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Credit: DisneyAfter more than a year without fireworks at Walt Disney World Resort, we cannot wait to have them return to the Disney World theme parks! One of the most popular theme park nighttime spectaculars is Magic Kingdom’s Happily Ever After.
Happily Ever After lights up the Disney sky with stunning pyrotechnics during projection mapping on all of Cinderella Castle. The show uses classic Disney music and the iconic song “Happily Ever After,” sung by Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer, bookending the show. The show moves Guests to tears every night and is a must-see for anyone on a Walt Disney World vacation.
There is so much to discuss when it comes to this show. We will take a deep dive to find out and identify when Happily Ever After fireworks will return to Disney World, what to expect during the Happily Ever After fireworks at Disney World, and determine the best time to see the Happily. Ever After fireworks at Disney World!
When do Happily Ever After fireworks return to Disney World?
When is the Happily Ever After fireworks show scheduled to return to Walt Disney World?
As we discussed, Happily Ever After has not gone on for over a year. When Walt Disney World closed in March 2020, Guests saw the final performances of Happily Ever After that would display for quite some time. Now, as social distancing measures and face-covering measures have been relaxed, the opportunity to bring fireworks back to Disney World is a lot easier!
Recently, Disney announced that Happily Ever After would be returning on July 1, which was exciting news! The show will run nightly until October 1, which is when Disney’s Enchantment will debut as the official nighttime spectacular firework show for the 50th anniversary.
What time is the Happily Ever After fireworks at Magic Kingdom?
Fireworks at Magic Kingdom can vary in terms of showtime depending on the evening and the theme park hours. In July, Magic Kingdom will extend its hours, and the show will run promptly at 9:15 p.m. each evening.
According to the Disney World calendar, the newly extended July hours seem to go away in August, with Magic Kingdom closing at 9:00 p.m., before the current 9:15 p.m. time slot. That being said, we will likely either see Magic Kingdom extend its hours or, Happily Ever After, will need to run at an earlier time.
Related: Twitter Explodes With Excitement as Disney Brings Back Fireworks
Keep an eye on the Disney World Calendar and My Disney Experience app when you decide to visit Magic Kingdom to ensure you have the correct time for Happily Ever After. If you want to double-check, asking a Cast Member is always a great idea as well!
How frequently does the Happily Ever After firework show occur?
Happily Ever After will run nightly. Of course, there are circumstances in which Disney could cancel the show, weather being a big one. Disney can choose what to do in terms of when the show plays or if it plays each night, but typically, Guests can expect to see the stunning fireworks every night.
On big holidays such as the Fourth of July, Disney may choose to forgo Happily Ever After and play a different show. If that ever happens, Guests will be alerted before the show.
What to expect during the Happily Ever After fireworks at Disney World
Where is the best place to watch Happily Ever After fireworks outside the park?
We have dove deeply into this topic in the past, as there are many locations Guests can enjoy the show when not in the parks. Seeing Happily Ever After in a new location can also create a new and unique experience with the show, and it is something I recommend doing if you have seen the show in front of the castle in the past!
Disney Resorts are the go-to spots if you can’t get a Park reservation but want to see the fireworks. Magic Kingdom has three Resorts on the monorail loop that you can visit! Just remember, many Resorts require Guests to have a dining reservation, so if you want to visit a Resort, it is a good idea to go with drinks or dinner in mind.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
This is my personal favorite spot to see the fireworks when I am not in Magic Kingdom! I like to grab a drink and take it to the beach area, look out toward the castle, sit on a swinging bench, and hear the music pipe in from the speakers. The setting feels very relaxing and romantic and is a great way to see the fireworks without the crowds.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Here, Guests can sit on a rocking chair out on a boat dock and watch the fireworks go off, with the Happily Ever After soundtrack playing simultaneously. Being right on the water, it is very relaxing, and the Electrical Water Pageant comes by and offers sweeping views.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
The closest to Magic Kingdom, here is where you will get your best views. Guests have a variety of viewing options from outside to balconies that the Resort has set up. Guests can watch the fireworks, dine at California Grill, and watch the fireworks from the top floor of the Contemporary Resort.
Guests can watch from the windows, but they can also watch from the giant balcony attached to the restaurant!
How long is the Happily Ever After show?
Happily Ever After lasts just under 20 minutes. Suppose we take a look at the our YouTube video of Happily Ever After; we can see that the show lasts just under 20 minutes. Take a look for yourself below!
That being said, that time does not account for the number of times Guests typically wait to see the show. Some Guests claim their spot in front of the castle hours before the show! Personally, I have waited around 45 minutes to get a front-row view in the past and have shown up minutes before to get a Main Street, U.S.A. view.
What weather conditions would cancel the Happily Ever After show?
Happily Ever After is a firework and projection show and can be affected by the weather. If it is raining, the show can still continue, but that is dependent on how hard the rain is. When it is pouring, the show will not be able to resume, but Disney will, at times, try to wait a few minutes to see if things change. Lightning can cause the same issue.
Music used for the Happily Ever After fireworks at Disney World
What songs are used for the Happily Ever After fireworks show?
Although Happily Ever After is under 20 minutes, the show has 29 songs in it! Guests will not hear each song play through fully when watching, but rather, small bits of the show. Below is a full list in chronological order of each song as played in Happily Ever After.
