Disney is adding 2 brand-new fireworks shows this year
Editor's Note
While both Disney World and Disneyland have reopened, not all of the magic returned at once.
Thankfully, more attractions, resorts and dining options are starting to welcome back visitors, and the parks are adding signature experiences back into the mix — including Disney's iconic fireworks shows.
Last week, Disney announced the much-awaited return of fireworks this summer. And this fall, guests will get to see two brand-new fireworks shows debuting for the 50th-anniversary celebration.
Starting July 1, 2021, nightly fireworks shows at Epcot and Magic Kingdom at Disney World will return to the skies. And on July 4, Disneyland will also welcome back fireworks shows.
According to Disney, these are the shows guests can enjoy at each park this summer when they resume:
- "Happily Ever After" show at Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom
- "EPCOT Forever" show at Epcot's World Showcase Lagoon
- "Mickey's Mix Magic" show over Main Street, U.S.A. at Disneyland
And for travelers heading to the park in October for Disney's 50th-anniversary celebration, you'll also have the chance to check out two new shows: Disney Enchantment and Harmonious.
Disney Enchantment will light up the sky starting Oct. 1 and "[inspire] everyone to believe in magic." The show, according to Disney, will feature "captivating Disney music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and — for the first time — immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom park" in Disney World.
In World Showcase at Epcot, guests will also be able to watch a "musical Tour-de-Force" with Harmonious, which also debuts on Oct. 1 as part of the celebration. It will be one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney park.
Disney's website says you should "prepare to be transported around the globe through stunning visuals and the musical magic of Disney songs." The show will also feature music reimagined in over a dozen languages performed by a diverse ensemble of 240 artists from around the world.
Fireworks have been a staple of the Disney experience since 1957, and they're an unforgettable part of the trip for travelers of every age.
Some of my earliest memories are of sitting in a stroller with Minnie Mouse ears on my head watching the lights explode in the night sky, believing that magic exists and that I was getting a front-row seat to it all. Almost 20 years later, I still love Disney and fireworks, so I'd say they made quite the impression.
The return of fireworks to Disney is an exciting step forward after a year when many people wondered if we'd ever get to experience some of the things we once did before the pandemic. For TPG editorial director (and fellow Disney lover) Summer Hull, the possibility of seeing Disney fireworks again this summer is a hope-filled symbol that things are going to be OK.
If you can't wait another minute to experience the magic, you can watch a recorded version of "Happily Ever After" online. And Disney says it will release opportunities for folks at home to join in on the fun with live streams this summer.
Disney has taken a lot of steps to quickly roll back COVID-19 restrictions and make everyone's trips as magical (while still being safe) as ever. Masks no longer have to be worn in most areas if you're fully vaccinated, and Disneyland is now officially open for out-of-state visitors.
And we can expect more updates about experiences returning as Disney prepares for its 50th-anniversary celebration kicking off this fall.
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