WDW vs. Disneyland Resort - Night Time Entertainment

[Vegas Disney Fan]

I don't know, TP2000. I was there when Remember premiered and I'll never forget the feeling I got. I watched that whole show with tears streaming down my face. I'm not sure this show can top it for me. I'll go next week to see it of course, but I am keeping my expectations low.

That's what I loved about Remember, it was like a greatest hits album combined with some amazing wow moments. Between Julie Andrew narrating, the classic music, the MSEP music, the fire for Indy, the cannonballs for PoTC, the Haunted Mansion stretching room, the tigger firewheels, and the Star Wars laser battle it was one WOW moment after another.

I don't know if Disney will every be able to top the feeling I had when I first saw the stretching room fireworks, it was completely overwhelming.

 

[incorrigible]

Just got back from my first trip to the DL. In terms of nighttime entertainment in general, I gotta say WDW has DL beat hands down. The lack of any nighttime entertainment during the week at DL just kills me (we found out the hard way). I liked the WoC show; it was definitely unique and different, but kinda depressing near the end and the fight to get in was not worth the effort in my opinion. I realize I was there at a bad time and aren't sure if the schedule is the same other times of the year, but the nighttime entertainment, like much of the rest of our DL experience, was disappointing (I'm going to do a trip report in the DL forum when I get a chance).

 

[Boardwalker]

Drunkytown at night! Nuff said bub.

 

[TP2000]

Meanwhile, at Disneyland, this just happened...



And then it was followed up a few minutes later by this...



All of the new 60th Diamond Celebration entertainment spectaculars have begun media previews this week, before they debut to the public on Friday night.

I wonder how this poll would have gone had the OP @DVCOwner been at Disneyland and DCA this weekend instead of last week? Three major new night spectaculars, on an unprecedented scale, debut Friday and change the Disneyland entertainment scene even further.

 

[Disneysea05]

It really is a bit overwhelming to say the least. I am leaving Walt Disney World tomorrow and will most definitely be at Disneyland this Friday!

I am very much looking forward to this!

 

[fireworksandfairytales]

I just went to DLR for the first time in November and even though I may be biased, WDW has far better nighttime entertainment.
Disneyland's fireworks (the night I was there it was their holiday fireworks) were not so impressive and I definitely prefer Wishes. I can't speak for what their normal show looks like (and I'm sure the new 60th fireworks are going to be phenomenal), but based on what I saw I wasn't impressed.
Also, their Fantasmic is far less fantastic, in my opinion. I know they don't necessarily have the space for it, but I'm incredibly spoiled by WDW's amphitheater and entertaining pre-show. Not to mention, I much prefer the Pocahontas scene that we have in Florida to their Peter Pan scene. Peter Pan was awesome, but due to the fact that the scene was happening on a moving ship it was sort of hard to follow everything that was happening, especially sitting on the ground with people's heads in the way. Overall, I didn't feel that DLR's storyline flowed as well as WDW's does. I feel like if I hadn't seen it in WDW first, I would have potentially been a little lost at what was going on.
World of Color was amazing & very enjoyable, for me that was their nighttime entertainment's saving grace.

 

[Californian Elitist]

I just went to DLR for the first time in November and even though I may be biased, WDW has far better nighttime entertainment.
Disneyland's fireworks (the night I was there it was their holiday fireworks) were not so impressive and I definitely prefer Wishes. I can't speak for what their normal show looks like (and I'm sure the new 60th fireworks are going to be phenomenal), but based on what I saw I wasn't impressed.
Also, their Fantasmic is far less fantastic, in my opinion. I know they don't necessarily have the space for it, but I'm incredibly spoiled by WDW's amphitheater and entertaining pre-show. Not to mention, I much prefer the Pocahontas scene that we have in Florida to their Peter Pan scene. Peter Pan was awesome, but due to the fact that the scene was happening on a moving ship it was sort of hard to follow everything that was happening, especially sitting on the ground with people's heads in the way. Overall, I didn't feel that DLR's storyline flowed as well as WDW's does. I feel like if I hadn't seen it in WDW first, I would have potentially been a little lost at what was going on.
World of Color was amazing & very enjoyable, for me that was their nighttime entertainment's saving grace.

Disneyland's Fantasmic! being on the Rivers of America has nothing to do with lack of space. The show was designed to be performed there. The show pops up out of nowhere on the river, which is the point.

Not sure how you missed the Pan section. It's nothing but acrobats, swinging, and jumping.

Funny you disliked Fantasmic! due to lack of story, but you enjoyed World of Color, which has no story whatsoever. Definitely your biased views kicking in.

 

[Disneysea05]

Peter Pan; the river setting, the more impressive riverboat finale and the much more spectacular dragon are all reasons I feel the Disneyland version of Fantasmic is superior.

I would love for WDW's Fantasmic to receive the countless upgrades DLs has received over the years. I noticed they finally upgraded the Princess Barges with color shifting LEDs like at DL.

As it is now, the WDW version is my least favorite of the three versions of Fantasmic.

 

[Californian Elitist]

Also, why compare a holiday firework to a regular one? Doesn't make much sense to do that, and of anything, the Christmas firework shows in both parks should be compared.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Illuminations is hands down my favorite at the moment. A cohesive story that isn't shoved in your face but not totally obscure that you miss it. The lights, pyro, music and lasers just make for a great show. I feel like WOC:C might be my new favorite after this weekend though

 

[Sage of Time]

It's nearly a tie for me between IllumiNations and World of Color...but IllumiNations wins.

 

[AdventureHasAName]

In my opinion, the best two shows that Disney has ever produced are (1) the Main Street Electrical Parade, and (2) Remember Dreams Come True Fireworks. Assuming you're excluding parades from your definition of "shows", I'd have to go with Disneyland's fireworks.

 

[Disneysea05]

I remember the first time I saw "Remember" at Disneyland in 2005. I don't think I've ever been as impressed that much by a fireworks show before or since, it was incredible!

 

[TP2000]

And then on Thursday evening in Anaheim, this happened...



It's time to update the poll.

 

[KCheatle]

World of color is a great show, as is Illuminations. But the only show that makes my cry is Wishes. So, I have to say IMHO it's the best.