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A Guest-favorite nighttime spectacular at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom will close to visitors beginning July 3.
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Credit: Disney Parks
There are so many rides, attractions, and experiences offered to Guests of the Walt Disney World Resort in Central Florida that most Guests need a succession of visits in order to enjoy them all–or at least a majority of them. But no matter how full a day is at any of Disney World’s theme parks–Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom–most Guests make time to enjoy the nighttime entertainment offerings at the park in which they end their day.
But of all the offerings of nighttime entertainment at Disney World, the one met with the most public opinion and fandom is the offering that takes place nightly at Magic Kingdom. Over the years, Guests young and old have lined Main Street, U. S. A. early in anticipation of the evening’s nighttime entertainment. Each offering over the years–from the Main Street Electrical Parade and SpectroMagic to Wishes and Disney Enchantment–has made it to the top of the list of Guests’ “can’t-miss” experiences at Disney World, but one of the most popular is “Happily Ever After.”
Magic Kingdom’s “SpectroMagic” nighttime spectacular/Credit: D23
The nighttime spectacular first debuted in May 2017, replacing “Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams.” Unlike “Wishes,” “Happily Ever After” arrived at Magic Kingdom with projection mapping, lasers, searchlights, and pyrotechnics. It was touted as having the most technologically advanced projection mapping in the history of Disney Parks and was an immediate hit with Guests of all ages.
“Disney Enchantment” nighttime spectacular/Credit: Disney Parks
It was replaced, however, as the park kicked off the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of Walt Disney World with “Disney Enchantment” on September 30, 2021, and many Guests were extremely unhappy at the park’s decision to boot “Happily Ever After.” Much to their delight, a new and improved version of “Happily Ever After” returned to Magic Kingdom on April 3, 2023, as part of the park’s celebration of Disney’s “100 Years of Wonder.” The new rendition of the Guest-favorite experience features projections on the facades along Main Street, U. S. A., as well as new ambient sound effects heard along Main Street and in the hub.
But “Happily Ever After” is going away again, beginning July 3, 2023, but this time, the pause will be short-lived, and it’s for a good reason.
“Happily Ever After” will be unavailable to Guests at Magic Kingdom on Monday, July 3, and Tuesday, July 4, as the park celebrates the Independence Day holiday with a Fourth of July fireworks spectacular. Disney World invites Guests to “Prepare for patriotism at its finest when Walt Disney World Resort commemorates Independence Day in the skies above EPCOT and Magic Kingdom Park!”
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Credit: Disney Parks
The “Happily Ever After” nighttime spectacular will yield to the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular at Magic Kingdom for two nights only (July 3 and July 4). The patriotic pyrotechnic celebration is not one to miss for Guests who’ll be in the parks on those days. But for diehard “Happily Ever After” fans, the news is even sweeter, as the Guest-favorite nighttime spectacular at Magic Kingdom will return on the evening of July 5.
For more information about fireworks shows at the Walt Disney World Resort, visit the resort’s official website by clicking here.
