WISHES vs HAPPILY EVER AFTER

[Cheyflan]

This is probably already a topic, but I would like to discuss it.

I grew up with Wishes. My first trip to the parks was when I was 10 years old (19 now).

My family and I took trips about every 3 years, coming from a family that was lower class we had to budget a lot so very few trips for us. Also, my Mom refused to take her kids until the youngest was at an age she thought they'd be at to remember it, her choice being 10 years old. So, I went with my family when I was 10, 13, and 16. In between these trips I always watched vlogs, documentaries, studied the parks, learned facts, every second I yearned to go back and was so jealous that people were fortunate enough to go whenever they wanted. When I was 17 I got a job working at Panera Bread making $8.30/hr. This was my first "official" job. Being in high school and having hardly any bills, except for my phone, I saved up for my sister and I to go to Disney World to actually take my senior pictures since she is a photographer. NOW, this was the most budget friendly trip I had ever taken to Disney World, lol. We stayed in the most run down Howard Johnson I had ever seen that was located in the back parking lot of a Steak N Shake. (But hey $50/night and we spent genuinely 2 seconds in the room, so hey not complaining.) A trip to Magic Kingdom one day, a trip to Hollywood Studios (my favorite park), and then a trip to Universal Studios to visit Harry Potter World.

ANYWAYS, enough of these anecdotes. I do not like shows when I'm at theme parks, even at Six Flags, they are not my favorite. Growing up with a family that was in the lower class I always felt like I had to spend the most in the parks trying to do every single ride possible, multiple times because I never knew when I would be able to go back. But, something about Wishes made me so happy. It was the most magical thing I have ever seen. I loved it and made everyone watch it every time we went. I fell even more in love with it on my 18th birthday trip. I had worked so hard to save up for that vacation, because it was all my money. Working nearly 40 hours while in my senior year of high school just so I could be able to afford the trip. When I watched the show every lyric just spoke with me because it was my dream to be at the Magic Kingdom on my 18th birthday and it was my dream to have my senior pictures done there and it was just my dream to be there in general. Every single bit of hard work in that moment felt like it had been paid off.

TLDR; I really love Wishes.

Anyways, I have been twice since Happily Every After was released. (I go quite often now since I'm an adult with money and no rules from parents, haha) Once I just heard the music because it was a spontaneous trip and was rushing to rides and doing everything I could in the park. The 2nd time we have been since (we as in my boyfriend and I) I watched it over in Frontierland where I could not see the castle projections, just the fireworks and hear the music. The music made me emotional and even the commentary stuck with me. It was a very special moment when I heard the Tangled scene because Tangled was my sister and I's //MOVIE// and my sister passed away unexpectedly May 1st of this year.

(Since I have watched several versions including The Dis' of the castle show and seen the projections.)

While this show had an impact on myself and I may be biased since I have not see the projections in person, I still feel like Wishes was more emotional and heartfelt. I feel as though Wises did not heavily rely on projections and visuals for emotion to be felt. Wishes had a great way of telling a story throughout the entire park just by seeing the fireworks or hearing the music, you really could view the show from anywhere in the park and still feel how special it is, ya know? I liked that aspect of Wishes because it mainly relied on music.

While Happily Ever After is amazing and beautiful, I just feel like Wishes just conveyed everything about I loved about Disney.

Anyways, I just wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on which Fireworks they prefer.

Sorry for the long post, this is my first post to The Dis.

 

[karrit2000]

I felt the same way about Spectromagic as you do about wishes. Never really enjoyed watching MSEP. I always enjoyed Wishes but I got to see HEA on the very first night with a group of friends and we were all leaving the next day for the East Bound Transatlantic Cruise. There wasn't a dry eye among us when HEA was over. We just stood there going WOW! I haven't seen quite a few of the newer movies that were depicted in the projections but a lot of the music they chose to use was from movies that were new back when I first started visiting WDW & DL so that pulled at me that they were finally using some different older but not the same old, same old classic stuff. You really need to go watch it from somewhere in front of the castle so that you can experience the projections in person. I've only seen it the one time but I'm looking forward to seeing it again at the end of next month.

 

[No.1000]

I loved Wishes. I cried every time. I was upset when it was replaced. But HEA won me over. It may not hit you in the heart like Wishes, but it is stunning and wonderful.

 

[MelanieRI]

I loved Wishes! I also got teary eyed when it came on. HEA has not yet won me over. I actually like the small projection show that followed it better. It seemed more "disney" and heartfelt. I was watching the HEA fireworks from my room and they looked awesome. I couldn't wait to see the show and then, I just did not click with it. I'm glad the next two times I'm going I'll be able to see Hallowishes and the Christmas wishes. While I like the new fireworks, I just can't say I'm into the whole show.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree, HEA is heavily dependent on the projections in a way that Wishes obviously wasn't.

