fireworksandfairytales
Well-Known Member
- In the Parks
- No
Wishes for sure. IllumiNations is lovely, but Wishes is so magical. I get tears in my eyes every time and just don't think a trip to the world is complete without seeing it. 
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Wishes or Illuminations?
- Thread starter Bloopers
- Start date
coilback
Active Member
I'm going to cast my vote for Illuminations, but with an exception....
To me - if you haven't seen either and want the true "Disney experience," then Wishes beats it hands down.
I like Illuminations, but more on a technical level. That's because I've been working in professional fireworks for 13 years (and was on the Wishes crew at WDW for awhile too) and Wishes is more of a "traditional" show so I guess I've "been there, done that" with that style of show more than I can count, but Illuminations has so many unique things about it that you don't see anywhere else (or at least commonly).
To me - if you haven't seen either and want the true "Disney experience," then Wishes beats it hands down.
I like Illuminations, but more on a technical level. That's because I've been working in professional fireworks for 13 years (and was on the Wishes crew at WDW for awhile too) and Wishes is more of a "traditional" show so I guess I've "been there, done that" with that style of show more than I can count, but Illuminations has so many unique things about it that you don't see anywhere else (or at least commonly).
MickeyMoore
New Member
Both,my wife and I cry every time we see them.
Tinkerbell 8
Well-Known Member
They are both amazing shows and I have to see them both on every single trip, but I'd have to say Wishes is my favorite. I still cry when the little girl says "star light star bright", and I pretty much continue to cry throughout the whole show, it just pulls on the right heart string. Illuminations has amazing lasers and pyro and I love that its on the lake and it has a great meaning behind it.
xStephSaysRawr
Member
Illuminations for me, so many factors make it awesome. I love sitting down on the bridge between UK and France and being surrounded by lasers, fireworks, and wonderful music (that my band director and I obsess over daily) but Wishes is good too, but Illuminations is just more for me.
PolynesianPrincess
Well-Known Member
This one is tough for me... 2 years ago I would've said Wishes, no contest. Growing up we ALWAYS watched Illuminations and whatever electric parade was going on at MK, but never the fireworks. We happened to catch Wishes on our November 2010 trip and I bawled pretty much the whole time. I LOVED it. We've made 4 trips to the world since then and have not missed Wishes once while we've been in MK.
Illuminations, even though we always watched it, was never my favorite. I LIKED it, but I didn't love it. On our May 2011 trip (after not seeing it since 2007) I fell in love with it. I think being an adult now, I appreciate it more than I did when I was a kid. I appreciate the story it tells. I love everything about it but I especially love the music. It's so powerful and moving. So now, I bawl my eyes out while watching Illuminations, too. lol
It's a hard pick, but if someone told me I could only watch one of the two ever again.... I'd have to go with Wishes. Because nothing beats standing on Main Street, looking up at that castle, watching those fireworks
Illuminations, even though we always watched it, was never my favorite. I LIKED it, but I didn't love it. On our May 2011 trip (after not seeing it since 2007) I fell in love with it. I think being an adult now, I appreciate it more than I did when I was a kid. I appreciate the story it tells. I love everything about it but I especially love the music. It's so powerful and moving. So now, I bawl my eyes out while watching Illuminations, too. lol
It's a hard pick, but if someone told me I could only watch one of the two ever again.... I'd have to go with Wishes. Because nothing beats standing on Main Street, looking up at that castle, watching those fireworks
Spikerdink
Well-Known Member
Every trip I have to see both multiple times...but if I was only there for one night and had to choose, I think Wishes edges out Illuminations...but just barely.
JIMINYCR
Well-Known Member
Illuminations by far for us. I love the globe presentation and the explosions from the barge. Spectacular show right in your face. When the announcement is made, the torches go down, the show bursts in full effect, your heart pumps to the building excitement, you can feel the heat. More that a fireworks display.
Goofnut1980
Well-Known Member
Love both of them... But, I would pick Wishes based on viewing of the show. Epcot's plants are starting to grow up too much around World Showcase Lagoon and viewing areas are harder and harder to get.
G00fyDad
Well-Known Member
That's when you bring in a pair of hedge trimmer and a small saw. When Disney stops you you tell them that you're just there to do their job.
lunchbox1175
Well-Known Member
A boat driver at Epcot once told me "that fireworks show at the magic kingdom is called Wishes because it wishes it was a good as Illuminations"...i told him that was funny, but he was crazy.
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
I really can't choose. I love love love Illuminations, but Wishes is fireworks over the castle. If Wishes ran every night at DHS instead of MK, it'd be Illuminations all the way no question... but it doesn't run at DHS. Wishes is FIREWORKS OVER THE FREAKIN' CASTLE! If I could only see one on a trip, I wouldn't be able to pick and I would just be stuck in my room doing this:
mrdisman
Well-Known Member
I really can't choose. I love love love Illuminations, but Wishes is fireworks over the castle. If Wishes ran every night at DHS instead of MK, it'd be Illuminations all the way no question... but it doesn't run at DHS. Wishes is FIREWORKS OVER THE FREAKIN' CASTLE! If I could only see one on a trip, I wouldn't be able to pick and I would just be stuck in my room doing this:
then you wouldn't see any fireworks and you'd pass out after awhile
Cosmic Commando
Well-Known Member
I didn't say it would be productive.
Toddler-like tantrums rarely are...AintNoOtherMan
Well-Known Member
Wishes for me. There is absolutely nothing better than watching it from Main Street, listening to the beautiful soundtrack. Honestly, it's probably my favorite part of my entire Disney trip.
coilback
Active Member
I will say one memory that I'll always have is watching Wishes from the Tinkerbell Flight spotlight position from the rooftops. There was something really cool about being by yourself just sitting on the roof (I preferred the Spot 1 position since it was over Casey's on Main Street) and watching the show in your own little world so to speak.
siberian57
New Member
I'd have to say Illuminations. Not to take anything from Wishes, it's very good, but as a musician, I pay a lot of attention to the music and I just like the music better in Illuminations. It creates a much fuller experience for me. The fireworks are great at both shows though.