Nighttime Shows and Fun at the Disneyland Resort

Nighttime Shows and Fun at the Disneyland Resort

       I have such a hard time choosing from the nighttime shows. I love the fireworks at Disneyland, Fantasmic is fantastic and World of Color is amazing. So let me tell you about each show.

       The fireworks are incredible. Unlike WDW (I loved WDW Wishes fireworks from 2005, the only time I saw them but feel DLR’s are better) Tinker Bell files back and forth and changes her altitude. She stops and floats above the castle watching the show. During the summer Magical fireworks Dumbo flies as well. With the lighting on Sleeping Beauty’s Castel and the Matterhorn it is totally amazing! This is the show I choose most often. At Halloween and Christmas there are special holiday fireworks themed to the holidays. Jack Skellington takes over the show for Halloween and Christmas is just magical with snow falling all over the park after the fireworks are done. At any season this show is over twenty minutes long and a fantastic joy. (Best viewing location for the fireworks in directly in front of the Castle. The fireworks are designed to frame the castle. Any were else, even down Main Street you don’t see the special lighting effects.)

       Fantasmic is a unique show. Yes they have/had it at WDW but it is different at DLR. The show is part water fountain show, Disney video is projected onto water screens with special laser and lighting effects, pyrotechnic firework display and live stage show with actors. It is bigger at DLR, taking up the entire Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer’s Island. Both the Sailing Ship Columbia and the Mark Twain Paddleboat are part of the show. The Columbia becomes Hook’s Jolly Roger and the Mark Twain becomes Steamboat Willie’s ship with all our Disney friends along for the ride. People will start picking spots around three in the afternoon. Sometimes on summer weekends people get there earlier. This show is a good romp with a great battle between good and evil. I will not spoil the show by telling you more. I will say it is well worth sitting for several hours to get a good view of the show. (Best view is right in the center near the water across from the dock on Tom Sawyer’s Island. Ask a CM where the main lighting stand is and sit near the water in front of it.)

       World of Color is a fantastic show that just came to the park a little over a year ago. This show was brought in to DCA to give the park some nighttime entertainment. This show really encourages people to stay into the evening and is a great end to the day.

       Like Fantasmic WoC has water fountains and water screens that have Disney video projected on them. This show does not have live actors or extra props like Fantasmic. Think more Bellagio water fountains crossed with the video and lighting of Fantasmic but on a much larger scale. This show is designed to pull hard on your heart strings and unlike other Disney shows does not truly tell single story. Instead it goes through emotions showing scenes from classic and new Disney films. One moment the film and music is all magical and a playful romp. Next it is showing the love between a parent and child, later that changes to showing the most memorable romantic scenes from Disney movies. Then comes loss and sadness with scenes like the death of Mufasa and Simba calling out DAD. Your emotions run the gambit watching this show. (I did not state the emotions in order.)

WoC is a show I highly recommend seeing. Make sure you get FastPass tickets to see this show. There are FastPass machines at Grizzly Rapids that give out tickets for this show. You can also use a dining plan at one of two sit down restaurants or purchase a less expensive online Picnic Lunch. I suggest the Picnic Lunch option to make sure you get the tickets and your group does not get split into different shows or viewing sections.

Whatever show you decide to see I am sure you will enjoy it.