Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams
Encyclopedia
Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams is a fireworks
show at the Magic Kingdom
theme park in Florida and at Disneyland Park
in Disneyland Paris. The show debuted at the Magic Kingdom on October 8, 2003, and was developed by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment
, under the direction of VP Parades & Spectaculars, Steve Davison, who was assigned to create a replacement for the 32-year-old Fantasy in the Sky
fireworks. In September and October, during "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
", the show is replaced with Happy HalloWishes
, and in late November and December, Holiday Wishes during "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
". In 2007, the Magic Kingdom presented a new separate admission (known as a "hard ticket") event called Disney's Pirate and Princess Party with its own fireworks program titled Magic, Music and Mayhem
. The French version of Wishes premiered on July 16, 2005; its only similarities to the American version were the music and narrative.
and the Blue Fairy
, and revolves around the wishes of famous Disney characters - good and bad. The lights on Cinderella Castle
change colors throughout the show, reflecting the different stages of Wishes narrative. At times it glows blue, imitating the Blue Fairy, but it is lit in angry reds and oranges for the "Villainous Wishes" sector of the show. There are also a number of special projection effects used on the Castle, such as the face of the Magic Mirror from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
, and the stars and moon from Mickey's sorcerer hat in Fantasia
. While most of the characters in the show are only heard as part of the show's music track, Wishes also features an appearance from Tinker Bell as she flies from the tallest spire of Cinderella Castle (weather permitting).
The show begins with the Blue Fairy's narration: "When stars are born, they possess a gift or two. One of them is this: they have the power to make a wish come true." This transitions into the theme song of the show, which is the poem "Starlight, Starbright" set to music. Jiminy Cricket begins his narration about how he didn't used to believe in wishes, but is about to share the things that changed his mind. The show continues with a medley of famous Disney songs overlaid with the voices of Disney characters making wishes. Snow White, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Aladdin, Peter Pan and Ariel are featured, among others. Several primarily instrumental sections follow, representing wishes for adventure, wishes for love and "magical" wishes. Wishes then takes a turn for the slightly sinister when the Disney villains, led by the Evil Queen from Snow White, take over the show. However, in the end, Good triumphs over Evil, and the Blue Fairy returns to host the finale, stating that "we must always believe in our wishes, for they are the magic in the world." The show ends with a mix of the Wishes theme and "When You Wish Upon a Star
" from Pinocchio.
HalloWishes debuted in 2005 and is performed at the separate-admission ("hard ticket") event Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at the Magic Kingdom in lieu of the regular Wishes show. Taking its name from the theme song for the classic attraction Haunted Mansion
, the show features fireworks synchronized to classic Disney Villains themes and other Halloween music.
, and during the park's regular operating days near Christmas Day (often December 21–31). The show features dazzling fireworks performed to remixed classic Christmas songs
(including "Spirit of the Season
") and an appearance by Tinker Bell. For the show's finale, the music and fireworks stop temporarily and machines on the roof of Main Street, U.S.A.
create artificial snow, creating an emotional climax similar to the Believe... In Holiday Magic
holiday show at Disneyland. Its soundtrack is available on CD
.
movie franchise.
, the regular Wishes show is shown, usually in its regular time slot. It is then supplemented by a special presentation of Fantasy in the Sky
(near midnight), featuring numerous fireworks and instrumental music from an array of Disney films and attractions. The songs that are played during the display include; "The Second Star to the Right", "I've Got No Strings
", "It's a Small World", "Grim Grinning Ghosts
", "The Ballad of Davy Crockett
", "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)
", "Under the Sea
", "A Whole New World
", "When You Wish upon a Star
", and the traditional "Auld Lang Syne
". The show is hosted by Mickey Mouse
, Minnie Mouse
and Goofy
.
introduced a "nighttime spectacular" based on the Magic Kingdom's Wishes pyrotechnics show. The show ran its first year from July 16, 2005 to August 28, 2005, with performances every night at 11:15 p.m. The show ran every summer season from 2005 until 2007 and was replaced in 2008 by The Enchanted Fireworks.
