Wishes vs. Iluminations vs. Fantasmic?

[HauntedMansionFreak]

What's the difference in the three? I have never stayed to see any one of them but plan on doing all three this time - unless they are quite similar. Are they all fireworks shows? What goes on with them? Any music?

Personally, I haven't seen anything that tops the spectromagic parade ( except the HM, of course), but the last time I saw that parade it was still called the Main Street Electrical Parade.

I hope not much more than the name has changed. I would love to see Cinderella's carriage, Puff the Magic Dragon. and all the regular people with lighted costumes/dresses on.

Also, they held the parade to the actual song called The Main Street Electrical Parade.....has the music changed also? I loved the song so much that I bought the album (yeah - an ALBUM - it's been THAT long!).

Thanks for any input!

~HMF~

 

[jimmytammy]

All are fireworks, music, laser shows.

Illuminations includes a lot of fire. This is my favorite. Very moving.

Fantasmic I have seen once. It includes lots of characters and a very cool wall of water that is a screen for the show. Must see to believe.

Wishes is a very good show. Very cool fireworks with shapes.

Dont miss any of them!!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Wishes are fireworks in sync to music & some projected scene's on the castle....it is very nice. Iluminations is fireworks, water, lazer light & music all in sync together...also very nice. Fantasmic is like a play with fireworks, music, water, lazer, projected scenes on walls of water & characters. ..... that is my favorite...but also the most hardest to see. You must get into the stadium to get a seat prior to it start.... there are times that if you aren't there early enough, you will not get it. The other 2 you can view from many places.

 

[mareb66297]

we just got back a couple of days ago and we saw al three. if i had to pick one it would be Fantasmic at MGM. we really enjoyed the fireworks at Mk, but to really get the full effect, the best spot to watch it is in front of cinderellas castle. watch the castle in te begining of the fireworks for a surprise!!!

 

[ryley26]

I also vote for fantasmic its the best of the three I suggest 45 min prior to show to get a seat.

 

[Laurarn]

I suggest getting to Fantasmic actually an hour early! We arrived 45 min. prior and were in "standing room only". It was awful, we could only see bits and pieces of the show. We just didn't get the full effect because we had to keep tip-toeing to see better.

 

[MrsQ]

I think you should see all 3. They are must-sees for us on every trip. Definitely get to Fantasmic early so you can get a good seat. Standing up to see it is not that great and I have had to do that the last couple of trips because I was too busy in other parts of the park. Have a great time.

 

[iceskatejen]

Of the 3, Wishes impressed me most (though still not as good as DL's now defunct Believe, which was Disney's best fireworks show ever--the new Imagine has many of the same fireworks sequences but Believe had a better storyline), but Disneyland is my home park and Fantasmic is so much better there, that I was dissappointed in the MGM version. Had I never seen the DL version, though, I would have been blown away by the MGM version. Spectromagic is a completely different parade from the Main Street Electrical Parade. The only place to see that in the US is to come to CA and visit CA Adventure, where it plays nightly. Spectro is an excellent parade, though, and was my favorite night time event that I saw at WDW.

 

[Crazy Kanga]

I agree that you really should try to see all three. They are all great and very different in my oppinion. Wishes is a great fireworks show, but as stated earlier , you really have to be in front of the castle to get the full effect. We were on the steps at Cosmic Ray's right up beside the castle and it was not a good spot at all. I told a friend she might try to view it from the train station platform and she said that it was a perfect spot.
Fantasmic has fireworks, but is much more than that. It is more of a show with characters, lazers, fire, etc.
My favorite is Illuminations. The music makes it so special to me. It brings me to tears every time.
Go for it and see them all. You won't regret it.

 

[Suzanne033]

I think the best way to very Fantasmic is to book the Fantasmic Dinner Package. That way you are guaranteed a seat.

 

[JMD]

All 3 are great, and different in their own way. I recommend seeing all of them if you have a chance.

But if I had to pick one, I would see Illuminations.

 

[ellenmiele]

You should definitely try to see all 3. Yes, they are all fireworks/laser shows set to music and a theme/story but they are very different from one another. Fantasmic follows a story and there are lots of characters (quite a few special effects too), Illuminations is very artistic and moving with an underlying theme of the world being united (and before Wishes was started I think Illuminations was probably most peoples' favorite) and Wishes is set to a compilation of Disney movies and music that revolves around the central theme of making a wish and during the show you hear the voices of different Disney characters. Personally, I think Wishes is spectacular!!!!!! Maybe it's the whole making a wish theme or just the fact that it is in the Magic Kingdom (i.e. center of the universe) but honestly, it just about moved me to tears. Everyone has there own opinion as to which show they think is best and that's the main reason why you've got to see all three --- when you get back let the disboards know which one is your favorite!!

 

[mrspaha]

Is the 10:30 Fantasmic show less crowded than the 9:00 show? What time should you get in line for the later show?

 

[HauntedMansionFreak]

Thanks for all the replies. We are leaving in less than 3 weeks and I simply can't wait!!!

I'm gonna have to check into that Fantasmic Dinner Show. Never heard of that. ANyone know where I can get some info on that?

 

[Hugpug]

I love Wishes best of all. But you must see all 3 as they are all different in there own right. This past May I got a chance to see Illumination from the Cruise and that is really a great way to see it. It is one of the hardest ways to see it as there are very view boats and they are booked within 5 min of the 90 day mark. As far as Spectromagic goes it is completely different then Main Street. I would say you may be disappointed here as I was. I loved Main Street it had so much more imagination then Spectro does. You should at least see it once to judge for yourself. You must see Wishes from inside the Park to truly get the feel of this Great fireworks show. I agree about Fantasmic is better out in CA but the problem there is you must stand there is no seating and that is a great big plus for the FL version.

 

[iceskatejen]

I always sit for Fantasmic here at DL. It's just that you have to sit on the ground (or bring a blanket) rather than on a bleacher. Even with that (and the longer wait for a prime location) it's still that much better that it's worth it.

 

[DavidUK]

Hi

Well, we arrived back from our trip to WDW in the early hours of this morning - and we are desperately missing it already.

All 3 shows are an absolute must! Although they are all firework shows in essence - they are very different and unique. Each offering something very different.

We managed to find a great "trick" for Fantasmic - if you go you to Guest Services at MGMs main entrance you can book a lovely buffet meal (steak, mussels, chicken) with a "miss the line" pass (you actually by pass the main qeueue and enter through the back nr the park entrance).

Hope this helps!!!

Mark
(Already planning the next trip)

 

[FatCow]

if you are the type who likes subtlety: Wishes.
if you are the type who thinks bigger is better: Illuminations.
if you are the type who feels a story line is really needed for any type of performance: Fantasmic!.

 

[FatCow]

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[FatCow]

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