News Wishes to be replaced with new 'Happily Ever After' nighttime spectacular

[bjm72385]

was it just me or did tinkerbell fly out late tonight based on the preview video clip of it?

I thought she flew out at the same time as the preview, but imo she flies out too late. I think she should go a few seconds earlier so she can at least be close to halfway down the wire by the time the finale fireworks start.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Here is our video of the show with a static camera giving the perspective of a viewer in the park. It should give a very good idea of the amount of pyro and all the new lighting effects.

It was neat to watch that muted on double speed and just watch the fireworks. There's a lot of amazing displays that one can miss if watching the projections on the castle.

I swear I saw Nick or Judy during the final character portrait during the finale. I think it was on one of the turrets. For those that get to see it in person can you let me know?

They pop up together on main castle for 2-3 seconds in a montage at one point.

 

[Tiki Queen of Outer Space]

WDW finally has a great nighttime show again! It's been a long time. It flows amazingly well, and it's great to finally have a show fully feature new animation instead of only clips from the films. I've been wanting Wishes to be changed out for about 7 years now and I'm not disappointed in the slightest.

Also what in the world does this have to do with Universal? I really don't get why Disney fans get so butthurt over Universal. This is a great show and all but Universal has Disney beat as far as constant and consistent additions and updates.

 

[ag3_tre]

For everyone lamenting the "classics," I'm pretty sure that why they're keeping Once Upon A Time around, at least for the near future. You've got Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Pooh, Peter Pan, etc.

Then again, everyone's got their own idea of a Disney "classic." For my parents, it's stuff like Robin Hood or The Jungle Book, (to which my mom responded while watching the live stream, "Wow! They really went into the vault!"). For my sisters and I, the "classics" are from the Disney Renaissance, like Aladdin, and FREAKING HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME MY FAVORITE MOVIE EVER. Kids today are gonna think of Moana and Frozen are classics.

I think HEA did a great job highlighting different "classics" of different eras. I grew up only knowing Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, listening to the soundtrack on CD while playing with Legos, so I'm a bit sad to see it go. However, I'm SO glad HEA premiered right before our next trip a week from now!

 

[MisterPenguin]

For those saying the show is a bit disjointed between its segments, I want to remind you that just because Wishes had Jiminy narrating the segues that doesn't mean that made Wishes more cohesive. The part with the villains pretty much comes out of nowhere and ends with a Deus ex Machina, and Jiminy's narration really doesn't explain things as much as say, "Hey, looka that!"

To wit, here's his intro and outro to the villains segment...

[JIMINY]
Like a bolt out of the blue,
fate steps in and sees you through.
When you wish upon a star,
your dreams...come true.
Ha-ha.
Sometimes, wishes can be granted in the most unexpected ways.

Really, is that how wishes 'work'... why in unexpected ways and just not in the most direct and efficient way?​

[GENIE]
Whoa! 10,000 Years can give ya such a crick in the neck.
Hello people, up here, come on, we've got some wishes to grant!

[JIMINY]
Uh oh, now don’t worry.
Just remember, always let your conscience be your guide.
Let your conscience be
your guide…let your conscience be your guide…

And that helps against adversity, how? And why doesn't that keep the villains from being villainous?​

[SNOW QUEEN]
Slaves in the magic mirror, come from the farthest space.
Through wind and darkness, I summon thee.
Let me see thy face.
A blast of wind, to find my fate.
A thunderbolt, to cast my spell.
Alas, grant me my wish as well.
HaHaHaHaHa

[JIMINY]
You know folks, you gotta be careful what you wish for around here, or you'll get yourself in an awful mess.

Really? Who wished for that bad stuff? I thought you said that this mess was a result of wishes granted in "unexpected ways"​

But just when things look bad, fate steps in to see you through.
We'll I'll be, it's the Blue Fairy!

So, is it fate, or my wishing that gets the job done? And in a world with fate, why bother doing anything? Let the fairies take care of it.​

So, given a choice between a moment of silence to queue up the next section, or hokey narration that somehow blames imprudent wishing or Mickey's nightmares for the appearance of villains... I chose silence.

​

 

[Rteetz]

I watched it three times online to get a good look at the various things. Overall I was very impressed. Pyro and projections were spectacular. I enjoy the soundtrack too. Can't wait to see it in person.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I am in love with this!! This is the best fireworks Disney has done now topping RDCT! What a wonderful show!

