Disney Enchantment

Disney Enchantment
Magic Kingdom
Area	Cinderella Castle and Main Street, U.S.A.
Status	Operating
Soft opening date	September 30, 2021 (2021-09-30)
Opening date	October 1, 2021 (2021-10-01)
Replaced	Happily Ever After
Ride statistics
Attraction type	Multimedia and pyrotechnic show
Designer	Disney Live Entertainment
Music	"You Are the Magic" performed by Kayla Alvarez and Phillip Lawrence
Duration	± 15 minutes (original) 18 minutes (revision)
Sponsor	Pandora Jewelry
Narrator	Angela Bassett
Host	Mickey Mouse
Suitable ages	All ages
Wheelchair accessible

Disney Enchantment is a fireworks and projection mapping show that debuted at the Magic Kingdom on September 30, 2021, as part of Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Similar to its predecessor, Happily Ever After, the show features fireworks, projection mapping, lasers, and searchlights set to Disney music that extend from Cinderella Castle down to Main Street, U.S.A. The music also includes a new original song You Are the Magic from Phillip Lawrence (who also co-wrote with Davy Nathan) and Kayla Alvarez.

The original version of the show received heavy criticism from guests and fans alike due to a significant lack of the history of Walt Disney World within the show. Given the criticism of the original version, an updated version of the show debuted on August 22, 2022, with a new opening sequence featuring Walt Disney, Roy Disney, Mickey Mouse, and classic park attractions.

Show summary

Introduction

The show begins with an opening fanfare that includes the movement of searchlights across Cinderella Castle and the park hub, ending with two large firework bursts. Narration from Angela Bassett welcomes guests with the following words:

"Good evening, tonight we gather in a most enchanted kingdom, one overflowing with magic. And, once upon a time, it all began with a dream."

An instrumental version of “When You Wish Upon a Star” plays as historical footage and images from the announcement of Walt Disney World's construction in Florida, including Walt Disney from the EPCOT film appear across the castle. A large blueprint canvas is then spread out across the castle, cycling between stylised characters, designs, and music from select attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean, It's a Small World, Haunted Mansion and Carousel of Progress. Roy O. Disney's opening day speech and dedication then follows, the castle slowly transforming into its original color scheme to complement its history. As Roy's dedication ends, a large swarm of Mickey-shaped balloons begins to float from beneath the castle, ascending into the sky. Mickey Mouse, holding onto the final set of balloons, appears and lets go of them, leaping down onto the castle balcony and greeting the guests, reminding them that “they are the magic”.

”Oh, boy! This place sure is swell! Some folks like to say that it all started with a dream, but you wanna know what makes this place really special? It’s you! Each and every one of you! Any time you set foot here, you leave this place brighter than it was before - because you are the magic!”

As Mickey finishes his address, the theme song of the show "You Are the Magic" begins to play, punctuated by multiple fireworks and shells. Silhouetted scenes from Disney films appear, including: Aladdin, Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Onward, Tangled, Frozen/Frozen II, and Cinderella.

Songs featured: Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me), It’s a Small World, Grim Grinning Ghosts, and There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow

The Second Star to the Right

Then, an instrumental version of “The Second Star to the Right” plays while Angela Bassett narrates the following words.

"Now the magic of dreams come true is calling out to you. Inspiring each of you to wish upon a star, follow your hearts, and discover a world full of wonder. Like those who have answered the call, if you allow your dream to be your guide, you may be surprised by what you discover. So long as you simply believe."

Almost There and Just Around the Riverbend

Stylised scenes of characters from Brave, Hercules, Coco, Aladdin, Tangled, and Onward appear, projected onto the castle in various ways.

We Know The Way

Scenes featuring characters from Raya and the Last Dragon and Zootopia are projected onto the castle, accompanied by a spectacular sparkle of fireworks - some resembling Maui’s fishhook and the spiral motif seen on the Heart of Te Fiti. The song ends as Judy Hopps walks out of a train and into the foreground, before the projections disappear with a sparkle.

