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. However, the most extensive reimagination of the original show premiered on J(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. 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.
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.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.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.Peter Pan and Captain Hook engage in an epic battle aboard the Sailing Ship Columbia, followed by the hungry crocodile.Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket narrowly escape an angry Monstro, the whale who charges toward the audience.Kaa, the hypnotizing snake from The Jungle Book, appears on the stage while King Louie and his monkey henchmen cruise past on barges.A tuxedoed Mickey dreams he is Sorcerer Mickey from Fantasia.The original 1992 version of “Fantasmic!” consisted of the following scenes: But it has evolved and changed over those three decades. “Fantasmic!” premiered on the Rivers of America at Disneyland on May 13, 1992, and since opening, has performed nearly 11,000 shows (and counting). (and don’t worry, there will not be a quiz) How much do you really know about Disney’s longest-running nighttime spectacular? Almost everyone thinks the Disneyland version is superior. 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. 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.Īnd P.S. 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. “We invite you to join Mickey and experience Fantasmic!, a journey beyond your wildest imagination…” What is Disneyland’s Fantasmic? “Fantasmic!” is celebrating its 30 th 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!Īnd 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! Photo courtesy of Disneyland Resort