Category — s. FAQ and Glossary

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

There are currently three routinely-scheduled fireworks shows at Walt Disney World:

Wishes at the Magic Kingdom, which shows at varying evening times, from a few times a week in the slower seasons to every night during the most crowded times of the year.

Illuminations at Epcot, which shows every night, most of the time at 9p.

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which shows multiple times a week but not always every night.

Each of these is a great show, and a don’t miss.

Some or all of these three theme parks also commonly have additional fireworks during the two nights of the year where fireworks are an essential part of American life–New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July!

To check what days and times these shows are scheduled during your trip, see Walt Disney World’s calendars:

• Magic Kingdom Calendar
• Hollywood Studios Calendar
• Epcot Calendar

(Disney’s calendars are harder to use than they should be–see this if you need help with them.)

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FANTASMIC AT DISNEY’S HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Fantasmic is a 25+ minute evening fireworks (and more) show in that takes place in the Hollywood Hills Amphitheatre at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios theme park.

It combines fireworks, projected filmed animation, live action, audio-animatronics, music, and flames into a delightful and continually surprising show.

Without giving the show away, the Fantasmic follows a dream of Mickey Mouse about good and evil.

Fantasmic is probably my favorite thing at Walt Disney World, and certainly is my favorite at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Because this high regard is shared by many, it is listed as a favorite on this site’s Comprehensive Guide to Rides. [Read more →]

ILLUMINATIONS AT EPCOT AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is a 12 minute nightly fireworks (and more) show in and around Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon.

It combines fireworks, music, flames, a cool thingy (I won’t be more specific, you’ll know it when you see it!), and lasers into a surprising and exciting show.

Other than a few introductory and ending comments, the show is not narrated.

Without giving the scoop away, the show is essentially the story of the world–from its beginnings to the present.

Illuminations is in the top five of many repeat visitors to Walt Disney World, and it is listed as a favorite on this site’s Comprehensive Guide to Rides. [Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

ATTRACTIONS OPEN DURING EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT DISNEY WORLD

Below is the current list of attractions available during morning and evening Extra Magic Hours at Walt Disney World.

(Extra Magic Hours are a perk offered to those staying in a Walt Disney World resort hotel, and a few other hotels.  See this for more.)

The attractions are grouped by theme park and then by time–morning or evening.

Where relevant, I’ve also grouped them by area of the theme park. 

I always forget, for example, that Adventureland and Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom are not open during morning Extra Magic Hours, but are open in the evening ones. [Read more →]

(This page is one of a series explicating Walt Disney World lingo, abbreviations, and FAQ for first time family visitors to Walt Disney World.)

Note: as an aftereffect of COVID, there are no formal parades right now.

Brief “cavalcades” and “processionals” happen along the Magic Kingdom parade route between 10a and 4.45p. “Motorcades” are happening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and cavalcades also happen in World Showcase at Epcot, and on Discovery River at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

While there have been as many as four parades at Disney World, currently there’s just one, the afternoon Festival of Fantasy parade at the Magic Kingdom, typically every day at 3p.

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DISNEY WORLD’S SPECIAL EVENTS

Over the course of the year, there are a number of special events* at Walt Disney World.

While they are subject to change, over the last few years they have included:

[Read more →]