Disneyland Forever fireworks show fun facts

The Disneyland Diamond Celebration features an all-new kind of fireworks show. “Disneyland Forever” surrounds audiences with digital projections, special effects, and a large dose of pixie dust, not to mention Disney’s advanced technology fireworks and music.

Audiences on Main Street, it’s a small world mall, and along the Rivers of America will each have a unique and immersive experience with their own set of colors, projections, and pyrotechnics. This means you can view the show multiple times and see new surprises at each location.

Here are some of the other fun facts behind Disneyland’s innovative fireworks show:

“Disneyland Forever” dazzles with seven multi-faceted sequences:

• We begin our journey with a musical “Diamond Fanfare” and the inspirational words of Walt Disney himself. Then Peter Pan appears and Tinker Bell sprinkles her pixie dust to awaken the “magic” of the Magic Kingdom.
• Next our imagination sweeps us into the clouds, where the worlds of Mary Poppins and Rapunzel (“Tangled”) come to life before our eyes.
• Playful music and warm-hearted colors reveal the enchanted world of the honey-loving Winnie the Pooh. Pooh takes us into his kaleidoscopic dream of Heffalumps and Woozles.
• The blazing sun of the African pride lands summons the wild creatures of “The Lion King” and Simba’s colorful world. Marching elephants and swinging monkeys lead us into the frenzy of a scene from “The Jungle Book.”
• Lightning, thunder and undulating waves take us “Under the Sea,” where Sebastian and Ariel’s world of frolicking fish and singing crustaceans love to entertain. Bubbles float us upward to find Nemo who is about to embark on a new challenge.
• Nemo swims away as snow falls and ice crackles. Queen Elsa’s “Frozen” touch takes over, creating a dazzling ice palace before our eyes!
• The icy creations melt away, leaving only the magic of sparkling stars. Tinker Bell returns, enchants the starlight, and ignites the power of our imagination to create the finale – a magical, diamond brilliance that lights the sky!

Musical Facts

• Disney Legend Richard Sherman composed the beautiful song, “A Kiss Goodnight,” which plays at the conclusion of “Disneyland Forever.” The title is a reference to Walt Disney’s feeling that nighttime fireworks provided guests with, as Sherman recalls, “a little kiss goodnight” after a day in the park. Along with his late brother, Robert Sherman, this beloved composer has created a treasury of tunes for Disney attractions – including “it’s a small world” and the Enchanted Tiki Room – feature films and stage musicals. Perhaps their biggest career milestone came in 1964 with the Disney masterpiece “Mary Poppins,” for which the Sherman brothers received two of the film’s five Oscars for Best Song (“Chim Chim Cher-ee”) and Best Original Score. The Sherman Brothers also wrote the scores for the “Winnie the Pooh” films and “The Jungle Book,” both of which are features in “Disneyland Forever.”
• The show’s anthem, “Live The Magic,” was created by composers Adam Watts and Andy Dodd. Their collaborative credits include work on Disney’s smash “High School Musical,” along with songs for other top artists.
• The exquisite score was recorded by an orchestra in London, England, at Abbey Road Studios.

Technical & Production Facts

• The spectacular features many special effects, including fog, lasers, computerized laser-mapping, inflatables and spotlights.
• 17 projectors help immerse audiences into imaginative surroundings on Main Street, U.S.A. More than 25 video projectors are used parkwide.
• 30 inflatable units and multiple moving window actuators help create an immersive environment on Main Street, U.S.A.

History of Disneyland Fireworks 

• Fireworks began in 1956 with a sparkling pyrotechnics display called “Fantasy In the Sky.” The pyrotechnics show was timed to coincide with a musical soundtrack that was played throughout Disneyland Park.
• 1961 marked the debut of Tinker Bell flying over Sleeping Beauty Castle. Disney fireworks shows have featured many “flying” characters since then, including Mary Poppins and Dumbo, but this year marks the first time a character, Nemo, “swims” across the sky.
• Fireworks spectaculars received a millennium reinvention in late 1999 with “Believe … There’s Magic in the Stars,” which incorporated forms of narrative storytelling with enhanced choreography of the pyrotechnic effects. This breathtaking production was followed by the Christmas-themed “Believe … In Holiday Magic,” the 50^th anniversary edition “Remember… Dreams Come True”, a spooky seasonal offering “Halloween Screams” (hosted by Jack Skellington of Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas”), the enchanting production “Magical” (which brought Dumbo back to the skies), and last year’s re-invented “Fantasy In The Sky.”

Thanks to Mousesteps we’re able to show you the full show with Main Street projections on video (spoilers, obviously):

Not one of Disneyland’s best choreographed fireworks shows, but the other parts of it are pretty spectacular. What did you think?

(photo courtesy Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort)

Previously: World of Color: Celebrate fun facts!

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