“Fantasmic!” is celebrating its 30th anniversary at Disneyland, and what better way to mark the momentous milestone than for it to return in all its glory on May 28, 2022, after more than two years!

And be sure to read all the way to the bottom for some video and news from a cast member preview of the show the other night! 

Fantasmic - Sorcerer Mickey
Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort

“We invite you to join Mickey and experience Fantasmic!, a journey beyond your wildest imagination…”

What is Disneyland’s Fantasmic?

Just in case you haven’t seen it (or haven’t seen it in a while), “Fantasmic!” follows Mickey Mouse, who, while dreaming he’s the Sorcerer’s Apprentice from Fantasia, faces off against an army of villains, using his imagination – and of course some Disney magic – to save the day.

The show features live and stunt performers, favorite Disney characters, special effects, lasers, pyrotechnics, and images from classic Disney movies projected on 60-foot-wide by 30-foot-tall mist screens.

And P.S. The version of “Fantasmic!” that premiered in October 1998 at Walt Disney World (and is expected to re-open later this year) is different from the Disneyland show. Almost everyone thinks the Disneyland version is superior.  

How much do you really know about Disney’s longest-running nighttime spectacular?

(and don’t worry, there will not be a quiz)

“Fantasmic!” premiered on the Rivers of America at Disneyland on May 13, 1992, and since opening, has performed nearly 11,000 shows (and counting). But it has evolved and changed over those three decades. 

The original 1992 version of “Fantasmic!” consisted of the following scenes:

  • A tuxedoed Mickey dreams he is Sorcerer Mickey from Fantasia
  • Kaa, the hypnotizing snake from The Jungle Book, appears on the stage while King Louie and his monkey henchmen cruise past on barges.
  • Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket narrowly escape an angry Monstro, the whale who charges toward the audience.
  • Peter Pan and Captain Hook engage in an epic battle aboard the Sailing Ship Columbia, followed by the hungry crocodile.
  • A “Happily Ever After Medley” of love songs from Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Snow White accompanied by waltzing couples on barges.
  • Unhappy with the merriment, the Evil Queen/Hag from Snow White casts a spell to turn Mickey’s dream “into a nightmare Fantasmic” and calls on “the forces of evil” for help – namely Ursula, the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, the demon from Fantasia’s Night on Bald Mountain segment, and Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty.
  • Although Maleficent transforms into an intimidating fire-breathing dragon (at that time, a dragon head puppet on a stick), Mickey defeats the villains and celebrates (dressed as Steamboat Willie) with a party cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat packed from stem to stern with beloved Disney characters.
Fantasmic - Mark Twain Riverboat
 Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Fantasmic - Mark Twin Riverboat

There’s no doubt the original 1992 version was “Disneytastic,” but that didn’t keep Disney from “plussing” the show over the years, including the addition of the now-iconic 45-foot-tall three-dimensional fire-breathing Maleficent dragon – which premiered on June 12, 2009.

Fantasmic - 45-foot dragon
Photo by Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

Fantasmic, So, You Think You Know Disneyland’s Fantasmic!?

However, the most extensive reimagination of the original show premiered on July 17, 2017 (dubbed “Fantasmic!” 2.0 by fans), when state-of-the-art projection mapping technology was added, as well as new scenes, music, and characters from The Lion King, Aladdin, Finding Nemo, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Captain Jack Sparrow even took over the Sailing Ship Columbia from Peter Pan to battle a crew of ghost pirates accompanied by the franchise’s swashbuckling soundtrack.

Fantasmic - Projections
In 2017, Disney added state-of-the-art projections on Tom Sawyer’s Island (Photo by Jeff Gritchen/Orange County Register)

Fantasmic - Pirates

Fantasmic - Jack Sparrow

Other notable 2017 additions were images from The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo to the “underwater” section leading up to the Monstro scene, plus the addition of Aladdin and Jasmine flying over the stage on a magic carpet and the replacement of Snow White and Prince Charming with Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from Tangled – along with “I See the Light” replacing “Someday My Prince Will Come” – in the “Happily Ever After” medley.

