Recently, I had the honor and privilege of accompanying a Disneyland first-timer during a multi-day visit to the Resort. This is one of my favorite things ever. Each experience is new and exciting. In some ways it's like I get to re-live my first visit.. actually, being a California native I don't even remember my first time visiting Disneyland. So really, it's like I get to experience the Park for the first time with the first timer (that's deep). Anyway there's so much anticipation, expectations, and unknowns! It's thrilling to watch the delight and discovery.
To the point - the day needed to end with a bang. The entertainment choices are many - Fantasmic!, World of Color, or Fireworks - on this day it was decided we'd experience the nightly fireworks - "Magical."
In retrospect, Im not sure we made the correct choice. My memories of the nightly fireworks really begin with "Believe...". I was around in the earlier days for "Fantasy" but it wasn't until "Believe..." that was really hooked on the nightly fireworks. Eventually, "Remember..." rolled around (and lingered) for the 50th and the standards had been set for me. The culmination of many years of spectacular fireworks shows, the best I'd ever experienced, left a lasting impression on what a fireworks show at Disneyland ought to be.
Since the days of "Remember..." I've moved a little further away from Disneyland, got married and had a child so I don't get to the park late enough to watch the fireworks as I used to. So, when the time came for the Disneyland newbie to consult with myself and the other experienced Disneylanders in the group about which show to dedicate ourselves to for the night I relied on my cumulative experience with years of Disneyland fireworks and with much confidence suggested we eat dinner early, scope out a prime spot in the HUB and wait for over an hour for the nightly fireworks.
It pains me to say that I was sorely disappointed with Disneyland current offering - "Magical." It invoked weak emotions and lacked many of the qualities (excitement being chief among them with poor voiceover work a close second) I had come to expect in a night cap of explosions in the sky. We had just spent all day at Disneyland and "Magical" is suppose to be the best way to close out the night? I hardly think so.
This leads me to two different questions (one qualitative and one psychological)
1 - Which of Disneyland's fireworks shows, special event shows excluded (i.e. Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July, etc.) has been your favorite? Why?
2 - Is it possible that a Disneyland regular may, at times, experience greater disappointment because their expectations are an amalgamation of experiences that span of multiple years or decades instead of a single experience?
While I and the other experienced visitors didn't care too much for "Magical..." the first timer loved it citing it as the best fireworks display she'd ever seen. If only she knew!
---------- Post added 09-19-2012 at 01:17 AM ----------
Also, I love including polls in my threads. ;-)
To the point - the day needed to end with a bang. The entertainment choices are many - Fantasmic!, World of Color, or Fireworks - on this day it was decided we'd experience the nightly fireworks - "Magical."
In retrospect, Im not sure we made the correct choice. My memories of the nightly fireworks really begin with "Believe...". I was around in the earlier days for "Fantasy" but it wasn't until "Believe..." that was really hooked on the nightly fireworks. Eventually, "Remember..." rolled around (and lingered) for the 50th and the standards had been set for me. The culmination of many years of spectacular fireworks shows, the best I'd ever experienced, left a lasting impression on what a fireworks show at Disneyland ought to be.
Since the days of "Remember..." I've moved a little further away from Disneyland, got married and had a child so I don't get to the park late enough to watch the fireworks as I used to. So, when the time came for the Disneyland newbie to consult with myself and the other experienced Disneylanders in the group about which show to dedicate ourselves to for the night I relied on my cumulative experience with years of Disneyland fireworks and with much confidence suggested we eat dinner early, scope out a prime spot in the HUB and wait for over an hour for the nightly fireworks.
It pains me to say that I was sorely disappointed with Disneyland current offering - "Magical." It invoked weak emotions and lacked many of the qualities (excitement being chief among them with poor voiceover work a close second) I had come to expect in a night cap of explosions in the sky. We had just spent all day at Disneyland and "Magical" is suppose to be the best way to close out the night? I hardly think so.
This leads me to two different questions (one qualitative and one psychological)
1 - Which of Disneyland's fireworks shows, special event shows excluded (i.e. Christmas, Halloween, 4th of July, etc.) has been your favorite? Why?
2 - Is it possible that a Disneyland regular may, at times, experience greater disappointment because their expectations are an amalgamation of experiences that span of multiple years or decades instead of a single experience?
While I and the other experienced visitors didn't care too much for "Magical..." the first timer loved it citing it as the best fireworks display she'd ever seen. If only she knew!
---------- Post added 09-19-2012 at 01:17 AM ----------
Also, I love including polls in my threads. ;-)
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