Since it debuted in 2003, “Wishes” has been a huge hit with Walt Disney World visitors. The nightly fireworks show deftly weaved together classic Disney songs set to stunning pyrotechnic displays. The holiday versions of “Wishes” were nothing short of spectacular. Like all good things, “Wishes” is coming to an end this May 11, being replaced the following day by an all new show that promises to combine fireworks, lasers, and projections.

Find out more about “Happily Ever After” below.

Starting May 12, “Happily Ever After” will be Magic Kingdom’s new nighttime spectacular. Very much in the spirit of “Wishes,” the show will feature characters, scenes, and songs from over 25 Disney films. Also like “Wishes,” Tinker Bell will still fly across the sky. However, much like Disneyland’s recent “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show, “Happily Ever After” will feature state of the art projections that will be displayed on Cinderella Castle during the show. Considering the quality of Magic Kingdom’s latest projection show “Once Upon A Time,” I expect these projections to be extremely high quality.

“Happily Ever After” will feature characters and scenes from both classic and modern Disney movies, including:

  • Moana
  • Zootopia
  • Toy Story
  • Sleeping Beauty
  • The Little Mermaid
  • Beauty and the Beast
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • The Jungle Book
  • The Hunchback of Notre Dame

While a new nighttime spectacular is generally good news, many Disney World fans are understandably upset that “Wishes” is glowing away on May 11. I definitely understand this sentiment, but as a fan of “Wishes,” I have a great deal of optimism for “Happily Ever After.” “Disneyland Forever” is my favorite fireworks show that Disney has put on in the United States, mainly for how much the projection show enhanced the fireworks. Since “Happily Ever After” seems to be very much in the same vein of “Wishes,” I hope that the spectacle is just increased since Cinderella Castle is such a great canvas for projections. We’ll find out on May 12 this year.

Are you excited for “Happily Ever After?” Will you be wishing that they kept “Wishes?” Let me know in the comments below!