Big entertainment and nighttime spectaculars are back at Disneyland. This is your guide to the Main Street Electrical Parade, Fantasmic!, World of Color, Disneyland Forever Fireworks, the new Tale of the Lion King show, and other entertainment at the resort.
Be sure to visit soon – The Main Street Electrical Parade and Disneyland Forever Fireworks end on September 1st. The remaining shows and spectaculars will remain on the schedule as normal for now.
Here’s everything you need to know about what’s returning, dining packages, merchandise, special food, and more…
Main Street Electrical Parade (Ends September 1st)
The Main Street Electrical Parade celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. And, while the official reopening day was April 22nd, the show made a surprise debut on April 20th. Yes, we were there to capture it all for you.
The 50 year old parade gets a brand new grand finale float which celebrates the theme of togetherness.
The 118-foot-long new float is in seven segments and evokes the art style of Mary Blair, complete with animated dolls of favorite Disney characters. All of it is represented in “Thousands of sparkling lights and electro-synthe-magnetic musical sound.” It is inspired by the history of the parade itself and has the same swoopy ribbon design as the “To Celebrate America” segment that it replaces.
Here’s some concept art broken up so you can see each segment and the dolls attached to it (click to see them larger):
And here’s what the new characters looked like in person on April 20th (click any image in the gallery to make them larger).
And, of course, Encanto gets a segment as well.
Note that the grand finale looks different depending on which side of the street you are standing on as there are different characters on each side. Also, the projectors from the Disneyland Forever Fireworks are used to light the buildings of Main Street as this final section rolls by. It’s a nice new effect.
The finale floats also have a different lighting system than the other floats in the parade. The lights appear to be color-changing LEDs, which make this unit extra shimmery.
What’s in and what’s out… In are cute new dolls representing popular Disney characters that weren’t previously found in the parade. Out is the To Celebrate America unit and patriotically dressed dancers. In fact, there are NO performers attached to the grand finale… none! That’s one way for the new version of this old parade to cut staffing and save costs, but it also takes away some of the pizzazz that this fun and colorful new segment really should have.
But the rest of the parade is mostly as you remember it. Lots of older characters and things from an era gone by, but also a lot of sentiment… which is really what makes this parade so popular. The Electrical Parade is comfort food for the soul.
The Main Street Electrical Parade returns for a “Limited run” with no official end date yet confirmed.
WATCH THE PARADE – We had an amazing view of this iconic parade, don’t miss it:
Main Street Electrical Parade Dining Package
Disneyland’s Plaza Inn gets in on the electrifying action with a special lunch package (entree, beverage & dessert with included viewing for the parade) giving you access to a special viewing section for the parade. The Electrical Parade meal includes fried chicken, Mac and cheese, corn bread (in a Mickey shape), and a berry cheesecake.
Electrical Parade Dining Package is $40 per adult and $25 per child (3-9 years old)
Fantasmic!
Disneyland’s beloved nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic!, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year! As of May 28th, the show is once again setting the Rivers of America ablaze nightly. We were there front and center on opening night to bring you unbeatable coverage of the show that sets the highest standard for theme park entertainment.
Fantasmic is exactly as you remember it from before park closures. It’s as big, bright, loud, and magical as ever was before. There were no cuts or changes that we could see. But this is still the newer 2017 version of the show, and many guests thought they were seeing something new.
Dusty was LIVE on our Facebook Page at 9pm on the 28th to bring you this epic video of Fantasmic that you simply have to see for yourselves. You’ll never get closer to the action than this (without catching fire):
The energy of the crowd was electric as Mickey took the stage. There were loud cheers as sparks flew from Mickey’s fingertips.
The projections were as clear as we’ve ever seen them.
The show’s water screens, projectors and fountains underwent refurbishment over the last few months. And everything looked fantastic!
We do wish they’d revert the pirate ship scene from Johnny Depp back to Peter Pan. It just fit better. Mickey is an animated character dreaming in all animated sequences… except for this one strange segment with a real-world pirate battle from the Pirates of the Caribbean film. The old Peter Pan segment still used the ship and stunts, but did so with a whimsical animated look that matched the rest of the show. (What are your thoughts?)
While the Maleficent Dragon didn’t breathe fire on opening night, but the river did still catch fire.
