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.
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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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According to Philippe Gas at last week’s Shareholder’s Round Table a little “surprise” will be added to the show during the french christmas holidays – whatever this will be, it’s hopefully going to add a little more christmas feeling 🙂
Awesome! Do you by chance have a link to a transcript of this? Thanks!
Did you win the lottery Tom?
As much as you didn’t want the fog in the morning, the mist really adds to the effect here. WOW! It’s like that effect from Beauty And The Beast where all of those beams come shooting out. What an amazing effect! Can’t wait to see the rest of your shots and to make another trip back there again to see this in person!
Tom, this photo is absolutely phenomenal. The castle looks gorgeous. Can’t wait to see more shots from your trip!
My parents went, a while ago, with not very good reviews…but now i wanna go. Next time in europe, God willing, DL paris is on my list. T4P
just back from DLP and watched dreams all 4 nights! agreed pics are pretty difficult at times!
And i just had the same conversation about the holiday tags, unfortunately Dreams and the 20th anniversary ate up most of DLP’s budget for this year and things were cut such as Mickeys winter wonderland christmas show! hopefully next year things will return!
And yes Dreams is fantastic, hard to believe wdw turned down the blueprint of a show like this!
I’ve heard the budget explanation for a few things (like the cut to the Winter Wonderland show and as the reason why they didn’t get a new Christmas tree this year), but not for the Disney Dreams Christmas tag.
Do you know whether the tag was considered at one point, or are you just speculating?
When Disney Dreams was first released to the press it was said that the technology could easily allow updated and different sections depending on the season, but there’s been no more information about that.
We’re heading to Disneyland Paris in the spring and can’t wait to see this show! Any other recommendations on a single-day trip to EuroDisney ;-)? Will continue to check here for updates.
Stay tuned, we’ll have a planning guide up as soon as photos are edited!