Despite featuring fewer fireworks and a smaller budget, the Parisian version of Wishes contained special effects not seen before in the park. In addition to projections of Disney characters to help relay the story of the show to the multilingual audience, green and blue laser arrangements (projected onto and from the Castle) differentiated it from previous fireworks shows in the park. A scene involving Hercules
and Disney Princesses
was cut from this version. The show's narration was altered as well, with some sections of Jiminy Cricket's English-language narration cut and replaced by the Blue Fairy, who now co-narrates the show in French.
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
show at the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom Park is one of four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort located near Orlando, Florida. The first park built at the resort, Magic Kingdom opened Oct. 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, the park's layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland in Anaheim, California...
theme park in Florida and at Disneyland Park
Disneyland Park (Paris)
Disneyland Park is a theme park at Disneyland Paris, a resort complex just outside of Paris, in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. The first of two parks built at the resort, it opened as Euro Disneyland on 12 April, 1992...
in Disneyland Paris. The show debuted at the Magic Kingdom on October 8, 2003, and was developed by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment
Walt Disney Creative Entertainment
Walt Disney Creative Entertainment is the theatrical and technical live entertainment production division of Walt Disney Imagineering, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company.-Background:...
, under the direction of VP Parades & Spectaculars, Steve Davison, who was assigned to create a replacement for the 32-year-old Fantasy in the Sky
Fantasy in the Sky
Fantasy in the Sky was a fireworks performance at Disneyland Paris from 1993 to 2005 in Marne-la-Vallee, France, Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1958 to 2000, shortly again in 2004, and at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, until 2003....
fireworks. In September and October, during "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is a separate-admission Halloween-themed event held annually during the months of September and October at the Magic Kingdom theme park of the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, outside Orlando, and at Disneyland Paris Resort outside Paris,...
", the show is replaced with Happy HalloWishes
HalloWishes
HalloWishes is a fireworks show that takes place during "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park...
, and in late November and December, Holiday Wishes during "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a hard ticket event hosted at the Magic Kingdom theme park. It runs around mid-November and running until Christmas. The party is held on specific days announced at the Walt Disney World website. The event goes from 7:00 PM to midnight...
". In 2007, the Magic Kingdom presented a new separate admission (known as a "hard ticket") event called Disney's Pirate and Princess Party with its own fireworks program titled Magic, Music and Mayhem
Magic, Music and Mayhem
Magic, Music and Mayhem is the name of a fireworks display held as part of Mickey's Pirate and Princess Party hard ticket event at the Walt Disney World Resort's Magic Kingdom near Orlando, Florida...
. The French version of Wishes premiered on July 16, 2005; its only similarities to the American version were the music and narrative.
Wishes
The regular show is hosted by Jiminy CricketJiminy Cricket
Jiminy Cricket is the Walt Disney version of "The Talking Cricket" , a fictional character created by Carlo Collodi for his children's book Pinocchio, which was adapted into an animated film by Disney in 1940...
and the Blue Fairy
Blue Fairy
The Fairy With Turquoise Hair is a fictional character in Carlo Collodi's book The Adventures of Pinocchio. She repeatedly appears at critical moments in Pinocchio's wanderings to admonish the little wooden puppet to avoid bad or risky behavior...
, and revolves around the wishes of famous Disney characters - good and bad. The lights on Cinderella Castle
Cinderella Castle
Cinderella Castle is the fairy tale castle at the center of two Disney theme parks: the Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort, and Tokyo Disneyland at the Tokyo Disney Resort. Both serve as worldwide recognized icons and the flagship attraction for their respective theme parks.-Inspiration...
change colors throughout the show, reflecting the different stages of Wishes narrative. At times it glows blue, imitating the Blue Fairy, but it is lit in angry reds and oranges for the "Villainous Wishes" sector of the show. There are also a number of special projection effects used on the Castle, such as the face of the Magic Mirror from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is a 1937 American animated film based on Snow White, a German fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. It was the first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history, as well as the first animated feature film produced in America, the first produced in full...
