Happily Ever After is a fireworks and projection mapping show which debuted at the Magic Kingdom on May 12, 2017.[2][3] Unlike its predecessor, Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams, the show includes projection mapping, lasers, and searchlights, in addition to pyrotechnics,[4] featuring characters from a wide array of Disney films, and music arranged by Tim Heintz.[2] The show's theme song of the same name was written by Adam Watts, Melissa Peirce, and Andy Dodd, and performed by Angie Keilhauer and Jordan Fisher;[5] it is adapted from Hong Kong Disneyland's 10th anniversary celebration (and its subsequent show Mickey and the Wondrous Book) and Shanghai Disneyland's Mickey's Storybook Adventure.
| Happily Ever After | |
|---|---|
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| Magic Kingdom | |
| Area | Cinderella Castle Main Street U.S.A. |
| Status | Operating |
| Soft opening date | March 14, 2023 (updated) |
| Opening date | May 12, 2017 (original) April 3, 2023 (updated) |
| Closing date | September 29, 2021 (original)[1] |
| Replaced | Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams Disney Enchantment (updated) Once Upon a Time |
| Replaced by | Disney Enchantment[1](original) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Multimedia and pyrotechnic show |
| Designer | Disney Live Entertainment |
| Music | "Happily Ever After" performed by Angie Keilhauer and Jordan Fisher Score arrangement by Tim Heintz |
| Duration | 18 minutes |
| Sponsor | PANDORA |
| Narrator | Tom Kane |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
The show was promised to feature the most technologically advanced projection mapping display in Disney Parks history (after the introduction from ElecTRONica at Disney California Adventure).[6] The show was replaced with Disney Enchantment for Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration on September 30, 2021.[1]
An updated version of the show, now featuring projection mapping on the facades of Main Street, U.S.A. and new ambient sound effects in the hub and Main Street, U.S.A. that were first used in Disney Enchantment, premiered on April 3, 2023 replacing its successor, which is part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration.[7][8]
Show summary
editOpening
edit"...And they all lived happily ever after.
Each of us has a dream, a heart's desire. It calls to us. And when we're brave enough to listen, and bold enough to pursue, that dream will lead us on a journey to discover who we're meant to be.
All we have to do is look inside our hearts and unlock the magic within..."
A keyhole appears on Cinderella Castle. Magical pixie dust flows through the keyhole and covers the castle and surrounding turrets in royal red and gold as the Happily Ever After theme song plays. Searchlights, lasers (from and towards the castle), and eventually fireworks come into play.
Dreams
editIntroduced by Tiana, various Disney characters are shown in which they express their deepest desires – Ariel wishing to be 'part of our world', Remy for his own career as a cook in Paris, Rapunzel for freedom from her tower, and Quasimodo for one day to be 'out there' from the tower of Notre Dame.
Songs include: "Down in New Orleans (Prologue)", "When You Wish Upon a Star", "Part of Your World" and "Out There".
Journey
editIntroduced by Merida, characters from Brave, A Bug's Life, Cars, Up, Finding Nemo, and Moana are shown embarking on their adventures.
Songs include: "Touch the Sky" and "How Far I'll Go".
Friendship
editIntroduced by Aladdin, this segment highlights the friendships shared by Disney characters from Tarzan, The Lion King, Toy Story, The Jungle Book, Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Inside Out, Monsters, Inc., and Aladdin. The segment comes full circle with a showstopping performance by the Genie.
Songs featured: "Trashin' the Camp", "Hakuna Matata", "You've Got a Friend in Me", "The Bare Necessities", "I've Got No Strings", "That’s What Friends Are For" and "Friend Like Me".
Love
editIntroduced by Olaf, a full moon rises across the castle that leads into romances and acts of love shared by characters from WALL-E, The Lion King, Tarzan, Inside Out, Finding Dory, Up, Dumbo, Zootopia and The Incredibles. The castle turns into a garden with waterfalls and then transitions to show silhouettes of Disney princes and princesses; floating lanterns from Tangled are seen covering the castle as Rapunzel and Flynn Rider duet and send their own lanterns to the top of the castle.
Songs featured are "Love is an Open Door", "Can You Feel the Love Tonight", "You'll Be in My Heart" and "I See the Light".
Adversity
editIntroduced by the Emperor of China from Mulan, the show becomes aggressive and loud, highlighting the climactic battles and challenges the characters face including epic scenes from The Incredibles, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Aladdin, Sleeping Beauty, and Pirates of the Caribbean. The castle and its surroundings are peppered with explosions as many more climactic scenes are shown. When it is over, the castle is left a flaming ruin with gaping holes in its sides.
Music featured include instrumental selections from Frozen, The Lion King and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Triumph
editThe visage constellation of Mufasa appears across a starry sky reminding us to “remember who [we] are”. As an inspirational version of "Go the Distance" from Hercules plays, turret by turret, the castle gradually repairs itself while we see the featured characters in their triumphant moments. As the music swells, the structure turns gold with stained-glass portraits of the characters, all of them accomplishing their 'happily ever after'.[a]
Finale
editThe show ends with the narrator challenging the audience to unlock their own magic and make their dreams come true, just as the characters did. The keyhole reappears and a pixie flies from it, leaving a trail of dust around the central plaza. As the castle restores itself to red and gold, the pixie flies up to the highest spire, where it’s revealed to be Tinker Bell, making her flight over the park to the familiar refrain of "You Can Fly". The castle and illuminated central plaza change color as multi-color peony fireworks appear in the sky. The keyhole then turns and opens, unleashing a colorful final set of fireworks.[b]
Notes
edit- ^ As of March 14, 2023, additional characters were added in stained glass projected at Main Street U.S.A. The addition includes Miguel from Coco, Bruno and Mirabel from Encanto, Elena from Elena of Avalor, Meilin Lee from Turning Red, Raya from Raya and the Last Dragon, Luca from Luca, and others.
- ^ This section initially included lasers throughout the finale during 2017 testing, but it was cut only before the original premiere of the show. Laser effect throughout the finale was originally restored in 2023 version, although the effect was later removed again in June of that same year.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "More Entertainment Returning Across Walt Disney World Resort This Summer". Disney Parks Blog. July 21, 2021. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ a b Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "'Happily Ever After' Nighttime Spectacular Will Debut at Magic Kingdom Park May 12". Disney Parks Blog. Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. Archived from the original on February 13, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ "Happily Ever After". TouringPlans.com. Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2018.
- ^ Bevil, Dewayne. "Disney sets 'Rivers of Light' debut and replaces 'Wishes' fireworks show". OrlandoSentinel.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "First Listen: Sneak a Peek at Our 'Happily Ever After' Theme Song". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on April 8, 2017. Retrieved April 7, 2017.
- ^ Fickley-Baker, Jennifer. "'Happily Ever After' To Feature The Most Advanced Projection Mapping Tech Yet". Disney Parks Blog. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
- ^ Michaelsen, Shannen (September 11, 2022). "BREAKING: 'Happily Ever After' Fireworks Returning to Magic Kingdom". WDW News Today. Archived from the original on September 11, 2022. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
- ^ Bevil, Dewayne (January 10, 2023). "Disney sets dates for 'Happily Ever After' return, 'Harmonious' farewell". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 10, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2023.