Love ‘em or hate ‘em, sometimes we just can’t get that Disney attraction song out of our head. Often cheery, sometimes eerie (I’m looking at you, “Grim Grinning Ghosts”), many of these melodies are infectious and seem to get stuck on an endless loop in our thoughts whether we like it or not. We find ourselves mindlessly humming them as we fold laundry or stand in line at Starbucks. And, every now and again, we simply HAVE to sing along with that tune in our head, making nearby innocent bystanders either smile brightly in recognition or roll their eyes (after they sarcastically thank you for getting the song stuck in their head now too). Go ahead and try not to “mind-sing” these as you read, I dare you!
10. “Golden Dream”—The American Adventure
“Americaaaa, spread your golden wings! Sail on freedom’s wind, across the skyyyyy.” Does anyone else get major goosebumps during this song like I do? This inspirational anthem joins a montage of powerful scenes highlighting our great country at the conclusion of The American Adventure attraction in Epcot. As the final number, many a guest can’t help but replay the song in their head on their way out, and because of the strong emotions it provokes, may even want to belt it out to the rest of the World Showcase!
9. “The Three Caballeros”—Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
What’s not to love about this slow-moving musical boat ride inside the Mexico pavilion at Epcot? It’s dark and cool, gives you a relaxing break off your feet, practically NEVER has a long line, and has a catchy tune that follows the boat through Donald Duck’s adventures in Mexico. The animated segments are playful and fun as well as the “small world-like” dolls, but nothing is quite as memorable as the song that is played throughout the entire ride. Trumpets and other Mexican instruments give this melody a whimsical and upbeat personality, making you do that little bouncy dance in your seat. Sure, there are actual lyrics at the end of this mostly instrumental tune, but don’t ask me to correctly sing along. I usually just “Na Na Na” my way through the words I don’t know, intermixing “The Three Caballeroooooooos” when I see fit.
8. “Heigh Ho!”—Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
As the twisty-turney train barrels into the mine, you’ll get treated to a performance of this classic song by those lovable, pickaxe-wielding dwarfs. The lyrics don’t get much simpler than this. Throw in some whistling and you’ve got a catchy number that, for better or worse, just won’t go away. I, for one, have never met a classic Disney tune I didn’t like and dig dig dig dig dig dig dig singing along!
7. “Under the Sea”—Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Let’s face it, this perky song has been playing in the background of your brain for the last 20 or so years since you first saw the movie. Yep, it’s embedded it there, just waiting for a chance to spring forth to the forefront of your mind and have you joining in with the hot crustacean band. This attraction located inside Hollywood Studios is the key that opens the musical lock-box in your head and will have this song playing on auto-repeat, over and over. And over. And over.
6. “One Little Spark”— Journey into Imagination with Figment
Embodying all the zany fun of Figment himself, this original song has been sneaking its way inside your head since you rode the very first incarnation of the ride with Dreamfinder. Despite many major renovations to the ride itself, the song remains with a few new verses added. Everyone together—“Imaaaaaaaagination, Imaaaaaaaagination!”
5. “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughin’ Place”—Splash Mountain
With three familiarly catchy songs played throughout the ride, it truly is up for debate which one will get stuck in your head the longest. For us, “The Laughing Place” song just barely secures the top rank, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” and “How Do You Do?” following closely behind. This chirpy little ditty is a charmer for sure, offering you a handy distraction before your log boat takes you plummeting head-first down a waterfall. “Ev’rybody’s got a laughin’ place, a laughin place to go ho-ho!” You’re welcome.
4. “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow!”—The Carousel of Progress
“…Shining at the end of every day!” This song which includes the lyrics, “Man has a dream, and that’s a start/He follows his dream with mind and heart” all but shouts the ideologies of Walt Disney’s life and vision. It’s so dang catchy and happy, leaving us no choice but to merrily sing along all day, every day, during our Disney vacation and on the trip home…and then proceed to set our ringtone to it. Is this just me?
3. “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room”—Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
In a place where “all the birds sing words and the flowers croon,” you won’t be able to resist jumping right in and singing along with these audio-animatronic birds. Just how many times can a song include the word “tiki” in its lyrics? Your fellow park goers are about to find out!
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2. “Yo-Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)”—The Pirates of the Caribbean
Arguably the most loved theme song on Disney property and a shower-staple for many, singing this grunty pirate anthem makes us feel a sense of camaraderie with those rascally, patch-wearing scallywags. A good majority of us (raising my hand) can only get as far as the opening lyrics before we have to indecipherably mumble our way to the “Drink up, me hearties, yo-ho!” part but thanks to the memorable melody and rebellious, free-spirited nature of it, all of us landlubbers want to swing a pint and sing along. An epic theme song for some and really bad eggs for others, this tune will be with you for hours, days, months, years…
1. “It’s a Small World”—it’s a small world
Like a hellish earworm, this song will undeniably get stuck in your head, threatening to never, ever, EVER go away. You might want to kill us for mentioning it, but on a list of the most infectious Disney attraction songs this will ALWAYS rank at number one. As the most infamous song on Disney property, many of us sing it simply to annoy the people around us. No amount of banging your head against the wall will banish it from your brain, and even when you sleep, the melody will find you there too. So you might as well just go ahead and embrace the highly repetitive song…and you might actually come to love the simple lyrics and sweet message. Maybe.
Photo courtesy of Disney Photo Snapper
