Nightly entertainment at the parks....

[slbgnb]

We usually don't do the nightly entertainment at the parks, as we get there for RD every day. So, we've never seen Illuminations, Fantasmic! or MK Electrical Parade or the Fireworks. This trip I think we should do at least 1 nightly entertainment. My 2 questions are - which one do you like best and if you do nightly entertainment, do you still do RD but take afternoon break or just go to park later? Thanks!

 

[Robo]

We see them all multiple times per trip and we do rope drop, too.
None run so late at night that they cut into bed time.

Each event is unique with "Disney" elements not found elsewhere.

 

[jacksgirl]

We are night owls, and we love the nighttime entertainment in the parks! I guess which is best for us would depend on who you ask in our family. My husband loves Wishes, my son loves Fantasmic, and I'm torn between Fantasmic and Illuminations as my favorite. That said, we love them all.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

You really owe it to yourself to see all of the nightly shows. Our favorites are Wishes and Illuminations. We think they are truly spectacular and inspiring. Like Robo, we also see them multiple times each trip. We always get park hoppers to facilitate that. If you are worried about staying up that late after an early morning take a break and grab a nap during the day. You could go back to the resort or go to the favorite napping places in the parks. Search the Dis for threads about napping in the parks. Read some threads on here about the best places to watch and how to get there. It can be a little crowd crazy for these shows, especially Wishes. You are in for a real treat. Cheers!!!!!!!

 

[kj2mom]

We see them all at least once during our trips, we also rope drop. If we leave after the night shows (which we did for Illuminations and Fantasmic! but did not for Wishes) we are usually back at the time share in plenty of time to get enough rest. We are usually up around 7:30am to leave by 8am which gives us plenty of time (driving) to be there ready for rope drop. We didn't take any afternoon breaks as in return to our resort but we did plan our TS at lunch time so we could relax, cool off (July) and regroup for the rest of the day.

 

[slbgnb]

Thanks guys! I'm really going to work on that this year. I really like the idea of booking a TS to re-group and relax for lunch. Although at MK, I like booking 8AM breakfast ADRs to get into the park early. But, I definitely feel like we've missed out on the super cool nighttime shows. I will have to research the best places to watch and the best way see them....Thanks so much!

 

[starjazz]

I personally think Illuminations went WAY down hill. Used to be pretty amazing with lasers from the buildings, and lit up countries and lots of fire and stuff. Now its a big ball of light slowly moving across the pond. Lame.

For my money, Electrical Parade followed by Wishes is the best!!

 

[subtchr]

I personally think Illuminations went WAY down hill. Used to be pretty amazing with lasers from the buildings, and lit up countries and lots of fire and stuff. Now its a big ball of light slowly moving across the pond. Lame.

Huh? The show has not changed, all those elements are still there. I just watched it last night.

 

[starjazz]

Huh? The show has not changed, all those elements are still there. I just watched it last night.

From what I read, it changed dramatically in 2000. When we saw it in 2012, there must have been some things not functioning, because we were greatly disappointed, and just plain bored watching the globe float around forever. We didn't see the lasers, or any water projections, etc.

 

[BrianL]

I'd see them all, but if I had to pick just one, Fantasmic! is my favorite. They are all great though and I stay for them every night and hit rope drop every morning. I dunno if you have kids with you as that might be difficult with them.

 

[Duffywannabe]

Ask me to choose? I should also answer who is my favorite child too. they are all great but different. For me, I would not like the parks as much if I never got to see them at night. Each one takes on a different feeling when the sun goes down.

Fantasmic is my favorite. Bonus with kids, you have a seat for the show. Wishes is of course the quintessential Disney show everyone must see. Though for me, after the Hallowishes, it feels not quite as good. If you stay for the parade, just stay for Wishes. Illuminations is good, but never "wowed" me like the other ones.

I personally am super duper excited for the Rivers of Light. I have high expectations and think it can deliver. Have they announced when it will be starting?

