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

[nevol]

It is not something to stand and wait an hour for. In the future will just ride rides while others are watching the show.
I know people wanted it to be great-the hype was everywhere-but for my money it was kind of a bomb. I am sure others will like it but I have found few that did not like Wishes.
That will not be true of Happily Ever After.
Wanted something more inspirational for the younger generations in my life. This wasn't it.

This show is the literal definition of inspirational. Please listen to the narration. It is almost troubling that you can't absorb that.

 

[WDW1974]

I have to say, HEA has the best theme song of all the castle-centric nighttime shows, the trumpets at the beginning really make it impressive. That being said, as has been already stated, the scenes and transitions felt very disjointed and didn't necessarily have a good flow. Also there is once again a really heavy reliance on the projections.

All in all, i'd say of the currently playing Disney Castle Fireworks shows around the world, this one is the best. It's better than Paris' Illuminations and Shanghai's Ignite the Dream despite their fountains. It's even better than Disneyland's more pop-y Disneyland Forever. Though of all time I think the original Disney Dreams in Paris and MK's old Wishes are still better.

Just a question as someone about to actually view both DLP and SDL's shows in person, but have you seen them in person? Did you see DL Forever in person (I did, many times).

I ask because shows like these are very visceral experiences. You do not get the same feeling watching them on a screen, no matter who is transmitting or recording or whether you are watching on an iPad or a huge 60-inch home theater. You need to actually be there. It's sorta like watching a cooking show and thinking you know how the food tastes or watching an adult film and ... I'll stop there.

 

[SpectroMan93]

If anyone is thinking of heading to the park to watch tonight, crowds are incredibly light so far compared to last night. I imagine they'll pick up closer to showtime, but right now it is very easy to find a spot for the fireworks.

 

[stitchcastle]

At times like this, I realize that I may be a fan of Disney, but I'm in no way the typical fan. I appreciated the artistry of Wishes, but thought we lost way too much (trees, shade, benches, a Hub that fit the look of the area) for a show that everyone thought had to be viewed from in front of the castle (my favorite location became roughly the area of Fantasyland where Dumbo used to fly). The show was way too syrupy sweet to me. And its use and overuse of terms like 'dreams', 'wishes' and 'magic' turned me off.

Not only did I prefer any/all of the DL shows since 1999's Believe, but in a lot of ways I missed the simpler FitS.

Anyway, I've never cried because of a Disney pyro show and I've pretty much enjoyed EVERY one I've ever seen. Loved most.

But didn't need to see the final Wishes. Didn't need to plan a trip to WDW around it or the opening of HEA. It sounds like the vast majority of people really like the new show and that's great, but I don't sit at home watching videos of pyro shows. I can wait to see the real thing.

I miss the old days, pre-Internet, where you actually had to wait. Where everything wasn't spoiled for you because people need instant satisfaction (want to make a joke involving fanbois and lotion, but won't). I don't need to see Pandora ride-thru videos done by every no-life O-Town lifestyler/blogger/podcaster.

Anyway, back to this show ... one criticism I've heard a lot of is the whole concept being very heavy on throwing as much IP as possible in, rather than simply focusing on maybe a dozen films and concepts. I don't see much changing this. That's why Shanghai and Paris are basically sharing 85% of the same show when one park should be introducing itself to the world and another should be celebrating a quarter century of being Europe's top tourist destination. It's a Burbank mandate that franchises from Frozen to Pirates, Star Wars to Toy Story get shoved into the collective consciousness as much as possible. ... The only good thing for WDW visitors is the tired Wishes is finally history and the replacement is most definitely an improvement.

I would be remiss if I didn't remind you to not get too attached to this show since it won't be around more than four years.

Oh, and really hoping I get the OK to tell you why Remember is back at DL this summer and not the Star Wars show that was originally slated to go in. An only Disney tale ...

I find it funny that you wax poetic about how much better the Disneyland shows are when your precious "Remember Dreams Come True" is just a repurposed, roided up version of "Wishes".

 

[WDW1974]

If anyone is thinking of heading to the park to watch tonight, crowds are incredibly light so far compared to last night. I imagine they'll pick up closer to showtime, but right now it is very easy to find a spot for the fireworks.

Of course, every Lifestyler/Blogger/podcaster/known name on the Disney Tweeter was there last night ... it's all about some weird 'cred' you earn by being at the first (or last for that matter) of any event.

