Prelude to Disney Dreams

One of the reasons we were most excited to see Disneyland Paris was because of Disney Dreams. In fact, one of the big reasons we booked this trip was because of Disney Dreams. After seeing the video of the “live” premiere, I just had to experience the show in person. Normally, I wouldn’t watch a video like that, as I like to experience things in person the first time I see them, but at the time Dreams premiered, I had no idea we’d be going to Disneyland Paris anytime in the near future. It wasn’t really on our radar.

As with most things, seeing Disney Dreams in person was a totally different experience. Right from the show’s opening, when these beams of light pictured above merge together above Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant to open the show, you know you’re in for a treat. It can best be described as combining elements of World of Color and Celebrate the Magic (the Magic Kingdom Castle projection show) plus fireworks. As far as nighttime spectaculars go, Disney Dreams is exceptional. The way it weaves the technology of World of Color and Celebrate the Magic together with a loose narrative structure is excellent, and there are just enough fireworks present that you don’t feel letdown about missing a traditional fireworks show over Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant.

While Disney Dreams was spectacular, I think it could benefit from a Christmas tag. Based upon the Prep & Landing World of Color tag and the Christmas segments of Celebrate the Magic, it doesn’t seem like this would be difficult to accomplish. Although Disney Dreams has a more cohesive narrative, it seems like a pre-show or post-show tag could easily be added without disrupting the main show. A bit more holiday entertainment in Disneyland Paris would definitely be a plus; for as beautiful as the park is during the Christmas season, it’s holiday entertainment options seemed a little lacking. At present, there is a couple minute long Castle lighting ceremony that takes place fifteen minutes before Disney Dreams and utilizes the beams shown in this photo as well as some fountains, but more would be nice.

Photographers will find themselves challenged by Disney Dreams. In a single 30 second span, you can have fire bursts, fireworks, water jets, water projections, lasers, and castle projections. Oh, and some lovely harsh purple/blue lighting. Each of these different elements calls for different camera settings, which you obviously cannot accomplish in a single photo. Instead, you have to focus on settings for photographing certain elements and shrug off others. I came back with plenty of keepers from the showings of Disney Dreams we watched, but plenty of my photos are heading straight to the trash.

Please click the photo above to view it large.

Technical details: shot with a Nikon D600 with a Nikon 24-120mm f/4 VR Lens. See our guide for more photography equipment recommendations.

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11 Responses to “Prelude to Disney Dreams”
  1. Marcel November 30, 2012
    • Tom Bricker November 30, 2012
  2. mike November 28, 2012
  3. William McIntosh November 28, 2012
  4. SpenceMan01 November 27, 2012
  5. didiz November 27, 2012
  6. chris November 27, 2012
    • Tom Bricker November 27, 2012
    • Guillermo November 28, 2012
  7. Sean November 27, 2012
    • Tom Bricker November 27, 2012

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