They put a spell on the Magic Kingdom, and now it's theirs.
It's been 22 years, right down to the day. Now the witches are back, and there's... heck to pay.
Introduced in 2015 as part of Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom near Orlando, the Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular is a musical revue starring the Sanderson Sisters, of Hocus Pocus (1993) fame. Revived by mystical power of the Magic Kingdom, the Sanderson Sisters have come to run amoknote for one All Hallow's Eve. But fortunately for Disney World's many underaged guests, the Sanderson Sisters aren't looking to drain anyone's life force this time. Instead, they're looking to create a magical "party potion" that will cast a sinisterly festive spell over the entire Magic Kingdom! But to succeed, they'll need help from some of the most dastardly characters from the Disney canon.
Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular provides examples of:
- Affably Evil: While the Sanderson Sisters maintain their sinister qualities from the film, and draw upon the aid of multiple Disney Villains, their motives are far more benign than in the source material; their goal is only to throw the most villainous Halloween party ever, and all their potion does is trigger some fireworks and cause some dramatic lighting effects on Cinderella castle during the final musical number.
- Alternate Continuity: Despite the release of Hocus Pocus 2 in 2022, the show's script hasn't been changed to mention its events. As of 2023, the Sandersons still refer to the original film's Halloween as the time when they "last returned" to earth.
- Alto Villainess: Winnie, much like in the film. The actress who plays her can channel a disturbingly good Bette Midler.
- Black Magic: A given, considering the Sanderson Sisters, but Dr. Facilier and Maleficent get in on the action as well.
- The Cameo: Binx serves as the announcer for the show's opening and closing, complete with Jason Marsden reprising his role, though he doesn't interact with the Sandersons at all. He also was available as merchandise during the show's run.
- Card-Carrying Villain: Maleficent summons an entire parade of them for the penultimate number, including Hades, Jafar, and even Lady Tremaine.
- Compelling Voice: Sarah performs "Come Little Children", much like in the film. Here it seems to be a general case of Charm Person, as she uses it exclusively on the adult Cast Members serving as backup dancers; first to compel them to perform in the first place, and then to get the 'hair of an innocent' from one of the female performers.
- Continuity Nod: The show opens with the Sanderson Sisters referencing the end of the movie, even specifying the number of years since its release.
- Crazy-Prepared: On the off chance that it rains during the night of a performance, a much shorter version of the show will play out instead, similar to "A Taste of Fantasmic!". In this version, Winnie and her sisters reassure the crowd that they can still throw the big party regardless of the "burning rain of death", and invite all the villains onstage for the big "I Put a Spell on You" number.
- Dance Party Ending: As is appropriate for any Disney Theme Parks live show, the last scene is a dance number set to "I Put a Spell on You", featuring the Sanderson Sisters and an assortment of Disney's most vile villains.
- Eldritch Location: Cinderella Castle, of all places. Not only is its power enough for the Sanderson Sisters to return from the grave, but thanks to Projection Mapping its facade shifts and changes as the show progresses. Its default form is delightfully creepy.
- Evil Is Hammy: Nearly everyone in the show, but especially the Sanderson Sisters.
- Eye of Newt: Every ingredient of the Hocus Pocus Party Potion is this, sometimes overlapping with Insubstantial Ingredients.
- Flying Broomstick: Parodied.
- Funny Background Event: During the Oogie Boogie Song, Sarah is desperate to spend as much time as she can with Dr. Faciler, spending most of the number with him until Oogie chases her away.
- Gosh Dang It to Heck!: References to Satanism have been stripped from the show (though Maleficent seems to be serving as a stand in for "the master"). During the opening of "I Put a Spell on You", Winnie makes air quotes as she sings the line "and there's heck to pay", while her sisters chuckle at her joke.
- Halloween Episode: Much like in the original film, Halloween is supposedly the only night the Sanderson Sisters can return from the grave. Though, considering you can see this show as early as August, the definition of "Hallow's Eve" is a bit stretched.
- Insubstantial Ingredients: The first two ingredients of the Hocus Pocus Party Potion are "Sinister Shadows" and "Nefarious Nightmares".