1. “Happily Ever After” – Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer
2. “Down in New Orleans” – The Princess and the Frog
3. “When you Wish Upon a Star” – Pinocchio
4. “Part of Your World” – The Little Mermaid
5. “When you Wish Upon a Star”
6. “Out There” – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
7. “Touch the Sky” – Brave
8. “One Jump Ahead (Reprise)” – Aladdin
9. “How Far I’ll Go” – Moana
10. “Friend Like Me” – Aladdin
11. “Trashin’ The Camp” – Tarzan
12. “Hakuna Matata” – The Lion King
13. “I’ve Got No Strings” – Pinocchio
14. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” –Toy Story
15. “The Bare Necessities” – The Jungle Book
16. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” – Toy Story
17. “The Bare Necessities” – The Jungle Book
18. “That’s What Friends are For” – The Jungle Book
19. “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” –Toy Story
20. “Love is an Open Door” – Frozen
21. “Can you Feel the Love Tonight” – The Lion King
22. “You’ll Be in My Heart” – Tarzan
23. “A Whole New World” – Aladdin
24. “I See the Light” – Tangled
25. “He’s a Pirate – Pirates of the Caribbean
26. “Go the Distance” – Hercules
27. “Happily Ever After (Reprise)”
28. “You Can Fly” – Peter Pan
29. “Happily Ever After (Reprise)”
What is the theme of the Happily Ever After music?
The theme of Happily Ever After’s music is clearly Disney animated classics. Each song that plays is from an animated film. I have noticed that many songs that someone may assume would be in an evening nighttime firework show in front of Cinderella Castle are not there.
Music from Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty, for example, are not included in the show.
Where can you listen to Disney Park music?
If you want to listen to Disney Park music, there are lots of options! Spotify has many Disney music playlists, but I would recommend looking to YouTube for Disney Park-specific music!
Disney Parks have area music that loops around, and if you are looking to help cure those Disney blues, these sounds can let you feel like you are back in the parks. Below, take a look at various Disney Park music that you can listen to at home from each Walt Disney World theme park.
- Magic Kingdom Park mix
- EPCOT entry music
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park mix
- Animal Kingdom Park mix
Best time of year to see the Happily Ever After fireworks at Disney World
Where is the best spot to watch the Happily Ever After show from?
Watching Happily Ever After from a specific location can alter the show experience for many! I personally believe there is not the right place to watch the show, but I can give you my positives for various locations.
1. In front of Cinderella Castle
Getting this “perfect” view is always a coveted spot for many Disney Guests when wanting to see the show. The great view Guests will receive is priceless, and they will be able to see the show exactly as Disney imagined it! The projections can be tough to see from far away at times in terms of small details, so being up close will get you great views and photos.
Related: Will We See Disney Fireworks Dessert Parties Return Soon?
The negatives? You will be in a huge crowd of people, and it will take longer to leave the park at the end of the night. Some people may love that fact, but others who are tired may get frustrated.
2. Behind the castle
Here, you can avoid all crowds! There is barely anyone behind the castle, and fireworks will shoot off all around you. It is a very different and fun experience. Unfortunately, this means you will miss projections, so I only recommend doing this after seeing the show from the front at least once.
3. End of Main Street, U.S.A.
If you watch the show at the end of Main Street, U.S.A., you will get decent castle views, but the fireworks will still look amazing. I have cried from the train station before, so the show hits just as hard all the way in the back. Although your view may be compromised, it is great for those who do not want to hold a spot for a long time before the show begins, and you will be among the first to exit the park and avoid crowds.
When is the best time to visit Disney World?
The best time to visit Disney World is all year long! Seriously, this question is very subjective, and there are many pros to every month of the year. Below I will list my favorites!
- Christmas (amazing decor, will be cooler weather in the evening, but very busy. November is the sweet spot to avoid crowds)
- Halloween (my favorite party event, amazing decor)
- January – February (less crowded, cooler weather)
Before I was living in Orlando, I would visit year-round. Visiting in July and August was common for me; however, the heat can be tough to deal with on a full park day, so be sure to stay hydrated and bring a poncho or umbrella as it rains a lot in Florida, especially during those months.
What is the cheapest time to go to Disney World?
Disney World is not really a vacation destination that I would categorize as cheap, but there are better months to visit. The peak season often includes any holiday, holiday weekend, or school break. Visiting during those times will not save you any money. However, visiting after those times can save you money.
January and February typically have deals as it is just after Christmas, a holiday many spend money on; March is spring break, so prices jump. April and May are usually very pricey with some deals going on. From June to the end of August, school is out, so although there are summer deals, room rates are typically higher.
September costs could be average, but since October is Halloween month and Disney celebrates in September as well, do not be surprised to see high prices on either month. November is a sweet spot right before Christmas celebrations really begin for many, so sometimes flights can be a lot more affordable then. December is a popular time to visit, so expect higher costs.
All of that being said, those are my experiences with vacation planning to Disney, and things can change all the time! To get the best deal on a Disney vacation, click here!
Now, on July 1, get ready to sit back, relax, and find your Happily Ever After!
Is Happily Ever After your favorite Disney evening spectacular? Let us know in the comments below.