Fantasmic - Aladdin and Jasmine

Fantasmic - Belle and Beast

Fantasmic - Ariel and Eric

Fantasmic - Rapunzel and Flynn Rider

The invitation list for Mickey’s riverboat party at the end of the show has also evolved over the years as new characters and movies have been introduced into the Disney and Pixar library.

About that dragon – or what I like to call Maleficent math:

During the show’s climax, the villainous Maleficent rises 45 feet in 17 seconds before transforming into the fully animated 3-D dragon that’s 45 feet tall by 28 feet wide and weighs approximately 18,000 pounds.

Fantasmic - Maleficent

Fantasmic - dragon
Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort

The massive dragon also lights the Rivers of America on fire for 25 blazing seconds.

Fantasmic - Dragon

Not to be outdone by a dragon that’s “only” 45 feet tall, Kaa slithers across the “Fantasmic!” stage at an impressive 100 feet long.

Fantasmic - Kaa

Fantasmic, So, You Think You Know Disneyland’s Fantasmic!?

 

Now You See It; Now You Don’t

Part of the magic of Disneyland’s nighttime spectaculars is that they seem to come out of nowhere, and “Fantasmic!” is no exception – especially when you consider the amount of technology the show requires.

In fact, the two light towers that appear at the beginning of the show (and rise to a height of 40 feet in less than a minute) are hidden 26 feet underground during the day. And lurking beneath the water as the Mark Twain Riverboat and Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes make their daytime rounds are 21 fountains and six “whale tails” that create the effect of Monstro charging across the Rivers of America. But that’s not all.

Fantasmic, So, You Think You Know Disneyland’s Fantasmic!?
The fountains and mist screen equipment have all been rebuilt for the big return of Fantasmic! This equipment is sunken below the river by day and invisible to guests until the show starts. Even then, it’s barely noticeable in the darkness.

The show’s main stage on Tom Sawyer Island (including underground housing for special effects) was built especially for “Fantasmic!” but by day, it’s “disguised” as a boat dock and cider mill. And the audio that envelopes the audience? That comes from four speaker stacks on Tom Sawyer Island and three more in New Orleans Square. I bet you never noticed, did you?

The running time for “Fantasmic!” is a tad longer than 25 minutes, compared to just under 15 minutes for the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show and 22 minutes for “World of Color” in California Adventure.


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Will Anything Change When Fantasmic Reopens May 28th? 

Disneyland held a cast member preview of Fantasmic the other night. The pathways and riverbanks of New Orleans Square were once again standing (or sitting) room only as they all waited to see if the powers of Mickey’s incredible imagination were “strong enough and bright enough to withstand the evil forces that invade Mickey’s dreams.” 

At the end of the show was thunderous applause, and even a few tears. Fantasmic had returned at long last exactly as everyone remembered it. There were no changes that we can note. But one kind cast member did produce this little teaser for us that’s just about perfect to get me out of this chair and into a car to wait along with everyone else for the public return of Fantasmic tonight, May 28th!

Enjoy…

Let’s Hear From You!

Fantasmic, So, You Think You Know Disneyland’s Fantasmic!?

What’s your favorite scene in “Fantasmic!” and will you be on the shores of Rivers of America when it returns this weekend to continue its reign as Disney’s longest-running nighttime spectacular?

For more information on the return of Fantasmic! and all the big entertainment this summer, please check out our guide: Disneyland Spectaculars & Entertainment Everything You Need To Know (HERE) 

Fantasmic, So, You Think You Know Disneyland’s Fantasmic!?
Everything you need to know about shows and spectaculars returning to the Disneyland Resort, including the new Tale of the Lion King and the return of Fantasmic! (Click Here)

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Samantha Davis-Friedman
Samantha was born and raised in Southern California. She spent ten years working in television production; however, her English degree from UCLA was finally put to good use in 2011 when she began writing about family travel and theme parks. She has enjoyed sharing her adventures with readers ever since.