Poll: which 2 night/light/firework shows are your favorites?

[Bmh4796]

We didn’t see any of the firework or light shows the last 2 Disney trips, so now I’m trying to squeeze them all in a 6 night trip but it’s causing problems with other must do items on the list, so I’m going to narrow down to 2 or 3.

We have 4 deluxe dining plans for the 7 of us so can use them how we want. As of now, I have a table at Tiffins for dinner during the river of lights in Animal Kingdom. I have a table at Spice in Morocco for Illuminations, but should maybe cancel that and watch from the bridge between the UK and France. I have Sunday brunch scheduled at Cali Grill so can use that to go back to Cali grill for the observation deck during HAE. Or we may catch the fireworks in the hub. I can’t decide because I don’t fully understand why people can’t see fireworks when people stand in front of them??

I am going all OCD over this trip. In the past we would just kind of wing it. This time I’d like to have an itinerary because I think it’s the last time we will go and because I’m feeling more itineraryish since we won’t have an infant with us. (The youngest will be 3 when we are there)

 

[CAS239]

I can’t decide because I don’t fully understand why people can’t see fireworks when people stand in front of them??

It's not that some can't see the fireworks, it's that if there's people in front of you the projections can be blocked. You won't see the projections from Cali

As far as the two shows..I think HEA and Star Wars are tied for first. Both are must sees

 

[Haley R]

I’m really surprised how many people picked Star Wars. I guess everyone likes different things.

 

[Bmh4796]

Ok. Yes i just watched HEA on a YouTube and it seems like the fireworks are missed if you watch it in front of the castle/in the hub because you’re focusing on the show/story so the fireworks are more like s prop. Whereas if you watch it from Calif grill etc, you get a spectacular fireworks show because you’re focused only on fireworks. So now i think i want to do both. I actually teared up watching the YouTube. Lol. Fireworks, broadway shows, choir concerts. They get me every single time.

 

[Haley R]

Ok. Yes i just watched HEA on a YouTube and it seems like the fireworks are missed if you watch it in front of the castle/in the hub because you’re focusing on the show/story so the fireworks are more like s prop. Whereas if you watch it from Calif grill etc, you get a spectacular fireworks show because you’re focused only on fireworks. So now i think i want to do both. I actually teared up watching the YouTube. Lol. Fireworks, broadway shows, choir concerts. They get me every single time.

I tear up every time I watch HEA. Something about it just gets me. It gives me chills.

 

[disneygirlsng]

Definitely think HEA and Star Wars are the top 2, by a lot. Those are the 2 I wouldn't miss.

 

[mamaofsix]

This will be the last year for Illuminations, so I would for sure watch it (it's also a favourite for our family!). For HEA, Cali Grill and The Hub are not the only 2 good options. You can watch it, say, on the Tomorrow land Bridge to the right of the Hub and it's much less crowded/still a great experience. HAVE FUN!!!

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

I said HEA and SW.

That said... as an aside...

• For fireworks alone, Hallowishes is the best
• Closely behind Hallowishes were the SW fireworks from several years ago -- before they added the lasers and projections
• Right now (at least as of mid Aug), SW show eliminated the larger fireworks (I believe temporarily due to construction?). Even in that state, I'd pick this show over Illuminations, which bores me to tears -- so happy they're changing it.

 

[subtchr]

I’m confused about your comment about Tiffins — do you mean you have a RoL dining package there? Because the show is on the other side of the park.

 

[DisneyMaleficent50]

HEA and fantasmic. Gotta have a dose of villains

 

[Bork]

Just got back and we would never watch HEA from the hub again. Wall to wall people and very hard for little ones to see the castle projections. And I agree with the comment about not really noticing the fireworks from that vantage point. Also didn't enjoy the 90 minutes it took to get back to our car on a level 3 day.

 

[SoCalDisneyFan2708]

I went with HEA and Illuminations. I'm not gonna talk about HEA cause most people has that as one of their two. The reason why I like Illuminations isn't for the show itself but the overall experience. The setting I think is the best of all four. Something about being by the water at night is just relaxing and you don't have to wait an hour for a prime viewing spot. I try viewing it from a different spot every trip. I've seen it from near the Canada, England, and Japan pavilions as well as in the middle right after you exit Future World. It's been great from all those locations for me.

Star Wars is great too but it's similar to HEA and the latter IMO puts it to shame and I'm a Star Wars fan.

RoL is an alright show but definitely worst of the four to me. I can't help but compare RoL to WoC at DCA (my favorite show of all Disney parks) and it just comes woefully short of matching the Disney magic that I sense every time I see WoC. I know they couldn't make an exact replica at AK and I like they tried different things like using the flowers as mist screens plus the boats and live people in the show. It just doesn't do it for me.

 

[karrit2000]

I said HEA and SW.

That said... as an aside...

• For fireworks alone, Hallowishes is the best
• Closely behind Hallowishes were the SW fireworks from several years ago -- before they added the lasers and projections
• Right now (at least as of mid Aug), SW show eliminated the larger fireworks (I believe temporarily due to construction?). Even in that state, I'd pick this show over Illuminations, which bores me to tears -- so happy they're changing it.

I would have picked the SW fireworks if they hadn't dumbed down the show with all the projections. Even the first version was pretty good. Now I find myself standing there waiting just for the fireworks & longing for the previous version. I personally love Illuminations and will miss it but not everyone does. HEA is pretty good but way too heavy on the projections which distract you from the actual Fireworks but I love the music & the fact that they don't rely on all the same old songs.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

HEA and illuminations. I really enjoyed rivers of light and really disliked Star Wars.

Barely any fireworks. Mostly just screens showing scenes from the movie. Not worth the time to me

Then again I saw the previous Star Wars show a few years ago that blew every firework show I’ve seen out of the water, but they changed it and completely changed the show.

Still dunno why. Probably the cost of the massive fireworks

 

[bernina]

HAE for sure and Star Wars because I had to pick a second. Tired of illuminations and ROL wasn’t that great.

 

[evilqueenmindy]

Happily Ever After is my favorite, with Star wars coming in second, I love fireworks, I'm good with projections, I have very little patience for much else.

Illuminations has great MOMENTS, but that part with the globe spinning for what feels like half my life really takes it down a peg for me.

I'm not a fan of Fantasmic, the show itself is "fine", I just don't like having to wait to get in, waiting forever for it to start, and the mob getting out. I get it, there's a similar time commitment for HEA, but the bottom line is, if I'm going to deal with all of those things, I better be blown away by your product, and Fantasmic just doesn't blow me away.

I've never seen Rivers of Light.

 

[holden]

ROL is definitely on the bottom of my list. I was not impressed with that show at all.

 

[deedubb]

Hands down HEA and Illuminations. I wouldn't miss the latter because it will be gone soon. We overdosed on fireworks on our last trip. 6 park days and we were able to see Holiday Wishes, HEA x3 (twice with dessert party), Illuminations x 3, Fantasy in the Sky, and Epcot NYE fireworks. It was incredible.

 

[North of Mouse]

HEA is definitely #1 and ROL #2

Glad there will finally be a redo or change for Illuminations - find it boring in it's currant state. Tired of it several years ago, now tiring of Fantasmic.

 

[iujen94]

HEA and Fantasmic. I don’t know why Fantasmic doesn’t get more love especially considering you get to sit and there’s no crazy jockeying for position!