
Last night marked a significant transition for one Disney park as it bid farewell to its Disney Illuminations fireworks spectacular.
The Rise and Fall of Disney Illuminations
Disney shocked fans in 2024 when it announced plans to bring back Disney Illuminations (which, no, is not the same as the show once found at EPCOT) to replace the fan-favorite Disney Dreams! at Disneyland Paris.

Upon its return, however, it soon became clear that it was not the show fans remembered.
While the show still incorporated beloved Disney classics like The Lion King (1994) and The Little Mermaid (1989) alongside modern franchises such as Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean, it had also scrapped one segment from the Frozen (2013) portion of the show, and scenes involving Beauty and the Beast (2017) were also removed.
This shaved an entire four minutes off the show’s runtime, leaving the final product at just over 16 minutes.
Even with its cut scenes, however, Disney Illuminations never generated the same kind of devotion among parkgoers as the likes of Magic Kingdom Park’s Happily Ever After or Disneyland’s soon-to-return Wondrous Journeys.
A New Era Begins with Disney Tales of Magic
Fortunately for those in the anti-Disney Illuminations camp, the show has now ended at Disneyland Paris for good.
Last night marked the final performance of Disney Illuminations. From tonight (January 10) onwards, guests will instead be able to enjoy Disney Tales of Magic.
Disney Tales of Magic promises a brand-new immersive experience for Disneyland Paris parkgoers, combining drones, pyrotechnics, and—for the first time in the park’s history—projection mapping along Main Street, U.S.A.
Guests can expect to be taken on a journey through a mix of beloved classics and modern favorites, including Cinderella (1950), Pinocchio (1940), Encanto (2021), and Lilo & Stitch (2002).
The End of Disney Electrical Sky Parade
Unfortunately, the arrival of Disney Tales of Magic also means the curtain falls on another popular offering: the Disney Electrical Sky Parade.
This nightly pre-show, featuring up to 500 drones recreating iconic floats like Casey Jr. and Pete’s Dragon, was inspired by the legendary Main Street Electrical Parade and was beloved by parkgoers, some of whom claim to have been left “weeping” upon its debut.
Although its retirement is understandable considering the fact that Disney will soon also be using drones in Disney Tales of Magic, it’s still sad to see such an innovative show come to a close (even if we’re secretly manifesting that it will pop up at another Disney park soon enough).
What’s your favorite Disney nighttime spectacular?