Happily Ever After Sets A New Bar in Disney Fireworks

In November of 2003, I can remember being in the Magic Kingdom on the second night of my vacation and seeing Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams for the first time and being blown away by the music, the pyro, and the projections. Now fast forward to May 2017 and “Happily Ever After” almost made me forget all of that!

Magic Kingdom – Happily Ever After

I can only imagine how much of a challenge it was for the master storytellers to have to face the daunting task of replacing Wishes. In its 13 years at the Magic Kingdom it became the kiss goodnight of millions of people. I know I had my doubts when Happily Ever After was first talked about but I am so glad to eat crow on this one. This 18-minute spectacle features moments from classic Disney films such as The Little Mermaid and Aladdin to modern blockbusters Moana and Zootopia. It also pulls on the heart strings by including “Go The Distance” from Hercules, which in my opinion is one of the most underused Disney Classics ever.

Magic Kingdom – Happily Ever After

This show is a mix of more than 50 choreographed spotlights, brilliant lasers and plenty of awe-inspiring fireworks. Add in some perfect projections on Cinderella Castle and a soundtrack that I wanted right away, Happily Ever After is not just the show we wanted it was the show we never knew we needed. Mixing characters and scenes from over 25 Disney films, if you don’t find one of your favorites in the mix you just need to turn in your mouse ears.

Happily Ever After is now running nightly at Magic Kingdom and I am sure will be for a nice long time.

Jeremiah Good
Our main correspondent for Walt Disney World and the Orlando area and a heck of a paleontologist if he does say so himself.