who has the better firework show

[SwooshOU]

Me, my wife and two girls have seen Wishes and IllumiNations about 6 times each. We have seen the Summer Nightastic fireworks twice. And Fantasmic once. Thankfully, we are annual passholders and are blessed to live near the magic.

I LOVE all the shows except Fantasmic, it's just OK.

IllumiNations is inspiring and I love how close to the action you are. The middle part of the show with the different clips shown on the floating world is kinda slow and could be shorter (in my opinion). But the various textures, water, fire, and fireworks near and far are great. This finale is amazing. The fireworks that sound like thunder right at the end give me chills. Love it.

Wishes is very whimsical, CLASSIC Disney and has a fun storyline. This show is very organized and methodical which makes the show a bit slow (in my opinion). That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I like crazy fireworks with lots going on. The finale here definitely throws a lot into the sky. Don't get me wrong, Wishes is a GREAT show.

But, I gotta say the Summer Nightastic fireworks probably edges out both Wishes and IllumiNations. First, I think the storyline is fun. Perhaps a little loose, but definitely fun. I love how the castle looks like it is attacked by Captain Hook's approaching cannon fire with the perimeter fireworks and then is engulfed in smoke. The variety of fireworks, colors, castle projections and smoke/"fire" is just amazing.

I love all three shows, but this Nightastic show definitely takes the cake.

I'm looking forward to the patriotic show tomorrow night... maybe I'll have to shuffle up the order after it.

 

[mp2bill]

I've never been to DL, but of the shows at WDW, I like Wishes the best with Illuminations coming in a close second.

 

[sponono88]

Quick question about the fireworks rotation at Disneyland ...

Do they make public which particular show is scheduled for each night? For example, if I wanted to, is there somewhere to find out that Remember Dreams Come True is being shown on Friday (but not Saturday) so I could plan my trip accordingly?

the fireworks rotation is seasonal. Magical (summer), Halloween Screams (fall/halloween season), Believe in Holiday Magic (winter/holiday season), Remember Dreams Come True (winter through spring, or any time the other shows aren't playing). check the DL calendar online to see what show is playing

 

[MissM]

I have never heard of anyone being disappointed in these shows but I do agree that they are much more than Fireworks shows. RoE is my favorite!

*raises hand*

Sorry, I just don't really care for Illuminations. Maybe I just don't "get" it, but honestly, I find it kinda boring. :shrug:

Summer Nightastic was SO FUN and very impressive but definitely not as emotional and story-driven as Wishes. I probably like Wishes best, but honestly, I like just about every MK fireworks show a lot (including HalloWishes and Holiday Wishes.)

 

[invictor23]

Definatly a toss up between Wishes and Illuminations. I think Wishes has a better a better theme behind it, but as for sheer wow factor Illuminations gets my vote.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

I don't consider Illuminations to be a straight fireworks show as Wishes(any version) or any of the other MK firework shows. All the MK fireworks shows are nothing special for us. We have seen much better fireworks elsewhere to which these just don't compare.

Illuminations and Fantasmic are much better and much more entertaining IMO.

 

[ScrapIron]

Without question, the Disneyland 50th Anniversary fireworks were the best any park has ever seen.

Fantasy in the Sky: Remember Dreams Come True

Part 1

Part 2

I cannot believe the got rid of it so quickly.

It's such a logistical nightmare (many rides/walkways must be closed, and traffic control was horrific the first couple of years), but I'm glad they're holding onto it seasonally. Barring a technological breakthrough, I don't think DL will attempt a show of this scale again. Easily the best Disney FW show I've ever seen. The only one that ever disappointed was Wishes at DLP, but there is only ground level pyro in that one-no rockets.

The most spectacular FW show I've seen is the annual KFOG Kaboom in San Francisco-it's like a 20 minute finale.
http://kfog.com/
Video at bottom of that page.

I have never heard of anyone being disappointed in these shows but I do agree that they are much more than Fireworks shows. RoE is my favorite!

Saw a thread on another board with a surprising number of people not that fond of this one.

A bientot.

 

[rkelly42]

I would say Illuminations, fantasmic is at the bottom of the barrel

 

[unkadug]

who has the better firework show?

New York City on the Fourth of July

 

[Emerald Rose]

Illuminations.

 

[DABIGCHEEZ]

New York City on the Fourth of July

Absolutely.... Macy's 4th of July fireworks in NYC is why any of the MK fireworks show are nothing special for us.

 

[StarWarsGirl]

I've seen Magical, Wishes, and Illuminations, as well as Summer Nightastic and the DL ones of summer 2010 (whatever those were). Wishes is my favorite

 

[Californian Elitist]

RDCT is king. I'm very curious to see how Disney is going to top it.

Weird, I was just glancing through this old thread... I refresh the forum, and here it is. Weird.

 

[WED99]

I never understood the hype for illuminations. In my opinion, it's just a mess. The lake doesn't feel right for a show (espicially with those damn islands) and everything just ends up looking like a mess to me. Plus I can never make out what's on the globe.

 

[MY_NAME_STITCH]

Illuminations especially when they put the Holiday tag on the end. WOW!!!!

 

[jw24]

Illuminations and Wishes but I prefer Wishes more Illuminations. I mean, don't get me wrong. Illuminations is a really good spectacle with the globe and the score but I love Wishes. That's just the Magic Kingdom in a nutshell in my book. You go to MK, take the walk down Main Street USA, go on all your favorite classics rides, meet your favorite characters, eat a great meal and end it all with a bang with Wishes! Wishes just screams Disney to me.

 

[tare]

Mk has the best. I love the Christmas ones too!!!

 

[shuflemstr]

I have to say Thunder Over Louisville is the best. The largest annual fireworks show in the US

 

[luv]

Wishes is best. Illuminations is second.

Fantasmic is fourth, right after not seeing a show.

 

[mickey2008.1]

Illuminations hands down. It has lasers and great show telling a great story. But it has the biggest fire work of all shows, the Inferno barge! Now that's what I call a fire work show.