Last modified on 11 March 2019, at 15:55

Disney Junior- Live on Stage!

Disney Junior- Live on Stage!
DisneyJunior.jpg
The entrance to Disney Junior- Live on Stage!
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Land Animation Courtyard
Attraction type Stage Show
Opening date October 1, 2001
Closing date September 1, 2018
Ride duration 24 minutes
Formally Known As Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage (2001-2011)
Based on Disney Junior
FastPass + Yes (Tier 2)
Replaced by Disney Junior Dance Party!

Disney Junior- Live on Stage! was a show located in Disney's Hollywood Studios

History

Bear in the Big Blue House: Live on Stage!

The history of what eventually become Disney Junior- Live on Stage! began on June 7, 1999 with the creation of Bear in the Big Blue House: Live on Stage! [1]. The live stage show was housed on Soundstage 5, which had previously been home to the Soundstage Restaurant and the Catwalk Bar [1] [2]. Produced by the Jim Henson Company [1], Bear in the Big Blue House: Live on Stage! was a 15 minute stage show featuring characters from the popular children's television show Bear in the Big Blue House [1]. Bear in the Big Blue House ran for roughly two years before being closed on August 4, 2001 and incorporated into a new titled Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage![1].

Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage!

Playhouse Disney- Live On Stage! opened on October 1, 2001 as part of the 100 Years of Magic Celebration [3]. Like its predecessor, the live show featured Bear (from the Disney television show Bear in the Big Blue House) telling stories to his friend Tutter. The stories that Bear told however featured characters from other Playhouse Disney shows, including: Rolie Polie Olie, Stanley, and the Book of Pooh. When commenting on the creation of the new attraction, show producer John Lee said:

"We invite Disney-MGM Studios guests to come out and play with even more of their ´Playhouse Disney' friends. The show is a terrific opportunity for families to have fun together."

In April 2005, Characters from JoJo's Circus replaced the Rolie Polie Olie segment [4], while the Book of Pooh scene was also revamped to include characters from the newer My Friends Tigger and Pooh television show.

Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage! then remained unchanged until February 2008 when The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse replaced the Bear In the Big Blue House scenes. At this time characters from Handy Mandy and the Little Einstein’s also replaced JoJo's Circus and Stanley [5].

Name Change

In 2011 Disney announced that Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage! would be renamed Disney Junior- Live on Stage! beginning in March 2011 [6] The change was done to reflect the name change of the company’s morning block of television programs. Although the show remained mostly unchanged, a new Jake and the Never Land Pirates scene replaced the My Friends Tigger and Pooh scene [6].

In 2013, Disney announced that Sofia the First and Doc Mcstuffins would be added to Disney Junior- Live on Stage! [7] The new scenes replaced the Little Einsteins and Handy Manny scenes.

Closure

On June 1, 2018, Disney announced that Disney Junior- Live on Stage! would be closing September 1, 2018 to make way for a new attraction [8]. The new show, titled Disney Junior Dance Party, features characters from "Mickey and the Roadster Racers", "Doc McStuffins", "The Lion Guard", and "Vampirina".

Attraction Plot

Original Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage!

Bear from Bear in the Big Blue House was the host of Playhouse Disney- Live on Stage!

The original Playhouse Disney Live on Stage! began inside the world of Bear in the Big Blue House. As the show started, a cast member told guests they were going to visit Bear in his home. After some audience participation, Bear appeared on stage having just returned home from a walk. After a short conversation, Bear and the cast member would lead the audience in singing, "Welcome to the Blue House". As they were singing, other characters from the television series including Tutter, Ojo, Treelo, Pip and Pop joined in. After the song ended, the characters from Bear in the Big Blue House decided to dance in order to something special for their guests.

Although all the other characters were dancing, Tutter the mouse reluctantly admitted that he couldn't dance due to the fact that he was too shy. In order to help Tutter, Bear and the cast member decided to tell him some stories.

Roli Poli Olie

The cast member then turned Bear's house into a book, which then turned its page to reveal Rolie Polie Olie and his friends. In the story, Zoey (Olie's sister) is supposed to be pretending to be a monster. In order to help her, the cast member suggested that the audience also pretend. Next Zoey, Olie and their friend all pretended that they were trapped in a vortex and began to twirl. The cast member then told the audience to twirl with them. After the story, Tutter appeared back on stage. Although he agreed that it was fun to laugh and sing with your friends, he still felt too shy.

