Which show at night?

[js717]

Which night time show you choose? We are spending 2 nights in the parks in July. I am thinking of seeing Wishes the first night, and the new SW fireworks the second.

We went in December 2 nights and saw Holiday Wishes, and then the Older SW fireworks (and Osborne Lights!) and LOVED them. So I was thinking of seeing Illuminations for a change, but technically both Wishes and SW fireworks are both different.

Haven't seen Illuminations in 5 years (the last time we were in Disney before this past December) so just wanted to make sure I was making the right choice

 

[mom2rtk]

My trip isn't complete until I've seen fireworks over a castle.

 

[gap2368]

I would do wishes and then illumination

 

[CAS239]

I'd go with your plan of Wishes and Star Wars. Illuminations is alright, Fantasmic is a good show..but Wishes is classic and the Star Wars fireworks are great

 

[Accident]

Star wars is a must see.. Wishes is the castle.. I'm not a huge fan of illuminations and it's pretty much the same show.

 

[Baklava]

Wishes was nice enough, but if I had to I'd choose Star Wars over Wishes because they were just so amazing. We managed to miss Illuminations through a combination of factors and are looking forward to it next time, but I hear less overwhelming enthusiasm for it than the others.

 

[writerguyfl]

As with most things Disney-related, you'll get differing opinions. For example, I've never like "Wishes". For whatever reason, I've never felt any emotional connection to anything in "Wishes". Although, I do enjoy the "Celebrate the Magic" projection show.

Conversely, I'm always moved when I see "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth". That's saying something considering I've seen that show somewhere between 80 and 100 times. (I'm a former Cast Member.)

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

My favorite nighttime show at WDW is Illuminations. I will see that several times during our vacations. For a second show, I would see the new SW Fireworks (seeing it tomorrow). That show looks amazing based on video that I have watched. As others have posted, everyone has their own opinion. I'm not a huge fan of Wishes for some reason.

 

[Parker Clan]

I'm another who loves Illuminations!
If I were there two days I'd choose Illuminations and Star Wars!
If you have young kids though maybe swap Illuminations for Wishes!

 

[GreatLakes]

My favorite is Illuminations and I make sure to see that every trip. I would normally say Wishes is my second choice but now my second choice would be the SW fireworks. I have started watching Wishes from outside the park, either from California Grill or the Poly beach. I think the last time I saw them in the actual MK was 2009. If you are going to be on property a day early and just not going to the parks I would say see Wishes that night from outside of MK.

 

[Aliceacc]

I'm a HUGE Illuminations fan. I would pick that and Wishes.

But, honestly, if you don't have parkhoppers, I would gauge my days by the parks we wanted, as opposed to the nighttime shows.

 

[Disney mac]

Is SW nightly or did they go weekends?

 

[MrsDuck]

Wishes and SW.

Honestly, I'd go Wishes and F! but if that's not your cuppa, stick with your plan!

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Wishes and Illuminations.

 

[js717]

Thanks Everyone!! We do have park hoppers, so we could switch Illuminations in pretty easily. I love wishes - something about the fireworks over the castle as others mentioned

We don't have kids yet, just DH and I. Like I mentioned, we saw the SW fireworks in December and LOVED them, so I wanted to see the new version! Although not sure you can beat the one from Dec also seems harder to find a good spot to watch em!

I remember Illuminations being nice, and I did watch part of a video of it on Youtube to remember it. I remember not being able to see this show that well either (but maybe we didnt leave enough time to fin a spot!)

 

[katt789]

I would do Wishes for SURE!! There's nothing like seeing fireworks with a castle backdrop.
As for SW fireworks, I've heard it's an incredible show, and the projection aspects of it are amazing, but there isn't much for fireworks as is.
If you have ph's I'd try and swing the Jungle Book show! I've heard nothing but AMAZING things about all the DAK at night stuff!

Illuminations for me only has a little bit of emotional connection to me and that's because I worked in Epcot, it's not my favorite and is always the one that ends up getting skipped lol!

You can also try to do SW & Wishes on the same night depending on times! We went in Oct a few years back, watched Fantasmic from near the back, and then cabbed/uber'd over to the Contemporary lot where we quickly walked into Mk for wishes!

 

[mlayton14]

I say skip everything you listed and see the new jungle book nighttime spectacular twice

 

[js717]

I say skip everything you listed and see the new jungle book nighttime spectacular twice

LOL originally I was thinking I would need to watch the nighttime show at AK, but honestly for some reason the Jungle Book show doesn't really appeal to me.


I was HOPING to get to maybe 2 in one night, but with the current timing there is no way. While we are there Illuminations is at 9pm, SW at 9;30, and Wishes at 10.

 

[gatormom2tots]

Our 2 favorites are Wishes and Fantasmic. We were not impressed at all with Jungle Book.

 

[Dreamport]

We haven't seen the newer stuff yet (Jungle Book or Star Wars Fireworks), but I can't go to Disney without seeing Fantasmic! and my father has often said "the trip video has to end with fireworks!"