Fantasmic Returns to WDW With New Show Sequence and Effects

Fantasmic! officially returns to Walt Disney World at long last today, November 3rd! The beloved nighttime spectacular and its designated outdoor amphitheater at Disney’s Hollywood Studios have been shuttered since the resort’s 2020 closure. 

The live performers, music, special effects, and pyrotechnics we all know and love have returned… along with a brand new show sequence. 

Disney Live Entertainment Show Director, Matthew Hamel, shared more on the new scene: “Through this entire sequence, we go on a journey with our heroes. We see them faced with a decision, and how hard that can be for them, then watch as they find that strength within themselves to push through in a truly spectacular way.”

The new “heroes” sequence features a high-energy Aladdin stunt portion, a heart-pounding scene starring Elsa set to the song Show Yourself, as well as adventurous moments with Pocahontas, Moana, and Mulan.

They’ve put some TLC into other show elements, as well. Disney Live Entertainment Producer, Laurice Marier says: “Even beyond the new scene, we’ve taken this time to upgrade the lasers, the lighting, the sound, all to bring this show back even more beautiful than it’s ever been. We’re all really just so excited for guests to see it.”

Cast Member previews began in late October, with the improved spectacular debuting for all on November 3rd. Additionally, Fantasmic! dining packages are now available for performances on November 30th and beyond. 

Fantasmic! Favorites Return

MiceChat attended a media preview on November 2nd. While the show had to end early due to the weather, we did get to see about half of it. Below, we share what you can expect to find on your next visit.  

The opening monologue of Fantasmic! remains almost entirely unchanged, which is a comforting dose of nostalgia for fans of the original show. Fantasmic! has always had one of the most iconic opening sequences out of all of the Disney World shows, and it was a wonderful idea to keep the essence of that in this revamp.

The improvements on the lighting and sound are instantly noticeable. The moment that the stage starts to sparkle with lights, you can sense that the beloved show has been given a gorgeous new coat of paint, and it looks REALLY good in it. None of the new lasers, lights, or sounds detract from the experience; they all add another layer of magic and enjoyment. The projections on the water screens are more colorful and crisp than before, and added water effects give a little something extra to the instantly recognizable projection scenes.

The always popular dancing flower lives! During the water screen scene with the floating and blooming flowers, the larger-than-life dancing flower can be seen on the stage behind. The exclamations of joy from the crowd made it clear that everyone was happy to see this old favorite return.

The Lion King scene remains but has been invigorated with extra lighting, lasers, and characters! The ostriches, cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, crocodiles, and rhinos on stage are now joined by Rafiki! While he used to come by on a raft, he is now a character on stage throughout the entire scene. The rafts of dancing monkeys are still a part of the moment, and their vibrant green fur seems brighter than ever. Added water effects and lasers on the mountain give the scene so much life. It was something I never knew that it needed until I saw it with my own eyes.

The beautiful bubble scene after The Lion King continues to show scenes and characters from Disney’s most adored movies. While this used to occur with a dark backdrop, the mountain is now covered in laser bubbles. Colorful jets of water shoot up from the lake, and the water screens are flanked by bubbles made of light. It adds a lot of depth to the scene and creates an overall more immersive experience.

Don’t worry, Monstro will still show up at the end to give everyone a good splash. But after that, changes are coming your way…

A Sneak Peak At New Fantasmic! Scenes

The first character highlighted in the new heroes scene is Pocahontas! She appears standing near the top of the mountain singing “Just Around the Riverbend.” Images of leaves float up the mountain as she sings, evoking the mysterious colors of the wind.

Another water screen scene follows, with a concentration on some of our favorite heroes and heroines! Pocahontas, Tiana, Tarzan, Mirabel, Quasimodo, Hercules, and Mulan are all featured in a striking compilation of moments from their movies. 

The next character to be highlighted is Mulan! It is an entirely new and breathtaking moment, with Mulan sparring in front of the mountain to the popular song “I’ll Make a Man Out of You.” The lights, the laser designs, and the choreography all combine to create a visual masterpiece. The additional use of water screens to sporadically showcase the training montage from the movie creates an overwhelming sense of comradery and excitement. It truly transports you right back to the movie Mulan, only this time you get to be a part of it.

The transition from Mulan to Aladdin is seamless. You are taken from one hero’s training in a military camp to another’s adventures in Agrabah. Aladdin begins climbing the mountain while “One Jump Ahead” plays in the background. A high-energy chase begins as several townspeople try to catch Aladdin, all the while performing extreme stunts and acrobatic wonders. The climax comes at the very end, while stars twinkle on the mountain, and Aladdin sings, “There’s so much more to me.”

The next integration of a hero into this new part of Fantasmic! is Elsa’s moment. The water screens flash with images of Elsa and The Nokk, the horse-shaped elemental spirit of water that Elsa rides across the ocean in Frozen II. Elsa sings “Show Yourself” while using her powers to control the water around her. We all know and love the original Frozen movie, but I think I speak for almost all of us when I say we’re ready to let it go. Frozen II is long overdue for some love in the parks, and the way it was integrated into Fantasmic! was brilliant.

Here’s an abbreviated snip of that scene: 

The last hero to be featured is Moana, and her section is nothing short of perfectly magical. The scene begins on water screens with the words of Moana’s grandmother and the image of her manta ray reincarnation. Moana appears at the bottom of the stage near the water’s edge singing “Song of the Ancestors.” She seems to control the water with her voice and even walks across the water itself! At the end of her song, proclaiming “I am Moana,” she holds up the Heart of Te Fiti, which glows brilliantly behind streams of water.

The finale of the heroes scene is a water screen depiction of all of our heroes. They are each surrounded by loved ones and admirers, having completed their heroes’ journey. It is a beautiful, emotional moment and the perfect way to end this new extended scene in Fantasmic! 

More Fantasmic! Favorites Make A Comeback

The princes and princesses are back! The beautiful floats carrying Beauty and the Beast, Prince Eric and Ariel, and Snow White and Prince Charming have returned. Each float is enhanced with laser images on the mountain and colorful water displays. This iconic scene has always warmed my heart, and the newly enhanced lights, lasers, sounds, and water only add to the romance.

The crowd’s true favorite came to the stage once the couples’ barges disappeared: The Evil Queen from Snow White! The roaring of the crowd was nearly deafening. The scene is mostly unchanged in terms of content, but the added lighting and lasers add complexity and excitement to the already incredible scene.

Unfortunately, the production of Fantasmic! we saw was canceled during this scene due to inclement weather. I applaud Disney for making their cast and crew members their top priority and for being completely sure that they have safe working conditions.

It was an absolute torrential downpour mere moments after they announced the cancellation of the rest of the performance, and I was truly glad that they did not try to soldier through the event. If anything, this makes me look forward to my next trip to Hollywood Studios to see Fantasmic! even more! I can’t wait to see the rest of the villains’ scene as well as the familiar steamboat full of characters at the end of the show.

Let’s Hear From You

Mickey’s little Fantasmic! dance, that iconic theme song from Bruce Healy, AND sparkly new scenes… And while we had hoped to see a new Maleficent Dragon and a bigger steamboat for Mickey, we’re so excited this show is back at Hollywood Studios! 

How does the new ‘heroes’ sequence sound to you? Will you be singing along on opening night on November 3rd or are you planning a trip soon to see the long-awaited return? Let us know in the comments below!