And the crowd went wild as the Mark Twain, piloted by Steamboat Willie, made its way around the river with all your favorite characters aboard.
Some imagination, huh!
Fantasmic! Dining Packages
If you want a guaranteed good spot to watch Fantasmic from, your best bet is to try your hand at a dining package. Right now, the only participating restaurants are River Belle Terrace and Hungry Bear. But Blue Bayou will also offer a package when it reopens in early June.
- River Belle Terrace offers a premium package that allows you to watch the show from your table ($75 per adult; $45 per child) or a standard package where you go sit on the ground in a preferred spot along the river’s edge ($50 per adult; $30 per child) – Note that you must request the dining package from your server and they are only available while supplies last.
- Hungry Bear‘s boxed “Fantasmic meal to go” are available for just $35 and can be reserved up to 60 days in advance. The viewing location is across from the Haunted Mansion at river’s edge. It’s an acceptable side view of the show, but not as good as the River Bell location.
- Blue Bayou (more info coming soon)
Plan ahead folks, you’ll be glad you did.
World of Color
The night has been reignited at Disney California Adventure, where World of Color has finally returned. Unfortunately, no new version of the show was produced, so this is just a rerun of the old show we all know so well.
Paradise Bay had been drained in order to complete a major refurb on the show. This light and water pageant is the primary nighttime entertainment in the park, so it’s been a big deal for there to be no real nighttime spectacular to hold guests into the park until late in the evening.
The show is almost exactly as we remembered it. Bright colors, playful fountains, projections of scenes from favorite Disney films, and Disney characters… even lasers and fire!
We have a glorious video for you from opening night.
IMPORTANT WORLD OF COLOR VIRTUAL QUEUE INFO: World of Color uses a Virtual Queue system. Guests must use the Disneyland App to place themselves into a queue for a viewing spot for the show. Virtual Queue enrollment will begin each day at noon for guests who have already entered the park (or who have a park hopper ticket and have entered at least one of the two parks at the resort). The app will then let you know if you were successful in booking a spot and in which viewing area you’ll be watching the show.
To secure a spot, use the Virtual Queue option in the Disneyland App:
You’ll then see a screen that says “Join Virtual Queue”:
And look carefully on the next screen, make sure you have selected “Disney California Adventure Park” as you won’t see World of Color options on the Disneyland tab!
Some walk-up availability may also be available at showtime. But that is a very risky strategy. Here’s another way to secure a spot…
World of Color Dining Packages and Dessert Parties
World of Color Dessert Parties and Dining Packages can be booked beginning April 20th.
- World of Color Dessert Party ($84 per guest age 2 and up): Enjoy sweet treats and a special seat for the show on Paradise Bay. Your dessert plate will include items such as raspberry cookies, cheesecake, and Mickey crispies. World of Color Dessert Party info HERE.
World of Color Dining Packages start at $50(adult)/$25(child):
- Wine Country Trattoria World of Color Dining Package: Prior to the show, enjoy a delicious 3-course meal, including dishes like chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, salmon, roasted vegetable lasagna, and tiramisu to name a few. Simply check in with your host or server about upgrading your reservation to the dining package!
- Storytellers Cafe World of Color Dining Package: Indulge in an all-you-care-to-enjoy dinner buffet with specialty sweets and a non-alcoholic beverage followed by reserved seating for World of Color. Upon arrival for your reservation, just let your server or the host know you want an upgrade to this exciting enhancement.
Disneyland Forever Fireworks (Ends September 1st)
Disneyland firework shows are always a spectacular “Kiss goodnight” at the end of a long day. While Disney’s go-to show is generally Mickey’s Mix Magic, the park has brought back Disneyland Forever, the spectacular show from Disneyland’s 60th Diamond Anniversary. Many folks were probably holding out hope for the return of Disneyland’s best-ever fireworks show, Remember… Dreams Come True, but Disneyland Forever will be a welcome change from the smaller scale Mickey’s Mix Magic.
Like the Main Street Electrical Parade, this spectacular made a surprise debut on the evening of the 20th. We captured these images for you and a live video.
And while this show likely isn’t everyone’s favorite, it does have a lot of gee-whiz factor with projections on Main Street, inflatables on the rooftops, fake snow for the obligatory Frozen segment, lasers, and character flybys on the wire above the castle. Kids are going to love this one, even if we older folks pine for the more deluxe Remember Dreams Come True show from the 50th anniversary.
