We hate Disney Enchantment. Between the 2 of us, our collective want to see the Walt Disney World fiftieth Anniversary fireworks ever once more is zero, zip, zilch, nada, nothing. So then why on earth do we expect it’s truly a good factor that this nighttime spectacular is returning for 2024 After Hours at Magic Kingdom?
For a number of causes–however we wish to be clear up entrance that none of these are a matter of revisionist historical past. We aren’t falling into the acquainted Walt Disney World fan trope of lacking one thing solely after it’s gone. Now we have completely no nostalgia or love misplaced for Disney Enchantment. (See above.)
If something, the return of Fortunately Ever After together with the debut of Wondrous Journeys additional cemented for us simply how a lot we disliked Enchantment. That it wasn’t simply negativity as a result of it didn’t comport with our expectations or preconceived notions about what the nighttime spectacular ought to’ve been.
Attending to the purpose, the primary purpose we expect it’s a very good factor that Disney Enchantment is returning is for the precedent it units. Apart from Fortunately Ever After, which accurately got here again by widespread demand and because of its stratospheric visitor satisfaction scores, it’s extremely uncommon for Walt Disney World to convey again retired leisure.
In the meantime, Disneyland virtually invented the “McRib Playbook” and routinely rotates an assortment of nighttime spectaculars and different leisure. Even proper now, we’ve actually no clue which fireworks present will return there in January 2024. Wondrous Journeys would appear to be the odds-on favourite given its reputation, however every thing from Mickey’s Combine Magic to Disneyland Without end are equally believable. Heck, in the event that they introduced the return of Imagine, Magical, or Collectively Without end, it wouldn’t be that shocking.
Should you’re studying this submit, there’s an above-average risk that you just’re a longtime Walt Disney World fan who visits the parks considerably repeatedly. (Possible greater than as soon as each few years.) If that’s the case, I’d think about that you just want to see Walt Disney World undertake a philosophy extra akin to Disneyland, with extra choices which are geared in the direction of locals, repeat guests, and ardent followers.
Fortunately, precisely that is beginning to occur. We had been way more optimistic about this yr’s Vacation spot D23 bulletins than most, and that’s as a result of they bolstered that there’s an inner drive to be attentive to Walt Disney World followers. A lot of that was aimed squarely at longtime followers, and wouldn’t have even registered with an informal viewers if shared on Good Morning America.
It’s one factor for Disneyland to convey again one thing on a seasonal foundation–that occurs on a regular basis, each single yr. It’s one other fully for the flagship trip vacation spot to do it. Over time, I’ve misplaced depend of what number of occasions somebody from inside Walt Disney World has claimed that they couldn’t probably have seasonal overlays or limited-time choices like Disneyland as a result of friends would complain.
That’s a lame excuse that perhaps would’ve handed muster years in the past, however not anymore. Central Florida’s inhabitants continues to blow up and Disney Trip Membership’s membership grows. Regardless of ever-increasing costs and complaints, there are extra Annual Passholders and diehard followers than ever. Past that, most first-time vacationers gained’t know what they’re lacking and may very effectively find yourself preferring the factor that regulars and locals love. (See Haunted Mansion Vacation at Disneyland.)
Disney Enchantment is a foul instance of this new mindset, however nonetheless, it is an instance of this. It’s bringing again one thing from the previous to offer its fan(s) an opportunity to see it once more. It could not look like a lot–and it undoubtedly isn’t!–however it’s a kind of issues that’s extra significant for what it represents than the factor itself.
Some followers have overtly questioned why, if Walt Disney World wished to reprise an outdated fireworks present, didn’t they create again Needs! A Magical Gathering of Disney Desires? That’s the way more apparent selection and so many diehards would’ve not solely purchased After Hours tickets, however taken journeys to see it. In contrast, Enchantment may truly assist maintain crowds decrease.
If I needed to clarify this determination, my first guess can be that Enchantment nonetheless has an everlasting champion, and there’s a want to see the way it performs outdoors the fiftieth. My second guess can be that Needs! would want extra work to be introduced again. (They added some projections for a particular Forged Member fireworks present, however extra would should be accomplished.) My last guess can be that Enchantment’s return is the beginning of testing this sort of factor, however not the top of it.
Regardless, I agree with the fan sentiment that Needs would’ve been the savvier fireworks to promote After Hours tickets. Nevertheless, I’m glad that they didn’t do it. That’s not as a result of I don’t wish to see Needs once more–fairly the opposite–however as a result of I don’t wish to see it once more like this. If we’re dropping $125+ every on occasion tickets, we’d fairly pay one other $20 to $40 and have a fully-fledged themed evening.
For years, I’ve been pleading with Walt Disney World to drag a web page from the Disneyland After Darkish playbook and do ‘Nostalgia Nite’ with Needs and SpectroMagic 2.0. Projections on Cinderella Fort to show it right into a cake, characters and picture ops from Disney Afternoon, traditional background music and bulletins from Jiminy Cricket, and every thing that truly ought to’ve been a part of Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary.
This may sound like wishful pondering, however I don’t suppose it’s actually that far off. Once more, Disneyland already does ‘After Darkish’ occasions like this and has accomplished each a Throwback Nite and 90s Nite up to now few years. It’s hardly an authentic concept of mine. As Walt Disney World dips its toes deeper into the nostalgia pool, they’re going to see simply how untapped of a market there’s for choices like this. It’s an inevitability sooner or later.