, and the stars and moon from Mickey's sorcerer hat in Fantasia
Fantasia (film)
Fantasia is a 1940 American animated film produced by Walt Disney and released by Walt Disney Productions. The third feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series, the film consists of eight animated segments set to pieces of classical music conducted by Leopold Stokowski, seven of which are...
. While most of the characters in the show are only heard as part of the show's music track, Wishes also features an appearance from Tinker Bell as she flies from the tallest spire of Cinderella Castle (weather permitting).
When You Wish upon a Star
"When You Wish upon a Star" is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The original version of the song was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, and is heard over the opening credits and again in the final scene of the...
" from Pinocchio.
Happy HalloWishes: A Grim Grinning Ghost Spooktacular in the Sky
Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is a dark ride located at Disneyland, the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World and Tokyo Disneyland. A significantly re-imagined incarnation of the ride, known as Phantom Manor, is located in Disneyland Paris...
, the show features fireworks synchronized to classic Disney Villains themes and other Halloween music.
Holiday Wishes: Celebrate The Spirit of the Season
Holiday Wishes: Celebrate the Spirit of the Season replaces Wishes during Mickey's Very Merry Christmas PartyMickey's Very Merry Christmas Party
Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a hard ticket event hosted at the Magic Kingdom theme park. It runs around mid-November and running until Christmas. The party is held on specific days announced at the Walt Disney World website. The event goes from 7:00 PM to midnight...
, and during the park's regular operating days near Christmas Day (often December 21–31). The show features dazzling fireworks performed to remixed classic Christmas songs
Christmas Songs
Christmas Songs is a 2005 album by Diana Krall performed with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra. This is Krall's first full-length album of Christmas songs , and her first studio album with a big band. It is her ninth album overall...
(including "Spirit of the Season
Spirit of the Season
Spirit of the Season is a song from the movie The Polar Express. A cover of the song by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Sissel was nominated for 2 Grammys, Best Classical Crossover Album and Best Engineered Album - Classical....
") and an appearance by Tinker Bell. For the show's finale, the music and fireworks stop temporarily and machines on the roof of Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the first "themed land" inside the main entrance of the many 'Magic Kingdom'-style parks run by The Walt Disney Company around the world....
create artificial snow, creating an emotional climax similar to the Believe... In Holiday Magic
Believe... In Holiday Magic
Believe... In Holiday Magic is a holiday fireworks show at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. The show runs for much of the Disneyland Resort's holiday season, which typically runs from the third weekend of November to the first weekend of the following January.-History:In 2000,...
holiday show at Disneyland. Its soundtrack is available on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
.
Magic, Music, and Mayhem
This fireworks show replaces Wishes at Disney's Pirate and Princess Party, and features music from the Disney Princess library of animated movies and the Pirates of the CaribbeanPirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is a multi-billion dollar Walt Disney franchise encompassing a series of films, a theme park ride, and spinoff novels as well as numerous video games and other publications. The franchise originates with the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, which opened at Disneyland in...
movie franchise.
Fantasy in the Sky: New Years Eve Countdown
During New Year's EveNew Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
, the regular Wishes show is shown, usually in its regular time slot. It is then supplemented by a special presentation of Fantasy in the Sky
Fantasy in the Sky
Fantasy in the Sky was a fireworks performance at Disneyland Paris from 1993 to 2005 in Marne-la-Vallee, France, Disneyland in Anaheim, California from 1958 to 2000, shortly again in 2004, and at the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, until 2003....
(near midnight), featuring numerous fireworks and instrumental music from an array of Disney films and attractions. The songs that are played during the display include; "The Second Star to the Right", "I've Got No Strings
I've Got No Strings
"I've Got No Strings" also known as "I Got No Strings" is a song from Walt Disney's animated film Pinocchio sung by Dickie Jones as Pinocchio. He dances with three puppets such as a Dutch puppet, a French puppet, a Russian puppet, and Cossacks...
", "It's a Small World", "Grim Grinning Ghosts
Grim Grinning Ghosts
"Grim Grinning Ghosts" is the theme song for the Haunted Mansion attractions at Disney theme parks. It was composed by Buddy Baker, with lyrics written by X Atencio...