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I really like Illuminations. I will admit my dad doesn't like the new from 2000 as much as he liked the classical music and dancing lasers, but I have to come to really love the story that Illuminations is telling. If you understand the different acts, then it really is pretty amazing. Also, we usually go over the holidays, so I love the holiday edition. Wishes is also great. We usually take a break during the afternoon and head back to the parks around 5.

 

[Robo]

Having seen all of the versions of Illiminations, I consider the one playing now (same since 1999) "Reflections of Earth" to be a masterpiece.

And, yes it has the lasers, lighted buildings and fireworks.

The musical score, alone, is spectacular.
It is not a "classical sampler" but an original composition performed by a full symphony orchestra.
Magnificent!

 

[mickeymom629]

I used to love all the night time shows but now I'm not so crazy about Fantasmic! anymore. The evening weather has to be just right for the water part to look great - too much wind/breeze and it doesn't look as good.

Also, I never really realized how frightening it could be for kids (though mine never seemed to mind). The last time we saw it, I realized that it's very loud and full of "evil" and we saw many parents needing to leave with crying children.

Wishes and Illuminations are my favorites but, I do agree, that the globe part can seem a little slow.

 

[buzznina]

We are night owls, and we love the nighttime entertainment in the parks! I guess which is best for us would depend on who you ask in our family. My husband loves Wishes, my son loves Fantasmic, and I'm torn between Fantasmic and Illuminations as my favorite. That said, we love them all.

We are also night owls and do the opposite as the OP, we only do RD maybe 1-2 times per trip. Our family loves WDW at night so much more then in the morning, something about it all lit up

 

[ELSA711]

Fantasmic is our favorite! Followed by Celebrate the Magic, Illuminations, MSEP and finally Wishes.

We usually do only a few. Fantasmic (always) and this year Celebrate the Magic is a must do.
Probably will leave after that. My kids can't hang and Wishes is well to me just fireworks.
I would love to 'love them' like everyone else, but I don't need to see them every trip.

 

[AngiTN]

We usually don't do the nightly entertainment at the parks, as we get there for RD every day. So, we've never seen Illuminations, Fantasmic! or MK Electrical Parade or the Fireworks. This trip I think we should do at least 1 nightly entertainment. My 2 questions are - which one do you like best and if you do nightly entertainment, do you still do RD but take afternoon break or just go to park later? Thanks!

That is just such an impossible thought to me. I can't ever imagine going to Disney and NOT doing their nighttime entertainment. It simply doesn't compute. You should do all of them. And yes, we still do rope drop. We may or may not take a break. Depends on how we feel. Sleep is for when we are not at Disney

 

[LBlovesM&WDW]

See them all--they are all worth it! Wishes and Illuminations make me all teary-eyed and I love the fun in Fantasmic. I think I'm just different, but there are more than just rides at WDW. I think seeing shows, eating yummy treats and taking it all in are just as, if not, more important in making memories. I keep seeing everyone talk about getting up early, running to whatever ride and getting in as much as possible. We don't care if we have to stand in line(yes I'll attempt to make FPs, but won't kill myself trying), we just talk to each other, look at cute little ones and enjoy being together.

 

[AngiTN]

See them all--they are all worth it! Wishes and Illuminations make me all teary-eyed and I love the fun in Fantasmic. I think I'm just different, but there are more than just rides at WDW. I think seeing shows, eating yummy treats and taking it all in are just as, if not, more important in making memories. I keep seeing everyone talk about getting up early, running to whatever ride and getting in as much as possible. We don't care if we have to stand in line(yes I'll attempt to make FPs, but won't kill myself trying), we just talk to each other, look at cute little ones and enjoy being together.

So true. If all I wanted to do was ride rides I'd save myself a lot of time, and money, and stop 2 hours down the road at Six Flags. Disney is an experience not just a bunch of rides

 

[chelynnah]

If you can, you absolutely should see everything at least once. OMGosh you've been missing out. I finally saw Famtasmic last trip. Hubby loves illuminations (I could hit or miss that, sorry) and all the MK ones are amazing. As others have said, if you still want to do rope drop, but don't want it to feel such a long day, then take a break for a couple of hours mid-day at its busiest time and then head back in. You'll be glad you did.