Review of Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure

Guy Selga Jr. June 11, 2012 3 Comments

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The Mad T Party at Disney California Adventure is the latest in the line of temporary dance parties to hit the park. The event mixes live music, lights, dancing, and adult beverages in the family-safe environment of a Disney theme park. The party officially opens on June 15, but it has been in “preview” phase for several weeks now.

The previous parties, Glow Fest and elecTRONica, both relied on a DJ to provide the music for guests. Mad T Party is the first to offer a mix of live bands and DJs. The band, know simply as “Mad T Party Band,” is made up of six members that are all dressed as Alice in Wonderland characters. As you can see in the pictures, they are not dressed in the classic animated Alice style; they look more like some kind of 80s hair band. Their set list includes classics like “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey and modern songs like “Just Dance” by Lady Gaga. They basically are a cover band with fancy costume, but they are talented and worth watching. My only criticism is that they play the same set list every day, so if you experience the Mad T Party more than once you will hear the exact same songs. There is a lot of room in front of the main stage, so you should have no problem getting a spot where you can hear and see the band perform. Be warned that this area is extremely congested during show time, so if you have a stroller or small children or are just trying to get through, you may want to take a different route.

The secondary stage is located to the east of the main stage and is home to a dance crew that does a short routine to pre-recorded music. This stage is also home to a performer known as “Who R U.” It’s hard to explain exactly what kind of show Who R U performs. The best way I can describe it is “a dude that looks like a slinky that does interpretive dance.” This show is already popular with guests, and the stage is in a small area. If you wish to see Who R U, you should make your way to the stage a few minutes before show time so you can actually see him.

Back on the main stage the White Rabbit DJ appears between the live band and secondary stage performances. The DJ spins dance remixes of modern radio hits heard on most radio stations. All of the songs are edited to be family-friendly. This portion of the party is when the crowd is encouraged to dance. If you left your dance shoes at home, this is a good time to people watch. Find yourself a dance circle and watch one of the locals “shuffle dance.” It’s worth mentioning that all of the dance parties in DCA continually draw big crowds of locals who show up weekly. They’re generally well behaved, and there are many security guards visible, so you shouldn’t have much to worry about in terms of safety.

The Mad Arcade takes the place of Flynn’s Arcade, which was previously found at elecTRONica. In the arcade you will find the typical assortment of skill-based arcade games like skee ball. All of the games are appropriately themed to the rest of the Mad T Party such as “Whack a Hat” instead of whack a mole. The arcade is small, and the game selection is limited, but it’s still worth a look.

I can’t forget the big draw for most people attending these events. Adult beverages! There are two locations that serve a variety of overpriced alcohol with clever names like Mad Hat-ito and Croquet Tini. There is also a selection of non-alcoholic drinks like Cotton Candy Lemonade. The drink prices aren’t cheap: the cost ranges from $7.50 for beer to $11.50 for specialty drinks.

Overall, the party is bright, busy, and very loud. Should you include Mad T Party in your touring? Yes, if you have some extra time in the evening to spare. Especially if you are waiting for a FASTPASS time or a performance of World of Color to start. The Mad T Party is scheduled to run daily starting June 15, 2012. It starts at 7:00 p.m. and ends at park closing.

The White Rabbit DJ