May 13, 1992 – Fantasmic! Premieres at Disneyland
Image Credit: Official Disneyland Website
“Welcome to Fantasmic! Tonight, our friend and host Mickey Mouse uses his vivid imagination to create magical imagery for all to enjoy. Nothing is more wonderful than the imagination, for in a moment, you can experience a beautiful fantasy or an exciting adventure. But beware, nothing is more powerful than the imagination, for it can also expand your greatest fears into an overwhelming nightmare.”
On May 13, 1992, the evening show Fantasmic! premiered at Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland. The spectacular show involves water effects and fireworks, with live actors in Disney character costumes acting out the plot of Mickey’s dream. The show has become one of the most popular nighttime events in the park’s history, and has expanded to a show in Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios resort (located in Sunset Boulevard), and Tokyo Disneyland’s Tokyo DisneySea Resort (located at the Mediterranean Harbor).
The story features Mickey Mouse using his imagination to create a wonderful fantasy world, which is soon threatened by Disney villains, including Maleficent and Ursula. Many scenes from classic Disney animation were reworked to be shown on three giant screens made of mist, while some classic characters appear by live-action actors to recreate classic scenes, including the fight between Peter Pan and Captain Hook.
The show has been reworked several times, including creating more accessibility for audience members, as the show’s unexpected popularity ended up causing traffic jams on the shores of the Rivers of America. Guests would line up for hours to get a good spot to see the show. The show is approximately 22 minutes long, and is shown late at night, usually past 9:00pm.
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