Hello readers and welcome back to your favorite blog, Muting and the Mouse. You know it by now but here we escape into the magic, no matter how far! Whether you are a Disney fanatic, a Disney lover, or just someone who enters into Disney for the first time, hopefully you enjoy my opinions and tips about Disney Parks and Disney as a whole. This post is going to talk about nighttime shows that are at the Walt Disney World Resort. Now, currently there are no nighttime shows being shown at Disney due to Covid, but these rank high on my list and are a must see next time you are there. Well, some of them are a must see. I say this because as times change, there are new shows that are offered as older shows pass on. Whether we like it or not, Disney is ever changing. It is one of the reasons I love Disney. Check out our post “Why I Love Disney, And Why You Should Too” for my complete list of why I love Disney. Okay, now that that shameless plug was added, back to Disney nighttime shows. You can always check them out on Youtube as multiple vlogs and even Disney puts out their shows. This is a fun way to escape into the magic of the nighttime shows from home. If you have not seen any of these, I urge you to wait and see them in person (if shows are still current).
Each park has their own nighttime show or experience and they are all fun. Magic Kingdom has had nighttime shows for what seems like forever. They have changed over the years but one thing remains certain, it is a MUST see and is highly sought out at the park. EPCOT has also had a nighttime show for a while and it has some fun views from around the World Showcase, so be sure to see the show. Each time can be different because you can watch from different countries and angles. Hollywood Studios has a couple of nighttime shows and they are both fun and entertaining. One has you entering your favorite galaxy far, far away and one has you entering the history of Disney as Mickey takes you on a journey through his dreams. Finally, Animal Kingdom. Now this is a park that did not have one for the longest time. They came out with one that was stunning. The show was very fun but sadly they have discontinued it. Before Covid, they started to not show Rivers of Light, but it was a fun one to see. With that being said, the Tree of Life is lit up nicely and has some projections that adds a nice night time experience to the park.
One thing is for sure, the shows hit you in the feels, have extravagant lighting and effects, and have amazing fireworks that will have you cheering for more. The night time shows at all parks are highly sought out and can get pretty crowded. My personal tip: get there early in preparation to see the show you want to see. It can be daunting to see how many people are around during the night time show, but they are worth it! Now let me say, this list is completely biased to my love, but please bear with me. I am not here to cause a ruckus or start controversy over nighttime shows at Disney. The following ranking is my own opinion and to be clear, I love all of the Disney nighttime shows. They are all stunning and entertaining in their own way, but some are better than others. Like mentioned before, all are fun but without further rambling, let me dive into the nighttime shows that are my favorite.
5. EPCOT FOREVER
Coming in at number five is one that was short lived. In my opinion, it is a shame this show did not get to run longer. Epcot Forever was a fun show that took you through the history of Epcot. The music was nostalgic. The tunes had you remembering your previous trips to Epcot with some fun explosions in the sky. You found yourself singing the tunes and reacting with aw at the effects in World Showcase Lagoon. This show was a stop gap between Illuminations and the upcoming Harmonious. The show was cut short due to Covid, but the sound track, the nostalgia, the special effects, and the fireworks have this one in my top five. The fun kids singing and the catchy tunes of all the previous and current EPCOT rides and attractions is what makes the show. They even added some fun puppets that zoom across the sky as they are pulled around the lagoon on boats and small watercrafts. So many components make up this show and that is why it is a favorite.
4. ILLUMINATIONS: REFLECTION OF EARTH
Next on my top 5 is Illuminations, Reflections of Earth. This one might come as a shock but for me, it is one that I always loved. This was shown at Epcot and had a pretty long runtime until it said farewell in 2019. The show was fun and whimsical as it had many components. The show had fireworks, ground fire displays, and a giant globe that was in the middle of World Showcase Lagoon that showed the world coming together hand in hand. The music for me always was an instant classic and the feeling of coming together as one nation had me believing in the good of the world. The show ran for so long, it became a part of every trip and was always fun to watch. For me, the best place to watch this show was from the Italy Pavilion as it provided you with a great view of the whole show. Now, I will admit, it was not the most exciting, but it was one that was still fun. I will also admit, sometimes it was not a must see, but it still is one of my all time favorites.
3. WISHES!
I mean, an instant classic. This show is an all time great in the mind of all. I mean, ask around, find someone who didn’t like Wishes. I dare you. You cannot find anyone. The message was so great and the soundtrack supported it so well. I am a bit biased because I made a wish during this show that ended up coming true. Taking you on a journey, Jiminy Cricket guides you through some wishes of Disney characters and then villains interject the show. The fun music and fireworks add so much excitement. It touched the hearts of all who watched it. The show ran at the Magic Kingdom for a long time and it was a sad day when they showed it for the last time. The soundtrack was real as it touched all who listened to it. We all have made a wish or two in our lives and that is what made this show so fun and relatable. The Disney Characters are no different, teaching us to dream and wish no matter how old. I mean, that is what Walt was all about to begin with.
2. FANTASMIC!
Number two on our list is none other than Fantasmic. This show is shown at Hollywood Studios and has its own theater. This show has so many components. The music, the performances, the fireworks, and the water effects all add to this show. This is why it comes in at a top two spot on my list. It is not just a show, it is a spectacular. The show takes you on a journey of dreams from the one and only Mickey Mouse. There are aspects from all of your favorite Disney Movies and they all tie into one. No matter where you sit in the theater, there is fun to be had. Singing and dancing along while you stay on the edge of your seat will have you feeling emotions from start to finish. This has been shown at Hollywood Studios for a while with some fun additions throughout the years. But, be sure to plan for this one as it gets pretty crowded and is one that will have you coming back each time.
1. HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Number one! Number one! My favorite show at nighttime at Disney World is Happily Ever After. This show is a one of a kind experience that really brings a lot of Disney technology into one show. The show has fireworks, music, ambiance of the Magic Kingdom, lighting, and projections all in one show. The show features all of you Disney favorites. From Snow White, to Moana and everything in between, the show has music and projections from all of your favorites. The show hits home that there are many ways to reach your happily ever after. It gets pretty emotional for a family oriented Italian man like myself. The show shows you that not all is lost when you can’t find the guy or gal that some Disney movies show. If you have your happiness, that is your happily ever after. This show hits home for me since I am so family oriented and it was the answer to my wish. It is such a fun show that has you enjoying all of the park. I will suggest you get there early when it is shown and get a spot where you can see the projections on the castle.
That does it for my favorite night time shows. I know I missed some and they are all very good shows. Let me know in the comments below which is your favorite. Do you agree with these being in the top five? Let me know and share your favorites as we try to let all escape into the magic through this blog. I love bringing Disney opinions to the table and help people escape into the past, the present, and the future of Walt Disney World. That is all for this week folks, continue to escape into the magic from wherever you call home!
Muting & The Mouse 