What is Once Upon A Time?

[ToyStory3]

Is it every night before Happily Ever After? I'm hoping to see HEA in a couple weeks for the first time. But, I was planning to find a spot about 30-60 minutes before it starts. Now I'm wondering how early I need to find a spot. I didn't realize there was a show before HEA. Thanks for any clarification!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Is it every night before Happily Ever After? I'm hoping to see HEA in a couple weeks for the first time. But, I was planning to find a spot about 30-60 minutes before it starts. Now I'm wondering how early I need to find a spot. I didn't realize there was a show before HEA. Thanks for any clarification!

It’s a projection show on the castle with a small bit of pyro at the end: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/entertainment/magic-kingdom/once-upon-a-time-castle-show/

It’s cute and has great music. I’ll stop and watch if I’m around but I don’t necessarily go out of my way to make sure I’m there for it.

It can be either before or after HEA. Usually in seasons with earlier park closing hours (eg, 8pm/9pm), OUAT will be before HEA. When the park is open well after HEA (like 10pm+), OUAT is usually after HEA. Make sure to check the Times Guide or the website above as it can move around a bit.

When it’s before HEA, it has a built-in audience of folks already there waiting for HEA.

When it’s after, I find a decent chunk of people don’t even know what it is and just stop randomly to watch if they happen to be in the Hub. Generally speaking, it won’t be particularly crowded in the Hub when it’s after HEA and you can pretty much get around with ease.

 

[SouloTravlr]

It's HEA without fireworks.

 

[chalee94]

It’s cute...

I think it's really sad, but I'm a bit of an odd potato...

 

[JerseyJanice]

I call it “Happily Ever After Lite.”

 

[Mithent]

It doesn't use the castle as effectively as HEA, either. It was kinda a "one and done" thing for me, whereas I watched HEA twice and could have done so a couple more times.

 

[StacyStrong]

I was about to say it was a TV show

Woops

 

[gharter]

In April it was after HEA. It was good. Didn't think the mapping was quite as good as HEA, and a lot less fireworks. Still good music and story. My wife really liked it, thought it was very cute.