FROM 2007
FRANCIS XAVIER "X" ATENCIO
talks about attractions he's written for

by Scott Wolf

Francis Xavier Atencio started out at Disney in animation but thanks to Walt Disney's keen perception of people's talents, he eventually ended up as a writer for some of Disney's most popular attractions.

Amongst his projects, X not only wrote the dialogue for the "Haunted Mansion" and "Pirates of the Caribbean", but he also wrote the lyrics for those attractions' popular songs including "Yo Ho (A Pirates Life For Me)."

X is a particular inspiration to me because of his positive outlook on life. I think he really lives by that old saying about when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. It is certainly evident in his professional life. He went to work for Disney as an artist but was asked to become a writer and today admits that he enjoyed writing more than being an artist.

I'm so pleased to share my interviews with you so you can learn about this wonderful man.

by Scott Wolf

Scott Wolf: Since you wrote the script for the "Haunted Mansion," you'd be the one to ask... was there ever a storyline for the ride?

X Atencio: Well no, because of the method of going through the ride. You can’t say this is a beginning, this is an end. You’re in the middle. That’s why you couldn’t have continuity per se, you have to have everything right to the scene itself.

SW: I heard that the raven that you see throughout was going to have a bigger part, is that true?

XA: Yeah, that was originally in there to have the raven at the beginning of the ride and he would be the voice of the narrator as you go thru there. We had the speakers in each car so you could tell a bit of a story, so I used the raven as the vehicle going through there… as you go down the ramp he’d say, “Ahh, there you are.” But it didn’t work.

SW: And your voice is in the Haunted Mansion if the attraction stops, right? You're the one saying, "remain seated"?

XA: Yeah, and in the coffin, that’s my voice… “Let me out of here… let me out of here.”

SW: You’re kidding? Where you see the hands grabbing the top of the coffin?

XA: Yeah.

SW: Did you do voices for any other attractions besides Pirates and Mansion?

XA: I don’t think I did.

SW: Pretty good ones to do voices for.

XA: Yeah, those are two of the best ones.

SW: You worked on Disney World attractions as well, right?

XA: Well, I worked on some of the things for Epcot and wrote the script and a song for the Mexico pavilion.

SW: Which song?

XA: (sings from "El Rio del Tiempo") “Welcome mis amigos to friendly Mexico, to the land of fiestas, they’re everywhere you go…”

SW: I love that song. You’re a great songwriter. (X laughs) You only wrote six songs in your life?

XA: I guess so. After I did the pirates and realized the success of the "Pirates of the Caribbean," I put a song in every show I wrote.

SW: …and the "Bear Band Serenade" from "Country Bear Jamboree," and “If You Had Wings.”

XA: (sings) “If you had wings, you could do many things. You could widen world if you had wings.”

SW: ("If You Had Wings" was an attraction in the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World) I never got to ride that, but I know the song. What was it about?

XA: You went thru the ride and it highlighted the places where Eastern airlines could fly you to.

SW: They were the sponsor of the ride?

XA: Yeah, they were sponsoring it at the time, and I was kind of hoping they would take it up as their theme on the outside. It’s a good song and I said, “Why don’t you use it in your commercials?” but they didn’t.

SW: And for "World of Motion" in Epcot you did “Fun to be Free”.

XA: Yeah. I still get royalties on that.

SW: Do you? The attraction is gone but I guess it’s still played there?

XA: I don’t know where it is played…

SW: Oh, I know one place. I hope you’re not offended, but it’s played in the bathroom in Tomorrowland in Disneyland. (We laugh) It used to be the music from the main entrance of Epcot but they play those tracks there.