Happily Ever After MK Fireworks Show - One Year Anniversary

[GADisneyDad14]

Happily Ever After debuted on Friday, May 12, 2017 – tomorrow will be the one year anniversary of the show.

Last year at this time TPAS was abuzz with discussion regarding the end of the Wishes era and concerns with the new show, the increased use of projections, etc.

There have been plenty of comparison threads over the past year and lots of opinions… but figured one year in is a good time to revisit the topic.

So looking back at the past year, what do you all think?

 

[ktate82]

I enjoy seeing the new show and projections. I like that they incorporated older Disney movies into the projection show. That being said, I feel Wishes was a better show and enjoyed it more. After seeing Wishes, I always left with the warm fuzzy feelings, and it could make me tear up. While HEA is nice, it just doesn't inspire those feelings for me.

 

[walker0829]

Wishes holds a special place for us. 2016 was the first time we decided to watch it and the Electric Parade. Just couple days earlier(while at WDW) we discovered that we'd be having a 2nd baby after pretty much conceding to being a family of 3. The whole theme of Wishes was pretty much talking to us so it was a pretty unbeatable experience.

HEA was really, really good but Wishes just had an unfair advantage with us!

 

[erin1715]

I've seen HEA once and thought it was good but I don't like that you have to basically be in front of the castle to enjoy the show. I'll probably try to catch it again on our next trip and see how I feel a second time.

I feel that the Wishes soundtrack is a million times better, hits the heart, and you can watch it from multiple vantage points. I would make it a point to catch Wishes at least once every trip. I miss Wishes.

 

[WEDWDW]

Of the 2 shows:

HEA is the GREATEST show.

Wishes is the BEST show.

 

[ChanduTail]

I love both, but prefer HEA. I love the story & message of the show - "reach out and find your Happily Ever After"

Wishes is a very sentimental show but I did not like the music as much as I like the HEA music I was also tired of hearing the fake "Make-A-Wish child" story. Whoever made that one up is a sicko.

You cannot really go wrong with either. They are both great shows. HEA is simply more meaningful for me - and I cry like a baby when Go the Distance starts.

 

[Luna81]

Last year was our first trip. We saw one of the last wishes and saw the very first HEA. As someone with no nostalgia, happily ever after blew wishes out of the water for in hub viewing. Can’t wait to see it again in August!

 

[KrazeeK120]

A year ago was the last night of my last Disney trip and I was at MK for the final showing of Wishes.

I won’t be in the park for HEA on our upcoming trip (our MK day is a party day), but hoping to get a feel for it from then Poly beach.

 

[yulilin3]

Me at 3:15pm last year, holding a spot on the train station for the last wishes. Personally I prefer HEA, because of story, message and use of technology

 

[leebee]

Wishes... no contest. HEA just doesn't do it for me.

 

[wdw&sonny]

Another vote for Wishes!
I also greatly miss Spectromagic.
The music of both are classic Disney.

 

[kaetra]

HEA doesn't bring me tears of joy, and it's got nothing to do with Wishes nostalgia.

When they first started running projections, that show was amazing. I forget what they called it. But HEA feels like they are throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. I don't like a fair amount of the HEA soundtrack either. Parts of it seems imported from Euro Disney maybe? Hunchback and Hercules songs and a couple others that are strange choices to me as they don't seem like they'd be well known classics in America.

I love the bit where Merida shoots the arrow and it becomes a firework and there are definitely cool moments in the production. However as a whole it's discombobulated, scattered and almost manic the way it jumps around. For example, it's doing a beautiful scene and then lays over two of the Cars Carson it. That's weird, it doesn't match up. Too much patchwork jumble on the castle projections. There's a lack of artistic flow or something that makes it seem like too many Corporate chefs were in the design/demands kitchen.

It's amazing technology that has better potential than this show.

 

[DisneyOma]

Saw HEA once, that's enough for me. It's like a poster for ADHD, IMO. Too much going on all the time, like one extra-long run on sentence.

Wishes had pauses for emphasis, and had just so much more class.

 

[disneygirlsng]

HEA by a landslide, like not even remotely close for me. The story, message, soooo much emotion. Brings me to endless tears throughout every show. The show itself (fireworks, projections, technology, music) being far and away better definitely helps the case too. I was at WDW for 2 days last week and watched HEA both nights, never would have done that with any other show. If Tink flying with those lyrics to that song don't get you every time...

 

[Chavaleh]

We're a divided family. I LOVE HEA both for the message and tech, my husband enjoys it but really adored Wishes and misses it.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

HEA didn't impress us either. Makes the price of a dessert party too high.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Me at 3:15pm last year, holding a spot on the train station for the last wishes. Personally I prefer HEA, because of story, message and use of technology

I was on the train station that night too! I was right up on the rail. I was alone, but a very nice off duty CM and her friend befriended me and I talked to them for quite awhile. They were kind enough to hold my spot when I went to the restroom. Great experience that night. And, I was back at WL where I was staying by 9:30!

 

[ArielSRL]

I enjoyed Wishes but I didn’t visit enough during its run (or I don’t remember it). Btw, what were the run dates? I do like the Wishes theme music and what it says though.

I have an emotional connection to MSEP and I absolutely loved the few times I saw Celebrate the Magic. But Wishes doesn’t stick with me like that.

I absolutely love HEA. I cried when I saw it. I have no idea why I have more of an emotional connection to it but I do.

 

[anneboleyn]

I think HEA is impressive with all of the projections, and I think the actual fireworks are better...but Wishes as a whole was just better. The song was better. And it was nice to have so many areas to watch it from.

I think the Hunchback and Moana songs last waaayyyy too long. They could have put in more movie scenes/songs if they would have cut those parts down a bit.

And Once Upon a Time doesn’t hold a candle to Celebrate the Magic.

 

[ArielSRL]

And Once Upon a Time doesn’t hold a candle to Celebrate the Magic.

This x1000.