Toon Talk Special: The 101 Greatest Disney Voice Artists - Part 2 of 2
Page 7 of 9
Voices from the Parks
In addition to the performers mentioned in other categories, the following have made
memorable contributions to Disney theme park attractions both past and present.
Billy Barty
"Imagination, imagination ... " Come on, sing along with Figment to that joyful song from the original Journey Into Imagination ride from Epcot.
As voiced by Barty, veteran character actor in many films and television series, the little purple dragon (a "figment of your imagination") became one of the most popular characters created specifically for the theme parks, appearing on dozens of pieces of merchandise and the unofficial mascot of Epcot. His role in the revamped Journey Into Your Imagination ride has been sadly diminished, but he is still a favorite.
Barty was also the voice of the Bait Mouse in The Rescuers Down Under.
Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens from Blow - (c) New Line Cinema
You have just strapped yourself into a StarSpeeder on a course for the Endor moon, when the pilot appears and introduces himself. His name is REX, and it turns out that this is his first flight and apparently he is still getting used to his programing ... The ride is Star Tours and the robot is voiced by Reubens, better known for his alter ego Pee-Wee Herman in film and on television. REX's gee-whiz dialogue add greatly to the humor of this Star Wars-based attraction.
Reubens was also the voice of Max in The Flight of the Navigator, Lock in Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas and Fife in Beauty & the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas.
Tim Curry
Tim Curry from The Rocky Horror Picture Show
(c) 20th Century Fox
Curry's delectably sinister vocals as the robotic S.I.D. in The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter at The Magic Kingdom perfectly sets the mood for this spooky Tomorrowland attraction.
The former sweet transvestite Curry has also lent his vocal prowess to the television series The Little Mermaid, Tale Spin, Aladdin (as Kaleem), Gargoyles (as Dr. Anton Sevarious), Quack Pack (as Moltoc) and The Mighty Ducks (as Dragonas). He was also heard as the vengeful pipe organ Forte in Beauty & the Beast: An Enchanted Christmas and as additional voices in The Little Mermaid feature film.
Burl Ives
By the time America Sings opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland in 1974, Ives was a certified national treasure. So it's no wonder that he was chosen to play Sam the Eagle in this history of American popular music. And oh what a joy it was to hear him sing those classic bits of Americana, up until the attraction's untimely closure in 1988.
Ives also appeared in the classic Disney films So Dear To My Heart (where he first sang his signature tune, "Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)") and Summer Magic and very memorably voiced Sam the Snowman in the classic Christmas special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
Dallas McKennan
His theme park roles include Benjamin Franklin in Epcot's American Adventure and as the Prospector that warns you to "hang on to your hats and glasses, 'cause this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!" at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, but McKennan has also had a few Disney film roles as well.
He can be heard in Lady & the Tramp (as Toughy and Professor Pedro), Sleeping Beauty (as the Owl who dances with Briar Rose), 101 Dalmatians, Mary Poppins (as the Fox) and as the Bear who pulls the bed from the Naboombu lagoon in Bedknobs & Broomsticks.