New ultimate-spectacular-super-great fireworks-and-effects show at DHS.

[FettFan]

I am completely convinced that we are going to get a movie-themed night show that will be made to rival both IllumiNations and the upcoming "Rivers of Light".

Here's the circumstantial evidence:

1. Both DHS and Animal Kingdom are considered "half-day parks" by most guests. Animal Kingdom is looking to change that with the construction of Avatar/Pandora and the aforementioned "Rivers of Light" evening show.
DHS is apparently following the lead....Backlot Tour is now gone, thus freeing up a lot of extra real estate supposedly for an expanded Pixar presence budding from Toy Story Mania, as evidenced by John Lasseter and TDO bigwigs taking walking tours through Mickey Avenue.
And while new lands and areas are a nice cake to bake....there's got to be a bit of frosting on there, yes?

2. Two fireworks shows debuted in 2014: Symphony in the Stars and Frozen Fireworks Spectacular. Guest response was through the roof. Unfortunately, there is a large, blue structure that obstructs the view...

3. And much like the trees in the Magic Kingdom hub, which were felled to provide a better view of the fireworks, that large blue structure is now on its way out.

So....with those points, I'm fairly certain that a new fireworks show in the works....
But wait...there's more!

4. The Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow is now gone after a very, very short tenure. It didn't even last a full two years.
Contrast that to the "Journey Into Narnia" show, whose two shows (LW&W and PC) lasted nearly six years from December 2005 to September 2011.
Jack Sparrow was...lackluster. (but to be fair, EVERY attraction in that horrible little spit of a room is lackluster, ever since 101 Dalmations) In fact, the only thing that was really praised about it was the "hologram" effect that essentially put a nearly-3D Johnny Depp in the same room as DHS guests. Now we know that Disney likes to use some attractions as testing grounds for future attractions.
So if you were to combine the "hologram" Jack Sparrow

with the projection-mapping used on Cinderella Castle during "Celebrate the Magic"....

And it's easy to imagine a 3D Darth Vader or Groot projection strolling across the front of the Chinese Theater during a show.

5. Heck, perhaps some full-sized spaceships blowing past?

(L to R: The Serenity, the Millennium Falcon, and the Milano)
And they are equipped with....frickin' laserbeams?

Once again...this is all purely my own speculation based on circumstantial evidence. But I honestly believe with the amount of money and attention Disney is suddenly showing DHS, they are looking to break the "half day park" stigma, and that will include a new night show.
Sure they have Fantasmic!, but Disneyland has proven that Fantasmic! can coexist quite well with a full on fireworks show.

 

[Tom]

I really like your theory, and logic. It is definitely within reason.

 

[wdwmagic]

The argument against it would be guest flow and operational issues. A hub based firework show is a crowd control nightmare, as shown during Frozen Summer Fun and Star Ward Weekends. It creates absolute havoc. Then throw in the fact that it closes off the back of the park due to firework fall out.

I believe the long term strategy will be to repurpose Fantasmic for any new nightshow.

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

I don't know if what you are saying is plausible but I so hope you are right! I never thought about the Chinese Theater being used like the Castle for projection but you are so right! That would work really well.

 

[Clamman73]

Seems nowadays, they don't do something unless it leads to something else - there always seems to be an ulterior motive for everything they do. I can't believe they are just removing the hat, planting some flowers and that's it.

 

[Fantasmicguy]

I like this idea because Fantasmic would still exist.

 

[DManRightHere]

I keep wondering why they haven't used those fancy projectors on Spaceship Earth on a permanent show. It would look great.

 

[DManRightHere]

I do like the idea. I don't know if the structure is big enough for a good show.

 

[rangerbob]

They used to have a nightly fireworks show before. I don't remember when it ended but I believe it was a couple of years after Fantasmic opened. Why not have one here now?

 

[rct247]

As already mentioned, fireworks like that shuts down everything from studio catering company to voyage of the little mermaid. With that back area slated for more expansion, i can't see them doing that nightly.

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

As already mentioned, fireworks like that shuts down everything from studio catering company to voyage of the little mermaid. With that back area slated for more expansion, i can't see them doing that nightly.

Not clear on why those things have to shut down for fireworks. Could you explain?

 

[rangerbob]

They have enough land. At the MK the launch facility is right outside the train tracks. Why can't they have a location outside the park to do the launching. Why do they have to do it from the platform beside Chinese Theater and on the top of buildings.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

The location of how things are currently laid out, crowd-wise and launch site-wise, are not really ideal for it.

However it’s a fairly safe bet that once the reimagining /reformatting of HS is done that a new “Nighttime Spectacular” would be on the slate. A nightly or a few times weekly fireworks is probably already a bullet point in the 5 or 10 year plan for HS. Where and how that kind of show will be presented is still up in the air.

I feel like if they completely gut/demolish everything from Star Tours back it would be a good opportunity to rearrange/increase the viewing space of a fireworks show.

 

[SnarkyMonkey]

"Up in the air"...I see what you've done there.

 

[Phil12]

Hopefully they'll turn to newer technology and dispense with pyrotechnics.

 

[marni1971]

They have enough land. At the MK the launch facility is right outside the train tracks. Why can't they have a location outside the park to do the launching. Why do they have to do it from the platform beside Chinese Theater and on the top of buildings.

They do. The set up is similar to the MK.

Highs off the remote site next to Cat Canyon. Lows off the rooftops.

Both drop debris inside of the park, hence the fallout zone.

The park wasn't built for a fireworks show.

 

[marni1971]

Hopefully they'll turn to newer technology and dispense with pyrotechnics.

You'll just love a new show I hear is coming to DAK.

 

[CP_alum08]

Sounds like a good plan. Sadly I don't see it happening until ALL construction is done at DHS, which let's be realistic, could be 10 years.

 

[aladdin2007]

The argument against it would be guest flow and operational issues. A hub based firework show is a crowd control nightmare, as shown during Frozen Summer Fun and Star Ward Weekends. It creates absolute havoc. Then throw in the fact that it closes off the back of the park due to firework fall out.

I believe the long term strategy will be to repurpose Fantasmic for any new nightshow.

This! That was the most terrified I have ever been in the parks, it was dangerous being stuck in that.

 

[WhatJaneSays]

"Up in the air"...I see what you've done there.

I'm a very punny person.