New Details: Disney Enchantment 50th Anniversary Fireworks at Magic Kingdom!
Walt Disney World has shared new song, movie, character info about “Disney Enchantment,” the new nighttime spectacular debuting in Magic Kingdom on October 1, 2021 for the launch of the World’s Most Magical Celebration. This post shares more details, concept art, and everything we know so far about this new anniversary fireworks show.
As a reminder, Disney Enchantment takes the place of Happily Ever After, which ends its run in Magic Kingdom on September 29, 2021. In Happily Ever After Ending “Permanently”, we expressed skepticism about whether Walt Disney World’s flagship nighttime spectacular is actually ending forever. Despite this confirmation, we stand by all of our commentary in that post.
Regardless, the “World’s Most Magical Celebration” will kick off on October 1, 2021 and last for 18 months during which time Disney Enchantment is slated to be shown (and perhaps beyond). The event will be celebrated at all four theme parks throughout 2021 and 2022. You can read everything that’s officially announced and rumored for the festivities in our Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary!
Per Walt Disney World, this all-new spectacular inspires guests to believe in magic, with captivating Disney music, enhanced lighting, immersive projection effects that extend for the first time down Main Street, U.S.A., and an emotional original song, entitled “You Are the Magic,” by seven-time GRAMMY-winner Philip Lawrence.
Throughout Disney Enchantment, stunning fireworks fill the sky, providing a great experience for guests throughout the park, and neighboring resort hotels.
“Since opening day in 1971, dazzling fireworks shows have provided that perfect exclamation point at the end of a fantastic day at Magic Kingdom Park,” said Mark Renfrow, Show Director, Disney Live Entertainment.
Renfrow continued: “From ‘Fantasy in the Sky’ and ‘Wishes’ to holiday spectaculars and ‘Happily Ever After,’ each new show has raised the bar, and the best is yet to come! I can’t wait for everyone to see what we’re creating with ‘Disney Enchantment.’”
In “Disney Enchantment,” we join characters like Tiana, Miguel, Rapunzel, and brothers Ian & Barley from “Onward” to set out on an incredible journey with adventurers such as Moana, Raya, and Judy Hopps. Joe Gardner from Disney and Pixar’s “Soul” takes us into “the zone.”
It’s there we discover a whimsical world inspired by the style of legendary Disney artist Mary Blair and filled with beloved characters from classic stories like “Beauty and the Beast” and “Alice in Wonderland” to contemporary tales including “Luca” and “Wreck-It Ralph.” Everything builds to a climactic moment, as Tinker Bell takes flight, spreading shimmering gold pixie dust and empowering us all to believe in ourselves and the magic all around us.
Per Walt Disney World, “Disney Enchantment” features characters, moments, and music from dozens of Disney and Pixar animated films. The show takes us beyond the ordinary to a land of magic, where we’re swept up in a world of wonder filled with friendship, love and fun.
Through it all, we’ll discover we only have to look within to find the power to believe and make dreams come true, because (spoiler alert) the magic was inside us all along!
Since the announcement of Disney Enchantment, we’ve uncovered new South Florida Water Management district permits for work behind Magic Kingdom to build additional pyro launch sites around the rear perimeter of the park.
These new perimeter launch sites mean that Disney Enchantment will have ~120º degrees of pyro. That’s more than Happily Ever After, and should feel close to the Halloween and Christmas Party fireworks from 2019 (not prior years when there was 180º coverage).
These details are significant. The enhanced lighting, immersive projection effects on Main Street, and new perimeter launch sites mean that Disney Enchantment is a fundamentally different fireworks show than its predecessor.
For once, by “different,” we actually mean much better and more ambitious. In terms of wow-factor, I have zero doubts whatsoever that Disney Enchantment will be bigger and better than Happily Ever After. In highly technical terms, Disney Enchantment will be more AWESOMETACULAR!
