Best nighttime show/fireworks?

[Luvdancink]

Taking DD and she will turn 3 while we are there so not planning any evenings in the park except one night my parents agreed to keep her so DH and I could see a fireworks show and maybe ride a few things in a park. Suggestions on the best one to see? (It will be Feb if that helps)

 

[Robo]

Happily Ever After (MK)
IllumiNations (Epcot)
Fantasmic! (DHS) [Actually a lot more than fireworks, but many fireworks are involved.]

(Now, get ready for lots and lots of opinions.)

 

[GADisneyDad14]

An adults only evening in the parks? Epcot/Illuminations would get my vote.

 

[heath92681]

We just got back Wednesday. Fantasmic has long been our favorite, but we loved Happily Ever After. After seeing all the shows at each park this past week, if I could only pick one, I'd pick Happily Ever After.

 

[CAS239]

Happily Ever After and Star Wars are tied for first imo

 

[Thing 1]

Happily Ever After and Fantastic are pretty darn close but I like doing the Fantastic package and walking in and having a great seat to sit and enjoy the show. HEA is true magic but you really have to scout out a place early and either stand or sit on the ground.

Second would be ROL- not really Disney themed, but good in its own right. We have done the pacayfor it too and like having a nice place to sit for the show.

Illuminations is my least favorite though I enjoy it more with a FP and a nice place to view it.

We have not seen the Star Wars one since I've not been willing to miss Fantastic for it.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

happily ever after is my favorite by a lot.
However, since it is an adults only evening in the park, I feel like illuminations is probably better, you can see it from a lot of different places around the lagoon, so less time spot saving, and the show is pretty great.

Personally I love the Star Wars show at DHS, but I understand if one is not a big fan of the franchise, it’s not a must see.

Fantasmic is just not my cup of tea. I’ve tried it a couple times, I just think there’s too much sitting and waiting involved, and I hate getting out of the theater.

Haven’t done ROL yet.

 

[DOOM1001]

Illuminations was my favorite for many years but HEA is the newer,longer better show,I still pick the music from Illuminations and I still love the show.

 

[iheartglaciers]

I would vote for Happily Ever After! The projections are fun and it has a LOT of fireworks.

I don't like Fantasmic that much, but it is nice to be able to sit and watch.

 

[FastPasser.]

Illuminations

 

[slpeters]

We saw the five that were on offering while we were there (HEA, Illuminations, Fantasmic, JBJB and RoL). For me the order was HEA, RoL, JBJB, Illuminations, Fantasmic. For my husband it was Illuminations, RoL HEA, JBJB, Fantasmic. The only thing we really agreed on was that Fantasmic was a one and done.

 

[Disneylover99]

Fantasmic is my favourite. I love to see the characters on the boats.

 

[jlnten17]

HEA is a great show - HOWEVER - I think an adults only night in the park would be best at Epcot or Hollywood Studios. I would vote for dinner and Illuminations/drinks around the world at EPCOT or Fantasmic and adult rides (ToT, RRN) and Fantasmic at DHS depending on your preference.

 

[srwarden1928]

Illuminations would be my favorite. Fantasmic would be a close second. I found HEA to be disappointing, although it is a good show. Rivers of Light is an excellent show, but of course it is not a fireworks show.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Love Illuminations!

 

[Blue32]

If I was only going to see one....easily HEA. Everyone in our family would agree.

 

[bmahokie]

I'm a 58 year-old male and we saw HEA, SW, ROL, and Illuminations last year. I'll just say this - HEA made me cry. Best show by far. But for a Parents Night Out....might want to let the park you want to attend influence the decision.

 

[Dr.Mickey]

Ha! Just the overall "consensus" I was expecting.

We are Illuminations fans and we liked the new MK show a lot, too. None of us, kids included, like Fantasmic very much (even with two tries). As far as Illuminations, we play the soundtrack around the house a lot just to get into the Disney spirit.

One reason we give Illuminations the nod: It is much less stressful to watch. We go somewhere on the far side of the lagoon (often Japan), and then after it is over, we gradually meander back to the front, enjoying the soundtrack as we walk. The MK show is spectacular, but it is a madhouse on Main Street.

 

[JerseyJanice]

If you haven’t seen any of the shows, I pick Illuminations.

It’s truly wonderful and very likely to be retired the soonest. HEA is brand new and Fantasmic has its own stadium.

Illuminations’ days are numbered, and you may not be able to save seeing it for when your child is old enough to stay up and watch it with you.

 

[FastPasser.]

very likely to be retired the soonest. Illuminations’ days are numbered

That's true, but it'll be a while before it's replaced. It's been a while, but they've repaired the globe so that it opens and the fireworks shooting from the center torch are functioning again.