", "The Ballad of Davy Crockett
The Ballad of Davy Crockett
"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" is a song with music by George Bruns and lyrics by Thomas W. Blackburn.The first recording of the song was made by Fess Parker, quickly followed by versions by Bill Hayes and Tennessee Ernie Ford...
", "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)
Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)
"Yo Ho " is the theme song for the Pirates of the Caribbean attractions at Disney theme parks. The music was written by George Bruns with lyrics by Xavier Atencio...
", "Under the Sea
Under the Sea
-Parodies:In 1991, this song was parodied by musician Tom Smith with his song, "On The PC". This song was re-written in 1999 as "PC99".The song was parodied on the TV show Kappa Mikey where Mikey tries to convince a squid to live on land with him....
", "A Whole New World
A Whole New World
"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
", "When You Wish upon a Star
When You Wish upon a Star
"When You Wish upon a Star" is a song written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for Walt Disney's 1940 adaptation of Pinocchio. The original version of the song was sung by Cliff Edwards in the character of Jiminy Cricket, and is heard over the opening credits and again in the final scene of the...
", and the traditional "Auld Lang Syne
Auld Lang Syne
"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song . It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight...
". The show is hosted by Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse
Mickey Mouse is a cartoon character created in 1928 by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at The Walt Disney Studio. Mickey is an anthropomorphic black mouse and typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves...
, Minnie Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Minerva "Minnie" Mouse is an animated character created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney. The comic strip story "The Gleam" by Merrill De Maris and Floyd Gottfredson first gave her full name as Minerva Mouse. Minnie has since been a recurring alias for her. Minnie is currently voiced by actress Russi...
and Goofy
Goofy
Goofy is a cartoon character created in 1932 at Walt Disney Productions. Goofy is a tall, anthropomorphic dog, and typically wears a turtle neck and vest, with pants, shoes, white gloves, and a tall hat originally designed as a rumpled fedora. Goofy is a close friend of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck...
.
Summer Nightastic!
In 2010, Walt Disney World replaced Wishes with another fireworks show during a summer entertainment package called "Summer Nightastic!". Disney announced that this would be the Magic, Music, and Mayhem show from Disney's Pirate and Princess Party.Wishes at Disneyland Paris
Disneyland ParkDisneyland Park (Paris)
Disneyland Park is a theme park at Disneyland Paris, a resort complex just outside of Paris, in the new town of Marne-la-Vallée, France. The first of two parks built at the resort, it opened as Euro Disneyland on 12 April, 1992...
introduced a "nighttime spectacular" based on the Magic Kingdom's Wishes pyrotechnics show. The show ran its first year from July 16, 2005 to August 28, 2005, with performances every night at 11:15 p.m. The show ran every summer season from 2005 until 2007 and was replaced in 2008 by The Enchanted Fireworks.
Despite featuring fewer fireworks and a smaller budget, the Parisian version of Wishes contained special effects not seen before in the park. In addition to projections of Disney characters to help relay the story of the show to the multilingual audience, green and blue laser arrangements (projected onto and from the Castle) differentiated it from previous fireworks shows in the park. A scene involving Hercules
Hercules
Hercules is the Roman name for Greek demigod Heracles, son of Zeus , and the mortal Alcmene...
and Disney Princesses
Disney Princesses
Disney Princess is a Walt Disney Company franchise, based on fictional characters who have been featured as part of the Disney character line-up. The six original members of the franchise were Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle and Jasmine, who were later joined by Pocahontas, Mulan,...
was cut from this version. The show's narration was altered as well, with some sections of Jiminy Cricket's English-language narration cut and replaced by the Blue Fairy, who now co-narrates the show in French.
See also
- Remember... Dreams Come TrueRemember... Dreams Come TrueRemember... Dreams Come True is a fireworks display commemorating Disneyland's 50th anniversary. Described as an "E ticket in the sky," the show features fireworks, lower level pyrotechnics, isopar flame effects, projections and lasers set to the soundtracks of some of Disneyland's most famous...
, the Disneyland fireworks show which also uses the Wishes theme music.