I really love HEA. But, I kind of liked the magical aspect of Wishes. Wish upon a star, your dreams come true

HEA is all about you making your own dreams happen. "Unlock your own magic" Which of course, that is how things work in real life. But I do miss the magical element that the Wishes story had

Overall though, I think Wishes was long-in-the-tooth and it was time.

 

[SoCalDisneyFan2708]

I still haven't seen HEA yet. My last visit was in February so I was happy to see Wishes before the new show started. I like many others loved Wishes. It really hits those emotional buttons. Luckily for me, my home park at Disneyland has been showing Remember Dreams Come True fireworks which has the same soundtrack at the beginning and end of the show as Wishes! It's not quite the same but Its nice to be able to get my wish(es!) still. Can't wait to see HEA when I go back to WDW in January.

 

[melanielll]

I prefer Wishes. HEA is fine, but missing the emotional content for me. There are a few parts of it I actively dislike - the narrator's voice, THAT"S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR (that line totally stops any flow in the show), some of the nonoriginal voices used in songs and the projections making viewing less enjoyable (too many people in the hub - most of whom are taller than me). We were there when the people who sing the song came out and sang it live after the show - it was ok.

Edited to add - I like the Hercules song. That movie and its music is seriously underrated.

 

[HarperLeigh]

I much prefer Wishes. HEA is meh and lacks any emotional connection.

 

[melanielll]

I much prefer Wishes. HEA is meh and lacks any emotional connection.

I think Pete agrees with us. Three votes is all we need.

 

[Minsc]

We were not happy about losing Wishes either, but finally admitted that HEA is pretty good in it's own way. It is definitely not as emotional as Wishes. What we really don't like about it is the chaos it has created in the hub. Wow. Now that we've all seen it twice, we have no plans to get anywhere near it again for a while.

 

[melanielll]

Something else I liked about Wishes is that it was a quiet (for fireworks), reflective way to end your day. Such an "awwww" feeling. When it was over, I wanted to come back to the park the next day. HEA is loud and in your face and when it is over I just hope to make it out of the park alive.

 

[Minsc]

I just hope to make it out of the park alive.

I've seen episodes of The Walking Dead that were less intense.

 

[sara_s]

I grew up with Wishes and loved it...but HEA hit me right in the feels when I saw it. Not sure what it is - the nostalgia of the films/music they chose to feature, the big build up at the end with the Hercules portion/finale, the theme of "you may face animosity but you have the power to make your dreams come true"...idk. But I teared up when I saw it and whenever I listen to the soundtrack in the car, I tear up every dang time! Love it!

 

[Lothlórien]

I think Happily Ever After has a nice song, but Disney has totally skipped out on the magic in my opinion. Wishes, that is what Disney was all about. HEA is about technology. For me, there is no "wow factor".
I am all for change and something new, but this one totally missed the mark in my opinion.

 

[Ambehnke]

Like HEA. I've seen it twice, once from main street and once from the hub with a great castle view. Probably won't fight the crowds to watch it again. LOVED Wishes. This replacement just hasn't done it for me.

 

[georgina]

While I have seen Wishes several times, and enjoyed it, I really had no emotional connection to it. I saw HEA a few weeks ago and was very impressed. I think it is a good replacement.

Regarding some of the above comments, perhaps it is the 'magic' vs creating your own future. I'm not a big proponent of magic.

 

[Shanti]

I miss Wishes. It had a very special meaning to me.

 

[ariane37]

I've seen HEA twice and while I liked it a little bit more the second time, I much prefer Wishes and don't see HEA taking its place in my heart. I'm also not a fan of projections with fireworks.

 

[madchatter]

I loved wishes. Loved it. Still listen to it regularly. But I have to admit that HEA is amazing. I'm not sure I'll ever say that it's better but I have to agree with those saying it's great in its own way.

And I do feel the 'disney' in it. The section with 'go the distance' straight on through the reprise of 'happily ever after' with the repeated 'you can fly! You can fly!' And then Tink takes off! That's a catch your breath moment to me.

And I actually like some of the rerecordings. The ballad version of 'love is an open door' is beautiful.

I'm sold.

It's true that you need to watch from dead on to totally get caught up. But so far I haven't had any trouble getting a spot at 30-40 minutes before. Which to me is reasonable.

 

[TXDisneyFan1]

I guess I'm a sucker for the new fangled projections... I love HEA! Seeing it in person absolutely blew me away (much more amazing in person rather than online); Wishes just never did that for me.