Why I Love Happily Ever After at Magic Kingdom

During the D23 Expo this year, it was announced that the beloved nighttime spectacular Happily Ever After will be returning to Magic Kingdom.  Following the wrap-up of the 50th-anniversary celebration this March 2023, Happily Ever After will once again light up the night sky in Magic Kingdom.

If you followed any of the D23 news, you would have noticed at a lot of Disney fans are absolutely thrilled about this announcement.  Guests are thrilled to have this wonderful show back.  We are going to share why we are also extremely excited for Happily Ever After return.

Right now, if you are visiting the Magic Kingdom during your Walt Disney World vacation the nighttime show is Disney Enchantment.  This show started on October 1st, 2021 as part of the 50th-anniversary celebration.  The show includes music, fireworks, and even projections down all of Main Street, U.S.A., as well as on the Cinderella Castle.

Even from the beginning, not all Guests fell in love with Disney Enchantment.  Disney did make an adjustment to this show recently.  To address one of the complaints about the show for many Guests, Disney added a new introduction.  This new introduction includes both Roy and Walt Disney.  It features projections that feature the two of them as well as some special footage.

Disney Enchantment does light up the night sky and does feature some of our favorite Disney and Pixar movies, but for many, there is just some magic missing.

So why is Happily Ever After loved so much?  Let’s take a look at what makes us all so thrilled, and a little teary-eyed, that it is coming back.

Stories:

One of the reasons that we love is because of the stories that are included.  This show has done a fantastic job incorporating new stories as well as some of the beloved ones from our childhood.

Disney states that “Happily Ever After starts with a dream… and takes you on an unforgettable journey that captures the heart, humour and heroism of many favourite Disney animated films, including:”

• Aladdin
• Big Hero Six
• Brave
• Frozen
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• The Incredibles
• The Lion King
• The Little Mermaid
• Moana
• Mulan
• Tarzan
• The Princess and the Frog
• Toy Story
• Up
• WALL-E
• Wreck-It Ralph
• Zootopia

It is fantastic to see all of these amazing Pixar and Disney films represented in the show.  It allows us to connect to these stories in a new and magical way.

Music

In 2017, the feature song “Happily Ever After” touched Guests’ hearts, and it hasn’t stopped since.  We absolutely love this original song sung by Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer.  This story captures the dreams that we all have as we head to Walt Disney World.

As we mentioned earlier, there are so many amazing movies represented in the show.  We love hearing parts of popular songs such as “Go the Distance” from Hercules or “How Far I’ll Go” from Moana.

Disney has done an outstanding job pulling some amazing musical pieces that truly connect to their Guests.  We can all sing along and feel connected to these stories.

Projections

Another reason we love Happily Ever After is because of the fantastic projections.  Disney brings these beloved movies to us using projections that transform the castle.  It is truly breathtaking to see the castle transformed throughout the show.

We love seeing the lanterns from Tangled float high up into the sky.  Watching the house from Up! fly high is also wonderful.  It is drastic to watch the castle crumble as the villains take over shortly during the middle of the show.

These projections are outstanding and amazing at how they remake the castle into so many unique images that feel like they are coming off of the castle itself.

Fireworks

It wouldn’t be a Disney nighttime show in Magic Kingdom without fireworks.  Happily Ever After brings outstanding fireworks that light up the night sky over the castle and throughout the Magic Kingdom.

We love seeing these beautiful fireworks as they add to the impact of the show being in sync with the music.  This makes them even more moving.

Magical Moments

Finally, we love Happily Ever After because of all the magical moments we have had watching it.  We have taken time during our trips to enjoy the show.  As our children have grown, this show has become a part of that.  Happily Ever After is more than just a nighttime show to us and to many others.  Happily Ever After is a show that creates magical moments for families as they wrap up their evenings at the Magic Kingdom.

During your next trip to Magic Kingdom, we hope that you take time to enjoy Happily Ever After when it returns in 2023.  This show is an 18-minute magical experience that you won’t want to miss out on.

We are thrilled that Disney listened and are planning on bringing back this beloved nighttime show in 2023.  Happily Ever After is a special show that captures the beauty, love, magic, and pixie dust of Walt Disney World.  We can’t wait to once again watch it light up the night sky and sing along with the amazing songs.

There is something truly wonderful about wrapping up a day in Magic Kingdom with an outstanding fireworks show.  Happily Ever After is that show and you won’t be sorry to stop to watch.  Take time during your future visit to enjoy this show and all it has to offer.