 

[SpectroMan93]

Just got back to my hotel. I want to affirm everything said about "Love is an Open Door" and "Go the Distance". This is a breathtaking show. You honestly can not judge it from a live stream, it needs to be seen in person. We were all blown away by the technical magnificence of it, as well as the nods and features of Disney's lesser showcased IPs. The tribute to Wishes nearly had me in tears and Tink had an incredible reveal. Everyone in our group agreed this is a more than worthy successor to Wishes and I can't wait to see it tomorrow and soak it in more.

 

[Meeko77]

From the first two videos that were shot during the first showing. It's a bit difficult to tell but were characters also on the turrets during the finale? Because I think I saw Nick on one of the turrets but was Judy featured?

It was neat to watch that muted on double speed and just watch the fireworks. There's a lot of amazing displays that one can miss if watching the projections on the castle.

They pop up together on main castle for 2-3 seconds in a montage at one point.

I saw Nick and Judy in the live stream as well. I believe that there is also a tidbit where you see Judy being hugged by her parents.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Other highlights:

1. Several times the action on the castle continued off the castle and into a fireworks effect. Very well done. And, mentioned above, it worked in reverse when a single flare lit up a star in a turret (first star I see tonight, indeed!).
2. PotC soooooo much better with HEA. With Wishes Celebrate the Magic, Jack showed up drunkenly turning around wondering what's happening, and that exact three second clip was repeated three times! It was so bad it was funny.
3. The videos from the crowd show the true successor to "Let It Go." When Moana comes on screen, the crowd is clearly heard singing along to "Where I Go."
4. They got the Made with Magic light-up accessories to work well with the show.
5. Unique firework shapes: Hearts, Moana swirls, cubes, triangles in a circle

 

[VJ]

PotC soooooo much better with HEA. With Wishes, Jack showed up drunkenly turning around wondering what's happening, and that exact three second clip was repeated three times! It was so bad it was funny.

Jack/Pirates wasn't in Wishes...

 

[MisterPenguin]

Jack/Pirates wasn't in Wishes...

Ooops, meant Celebrate the Magic. Thanks for the catch!

 

[Castle Cake Apologist]

That whole build up to Tink's flight got me right in the feels.

I was honestly really nervous, but they truly hit it out of the park with this show. Holy cow. It's breathtaking.

 

[Uncle Lupe]

With the improved projections and the blending of pyro this is a feast for the eyes. The Evil Queen/Maleficent segment was amazing. Still think it could use some tweaking in how many movies are represented. Would like to hear the title song more.
I got a fever and the only prescription is more crescendos.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Where is the tribute, and what is it?!

I'm guessing as just as the Tiana Sequence starts the "Wish" rockets go off...I think?

 

[zoso]

Hello everyone, I'm new here! I just had to join after "lurking" for the past few weeks to express my overwhelming joy for HEA.

I'd like to preface by saying I'm currently interning on Broadway for theatre tech, specifically lighting, so I'm obsessed with entertainment technology (i.e. lighting, projections, pyro, etc.) and working for Disney has always been a life goal of mine. IMO Disney puts on the best shows in the world like World of Color and now Happily Ever After. They're so great at what they do that people have emotional connections to their shows!

I've been to Disney World 4 times with my High School to compete in their Festival Disney competition from 2009-2012 so Wishes brings back so many memories. As much as I'll miss Wishes, I am so amazed by HEA and happy to see Disney moving on.

The first thing that stood out to me was how vivid and bright the projections were. I expected them to washed out by the pyro but they remained so bright and colorful the entire time. The last projection show I've seen in person by Disney was The Magic, The Memories, And You so to see such progress is amazing. I LOVE the addition of moving heads at the side of the castle.

I'm taking my parents to Disney World in late August for the first time and I cannot wait to see it in person and enjoy it with them! They'll finally understand why I'm so obsessed with Disney shows!

 

[SpectroMan93]

Where is the tribute, and what is it?!

The Tiana sequence, yes. Also near the finale when two comet-style fireworks intersect over the castle. It's subtle, but a classy nod to the old show.

 

[Disney Analyst]

This truly feels like a fireworks show designed in 2017, not one designed over a decade ago. Love it.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Now that HEA first night is done..... Let's hope a few years down the road Epcot can utilize the projection system again for World Showcase and the Back of Spaceship Earth with Fireworks...This would be Epic!

 

[zoso]

Forgot to ask, do you guys think HEA will be updated every so often with new segments/characters/songs like WoC is? Or will it generally remain the same like Wishes did?