Stanley

Since Tutter was still feeling shy the cast member decided to tell Tutter another story, this time about Stanley. As Stanley and his fish Dennis appeared on stage, the Stanley theme song then began to play. After the song had ended, Stanley told Dennis that he was sad because he had to wash up and go to bed. Stanley then said that he wished he was a gorilla, so that he didn't have to wash. After Dennis told him that gorillas are very clean, Dennis and Stanley decided to look up the animal in the Great Big Book of Everything. Inside the book, Stanley learned that gorillas were large animals that were very clean. After reading about the ape, a large gorilla appeared in Stanley’s room. Stanley and the audience then pounded on their chest in order to say hello. The gorilla picked through Stanley's hair, helping to clean him, before going back into the Great Big Book of Everything. After the gorilla left, Stanley agreed that he should brush his teeth and go to bed, thanking Dennis for helping him learn. After the scene, Tutter agreed that your friends can help you learn, but he still wanted one more story.

Book of Pooh

The third story took place inside the Book of Pooh. The narrator told guests that Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet were enjoying a day in the Hundred Acre Woods. Pooh, after realizing that he has a pot of honey, declared that it was a perfect day. Although Eeyore wants to take a nap, Tigger tells him that it is the perfect day for bouncing. The cast member then told guests they should join in with him.

After the bouncing, Pooh observes that all of his friends have different ideas of what a perfect day is, and he wondered how they could all be right. Piglet suggested that they should ask the narrator what a perfect day is. The narrator told them that everyone has their own perfect day, because everyone is different. Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore and Tigger then sang a song, celebrating their differences. After the song, Pooh realized that they forgot to ask Piglet what his perfect day is. Piglet responded that as long as he's with his friends, every day is a perfect day. The narrator then said goodbye ending the story.

Finale

The scene then shifted back to Bear in the Big Blue House, where Bear suggested that if everyone danced, Tutter would too. The entire Bear in the Big Blue House cast then sang a song, encouraging the audience (and Tutter) to dance. Tutter (after dancing) thanked the audience for being such good friends. After the rest of the characters left, Bear realized that they hadn’t seen Luna yet today. Bear then told Luna the events of the day, before concluding that with friends there is nothing you can't do. Bear and Luna, and the rest of the Bear and the Big Blue House characters then sang the Goodbye Song as the show ended.

Later Additions

During the course of Playhouse Disney- Live On Stage’s run, scenes involving characters from JoJo’s Circus and My Friends Tigger and Pooh were added to the attraction.

JoJo’s Circus

In 2005, characters from JoJo's Circus were added to the attraction.

In the JoJo's Circus scene, JoJo and her friend Skeebo were looking for Goliath the Lion who was hiding. With guests help, JoJo eventually found Goliath inside a cannon. After being reunited, JoJo realizes that Goliath had the hiccups. Skeebo would then suggest that they surprise Goliath to get rid of the hiccups, and the audience was told to stand up and yell as loud as they could. When the whole audience yelled together, Goliath's hiccups disappeared. JoJo then taught everyone (including the audience) how to bow. The Cast Member then asked JoJo what she learned today, to which she replied, "Some things are more fun if you have good friends", ending the scene. Tutter then reappeared, agreeing that it was fun when friends laughed and sang together.

My Friends Tigger and Pooh

The My Friend's Tigger and Pooh scene began with Tigger, Pooh and the Darby hearing the Super Sleuth sign. The characters and the audience then said the Super Sleuth oath, before Roo appeared on stage, telling them that his kite was stuck in a tree. After Pooh asked how the kite got there, Roo would explain that the wind knocked it into the tree. After shortly brainstorming, Tigger decided that he could bounce high enough to get the kite. Tigger then sang a short song about bouncing, while the cast member encouraged the audience to bounce along with him. After the song, the team decided that they were going to have to think some more. Pooh, Tigger and the Darby then agreed that everyone (including the audience) should blow the kite out of the tree. This plan worked, freeing the kite and ending the scene.

Disney Junior- Live on Stage!

Disney Junior Live on Stage! began with a cast member named Casey running on stage while the Disney Junior theme song played. Casey then asked all of the audience to yell out their names. While everyone was yelling, Mickey Mouse himself yelled out his name, and then invited the audience to his clubhouse. As guests arrived at the clubhouse, Mickey and Casey sang the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme song, during which Minnie, Donald, Daisy and Goofy appeared.

