Disney’s Happily Ever After: A Worthy Replacement For Wishes

Walt Disney World’s newest fireworks spectacular, Happily Ever After, is here. But can it fill the hole left by Wishes?

It’s the most magical part of an evening in Disney World. Guests stake out seats early, and look forward to it all day. It momentarily stifles the exhaustion of the day. It’s the evening fireworks and light show – and starting this summer, it’s all new.

Wishes has officially been replaced by Happily Ever After. The show, which had run at the Magic Kingdom since October 2003, saw its final performance on May 11, 2017. Happily Ever After debuted the following evening, with huge crowds anxious to see the latest nighttime spectacular.

After eight years, Wishes had become a fan favorite, with many wondering if the new show could compare. Well, I’m here to tell you it’s as magical as you’d hope.

Let’s break down the best parts.

Opening the Vault

Walt Disney World Resort guests can discover the newest, most spectacular fireworks show in the history of Magic Kingdom Park with “Happily Ever After.” The stunning nighttime extravaganza features more lasers, lights and projections than any Magic Kingdom Park show before it. Characters and scenes from more than 25 Disney films are featured through state-of-the-art projections, enchanted by more than 50 choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks.

(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Over the years, Disney has created an amazing catalogue of films. In Happily Ever After, these films are brought back to life in brand new ways. Widely considered the company’s most successful era, the Disney Renaissance gets an especially prominent focus in the new show.

One of the most pleasantly surprising appearances is that of Quasimodo from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As Cinderella’s Castle is transformed into the majestic cathedral, Quasimodo sings “Out There,” getting the show’s message rolling.

Aiming to inspire viewers to achieve their own happily ever after, the production utilizes classic songs of a hero’s journey. Characters from classics including Toy Story, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, Tarzan and The Jungle Book are all featured, giving the show an incredible, nostalgic feel.

Best of Both Worlds

(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Of course, it’s important to give the new heroes their due, especially for the younger Disney fans. Moana gets her own spectacular segment, belting “How Far I’ll Go” as the castle is turned into a Polynesian tapestry. The heart of Te Fiti is projected in the center of the castle, aptly paralleling the castle itself as the heart of Disney World.

At three years old, Frozen is still technically new to the Disney-verse, though it feels like “Let It Go” has been on loop for much longer. Thankfully, Happily Ever After manages to get Frozen in the mix using “Love Is An Open Door” instead. It’s a softer moment of the montage, using a ballad cover of the song, making it a sweet highlight.

The spectacle also brings in newer films like Inside Out, Zootopia and Finding Dory. Pixar manages to bring in some of its classic characters, including Mike and Sully, as well as the Incredibles.

Old Meets New

(Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Because Disney is Disney, they manage to blend old elements into the new show. Yes, that means Tinker Bell still ~~ziplines~~ flies from the top tower. Some fan favorite segments, like Rapunzel’s floating lanterns, also resurface in Happily Ever After.

But at Disney, the keep moving forward. The new show brings in a new narrator to tell the story, replacing Jiminy Cricket. The animators at Disney also created brand new animations of favorite characters for certain segments.

Most importantly, the show grabs its title from a brand new song. Sung by Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer, Happily Ever After is more of a pop song, but still manages to evoke the right emotions. It is used to open and close the show, sandwiching the classic Disney magic.

For those still thinking Happily Ever After could never replace Wishes, one Disney fan had a friendly reminder:

I'm willing to bet when Wishes started, it didn't give you the 'same feeling' as Fantasy in the Sky. And then you grew to love it.
— Monet (@mustbe_themonet) May 16, 2017

For diehard mouseketeers, Happily Ever After will strike just the right chord.

If you just can’t wait to see the show in person, you can check out Disney’s stream of it here.