All in all, it’s a flawed but very pretty show. And we like it better than the default Mickey’s Mix Magic (which is really Disney’s budget fireworks show these days).
And don’t miss our live video, which includes the projections on the side buildings of Main Street USA, and inflatables on the rooftops.
Not all of the returned entertainment are spectaculars, there’s some charming smaller entertainment at the resort which has returned as well…
Tale of the Lion King
One area that we have been wanting to see reopen is the open-air Fantasyland Theater, where Mickey and the Magical Map played before the shutdown in 2019. While that particular show has been canceled, a previous favorite show from Disney California Adventure has moved onto the Fantasyland Theater stage and opened to the public on May 28th: Tale of the Lion King
This show is a human retelling of The Lion King told by Storytellers of the Pride Lands and is a mix of live music and dance.
Moving this show to the Fantasyland Theater is a great idea— and one that we had suggested during its debut run in 2019. Its original location was out in the unshaded area of Paradise Bay and although the show was fun, many guests were unable to watch due to the inhospitable conditions of heat and a lack of shade. That has all been fixed by moving the production to the shaded Fantasyland Theater and updating the show to fit the larger stage. We really hope that people will take time to watch this charming show as the music, dancing, and energy are fantastic!
Here’s a teaser video from a media preview on May 26th:
Our full Tale of the Lion King story & review is available HERE.
Princess Storytelling at Royal Theater
The delightful Storytelling at Royal Theatre in Princess Fantasy Faire returned on April 29th.
The show is exactly as it was before, with hosts Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones leading witty and musical renditions of scenes from Beauty and the Beast and Tangled. The characters themselves also make an appearance and then meet with guests after the show.
Disneyland Resort Nighttime Spectacular Food Guide!
You’ll find all sorts of eats and treats inspired by the returning nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland. Here’s what you can find and where you can find it!
Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor (available on Mobile Order)
- Uni-cone: Banana, cherry, and pistachio ice cream in a white chocolate-dipped waffle cone with fantasy sprinkles
Hub Churro Cart
- Blueberry Looks Good on You: Blueberry-flavored sugar-dusted churro (New)
- Blueberry Cheesecake Dipping Sauce: Blueberry fruit topping with cream cheese icing (New)
Town Square Popcorn Cart
- Electric Pop: Brightly-colored kettle corn (New)
Fantasyland Theatre and Small World Popcorn Carts
- Electric Sweet & Salty Popcorn: Colorful sweet kettle corn combined with butter-flavored popcorn (New)
Fantasyland and Small World Churro Carts
- Electric Sprinkle Dip: Citrus buttercream frosting with sprinkles (New)
Jolly Holiday Bakery Cafe (available on Mobile Order)
- Parade Macaron: Yellow macaron filled with honey buttercream and lemon curd topped with rainbow sprinkles and Main Street Electrical Parade drum decoration (New)
- Mine Cart Brownie: White chocolate-dipped dark chocolate brownie topped with sugar gems
- Linzer Cookie: Citrus shortbread linzer cookie with strawberry glaze
Plaza Inn
- Parade Confetti Bundt Cake: Confetti cake with blue sopapilla filling, cream cheese glaze, and Main Street Electrical Parade chocolate décor (New)
Refreshment Corner Hosted by Coca-Cola (available on Mobile Order)
- Electric Relish Dog: All-beef hot dog, bacon, mustard cheese sauce, electric relish, and sport peppers served with a choice of a Cuties mandarin orange or small bag of chips (New)
- Firefly Chips: Corn chips topped with chili, cheddar, Monterey Jack, and jalapeños
Red Rose Taverne hosted by Minute Maid (available on Mobile Order)
- Pineapple Night Light: Fresh pineapple purée and Sprite with a glow cube (New)
Town Square Churro Cart
- Parade Dreams: Colorful sugar-dusted churro with fruit drizzle garnished with rainbow candy (New)
Town Square Popcorn Cart
- Electric Pop: Brightly-colored kettle corn (New)
And other treats at Candy Palace and around the resort:
Electrical Parade Popcorn Bucket and Sipper
Be sure to check out the popcorn carts and dining locations around the park for these collectible popcorn buckets and sippers. But beware, these new items are VERY popular and long lines develop at Disneyland on days they are available. DON’T JUMP INTO LINE without first checking to see if the items you want are available with Mobile Order at various restaurants around the park. You’ll save hours waiting in line simply by mobile ordering the bucket and/or sipper!