At the clubhouse Mickey informed guests that it was Minnie's birthday. In order to help out with the festivities, Daisy agreed to hang up a "happy birthday” sign, Goofy agreed to make a cake, and Donald said that he could write a happy birthday song. Donald, Goofy and Daisy then explained that it is going be difficult for them to accomplish their tasks. Mickey and the Casey agreed that the best way to solve your problems is to study stories. In order to hear some stories, Mickey and his friends called on Tootles to give them tools to help them. The three items Tootles carried, related to other Disney Junior shows: Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

Sofia the First

The first tool that the gang used was he tiara from Sofia the First. As the Sofia the First theme song played, the scene shifted to Sofia in front of her castle. Sofia was attempting to make the flowers outside her castle sparkle for the Royal Ball, but she was having no luck. Joined by Prince James and Princesses Amber, Sofia eventually decided to go find Mr. Cedric for help. Mr. Cedric then appeared on stage and began to sing about how he wanted to make a name for himself by impressing the King and making it snow. After Sofia asked for the wizards help, Mr. Cedric eventually agreed. He told the princess that all she needed to do was say the spell with confidence. Although Sofia wanted to do her spell, Mr. Cedric told her that she cannot because he needed to do his own spell to make it snow for the ball. Unfortunately, Mr. Cedric said the spell too fast and his spell book disappeared. As the book darted around the room, Sofia asked the audience to help her find it. After this accomplished, Mr. Cedric was about to try his spell again, when the group heard the announcement that the Royal Guests were arriving. Knowing that guests were about to arrive, Mr. Cedric became too nervous to perform the spell. After Sofia asked the audience’s help, everyone said the spell together which made it begin to snow. Taking what she has learned, Sofia tried her spell again, this time "slow and steady". The Princess's spell worked and the flowers outside the castle began to sparkle. Seeing her success, Sofia began to sing a song about how she can do anything when her friends are with her.

After hearing Sofia's story, Donald said that he learned he should write a "sing together song" for the party that everyone could help with. He then happily left the scene.

Doc McStuffins

Doc McStuffins, Lamby and Hallie in Disney Junior- Live on Stage! Photo credit: Disney

The second tool that the gang used was the stethoscope form Doc McStuffins. As the Doc McStuffins theme song played, the scene changed to Doc's bedroom. Here, she was joined by Lamby, Chilly, Hallie and a Stuffie. Doc asked what everyone wanted to do, after which Lamby suggested that everyone should dance with her. After Chilly said "lets boogie" everyone started to dance. After the dance, Stuffie got out of control and knocked over Lamby, causing her tutu to rip. Lamby then said she knew Stuffie didn't mean to rip the tutu, and she asked Dr. McStuffins to fix her. The whole group then sang the "Time for a Checkup" song, before Dr. McStuffins said that she was diagnosing Lamby with the "rippyies". Hallie then said they needed to look in the Big Book of Boo Boos. Doc agreed, but also said that she needed her magnifying glass. Stuffie tried to help by getting it, but instead dropped it, and caused bubbles to go everywhere. Doc noted that she cannot fix Lamby with the bubbles everywhere. Casey then encouraged the audience to help pop all the bubbles, which they did. After the bubbles were popped, Doc asked Lamby if she needs anything else before she started. Lamby said that she was a little scared, and she could use a cuddle. Hallie then popped up with a magnifying glass and began to chant "you can do it" and Doc fixed Lamby. Lamby then sang a song about how she felt "So Much Better Now". Doc then told Lamby that, "when your friends cheer you on, there's nothing you can't do". Lamby then said that now that she felt better, they should start dancing again.

After everyone danced, the Doc McStuffins characters left the stage and Goofy reappeared. Casey then asked Goofy what he learned from the story, and Goofy said he was going to get a friend to cheer him on as he made his cake.

Jake and the Neverland Pirates

Jake in the Jake and the Neverland Pirates scene. Photo by Lauren Javier.