Epiphany

Joe Gardner, seen in “the zone” plays a tune on his piano before an orchestra accompaniment kicks in. As the score progresses, the projections slowly extend onto the buildings of Main Street, U.S.A. with colorful fireworks complementing it. Scenes featuring many characters from a plethora of Disney films appear and disappear intermittently, some designed in the style of former Disney artist Mary Blair, including: Alice in Wonderland, Ratatouille, Lilo & Stitch, Finding Nemo/Finding Dory, Luca, Monsters University, Cars, Wreck-It Ralph/Ralph Breaks the Internet, Sleeping Beauty, Lady and the Tramp, The Lion King, Tarzan, Dumbo, Hercules, Big Hero 6, Treasure Planet, WALL-E, and Soul. Unique varieties of fireworks accompany these sections, including cube-shaped and smiley-face ones. The section ends with WALL-E and Eve soaring into the night sky, represented by two large white shells as they leave the projection radius.

Songs featured: Be Our Guest, Under the Sea, You've Got a Friend in Me, The Silly Song, I've Got No Strings, A Whole New World, and You Can Fly.

Into the Unknown

As a rock variation of Into the Unknown plays, many scenes from Disney films showcasing characters in perilous situations are projected onto the castle, appearing inside various “portals”. The song ends as Elsa appears, shooting blasts of ice off in different directions around the castle. Films featured include Zootopia, Aladdin, Brave, Inside Out, Coco, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Alice in Wonderland, Onward, and Frozen II.

Night on Bald Mountain

As the previous projection ends, shattering into fragments of ice, a lightning bolt strikes as a combined rock and instrumental version of Night on Bald Mountain from Fantasia plays, leading into a segment highlighting many Disney characters fighting their respective villains and their associates. Many scenes appear from the following films, such as: Frozen II, Beauty and the Beast, Inside Out, Coco, Tangled, Sleeping Beauty, Hercules, Onward, Mulan, Cinderella, Raya and the Last Dragon, and Moana.

I Am Moana

The chaos of the previous scene slowly fades away, leaving a period of silence for a moment before a poignant, gentle reprise of I Am Moana plays featuring, eventually crescendoing into a triumphant melody as joyful scenes of Disney characters achieving their goals appear, with a triumphant finale of fireworks at the end. Includes scenes from: Onward, Coco, Tangled, Cinderella, Mulan, Hercules, and The Princess and the Frog.

Finale

The show ends with the narrator encouraging the audience to remind that the magic of dreams come true lies within their audience, and she states that the magical kingdom remains a beacon to those with a wish in their heart, gifting every person who walks through these gates. The journey builds to a crescendo as Tinker Bell takes flight and spreads shimmering gold pixie dust over the park, empowering everyone to believe in themselves and the magic all around them. The reprise of You Are the Magic plays, crescendoing in a beautiful array of fireworks and lights. During the finale, Mickey Mouse walks out onto the castle balcony once more, amazed at the display, before joyfully proclaiming the following:

"You Are the Magic!"

Voice cast

• Angela Bassett – Narrator
• Philip Lawrence – Male vocalist (You Are the Magic theme song)
• Kayla Alvarez – Female vocalist (You Are the Magic theme song)
• Bret Iwan – Mickey Mouse (2022 version)
• Walt Disney – himself (2022 version, archival recording)
• Roy O. Disney – himself (2022 version, archival recording)
• James W. Rouse – himself (2022 version, archival recording)

Critical reception

Sleeping Beauty Castle and It's a Small World projected on Cinderella Castle at the beginning of Disney Enchantment

The original version of the show received mixed to negative reviews; some praised it for its technological advancements while others criticized it for not being focused on the attractions past and present of Walt Disney World, Disney movies, or the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World, when it debuted. It was also noted for not having much of a "story element."

The general consensus was that the original version of the show was not an improvement over Happily Ever After, with some reviewers calling the original Disney Enchantment a "bootleg" version and opining that it "fails as a successor."

After Disney Enchantment was revamped to include nostalgic elements of Walt Disney World’s history, the updated show received mostly positive reviews from visitors, as while the new additions to the show truly celebrate Walt Disney's vision and 50 years of the Walt Disney World Resort, some argue that the changes could have been implemented sooner.

See also

• Remember... Dreams Come True
• Disney's Celebrate America
• Disneyland Forever
• Disney Illuminations

External links

• Official Site