Seen them live? How does Happily Ever After stack up to Wishes?

[kaybird]

Liked Wishes, LOVED HEA. Was the overall consensus of our group of 8 (ages 6-64) as well.

 

[Shanti]

Wishes had a very special, personal and emotional meaning for me. I can't imagine liking a replacement as much. I wish they'd left Wishes in place.

 

[HopperFan]

HEA is a huge improvement music wise and fireworks wise. It has the added plus of the great projections. BUT to see the projections you need to be in the hub. I imagine I will do 50/50 in trips to come, especially since I'm usually in MK more than once.

Did you see this? Side by side at the same time.

 

[Grace1987]

Thanks for asking this question. I loved wishes and the end bit that went *all your wishes* was so moving. I really hope I love the new one as much

 

[Raetz]

Loved loved wishes.......Yea so much better....watched it the first five nights.....three times from hub and twice from outside the park......it is amazing from ttc, it is different but holds up outside the hub. Every time I watch it I see something new.

 

[bryanb]

There was a really great article yesterday on The DIS, and I thought it was worth bumping this thread to add it to the discussion.
http://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney-world/why-the-message-of-happily-ever-after-is-so-important/

Although I truly enjoyed the show Wishes (and it's amazing opening theme song, pacing, and energy), I completely agree with the author, Philip Schoen.

Happily Ever After is a far better message for kids. Even as a child, I was a bit cynical about the premise that: "when you wish upon a star, makes no difference who you are, anything your heart desires will come to you." First of all, it's not true. It's a lie. It's an appealing lie that is suitable for a fantasy world, but passive wishing doesn't solve the heady problems when life is hard or when you want to achieve something of importance.

Just to quote one section of this excellent article, which is well worth reading (emphasis below, mine):

The message of ‘Wishes’ was rather obvious and had Jiminy there to guide you – “wishes can come true, if you believe in them with all your heart”. This is a nice thought – but implies that all you need to do is believe in your dreams and they will come true. In ‘Happily Ever After’, while the narration is only at the beginning and the end, we do get a very clear message – and a very powerful one at that. It’s great to have a dream – but that dream (or wish) isn’t enough on it’s own. As the narrator says: “that dream will lead us on a journey to discover who we’re meant to be.”

The show then takes us on the journeys experienced by many of our favorite Disney characters – including when they face adversity which needs to be overcome to achieve their “happily ever after.”

That is a message I hope my daughter takes with her. It’s great to have dreams and to make wishes, but rather than just saying “someday my prince will come”, I want her to do as the narrator asks and be “brave enough to listen, and bold enough to pursue.”​

 

[lchuck]

HEA is SOOOOOOO much better than Wishes with the overall message! That alone makes the experience a better one, with the superior projections, music, and fireworks just icing on the cake. After the first viewing, we didn't make a point to stop for Wishes, but for HEA I will stop and watch as often as possible.

 

[ArielSRL]

I was worried about HEA being a suitable replacement before I saw it but not any more. Both of the shows have moved me to tears. HEA is probably the "better show" but that doesn't discount Wishes and its emotional tug on me. It probably was time to replace it though.

 

[Chavaleh]

I love the new show. My husband and daughter really loved Wishes and while I enjoyed it I think HEA is much better from technical and artistic standpoints. I'm not sure it will age as well but for now it's just a fantastic show. We've seen it multiple times now both from inside the park and from the Poly and if you can fit both in you should try. There were things happening that I never noticed until I got to see it from a distance. Watching it from in front of the castle was wonderful too, every time I've seen it I've picked up on different elements I hadn't seen before.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I preferred having 2 separate shows - one for castle projections and another for fireworks. Yes, I know that there is still a castle projection show, but that's not my point. The castle projections are too much a part of HEA to ignore them, which means that you really miss out on the fireworks. So I would enjoy it far more if they did the projection show first, then the fireworks.

I like the music for both. Both are touching.

Is there still a separate projection show 15-20 minutes prior to HEA, as there was with Wishes?

 

[AngiTN]

Is there still a separate projection show 15-20 minutes prior to HEA, as there was with Wishes?

Sometimes before, sometimes after. But yes, there is still a separate show, called Once Upon a Time

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks again, Angi.

This is what I get for taking a 3 year hiatus from the parks.

(You have all the answers)

 

[ChristineOH]

I loved Wishes. But HEA is awesome. Amazing. It did make me cry. When Moana came on, everyone went crazy, including me. I didn't hear anyone after the show lamenting for Wishes. Everyone was obviously wowed.
No, you can't focus on the projections and the fireworks at the same time. It is too much, but only if you're in the hub. And who cares. Surely it was designed that way-- to be enjoyed inside and outside the park. We watched the fireworks from outside the park at the bus area, and they were amazing.

Thanks for linking that article, Bryan. I hadn't thought of it that way, but HEA does have a wonderful message.

 

[karrit2000]

I was with a small group of friends on the first night of HEA. We were all wiping away tears of joy when the show ended. It was absolutely awesome to me. I haven't seen Moana yet but I felt there was a great mix of Disney characters throughout the show even though not all the old classics. To me they incorporated quite a few somewhat forgotten characters from the 80's & 90's along with some old & some new making it a well rounded mix without being the same old, same old. I have only seen it once but am looking forward to seeing it again and again so I can take in more & more of the new show. I really liked Wishes but HEA totally blew me away.

 

[bcactus]

I'm really looking forward to HEA. We will watch from CG our first night and then a couple nights later try to find a good spot in MK to be able to see all the projections. My son was still a little scared of fireworks on our trip 3 years ago and now he absolutely loves them. Can't wait to share that experience with both him and my daughter!

 

[Dan Murphy]

But yes, there is still a separate show, called Once Upon a Time

If this show is before HEA, is it about the time of the previous projection shows, like 15-20 minutes prior? If after, about how much time?

I wonder what determines before or after.

 

[AngiTN]

If this show is before HEA, is it about the time of the previous projection shows, like 15-20 minutes prior? If after, about how much time?

I wonder what determines before or after.

Those are actually questions I don't know the answers to.
I was just looking at the schedule for the days of my trip and I don't even see it listed (Once Upon a Time) so I'm not sure what they are doing with it. Maybe it's not nightly? I thought it was but honestly haven't paid close attention.
The night we watched HEA it was after, but I'm thinking it was more like 30 min after HEA. We left as soon as HEA was over, quickly making our way to the Express Bus to go to AK for Pandora EMH

 

[Dan Murphy]

Those are actually questions I don't know the answers to.
I was just looking at the schedule for the days of my trip and I don't even see it listed (Once Upon a Time) so I'm not sure what they are doing with it. Maybe it's not nightly? I thought it was but honestly haven't paid close attention.
The night we watched HEA it was after, but I'm thinking it was more like 30 min after HEA. We left as soon as HEA was over, quickly making our way to the Express Bus to go to AK for Pandora EMH

Thanks again, Angi.

 

[aviva5675]

I can't comment yet about one vs the other, going to HEA with dessert party in November... but I can say it is too bad that so many of the things they are doing seem to be without, or, instead of, the original characters. I know, I know, the kids now, the movies now, etc etc...but they really should leave more M, M , D , G, P etc in.

 

[toonaspie]

I wouldn't be surprised if the HEA's over-reliance on projections was intentional, to keep guests inside the park to watch the show instead of trying to watch it outside of the park.