Why do you cry while watching Wishes or Illuminations?

[Blondie]

What is it about Disney's spectacular display of pyrotechnics that gets to us? Is it the music combined with the location and the moment that brings us to tears?

Try to put into words why it gets to you!

 

[*Fantasia*]

I don't cry. We've seen enough, we just skip it, just like the SpectroMagic, we skip that too.

 

[Blondie]

I hope I never feel that way!

 

[monarchsfan16]

Well the last time I was there was the first time it made me cry. For me I think it had to do with it being my last trip before going off to college. There was something about standing on Mainstreet watching it with my mom's arm around me that brought the tears. Just knowing that life was about to change majorly. And probably the narration.
Illuminations didn't make me cry though

 

[*Fantasia*]

I don't get too sentimental over that cause I just can't imagine crying everytime we see the Illuminations and the Wishes. I want to leave the parks with dry eyes!

We have seen Wishes almost every night when we stayed at the Polynesian and I would hate for people to think there's something wrong with me for crying every night at the beach/pool or at the Ohana.

 

[KristaTX]

I think it's the beauty of the show combined with the music, and also just being at WDW and being with the people I am with. They are tears of joy, for the most part. Although I once watched Illuminations on the first night of a trip, and it was the day of the most recent space shuttle disaster. I got a huge lump in my throat and cried a few tears of sadness when it came to the part where she sings, "We go on through the joy and through the tears. We go on to discover new frontiers. . ." .

I remember once a few years ago at Epcot (also on the first night of a trip) I could see Wishes going on in the background as I watched Illuminations, and I just couldn't help but shed a few happy tears. I'm sure my grown brother and his friend thought my mom and I were kind of strange, but ever since we got back from that trip, they have been dying to go back. We will get to return with them in December. I think if they see us shedding some tears again, they'll totally understand what we are feeling .

 

[Blondie]

When we go, we don't watch Wishes or Illuminations every night that we're there. Very often we're tired and just want to return to our room and if we're lucky depending on our view from the Swan or Dolphin we can catch a glimpse from there. But it's not like being at the park watching them.

 

[Michelina]

I cry during Illuminations! I downloaded the We Go On song the other day & listened to it & cried, I'm out of control! I think it's a combination of the music and the whole theme of being one with the world. (God, this sounds so cheesy when I'm typing it out.) I love waiting for it to start and when the torches get "blown out" I get chills and the waterworks start not long after! It's my favorite thing of all at WDW. I don't care for Wishes as much so I can keep myself together, lol.

 

[dizneenut]

For me, during Wishes, it was tears of joy because it was our first "real" family vacation. The combination of that, and the music, and the whole show, was just overwhelming.

 

[Kitty 34]

I get teary eyed each time. I think it's a mixture of many things for me; being with the family, having memories of years before at WDW, watching others experience the magic........and no doubt menopause, too!!

 

[hpygrll]

I always cry during Illuminations - that music is amazing - I actually labored to it with my first child (2002) and ended up giving the nurse our copy because she loved the music - we had multiple copies.

We go every year - lost track of how many times we've seen it....still cry!

It's so powerful and to me epitomizes the magic!!!
Jenny

 

[drgnfly30]

Not a clue!! I get emotional when I walk onto Main St for the first time each trip too... I'm a mess

 

[LisaNJ25]

Im such an idiot I cry when I first walk down Main St. I also started to cry during breakfast at the castle. Watching my daughter with the princesses. My husband will never let me live that one down.

 

[beckmrk04]

The first time I saw Wishes! was on my honeymoon- and I cried like a baby. It was overwhelming- being someplace so magical and newly married, standing beside my hubby.

When we went back in May this year I bought the soundtrack and plan to listen to it while I'm in labor with our first baby in March, and I'll cry then too.

 

[grinningghost]

Illuminations doesn't make me cry, but Wishes does.

I think it's the absolute ability to transport yourself back to childhood in those few minutes of light and sound - it's very freeing.

 

[ilovepcot]

Wow...I didn't know people did this.

 

[RitaZ.]

For me, it's definitely the music. The fireworks don't have that effect on me, I do think they are beautiful though. Last time we went to Epcot, I decided to just listen to the music. So, I sat in a bench in France close to the bakery and just listened and cried. I don't leave the park feeling sad, on the contrary I leave feeling all happy and with a "life is good" feeling. KWIM?

 

[NCRedding]

I cry at Illumninations because of my memories: In 2002 I surprised my extended family with an Illuminations Cruise. We had such a wonderful time, and I remember looking around at my family members all watching with these wonderful expressions on their face. Less than 2 years later, my brother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away at the age of 46. I cry when I see Illuminations because I miss him.

 

[spacemountain]

I only cry during Illuminations, not Wishes. I cry because of the ideas it represents, and while they are talking about it you can look around and see all of these countries together in World Showcase. Combine that with an amazing firework and water show, and the tears will fall.

 

[gradtchr]

Last year was the first time I have cried during Wishes. My DH and I got married at Disney and we had preferred seating for it the day before our wedding. Part of our wedding reception was a Wishes cruise on the Grand 1 w/ family, Hearing the entire program on our wedding day as our wishes came true was the absolutel greatest feeling. I can't even put it into words how I feel when I listen to the soundtrack.