Disney President Steps in To Reverse Controversial Nighttime Spectacular Cut

Disneyland Paris has a new president — and one of his first reported priorities could undo a controversial decision.

Christophe Murphy took charge of the Disney resort in July, succeeding Natacha Rafalski. His arrival comes at a particularly busy time, with major changes underway across both theme parks ahead of Disneyland Paris’s 35th anniversary in 2027.

Those projects include the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park into Disney Adventure World, construction of a Lion King-themed land, and plans to restore Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain to its original Jules Verne-inspired identity.

Now, Murphy has reportedly turned his attention to Disneyland Paris’s nighttime entertainment.

New President Reportedly Wants Drones Back

According to recent reports, Murphy has requested the return of drones to Disney Tales of Magic as soon as possible.

The technology was removed from the Disneyland Park nighttime spectacular in April, just months after the show debuted in January 2025.

Disneyland Paris NEEDS the drones back to Tales of Magic. There is a reason this show won awards, it is easily one of, if not the best nighttime show I have ever seen. Bring it back!

Disneyland Paris NEEDS the drones back to Tales of Magic. There is a reason this show won awards, it is easily one of, if not the best nighttime show I have ever seen. Bring it back! https://t.co/Yn1zBk4D1y pic.twitter.com/KDhPbyvJFy

— ThatOnePassholder (@That1Passholder) August 20, 2026

That decision attracted criticism from some guests, particularly because drones had helped distinguish the production from more conventional Disney fireworks shows.

The April cut ultimately became just one of several changes to Disney Tales of Magic this year.

Construction around Sleeping Beauty Castle later forced Disneyland Paris to remove the show’s fountains. Disney increased its use of pyrotechnics to help compensate for the missing effects.

Then came another problem. Weather-related restrictions during the summer limited pyrotechnics, leaving Disney Tales of Magic increasingly dependent on projections across Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A.

Disney eventually brought the drones back temporarily, adding another visual element while other parts of the production remained unavailable.

That temporary solution could now lead to a more lasting reversal.

Disneyland Paris has not confirmed Murphy’s reported request, and there is currently no official date for the drones to permanently return.

Their restoration could potentially follow the completion of work around Sleeping Beauty Castle. Another possibility would be to reintroduce them as part of the resort’s 35th anniversary in 2027.

Either option would restore a feature that Disneyland Paris had initially decided Disney Tales of Magic could do without.

Disney’s Nighttime Shows Are Changing

The potential reversal comes as Disney makes significant changes to nighttime entertainment elsewhere.

At Disneyland Resort, Wondrous Journeys concludes its current run tonight as the park transitions into its Halloween and holiday entertainment. Remember… Dreams Come True is scheduled to return in 2027.

Disney also used D23 to outline numerous theme park projects. Disneyland’s Tomorrowland is getting a major reimagining, while Walt Disney World received updates concerning Villains Land, Piston Peak, Monstropolis, Spaceship Earth, Carousel of Progress, and Tropical Americas.

Expedition Everest is also getting a long-awaited change, with Disney confirming plans to restore movement to the attraction’s Yeti Audio-Animatronic.

Drones, meanwhile, have become an increasingly familiar part of Disney’s entertainment lineup.

Disneyland Paris previously used the technology for Disney D-Light, while Walt Disney World staged Disney Dreams That Soar at Disney Springs during summer 2024.

The latter used hundreds of drones to create enormous Disney characters and symbols in the sky, demonstrating how the technology can deliver effects that traditional fireworks cannot replicate.

That has also fueled concerns among some Disney fans that drones could eventually replace pyrotechnics altogether.

Disney has announced no such plan. Fireworks remain part of major nighttime spectaculars across its resorts, while drones have generally been used alongside other effects or for productions designed specifically around the technology.

Do you think Disney should restore the drones to Disney Tales of Magic?