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Glow With the Show ears debut at Walt Disney World with freebies filling the audience for Fantasmic! 15th anniversary

in Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Walt Disney World

Posted on by Ricky Brigante 34 Comments
Mickey Mouse and favorite Disney characters take the stage on a brilliantly illuminated riverboat during a nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World, thrilling fans as Glow With the Show ears shimmer across the audience in honor of Fantasmic’s anniversary celebration.

The marginally popular Glow with the Show Ear hats that first appeared at the Disneyland Resort in June 2012 made their Walt Disney World debut tonight in honor of the 15th anniversary of Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The interactive versions of Disney’s famous Mickey Ear hats light up in a variety colors in sync with show elements, often to the beat of music.

A vibrant display of Mickey Mouse ear hats with luminous white ears and dazzling multicolored lights illuminating the night, capturing the iconic Glow With the Show experience during Fantasmic at Walt Disney World.

Each set of Glow with the Show Ear hats is normally available for $25, but Fantasmic! dinner package guests attending tonight’s performance received them free, filling the middle section of the audience – a perfect opportunity for Disney to snap some promotional photos to show off how fun this technology can be when it’s used en masse. (Note: The ears are not normally included in the dinner package nor are they free. This was a one-time giveaway.)

Video: Glow With the Show ears debut at Walt Disney World during Fantastmic!

Here’s what they looked like tonight in the center section filled with glowing heads:

Guests fill the night air at Walt Disney World, their colorful Glow With the Show Mickey Mouse ears lighting up as they come together to celebrate Fantasmic’s 15th anniversary.

A brilliantly illuminated boat glides across the nighttime lagoon as crowds of fans along the shore raise glowing orange lights, capturing the excitement of Fantasmic at Walt Disney World, where guests wearing Glow With the Show ears light up to become part of the unforgettable Disney spectacle.

But here’s one of the side sections in which far fewer people actually purchased the ears:

Fans at Walt Disney World gather under the night sky, enchanted by the dazzling lights and vibrant water effects of the Fantasmic! show. Glow With the Show ears illuminate the audience, filling the amphitheater with a sea of radiant colors that enhance the magic of this unforgettable spectacle.

Disney characters wave from a riverboat during Fantasmic! at Walt Disney World, thrilling the audience with bursts of fireworks and vibrant lights reflecting off a sea of glowing Mickey ears in the crowd.

There was still a fairly large number of these ear hats found in the side sections, likely due to it being the debut night, but they certainly didn’t fill up as much.

The Glow With the Show ears haven’t proved to be terribly successful in California’s parks, despite a similarly large debut. When the ears were first handed out for use with the World of Color nighttime show during a big press event, the spectacle was impressive:

But since then, only a handful of glowing ears can be seen on an average night in the park, not nearly the hundreds Disney would hope for. With a large inventory now in Walt Disney World’s hands, Disney’s hoping it will catch on on the east coast more than it has out west.

Beginning Oct. 19, guests will also be able to experience the Wishes fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom with the new Glow with the Show Ear hats, followed by more glowing entertainment during the holiday season, glowing with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Holiday Wishes as well as Holiday Wishes and Celebrate the Magic at the Magic Kingdom.

(Photos and video by Dave Drumheller)

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