 

[stitchcastle]

Just a question as someone about to actually view both DLP and SDL's shows in person, but have you seen them in person? Did you see DL Forever in person (I did, many times).

I ask because shows like these are very visceral experiences. You do not get the same feeling watching them on a screen, no matter who is transmitting or recording or whether you are watching on an iPad or a huge 60-inch home theater. You need to actually be there. It's sorta like watching a cooking show and thinking you know how the food tastes or watching an adult film and ... I'll stop there.

Yep.

 

[WDW1974]

I find it funny that you wax poetic about how much better the Disneyland shows are when your precious "Remember Dreams Come True" is just a repurposed, roided up version of "Wishes".

If you think that, then I am guessing you didn't ever see the show?

And the WORST part of RDCT to me was that they took a tiny portion of Wishes at the start. But the shows themselves were/are so different that a comparison is laughable.

 

[stitchcastle]

If you think that, then I am guessing you didn't ever see the show?

And the WORST part of RDCT to me was that they took a tiny portion of Wishes at the start. But the shows themselves were/are so different that a comparison is laughable.

I live and work in Southern California, of course I've seen Remember, the individual land and attraction segments are pretty great but structurally it's just a bigger version of Wishes.

 

[flyerjab]

Well…having only the opportunity to view from home…I think that this show looks tremendous.

I will be seeing it next week in person…I plan on being even more impressed.

This show is NOT Wishes. And I don't think that the creators set out on making a clone of Wishes in terms of story-telling, etc. They set out to make THIS show which is very different from Wishes. I think it looks phenomenal…but again, seeing it in person next week will probably prove my opinion for me. I always hope that Disney continues to make things more impressive…more spectacular. I believe that this truly delivers. The pyro and the projections are jaw-dropping, and I love the use of hand-drawn animation.

I have seen Wishes so many times that I got to the point where I preferred being on 7DMT when it was playing, or from the Tiki Terrace at the Poly. It was comforting knowing that it was still there in the background, but it wasn't something that I needed to see directly anymore.

I needed a new show, something that could floor me. There are moments in HEA that do just that very thing. I had to shake my head at times at some of the projections. And the colors of the pyro and the new banks of lights were marvelous. I really like the color pallet that starts off the show with the deep red and rivers of gold.

And I love the message that we should each find our happily ever after, just like the characters in the show itself.

Only a few more days now...

 

[prfctlyximprct]

You're not alone girl.
I didn't like it either.
I didn't care for the opening song at all.
I'm not saying it wasn't well done, but it lacks the effervescent magic of Wishes.

Like I get the thing of the future is these projections, they are on the tree, they are on the Chinese theater, they were on the castle preshow.. but I just don't know. At some point, it's overkill. It seemed to lack that childhood innocence that becomes restored when you're in a Disney park. I could barely hear the narrator, guess I should hold judgement until I can see it in person and actually hear, but I just felt bored.

 

[CanadianGordon]

After watching the Disney Parks Blog livestream. Wow.

That is all. Very well done.

 

[WDW1974]

I live and work in Southern California, of course I've seen Remember, the individual land and attraction segments are pretty great but structurally it's just a bigger version of Wishes.

I don't see how you come to that conclusion, but you're entitled to have it.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I don't see how you come to that conclusion, but you're entitled to have it.

To me it feels like a Disneyland fireworks show that awkwardly had Wishes grafted to it. The flow from Wishes into DL and then back is clunky as hell and completely unnecessary. It's still a great show which makes the Wishes portions even more irritating.

 

[WDW1974]

To me it feels like a Disneyland fireworks show that awkwardly had Wishes grafted to it. The flow from Wishes into DL and then back is clunky as hell and completely unnecessary. It's still a great show which makes the Wishes portions even more irritating.

Yup. Because that's basically what happened. Disney has a long history of doing this. I remember thinking how special Walt Disney World is Your World was as part of WDW's Tencennial. It wasn't until a decade plus later that I was told that the song was used as Disneyland is Your Land for DL's 25th in 1980 and later as Tokyo Disneyland is Your Land for the opening of the park in 1983.

Parade floats, show music etc ... it all gets recycled and repurposed.

When I see people talk about Disney using Hunchback in HEA, all I think is "this is probably the exact lift of the same sequence in Disney Dreams from Paris."

