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Disney Illuminations

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For the former Epcot show, see IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
Disney Illuminations
Disneyland Park (Paris)
StatusRemoved
Soft opening date25 March 2017
Opening date26 March 2017
Closing date11 April 2023
ReplacedDisney Dreams!
Replaced byDisney Dreams!
Ride statistics
Attraction typeMultimedia, water, pyrotechnic show
DesignerDisney Live Entertainment
ThemeDisney's animated and live-action films
MusicMark Hammond (Disney Illuminations)
Rick McKee (Disney D-Light)
Duration20 minutes (Normal version)
30 minutes (Extended version, including drone pre and post-show)
HostMickey Mouse
LanguagesEnglish 50%
French 50%
SponsorPANDORA
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible

Disney Illuminations was a nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park in Disneyland Paris.[1] It opened on 26 March 2017 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the park and replaced Disney Dreams!. Based on Ignite the Dream, the former nighttime spectacular at Shanghai Disneyland, the show featured projection mapping onto the park's castle, fireworks, water fountains, fire, music, lasers, searchlights, and other special effects.

Plot summary

The show starts with a voice-over, inviting all guests to release their inner child and dream: "Within each of us is a dreamer, just waiting to be awakened. We all have the magic to unlock this inner child. But sometimes, that inner child needs an invitation to come out and play. This is your invitation... to dream."

The music played during this opening and the finale of the show is "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella, and is performed by Heather Headley.

Like other Disney fireworks shows, various songs from Disney-related films are then showcased, including:

Show history

The show soft-launched on 25 March 2017 at the start of the Disneyland Paris' 25th anniversary celebrations, with its official launch on 26 March 2017.

Illuminations was suspended from 12 March 2020 shortly prior to the park's closure during the COVID-19 pandemic in France; it appeared as a "Disneyland Paris Watch Party" on YouTube with a full video.[2]

After a brief reopening from 21 December 2021 to 2 January 2022, it was suspended again due to French government regulations on large gatherings.[3] The show reopened on 16 February and was paused on 11 November for the 2022–2023 Christmas season. A revival of Disney Dreams! of Christmas temporarily replaced the show from 12 November to 8 January 2023.[4][5] Illuminations then returned on 9 January 2023.

On 10 January 2023, it was announced that its predecessor Disney Dreams! will be revived and replace Illuminations starting 12 April as part of the resort's 30th Anniversary "Grand Finale", which is part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration.[6]

Technology

The show is known to use a large amount of audio-visual, lighting, pyrotechnic and hydro-technic technology, mostly installed for the preceding Disney Dreams! show.

Projection

The castle is covered with projectors, and uses a much wider area than the previous Disney Dreams!, utilizing the hills around the castle as well as the castle itself.

Drones

In a Disney Parks first, choreographed lighted drone technology is used during a new, specially-designed pre-show sequence for the park's 30th anniversary in 2022.[7][8] Called "Disney D-Light", the new sequence uses 150 drones that recreated the Mickey Mouse-shaped 30th Anniversary logo above Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant. "Disney D-Light" is set to an original score and arrangement by Rick McKee that uses themes from Inside Out, Hercules, Moana, and other Disney films, as well as the anniversary's theme song "Un monde qui s'illumine" (written by Chantry Johnson, Noemie Legrand, and Tony Ferrari, and performed by Héloïse). The score was recorded at Abbey Road Studios by The London Symphony Orchestra.

The original version of the pre-show (and post-show called "Afterglow", now folded into the "Disney D-Light" pre-show) debuted ahead of the celebration's launch, on 5 March 2022. A second version of the pre-show continues to play before Disney Dreams! until 30 September 2023, the end of the 30th Anniversary celebrations, which is part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Disneyland Paris 25th Anniversary deconstructed: Disney Illuminations". DLP Today. October 18, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  2. ^ "Disneyland Paris Releases Full "Disney Illuminations" Show on YouTube". The Laughing Place. April 9, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
  3. ^ "Disneyland® Paris reveals incredible offerings for 2021 Christmas season, with the return of must-see shows and a brand-new Christmas Parade – DisneylandParis News". Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  4. ^ "As Part of the 30th Anniversary Celebration, the Magic of Christmas will be Even Stronger at Disneyland Paris from November 12th, 2022 to January 8th, 2023 – DisneylandParis News". Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  5. ^ ""Disney Dreams! of Christmas" Returns to Disneyland Paris for 2022 Holiday Season". Mousesteps. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2022-11-13.
  6. ^ "Disneyland Paris Offers Magical New Experiences Ahead of the Grand Finale of its 30th Anniversary – DisneylandParis News". Retrieved 2023-01-19.
  7. ^ "As of March 6, 2022, Disneyland Paris will celebrate its 30th Anniversary!". Disneyland Paris News. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  8. ^ "Disneyland Paris Announces Disney D-Light Preshow Featuring Drone Choreography". LaughingPlace.com. 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  9. ^ "Disneyland Paris presents fans with what's new for 2023 and beyond! - DisneylandParis News". Retrieved 2023-04-13.


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