Most performances last 20 minutes some are a little longer. Ĭast Members in the Magic Kingdom can confirm showtimes the day you visit.
On opening day, October 1, 1971, the first song the Dans sang was Lida Rose from the musical The Music Man. Prior to the official opening of Walt Disney World, the Dapper Dans did shows for Cast Members and their families. However, while they may look elegant and fancy, their show leans more towards cornball fun, entwined with beautiful music from the Dans. Hence, Disney decided the name Dapper Dans would be apt for the quartet. The dictionary defines a Dapper Dan as “A man who dresses and is groomed in a fancy, elegant, or fastidious manner.” This term was popular at the turn of the century, the time period the Magic Kingdom is themed for. Fun Fact: Walt Disney loved the sound of a barbershop quartet and even asked the musical group The Mellomen to record an album of barbershop songs, Meet Me Down on Main Street, which was sold at Disneyland for a number of years. This blog will concentrate on the Dapper Dans at Walt Disney World. They were a hit immediately as an opening day attraction, and remain very popular today.Īlthough the group originated at Disneyland in 1959 (and still exists there), and at one time was at Disneyland in Hong Kong (no longer).
The Dapper Dans are a barbershop quartet who perform at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom seven days a week, usually six performances per day.