But, yeah, Remember is so great that the Wishes part always feels jarring and grating to me ... but I'm sure it saved Disney a considerable sum of money.

Just like having the same show, essentially, now in Paris and Shanghai saves a blankload of $$$.

 

[Sped2424]

I am very pleased. An excellent show for a castle park and a sure fire classic for years to come.

 

[Disney Analyst]

At times like this, I realize that I may be a fan of Disney, but I'm in no way the typical fan. I appreciated the artistry of Wishes, but thought we lost way too much (trees, shade, benches, a Hub that fit the look of the area) for a show that everyone thought had to be viewed from in front of the castle (my favorite location became roughly the area of Fantasyland where Dumbo used to fly). The show was way too syrupy sweet to me. And its use and overuse of terms like 'dreams', 'wishes' and 'magic' turned me off.

Not only did I prefer any/all of the DL shows since 1999's Believe, but in a lot of ways I missed the simpler FitS.

Anyway, I've never cried because of a Disney pyro show and I've pretty much enjoyed EVERY one I've ever seen. Loved most.

But didn't need to see the final Wishes. Didn't need to plan a trip to WDW around it or the opening of HEA. It sounds like the vast majority of people really like the new show and that's great, but I don't sit at home watching videos of pyro shows. I can wait to see the real thing.

I miss the old days, pre-Internet, where you actually had to wait. Where everything wasn't spoiled for you because people need instant satisfaction (want to make a joke involving fanbois and lotion, but won't). I don't need to see Pandora ride-thru videos done by every no-life O-Town lifestyler/blogger/podcaster.

Anyway, back to this show ... one criticism I've heard a lot of is the whole concept being very heavy on throwing as much IP as possible in, rather than simply focusing on maybe a dozen films and concepts. I don't see much changing this. That's why Shanghai and Paris are basically sharing 85% of the same show when one park should be introducing itself to the world and another should be celebrating a quarter century of being Europe's top tourist destination. It's a Burbank mandate that franchises from Frozen to Pirates, Star Wars to Toy Story get shoved into the collective consciousness as much as possible. ... The only good thing for WDW visitors is the tired Wishes is finally history and the replacement is most definitely an improvement.

I would be remiss if I didn't remind you to not get too attached to this show since it won't be around more than four years.

Oh, and really hoping I get the OK to tell you why Remember is back at DL this summer and not the Star Wars show that was originally slated to go in. An only Disney tale ...

Please get the okay! I must know the tea!

 

[flynnibus]

I find it funny that you wax poetic about how much better the Disneyland shows are when your precious "Remember Dreams Come True" is just a repurposed, roided up version of "Wishes".

are u drunk?

 

[OvertheHorizon]

Unless my math skills are faulty, I clocked the Wishes video at about 12 minutes and the Happy Ever After video at 18 and a half minutes. For the last several years, Disney has had a castle projection show, followed later by Wishes.

This new show integrates them both into a FULL nighttime spectacular experience, and even incorporates Tinker Bell into the new show. I look forward to seeing the show in person. I don't mind previewing experiences via video since I know that the sensory aspects of going in person are much more rewarding.

 

[AndrewsJ]

So no Mickey Mouse or did I just miss it? If Jiminy had narrated I would give it 5 stars but without I give it 4.

ETA - after watching again on my giant 4K set I raise my rating to 5 stars. Of course until I see it in person I can't really have a true opinion but the second time was very emotional.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

I have to say, HEA has the best theme song of all the castle-centric nighttime shows, the trumpets at the beginning really make it impressive. That being said, as has been already stated, the scenes and transitions felt very disjointed and didn't necessarily have a good flow. Also there is once again a really heavy reliance on the projections.

All in all, i'd say of the currently playing Disney Castle Fireworks shows around the world, this one is the best. It's better than Paris' Illuminations and Shanghai's Ignite the Dream despite their fountains. It's even better than Disneyland's more pop-y Disneyland Forever. Though of all time I think the original Disney Dreams in Paris and MK's old Wishes are still better.

I hope for the 50th they bring back a compromised wishes, or bring in Disneylands Remember. start and end with wishes music like in Disneyland but have the projection show in the middle whether it's based on the attractions or the movies and characters. That would be a big nalstalgic comeback. I'd say wishes but forever runs for 18 minutes as well. The storyline would sure for with the 50th.