Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 2: Your Favorite Show.
Once again, I have to say: ONLY ONE?
Oh, so many choices I could go with just based on emotional impact and beauty alone. “Believe: There’s Magic In the Stars” was the firework show that was playing the year my wife and I were married – we watched it every night we were there, because it was just that good. Even now, hearing the soundtrack evokes some great misty-eyed memories. “Remember – Dreams Come True” – the firework show created for Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary – is just beyond phenomenal, bringing back memories of rides from today and yesterday. “Aladdin” over at Disney California Adventure is a great Broadway style musical that never gets old, with a genie that mixes things up on a regular basis. “Believe… In Holiday Magic” – the Holiday firework offering – holds a near and dear spot to my heart. It was my daughter’s first firework show; the sight of her watching in wonder, then in awe once more as the “snow” began to fall is permanently engrained in my mind as a wonderful memory I’ll never forget.
Of course, those are just a few of so many great shows, but if I had to choose just one…
“IMAGINATION!!!!!”
I remember when Fantasmic first opened – my junior year of high school. Traveling in by bus, seeing the signs along the freeway, I had no idea what exactly Fantasmic was… but my interest was definitely piqued. However, once at Disneyland, seeing crowds staking out their spaces on blankets as early as noon, the impatient teenager in me took over. I would rather ride rides than watch “some show,” and chose not to watch. Now I’m not saying I would have waited THAT long to see it, but I wish I could go back and kick the teenage me in the pants for not waiting. All I heard about on the bus on the way back home was how amazing it was.
My first real exposure to Fantasmic was not the show at all, but the music. A friend of mine had the CD, and being over at his house I experienced the awesome orchestrations long before the show. However, that was enough. I had the show memorized before I had ever seen any of it.
My first experience of seeing the show in person came about five years later, on my next trip to Disneyland. To say I was in awe would be correct. The theatrics, the pyrotechnics, the water screens, special effects, music, story…everything flowed perfectly.
And it still does. Good still triumphs over Evil, and imagination reigns supreme. As it should be in the world of Disney!
I’ve included a multi-shot edit video from my friend Matt. Although nothing beats seeing it live, the essence is still there. For those of you who don’t live near enough to see it often, or have perhaps never seen it -enjoy!
So now, I ask – what’s your favorite theme park show? Make sure and leave your answers below. I love reading others’ input!
Make sure to come back tomorrow for Day 3 of the challenge and tell your friends!
Confessions Of A DisNerd 
While Fantasmic! is still my favorite also, World of Color is definitely a close second.
Seems like these two are the winners hands down!
I have to agree and say Fantasmic. The best thing about it is that they didn’t just leave the same version there for the past 20 years. The video you included is wonderful, but it’s even outdated already- Though that dragon is huge and terrifying, the new dragon is even better. And the finale has been changed to fit the music better and end with more of a bang.
The current debate is World of Color or Fantasmic? I still go with Fantasmic because it has been perfected- I literally can’t find anything wrong with it. Plus it has so many elements to it, with the live actors and the floats and the fountains and pyrotechnics and the dragon, whereas World of Color is fountains and lasers. But World of Color was recently updated, and it’s beginning to reach its potential. Once it’s perfected, it will be on par with if not better than Fantasmic. Which hopefully will mean more improvements for the Disneyland show!
Yeah, I knew the video was outdated. Even Matt, who shot the video, wishes he was able to go back and re-record it. But still, it holds up for me, just because it’s the version I first saw and loved!
To me, Fantasmic is practically perfect. It is in itself a microcosom of Disneyland: a world of imagination, sight and sound, romance and the battle between good and evil (even if I always cheer for the Villains ^_~), as well as a tribute to so many classic films. The fact that it’s based in Fantasia is an added bonus for me, since that is my favourite Disney film. Maleficent is my favourite Disney character too, and that new dragon is unreal. And I love the old black-and-white Mickey, so the Steamboat Willie finale almost moistens my eye a bit. It is not just stuff thrown at a screen, nor is it just a retelling of a story I’ve already seen in a movie. It reinforces the whole idea of Disneyland. Fantasmic is a testament to how a good attraction well done persists with timeless longevity.
I also got a kick out of the little PVC figure set of Sorcerer Mickey vs. the Disney Villains… Basically a Fantasmic toy set! ^_^
My runner up is Remember… Dreams Come True. The thing I love most about Disneyland is that it is Disneyland. I judge all other Magic Kingdom-style parks by it as versions of it, but no matter how technically good they are, they are not THE Disneyland. This fireworks celebration of Disneyland itself really sets the tone for me in that way.
You are completely right about RDCT and what it means to those in love with Disneyland. I can’t tell you how close that came to being my favorite!
Fantasmic is definitely my all time favorite. I love the special effects and music.
The music gets me all the time too – agreed!
I’m going to go with everybody else here, and say Fantasmic is my favorite as well. My favorite moments include the princess scene, the Peter Pan scene, and the finale. It has something for everyone, and the score is truly amazing. Other favorites for me include Believe and Remember fireworks which both have goose bump moments, and World of Color is amazing to see.
Love the Peter scene – I think it would be fun to be the falling stunt guy, but then I’m a little nuts…
I’m having a difficult time deciding between Fantasmic! and RDCT. Both make me smile! I think RDCT is the best fireworks show ever and I always tear up while watching. Fantasmic always blows me away. Watching the look on my boys faces as they wtch Captain Hook battle with Peter Pan is pure joy. So, for that reason I will officially pick Fantasmic! And I agree with everyone above =)
So close to having a dissenter! BUt it’s a true testament to Fantasmic – it’s that awesome!
This one is easier – Fantasmic hands down. I can say that because RDCT will be used on day 7 (IIRC). Not a bad Fantasmic video but you should have used mine 😉
David, your video was a close second – If I buy another DVD from you, will that make up for it? 😉
It’s such a hard choice between Fantasmic and World of Color.
I agree with everyone that says that Fantasmic is perfect. It’s has a little bit of everything and the special effects have been upgraded to be more spectacular.
World of Color is still growing up, but it still took my breath away the first time I saw it. It’s even better now that they’ve updated it and done even more spectacular things with it. I can’t say that it’s as perfect as Fantasmic, but that’s only because Fantasmic has been running longer.
Although Fantasmic has more elements, World of Color’s elements get pushed closer and closer to their potential which completely makes up for not having having characters, steamboats, and fireworks. Fantasmic doesn’t give me the same chills that World of Color does.
At this point in time, I’ll agree that Fantasmic is my favorite only because there are still some things I think need to be updated in World of Color.
But when World of Color is perfected, Fantasmic is going to have to pull out some new tricks from the sorcerer’s hat.
I have to be honest here and state, for the record, I have not seen World of Color in person. I couldn’t be a fair judge – but I’m sure it’s still pretty epic!
Fantasmic, all the way.
Disneyland: The All American College Band Railroad Station set. Although, must say that most of my trips there are only about music starting with the DL Band, through the Billies and Soundsational and ending the evening at Coke Corner with the ragtime piano. No bad music at Disneyland.
Fantasmic is definitely my fav! I shed tears each time. The part that pulls at my heart is when you hear Jiminy saying “We’re down here!” Then that amazing river of fire! Truly a marvel of a show! Though technically an attraction, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is a favorite show of mine. Again Dad must see this everytime and I love watching with him. I also think I enjoy walking out feeling a bit taller, blessed to live in the USA.