So I’d fairly that time be an entire occasion that goes all-in on nostalgia, fairly than a seize bag of After Hours plus Needs. And I do know wanting SpectroMagic 2.0 behind a paywall may be a monkeypaw second, however it’s been what number of years with out one at this level?! If a tough ticket occasion is what it takes for Walt Disney World to justify spending on one other evening parade, so be it, I assume.
Regardless, the purpose stands. Needs might be the centerpiece of a fully-themed After Hours/Darkish at Magic Kingdom occasion that diehards would plan journeys round. That profitable Childless Millennial demo would fortunately drop $175 per ticket, and so would no less than 2 mother and father wanting their child to expertise what was formative in forming their mother and father’ fandom. Needs is an ace up Disney’s sleeve, and one which shouldn’t be squandered on a ‘common’ After Hours.
Walt Disney World is already kind of doing this with the Jollywood Nights Christmas Social gathering at Hollywood Studios. Whereas that’s not as centered as we’d like, it seems loads like a themed After Hours occasion that’s geared toward an older viewers with nostalgia for the previous.
The following purpose Enchantment coming again, and this most likely ought to’ve been #1 however I first wished to determine why we choose this to Needs (for now), is as a result of it’s principally bonus fireworks. That is fairly easy.
The nighttime fireworks spectacular “Disney Enchantment” is returning completely to After Hours, and will probably be carried out someday throughout that occasion. However Fortunately Ever After isn’t going anyplace, and can nonetheless be carried out on the finish of normal working hours at Magic Kingdom.
Which means on occasion nights, After Hours attendees who arrive in the course of the mix-in may have the chance to see each Fortunately Ever After and Enchantment. At the same time as somebody who hates Enchantment, that’s higher than simply HEA x2, and with low-capacity and low-demand for Enchantment, it’s probably you may present up 30 seconds earlier than the fireworks begin and rating an awesome spot.
If I had been attending the 2024 After Hours at Magic Kingdom, even I might attempt to see Enchantment beneath these circumstances. It’s tremendous low stakes, and even when it’s not the ‘blast from the previous’ that I’d like, it’s higher than nothing.
I’d additionally watch Enchantment as a result of, admittedly, I’d wish to see if it did trigger me to reevaluate the present. With zero stress of being the substitute for Fortunately Ever After or Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary fireworks, I believe it’d hit in another way. Enchantment’s deadly flaws had been that it failed in each regards pretty spectacularly, however how would it not be when divorced from these elements?
My guess continues to be not nice, however not as terrible. As we’ve famous repeatedly, it’s nonetheless pyro exploding over Cinderella Fort–there’s solely so unhealthy that may be. Fireworks set to music over Cinderella Fort when you’re standing on Predominant Road have simple attraction, and that might be true even when set to the “Meow Combine” track on loop. Enchantment’s soundtrack is arguably higher than the “Meow Combine” jingle.
On the very least, the ‘Florida Mission’ introduction they belatedly added was good. And joking apart, there have been different kernels of fine concepts in there. Apart from the aforementioned points, the issues with the present itself principally got here all the way down to pacing and track selections–Enchantment was not all unhealthy. I don’t anticipate any modifications to be made for After Hours, however I’d be curious to see how significantly better an excellent barely remixed model of the nighttime spectacular might rating.
(That is much more pronounced with Harmonious, which I’ve already gone on report and stated will develop a cult fan following over time. I’d say that about half of that present was actually, actually robust. It was dragged down by the remaining, plus the water tacos and Stargate. I’d be actually curious to see how it will fee with friends minus the infrastructure and with a slight remix.)
Finally, that’s my view on Disney Enchantment returning for the 2024 After Hours at Magic Kingdom. It’s good as a free bonus for individuals who would already attend the occasion, however definitely not sufficient to maneuver the needle for us. And admittedly, we’re effective with that. Dropping over $125 for one fireworks present can be extreme…however one thing we’d strongly take into account had been this Needs!
The excellent news is that this additional reinforces the notion that Walt Disney World is lastly beginning to see the worth of its hardcore followers. Bringing again Soarin’ Over California was an enormous step on this route, even when it appeared small. (That will’ve by no means occurred even a decade in the past!) It’s the same story with Check Observe 3.0, Pirates of the Caribbean Tavern, return of Figment’s meet & greet, and several other different issues we’re beginning to see occur. They missed the mark–badly–with the fiftieth Anniversary celebration specializing in Disney+ synergy, however it looks as if they’re lastly beginning to get up to the worth of nostalgia for the parks themselves.
The precedent Enchantment’s return units is nice. When it comes to visitor satisfaction, this has gotta be one of many lowest scoring fireworks reveals in Magic Kingdom historical past (all of them have excessive scores in comparison with rides, however once more, there’s a low flooring on fireworks). If we are able to get Enchantment again, it’s solely a matter of time earlier than the reprisal of Needs…and perhaps even HalloWishes and Vacation Needs. Right here’s hoping that Walt Disney World doesn’t telephone within the comeback of these, and offers followers wonderful occasions or particular celebrations!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider Walt Disney World bringing again the Enchantment fireworks for the 2024 After Hours at Magic Kingdom? Should you had been on the fence, does this push you in the direction of shopping for tickets? Do you would like it had been Needs! that had been returning, or do you agree with our evaluation that a complete occasion must be constructed round nostalgia for that present? Are there seasonal occasions, leisure, or points of interest you’d wish to see resurrected? Do you agree or disagree with our ideas? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!