These infrastructure upgrades will also be utilized during Disney Very Merriest After Hours, the new holiday hard ticket event that’s essentially a cross between Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party and a normal After Hours offering. Disney Very Merriest After Hours will feature Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
That means Christmas party attendees can see two different and unique fireworks shows in one night—Disney Enchantment and Minnie’s Wonderful Christmastime Fireworks.
While all of the lights and explosions are important to a fireworks show, the other half of the equation is whether Disney Enchantment will be as moving and be as emotionally compelling in its storytelling. The jury is still out on that one.
In prior rumor and commentary posts, we’ve expressed hope that Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom would be akin to Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland or Remember… Dreams Come True, both of which are essentially love letters to their respective Disneylands. Based upon the above description, it sounds like Disney Enchantment will probably be more like Disneyland Forever.
Disneyland Forever debuted for Disneyland’s 60th Anniversary Diamond Celebration and focused more on film franchises with some Walt Disney dialogue scattered in. That’s probably the route Disney Enchantment will take–Walt Disney dedication dialogue bookending clips from movies.
It’ll be interesting to see just how much the visual style is “inspired” by Mary Blair, as that could be very awesome or underwhelming depending upon the execution.
On the plus side, the list of movies and characters that will be featured in Disney Enchantment includes a number of newcomers as well as properties that are often overlooked. That’s promising, and we’re hopeful that there’s minimal overlap between this and Harmonious. (Although a couple of the choices, like Onward, are a bit “interesting.”)
The similarities in characters and movies between Happily Ever After and Harmonious could explain why the former is being retired. We don’t really want to see two variations of the same show as the main nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World.
Ultimately, even though Disney Enchantment probably won’t be our “ideal” nighttime spectacular to pay tribute to Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, we’re still pretty optimistic about it. The infrastructure upgrades alone are a big deal, and should make for a better viewing experience up and down Main Street–and all throughout Magic Kingdom (plus perhaps all the monorail resorts).
We know a lot of Happily Ever After fans are disappointed by their favorite fireworks being retired. However, this is one scenario where we’d urge taking a “wait and see” perspective if you’re on the fence. Walt Disney Imagineering and Creative Entertainment have really honed their ‘fireworks formula’ in the last several years, producing some strong nighttime spectaculars for the castle parks in the process. I highly doubt they already would’ve announced a permanent end date for Happily Ever After unless they were pretty confident they had another home run hitter on deck.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think of the Disney Enchantment nighttime spectacular for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary? Excited for new fireworks in Magic Kingdom, or sad to see Happily Ever After go? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Do I understand I must pay to get in the park as usual, but must pay extra to see the Mini Christmas show. That sucks. Why not just let everybody see the better show. This only proves the ne Inchantment show is a half hearted replacement for the old show.
Do you think the 120° pyro was a budget cut?Would’ve helped this lackluster show.
Meh. It’s certainly looking that way. I guess what I really want is an updated form of Wishes. To date, that’s my favorite fireworks show MK has hosted.
Does anyone know the number of tickets being sold for Xmas after hours/party? Will it be same
as boo bash? Loved seeing videos of low capacity, nervous they will sell too many tickets for the holidays and it will be too crowded during the holiday party.
Thanks for any thoughts.
All this talk of fireworks I am wondering if they will still be doing the New Years Eve fireworks show?
We are headed to MK for a day in early Oct and I can’t wait to hear what your report will be on where you feel is the best place to view!
Our best viewing location is anywhere the person in front of us doesn’t have their child sitting on their shoulders. The people who do this versus holding their child are inconsiderate to those behind them. We had a couple of people in front of us do this the last time we watched the fireworks and it made the fireworks much less enjoyable.
I’m disappointed that the focus seems to be exclusively on the movies instead of the WDW parks/Magic Kingdom lands like Tokyo Disneyland did.
‘Onward’ Rocks.
I know the pandemic took a huge bite out if it.
But that is one fun Disney Movie.
