Following the end of the 50th anniversary celebration and the final performance of Disney Enchantment, Happily Ever After has returned to Magic Kingdom. The nighttime spectacular is virtually unchanged except for the addition of Main Street, U.S.A. projections.
Happily Ever After Returns
“Happily Ever After” is a fireworks and projection mapping show that premiered at the Magic Kingdom on May 12, 2017. The announcement that it would replace the popular “Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams” caused some disappointment among Disney fans.
The show went away during the pandemic, then returned on July 1st, 2021, for a few months before being replaced by Disney Enchantment, which was performed nightly since the World’s Most Magical Celebration began on October 1, 2021.
The return performance features new projection mapping that extends down Main Street U.S.A. for a fully immersive experience at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
We had the chance to experience a preview of Happily Ever After, but the show has officially returned for nightly performances at 9:00 p.m. each night through May 13 and at 9:20 p.m. beginning May 14.
The theme song of Happily Ever After is performed by Angie Keilhauer and Jordan Fisher. Fisher advocated for the return of “Happily Ever After” to Magic Kingdom, tagging Walt Disney World in a Tweet last summer to ask, “Is ‘Happily Ever After’ gonna come back at some point? Like… Shouldn’t it come back?”
Fisher and Keilhauer were both among the crowds at Magic Kingdom tonight to experience the return performance of “Happily Ever After.”
Disney songs featured in Happily Ever After include “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog,” “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana,” “Friend Like Me” from “Aladdin,” and “Love is an Open Door” from “Frozen.”
Clips and characters from films such as “Finding Nemo,” “Brave,” “Big Hero 6,” “Mulan,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean” are all projected onto the buildings of Main Street, U.S.A. and Cinderella Castle as part of the Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular.
And of course, Tinker Bell flies from the castle as she has at the climax of almost every Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular (weather permitting).
The Happily Ever After poster replaced the Disney Enchantment poster at the Main Street, U.S.A. train station this morning.
Tonight’s Official Return of the Happily Ever After Nighttime Spectacular at Magic Kingdom
Disney Enchantment
Disney Enchantment was announced on June 22, 2021 as the special nighttime spectacular for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary and beyond.
The show debuted when The World’s Most Magical Celebration began on October 1, 2021 to highly mixed reviews. Fans criticized its lack of connection to the history of Walt Disney World, largely focusing on newer Disney films instead. Additionally, the structure of the show itself and its message were also lambasted. Many said it fell flat compared to Happily Ever After.
The first iteration of the show lasted until early May 2022, when additional pyrotechnics and laser effects were quietly added to the show’s finale.
In August, Disney quietly updated the show again, this time overhauling the entire introduction to include a short tribute to Walt and Roy Disney, who were instrumental in the creation of Walt Disney World. Some references to opening day attractions were also added, alleviating some complaints about the show’s lack of historical connection to the park. A few lines of narration from Angela Bassett were also replaced by Mickey Mouse’s voice.
At the D23 Expo 2022 in September, Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products head Josh D’Amaro announced that Happily Ever After would return after the 50th Anniversary celebration concluded in March 2023.
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