We managed to get our hands on a bucket and sipper and they are ADORABLE. These are going very fast. But… don’t panic just yet… Disneyland has promised that inventory will continue to roll in all summer. So if they sell out one day, they could be back the next.
- Light-up Turtle Premium Sipper ($29.79 – Limit two per person, per transaction while supplies last. Availability may vary throughout the season.) -The Turtle Sipper is available at: Refreshment Corner, Jolly Holiday, Red Wagon (corn dog cart), Red Rose Taverne, Harbor Galley, Edelweiss Snacks, various popcorn carts and beverage stands. Note that the park did add inventory to other locations as well on opening day. So check around if you don’t see them at the above-listed locations.
- Light-up Elliott Dragon Premium Bucket (approximately $33 – price varies by location – Limit two per person, per transaction while supplies last. Availability may vary throughout the season.) – The Elliott Popcorn Bucket is expected to be available at: Refreshment Corner, Jolly Holiday, Galactic Grill, Hungry Bear, and various popcorn carts
- Lightbulb Sipper & Firefly Glow Cube – THEY DID NOT SHOW UP ON OPENING DAY AND WILL ARRIVE AT A LATER DATE – Many of the same locations offering the sipper and popcorn bucket will also offer a “Lightbulb sipper” and “Firefly Glow Cube” (sipper $29.79, glow cube $4.99 – limits apply)
Electrical Parade Special Merchandise
A limited amount of Electrical Parade merchandise is also available at the Disneyland Resort (and shopDisney as well). You’ll find a t-shirt with a print that covers the entire shirt, leggings, Minnie ears (of course), the required mini Loungefly backpack, and even a dress with a glow in the dark print… UNFORTUNATELY, many of those items are already sold out or have not yet made their way to the resort and will arrive at a later date.
Check out our Main Street Electrical Parade Merchandise Guide HERE.
But what about the entertainment still missing at the Disneyland Resort? Let’s take a look…
Hyperion Theater
When Frozen closed at DCA, the cast was told it was a permanent closure and not to expect it to reopen when the parks eventually did. The giant theater sits shuttered for now. We are interested in hearing what kind of show you’d like to see take the stage here.
Paint The Night Parade
Although Main Street Electrical Parade will be returning, nothing has been mentioned about its spiritual successor, Paint the Night Parade. It debuted at Disneyland during the 60th anniversary in 2015 and was most recently performed in 2018 with the opening of Pixar Pier. With most of the returning entertainment coming to Disneyland, DCA could REALLY use the added magic of this colorful and energetic parade. When can we do this again?!
Magic Happens
But what we’re most surprised has not been announced is the return of Disneyland’s newest parade, Magic Happens. The parade debuted in February 2020 and ran for just a couple of weeks before the parks shut down.
We hope that it makes an appearance later this year, but it has not been confirmed yet. In the meantime, you can take a trip down memory lane with our article about Magic Happens below:
FIRST LOOK at Disneyland’s New Magic Happens Parade (PHOTOS!)
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Let’s Hear From You
There’s finally an exciting lineup of entertainment headed to Disneyland. Is there something in particular you’re looking forward to? Is there still something missing from the resort that you wish would come back? Do you like the Mary Blair style of the new Electrical Parade finale float? Does Disney California Adventure have enough nighttime entertainment? Are you hoping that Magic Happens and/or Paint the Night makes another appearance next year? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
More Disneyland Entertainment News:
Character meet and greets with hugs and autographs return! Read the full details:
And Encanto takes over:
- Updated May 29th with photos and video from the opening night of Fantasmic!
- Updated May 27th with photos and video from previews of Fantasmic and Tale of the Lion King.
- Updated on April 7th, 2022 with information on new dining packages and merchandise as well as Royal Theater storytelling.
- Updated again April 12th with special treats and additional information
- Updated April 18th with new video and images of the Main Street Electrical Parade
- Updated April 20th with photos and video from the surprise previews of Main Street Electrical Parade and Disneyland Forever Fireworks
- Updated April 22nd with photos and video from World of Color and merchandise and popcorn bucket information
- Updated April 29th with information on Storytelling at Royal Theater
NV, DS
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