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Credit: DisneyDisney has confirmed upcoming changes for its nighttime spectacular.
Across the globe, Disney parks are renowned for their fireworks displays. From castle-centered shows at Walt Disney World and Disneyland to lagoon performances at EPCOT, nighttime spectaculars have become signature experiences. Each one combines music, projections, lights, and pyrotechnics to create immersive finales that captivate millions of guests annually.
Disneyland Paris is no exception. The resort is known for delivering some of Disney’s most ambitious entertainment. Its castle shows are not simple fireworks displays but full narratives, blending projection mapping, fountains, drones, and lasers. Each effect is meticulously timed to music, turning Sleeping Beauty Castle (or, to be more accurate, Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant)
into the centerpiece of an unforgettable performance.
Disney Tales of Magic, which debuted in January 2025, continues that tradition. Replacing Disney Illuminations, the show runs over 20 minutes and uses drones, fountains, fireworks, lasers, and projections. Each sequence celebrates beloved Disney and Pixar stories, tied together by the original song “Live in Magic.”
Audiences have praised its highlights. The Lion King sequence, framed by drone formations around the castle, has been singled out as particularly powerful. The finale blends fireworks and drones into a climactic crescendo. While some critics note abrupt transitions, the overall reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with many hailing it as groundbreaking.
Disney Confirms Upcoming Update to Disney Tales of Magic
For New Year’s Eve, Disney Tales of Magic will officially be adapted.
Disney says on its website, “On 31 December, this show will be presented in an adapted version to allow for extended Park opening hours.”
The resort has not confirmed details, but past New Year’s Eve celebrations at Disneyland Paris have included a midnight countdown projected on the castle followed by a celebratory display.
The parks themselves will also stay open late. Disneyland Park is scheduled to remain open until 1 a.m. on New Year’s Eve. Walt Disney Studios Park will close earlier, around 10 p.m., giving guests more time in the main park to enjoy the festivities.
Late-night hours come with benefits. While Main Street buzzes with festive energy and guests crowd for fireworks spots, attraction wait times often shrink after 10 p.m. For those prioritizing rides, this window can be ideal. Popular coasters and dark rides become far more accessible as many visitors settle into viewing areas.
Disneyland Park features a wide range of attractions. Thrill-seekers gravitate toward Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain (which was recently updated with new lighting on the attraction’s exterior) and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril. Families can enjoy classics like “it’s a small world,” Peter Pan’s Flight, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Meanwhile, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad remains a guest favorite, especially when ridden after dark (or, even better, timed to watch the fireworks from afar).
Next door, guests can explore Walt Disney Studios Park, home to attractions like Avengers Assemble: Flight Force, Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Ratatouille: L’Aventure Totalement Toquée de Rémy. Guests also flock to Crush’s Coaster, which typically racks up the longest wait times in the entire park.
Do you plan on celebrating New Year’s Eve at a Disney park this year?