As Goofy left, Daisy appeared on stage, upset because she hasn't been able to hang her banner. Casey then told Daisy that they needed to hear another story, this time from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

After the Jake and the Neverland Pirates theme song ended, the crew found out that Captain Hook has stolen their treasure chest. Jake used his spyglass, to try and find his chest. Jake eventually saw the treasure on a ship-wrecked beach. As the crew went to find their treasure, the scene shifted to Captain Hook and Mr. Smee on the island. Hook attempted to open the lock on the chest with his hook, but he couldn't do it. Jake and his crew were then able to sneak up on Captain Hook by disguising themselves as bushes. In order to get Hook away from the chest, Jake decided that he needed the audience to pretend that they were Tik-Tok the Crocodile. Their plan proved successful, and Jake, his crew, and the audience sang a short “Gold Doubloons” song, ending the scene.

Finale

After Jake and the Neverland Pirates left stage, Daisy, Goofy, Donald and Mickey appeared on screen. All of them were able to accomplish their tasks. Mickey then told everyone to yell surprise when Minnie entered the room. After Minnie thanked everyone, Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Daisy and Casey sang the song that Donald wrote for the occasion. Casey then told the audience to stand up and dance with them.

Former Scenes

Handy Manny

The first tool that the team uses is a toolbox from Handy Manny. As the scene changes, the Handy Manny theme song is played. After the song ends, Handy Manny and all his tools appear on stage. Handy and his team need to fix a bubble machine in time for the new park to open. As the tools begin work, they sing the "Jump In" song. After the song, Pat the hammer decides that he can fix the machine all by himself. His hammering however breaks the wooden base of the machine. After Pat decides he’s going to get out of the way, Manny decides that the machines hose is broken. The rest of the tools then chip in to fix the machine, which they do while singing the "Fix it" song. Although they initially think they fixed the machine, the motor of the machine falls down, and Manny realizes he needs Pat to fix it. With the audience’s help, Handy Manny and Casey find Pat, who is able to fix the machine, while the audience chants "Go Pat go". After Pat fixes the machine, bubbles fill the room and guests sing the "Fix it" song one more time as the scene ends.

Little Einsteins

After the Handy Manny story, Donald decides that everybody should have a part in his song and he then leaves the scene happily. After Donald leaves, Goofy complains that he is having a hard time making his cake. Casey then decides to use another tool, this time transporting guests to the land of the Little Einsteins.

After the Little Einsteins theme song ends, guests are informed that today’s episode is known as "The Great Sky Race" with music by Nikolai Rimsky. The Little Einsteins then tell guests that Rocket needs the audience to help him zoom across the sky and win the sky race, although Big Jet (another airplane) also wants to win the race. The Einsteins then agree that the best way to help Rocket is to cheer him on. To help Rocket, the audience is instructed to pat their lap slowly, and then clap their hands faster before finally raising their hands and shaking. All of these actions are done to the tune of Flight of the Bumblebee. All of the encouragement leads Rocket to catch and eventually pass Big Jet, winning the race and ending the scene.

Watch the Show!

To see the final version of Disney Junior- Live on Stage! click play below.

Fun Facts and Trivia

  • 10 shows of Disney Junior- Live on Stage! were performed every day.
  • Every cast member on the final version of the show was given the name Casey.
  • Dan Fields was the creative director for Disney Junior-Live on Stage! [9]
  • James Silson was the puppet master of Disney Junior- Live on Stage! in Disney's Hollywood Studios. His brother Scott Silson was the puppet master of Disney's California Adventure's version of the attraction [10]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 http://allears.net/tp/mgm/m_bear.htm
  2. http://www.studioscentral.com/column/why-its-there/brown-derby-elevator
  3. https://d23.com/a-to-z/playhouse-disney-live-on-stage/
  4. https://www.mouseplanet.com/7991/Walt_Disney_World_Park_Update
  5. http://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/playhouse-disney-live-on-stage/news/03feb2008-playhouse-disney-reopens.htm
  6. 6.0 6.1 https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/11/disney-junior-live-on-stage-debuts-at-disney-parks-in-2011/
  7. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/12/new-stories-coming-to-disney-junior-live-on-stage-in-2013-at-disneys-hollywood-studios-and-disney-california-adventure-park/
  8. https://www.wdwmagic.com/attractions/disney-junior-live-on-stage/news/01jun2018-disney-junior---live-on-stage-to-close-in-september-for-new-show.htm
  9. http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2011/02/disney-junior-live-on-stage-press.html
  10. https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2013/04/ten-years-of-fun-at-disney-junior-live-on-stage-at-disney-california-adventure-park/