tiefe und und unglaublich breite Bühne mit der eingeschneiten Winterlandschaft - die so echt aussieht, weil sie es ist. Nun, der Schnee natürlich nicht, ist die Show doch meist von Anfang November bis Anfang März zu sehen, also zu einer Zeit zu der die Temperaturen oft über Null Grad liegen, aber die sanften Hügel mit ihrem Baumbestand sind echt, ist das Chaparral Theater doch eigentlich eine überdachte Open-Air-Bühne, die so angelegt wurde, dass sie die natürliche Umgebung geschickt nutzen kann. So bilden die Bäume den perfekten Hintergrund für das Winterabenteuer in den verschneiten Bergen. Und um die wohl am häufigsten gestellte Frage zu beantworten: ja im Zentrum der Bühne befindet sich eine echte Eisfläche!

Die Show ist seit ihrer Premiere 1998 jedes Jahr erneut ein Favorit der Gäste und wurde folglich kaum verändert - lediglich die Szene, in der Goofy die Höhle erkundet und vor den Geräuschen der erwachenden Bären flüchtet, spielte sich ursprünglich anders ab. In den ersten Jahren wurde ein Kind aus dem Publikum ausgewählt, das dann die Höhle erkundete und sich dabei als viel mutiger alle das gesamte Ensemble der Show erwies. Diese Szene wurde jedoch verändert, da die Einführung des Kindes den Handlungsfluss stark bremste und man der Ansicht war, wenn sollten mehr Kinder eine Gelegenheit zur Teilnahme erhalten.

Und schließlich für die Rekordsammler: seit der Wintersaison 2002/2003 ist Mickey's Winter Wonderland die Show mit der längsten Laufzeit im Chaparral Theater - und wird es wohl noch einige Zeit bleiben, ob der vollen Ränge und dem donnernden Applaus den sie erhält.