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That rumor, my friends, has been officially...denied.
A very close friend of Winifred's reached out to me and told me the rumor is false. Bette Midler did not appear at the debut show of Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. It was indeed the one and only Winifred Sanderson.
Apparently, this is something Magic Kingdom Cast Members are gossiping about...and since I went to the first show, my friend knew she had to pass on the information.
A photo posted by Molly the Disney Freak (@mollythedisneyfreak) on
If this "rumor" (and I use quotation marks because, apparently, it's a real thing) is true, that means I saw the incredible Bette Midler perform as Winifred in Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular!
I haven't heard any official word, from either Disney or Bette herself. But I'd honestly believe it, just because Winifred was so on point that night, it seemed as if Bette had been cloned!
Watch my video of the show again and tell me what you think:
I don't necessarily disagree with this rumor: the show is nearly 10 years old, having debuted back in 2006.
It could be time for a change.
But, I also don't think the show is dated. If it does indeed reopen, I wouldn't be disappointed. It's still a fun and entertaining story to this day, with plenty of beloved characters, despite the songs getting stuck in your head quite annoyingly easy.
I'll keep you posted on this rumor as it develops. Nevertheless, I promised Young Disney Freak I'd Skype her the show during my DCP--it's her favorite--so I better make sure to do that before July! (Also, I'll try and videograph the potentially final performance.)
However, there is a stage show confirmed to be closing for good.
Villains Mix and Mingle is performed at night during Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Honestly, as much as I love all the Halloween-themed events and music at Walt Disney World, Villains Mix and Mingle may be my favorite.
So when I read that it wouldn't be performed this September and October, my heart dropped. I think the show is a fun, slightly racy way to bring out the villains--or rather, the more adult, darker side of Disney. Whatever show replaces it better incorporated the villains.
