Something truly magical landed in Las Vegas over the weekend, and it arrived with all the sparkle and spectacle you would expect from a collaboration between Disney and Formula 1. There has always been something about Las Vegas that I have loved. I am not much of a gambler, or really one at all, but the city has a way of sweeping you up and dropping you into its own little bubble of escapism. In a way, it reminds me so much of Disney. Each resort builds its own world within a world with such enchanting attention to detail that even the most skeptical guests have to admire the commitment. The Venetian lets you dine in St Mark’s Square before gliding along the canals in a gondola, and over in Paris, you can enjoy a meal inside the Eiffel Tower. There is a decadence in Las Vegas that cannot be denied, and every time I visit, I find myself in awe all over again.
This past weekend, that sense of wonder transformed into something unmistakably Disney as Sorcerer Mickey arrived on the Strip for a special race week celebration. As part of a new collaboration between Disney and Formula 1, Mickey brought a Fantasmic!-style moment to the iconic Bellagio fountains. If you have never seen the fountains in person, they are a dazzling symphony of water and music that can keep you mesmerized for hours. I have spent evenings watching them from my room in the neighboring Paris hotel, completely unable to look away once the show begins. Seeing Mickey step into that moment created a little slice of Disney magic right in the heart of Las Vegas.
Disney and Formula 1 officially launched their Fuel the Magic partnership at the Las Vegas Grand Prix, bringing character meet-ups, entertainment moments, and a limited merchandise collection to fans all weekend long. Highlights included maestro Mickey leading a special performance at the Bellagio fountains, accompanied by a Fantasia-inspired score, the Formula 1 theme, pyrotechnics, and choreographed drones. Drivers Franco Colapinto, Pierre Gasly, Ollie Bearman, and Esteban Ocon met Mickey and friends on the grid wearing pieces from the new Disney x Formula 1 collection, and even Sam Worthington from Avatar: The Way of Water joined the fun for photos.
The celebration continued throughout the city with the Sphere glowing in Fuel the Magic graphics, the Disneyland Band opening race day with a national anthem performance alongside Adrian Lyle and Disney creative executive Bobby Kim showcasing the exclusive merchandise collection available both online and at the Las Vegas Hub in the Venetian. Guests with Fuel the Magic tickets were invited on an exclusive Pit Lane walk for photos and a behind the scenes look at the teams preparing for the race. This global collaboration will continue through the 2026 and 2027 seasons, bringing new digital storytelling, behind the scenes content and signature Disney creativity to select Formula 1 events around the world.
Watch part of the show from Disney above!