Tom et al, with respect to Onward, my kids and I saw that I the movie theater prior to the “lockdown”. We loved the movie not knowing things would go down the toilet in days. So I guess we thought it was an awesome movie and we actually got to see it in an actual movie theater with zero knowledge or anxiety of what was to come. YMMV.
One reason I don’t believe HEA is retired forever is because they did not sell any merchandise for it like they did with wishes. I think it will be back after the anniversary. Or not! I’ve never seen Disney miss an opportunity to make money on merchandise like that.
Normally, I’d agree–but with the way supply chains have been screwed up, it’s possible there was no good merchandising option by the time that decision has been made.
I still think there’s an over 50% chance Happily Ever After returns for a “limited engagement” at some point.
I agree, the inclusion of Onward raised my eyebrows. It’s a perfectly fine movie but if it has a prominent placement in the show it will date Disney Enchantment for however long it sticks around (just like the extended Pocahontas sequence in the middle of WDW Fantasmic earmarks that as a mid-90s production).
Also, and maybe this is just me, but I very much associate Onward with the pandemic. That’s probably a bit “in the weeds” and over the head of the average consumer/guest, but Onward was the first big release impacted. I’ll always associate Onward, Rudy Gobert, and Tom Hanks with the shutdown.
I do think a more studio property-oriented show makes sense for WDW because the people visiting are there for Disney IPs, not so much the PeopleMover or Big Thunder Mountain (though I hope they leave the parks educated on how AWESOME those non-IP attractions are). Happily Ever After had nothing to do with the parks, but it was the perfect show for Magic Kingdom. If this show is meant to be the new permanent show, and not just the 50th anniversary show, it makes sense to have it focus on movies. With the massive local fanbases for Tokyo and Anaheim to make up the majority of guests, it makes more sense for their shows to be park-focused.
I’m so excited and hoping to be in WDW in January. Cannot wait to see this and Harmonius!
Totally agree with you that this approach makes more sense for Magic Kingdom given guest demographics.
I wish you were wrong, but sadly, you are not.
Aryn,
I was wondering the same. Dessert parties are a big part of our plan.
How can anyone be disappointed? it’s FIREWORKS!!!! I’m really looking forward to the inclusion of Main Street which brings me to ask best spot? Sounds like there will be many but would the train station be high on that list now that Main Street is part of the “show”?
Train Station will *probably* be a VIP viewing area, otherwise it would be a great spot.
My preliminary ‘sleeper pick’ would be the edge of Town Square. Get on the edge of the curb there and be able to see MSUSA and Cinderella Castle. The buildings might cut off some of the perimeter bursts, but should be much less crowded.
Tom do you have any insight on if/when the dessert parties are going to start up again?
Thanks!
I do not. Zero inside info whatsoever on this one, but my gut says they’ll be back by (or shortly after) October 1. They’re lucrative and Disney is bringing back the same type of elements elsewhere.
A bit disappointed by the description. Obviously Disney stories and properties have to be part of it, but I was hoping for something more Parks centered, and hopefully emotional and deep. Clearly it isn’t going to be Parks centered… I’d settle for it making me emotional, but I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
I felt like Happily Ever After was a show that loved its own tech, and just sorta threw characters and effects at you… like clown vomit in entertainment form. It was spectacular, but lacked structure, story, and resonance. If they at least fix that I’d see it as an updrade… though mentioning “dozens” of Disney properties being included makes it sound like I’ll be disappointed for the exact same reasons as I was with Happily Ever After.
If you were disappointed by the structure of Happily Ever After, I suspect the same will be true with Disney Enchantment. A lot of the newer castle fireworks shows have used this same general formula and they’re all pretty similar. If anything, I’d say HEA was the least disjointed of the bunch.
This anniversary on Oct 1 will be the first big event I’ve ever attended at Disney. I plan to be there hanging out by the partners statue right at 6pm just in case. Since you’ve been to other celebrations…do you think they will do anything special on the opening night?