- Intercontinuity Crossover: The premise of the show: Hocus Pocus meets The Princess and the Frog, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleeping Beauty and a host of other Disney films. Much of the show's humor comes from the interactions between the Sanderson Sisters and these other characters; from Sarah's blatant flirtation with Dr. Facilier, to the way all three sisters literally trip over themselves when they realize they've forgotten to invite Maleficent (who they revere in much the same way as "The Master" from the Film) to their party.
- Jukebox Musical: As is typical for Disney Park shows, the songs performed (save for two) are all taken from various Disney films;
- "Season of the Witch" by Donovan plays as an overture.
- "Come Little Children" and "I Put a Spell on You" from Hocus Pocus are the second and final numbers, respectively.
- "Friends on the Other Side"
- "The Oogie Boogie Song"
- Maleficent has her own original composition as she conjures up her "Frightful Friends" to complete the Hocus Pocus Party Potion.
- Legion of Doom: This is a follow up to the Halloween Villain Mix and Mingle, and also features a group of Disney Villains gathering for a party.
- Lighter and Softer: Though the show is a direct sequel to the film, the Sanderson Sisters are much kinder and gentler. There's no reference to the trio's infanticidal tendencies, their spell comes from a chocolate-stained scroll (rather than a book bound in human flesh), and their end goal is only to throw a party. (However, the absence of the book is downplayed because it wouldn't make sense for them to have it, as it's locked up in the Salem museum while the show takes place in Florida.)
- Magic Cauldron: The main set piece of the show is a massive cauldron that releases a huge puff of smoke every time an ingredient is added.
- Magic Music: Every number in the show (save for the opening) is some sort of spell, most notably "Come Little Children," Maleficent's Summoning Ritual, and of course "I Put a Spell on You".
- Ms. Fanservice: Sarah Sanderson, though to a lesser extent than in the film.
- Mr. Fanservice: Dr. Faciler, whose gyrating hips and deep voice have the Sandersons (and many of the women in the audience) swooning during his musical number. Sarah, naturally, spends much of the following number trying to flirt with him, and even Winnie is flustered as he leaves during the final number.
- Mythology Gag: The show is full of references to Hocus Pocus; too many to list in a single trope, but some of the most notable are...
- Mary insists that the sisters have a calming circle when Winnie gets agitated. It's about as effective as in the film (that is to say, not at all).
- When Oogie Boogie calls Winnifred ugly, she reacts in the same way she did to Dani's insult from the movie.Winnie: [whining] He doesn't even know me!
- The sister's reaction to Maleficent is similar to their reaction to The Master in the film.
- And on a non-Hocus Pocus note, this isn't the first time Maleficent has been upset over not being invited to a party.
- Pose of Supplication: The sisters do this when Maleficent makes an unannounced appearance on stage.Sarah: We're not worthy!
- The Power of Friendship: A rare villainous example; the penultimate ingredient for the Hocus Pocus Party Potion is "Frightful Friends". Maleficent summons a parade of Disney Villains who all provide a single ingredient to the potion.
- Shown Their Work: The Sanderson Sisters are created almost perfectly, down to the fringes on their stockings. Disney actually had access to the original costumes from the film to base their designs on. The character's performances and choreography are also spot on; so much so that you'd believe Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy were actually on stage. This is most obvious during the finale number, "I Put a Spell on You", in which Winnie almost perfectly recreates the choreography from the film, down to the Thinking Tic she does while watching the band in the first place.
- Title Drop: Aside from the "Hocus Pocus Party Potion" that's the crux of the show, Winnie drops a title to the whole event before the finale.Winnie: Leave our not-so scary friends to me...
- Villainous Glutton: Mary is as big of an eater as ever, and happily rubs her stomach in excitement when Oogie says he likes making snake and spider stew... though she quickly loses her enthusiasm when Oogie pats her bulk, and declares she would make a good meal instead, since he's a Villainous Glutton himself.
- Villain Song: The entire premise of the show is to be a revue of these.
