Each longtime Walt Disney World fan has an period (or three) they need they may flip again the clock to revisit–golden ages of rides, leisure, celebrations, and extra. If we’re being sincere with ourselves, that “and extra” is usually the decisive issue. It’s about greedy on the sands of time which have slipped via our fingers; revisiting the locations of fond recollections with households and buddies. Seeing the parks via the eyes of a younger youngster earlier than they grew up, with dad and mom or grandparents as they grew outdated, throughout a honeymoon section…you get the concept.
Considered one of these eras for us was fairly actually throughout our honeymoon. Our “Disneymoon” to Walt Disney World was in June 2010, a few week after the beginning of the Summer season Nightastic celebration. For those who’ve learn latest posts about our 2024 D23 Want Checklist or How Walt Disney World Can Compete with Common’s Epic Universe in 2025, you’ve in all probability seen reference to Summer season Nightastic.
For this, we need to dive a little bit deeper into what Summer season Nightastic was and why it behooves Walt Disney World to deliver it again subsequent 12 months (or one thing prefer it). However we additionally need to be clear and ‘disclose’ our biases up entrance, as we have now a sure sentimentality for Summer season Nightastic that may very well be coloring our perspective. I doubt that’s the case–Summer season Nightastic was objectively good. A robust providing popping out of the Nice Recession that gave Walt Disney World a giant enhance because it tried to compete with the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Islands of Journey throughout its opening season. We’ll allow you to choose for your self, although…
Since Summer season Nightastic occurred a decade and a half in the past nicely for simply over 2 months, most of you in all probability didn’t expertise it. In a nutshell, it was an leisure and evening-centric particular occasion occurring throughout all 4 parks (however largely Magic Kingdom) from June via August 2010.
The flagship leisure of Summer season Nightastic was the return of Fundamental Road Electrical Parade from Disneyland, which made its first engagement at Walt Disney World since 2001. The fan-favorite parade had a bunch of new-for-Florida floats that had been added for its runs in California, and there was a variety of pleasure amongst Disney diehards to see it once more for the primary time in almost twenty years.
That is the place my rose-colored glasses come off. Whereas we regarded ahead to seeing Fundamental Road Electrical Parade throughout Summer season Nightastic for the primary time as adults, we rapidly realized that–a minimum of for us–it was inferior to SpectroMagic. After just a few viewings, we have been “over” MSEP and prepared for SpectroMagic to return.
We grew to become bitter when its run was prolonged “by fashionable demand” and downright cynical when it not directly brought on the demise of SpectroMagic. It took me a very long time to recover from that and totally get pleasure from Fundamental Road Electrical Parade once more–even at Disneyland! No matter our private emotions concerning the parade, I can nonetheless admit Fundamental Road Electrical Parade was a giant draw for Walt Disney World followers in 2010.
For us, the true spotlight of Summer season Nightastic was the return of the Magic, Music & Mayhem Fireworks from the Pirate & Princess Events. Few folks attended that onerous ticket occasion, so the fireworks have been merely renamed to the Summer season Nightastic Fireworks and marketed as new.
The present was hosted by the Fairy Godmother of Cinderella with the three good fairies from Sleeping Magnificence ‘combating’ over the colours of the fireworks. Magic, Music & Mayhem additionally had a variety of instrumental music medleys from these films, plus Magnificence and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, with dialogue to weave a story collectively.
The spotlight was when pirates stormed the Magic Kingdom, with characters from Peter Pan, music from Pirates of the Caribbean, and what appeared like a New Yr’s Eve degree of pyro because the pirates attacked Cinderella Fortress. That single scene could be the most effective within the historical past of Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Relating to this bombastic nighttime spectacular, our glasses are usually not rose-colored. The Summer season Nightastic Fireworks have been actually and unquestionably one of many biggest fireworks exhibits that Walt Disney World has ever produced, that includes perimeter bursts and different nice results. It’s our recollection that it was the highest-rated Magic Kingdom fireworks present of all-time on the time (that means it obtained higher visitor satisfaction scores than Needs; Fortunately Ever After wasn’t round but).
Whereas these two items of tentpole leisure in Magic Kingdom have been the highlights, Summer season Nightastic introduced extra to the desk.
At Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror added new results and a summer-only drop sequence – to the combination for company daring to step into the attraction’s notorious service elevator for a journey into the “fifth dimension.” On Hollywood Boulevard, the Rock n’ Glow Dance Celebration featured a DJ and dwell rock band within the shadow of the Sorcerer Mickey Hat.
Over at EPCOT, the “Sounds Like Summer season” live performance sequence introduced fashionable rock tribute bands to America Gardens Theatre in World Showcase each night at 5:45 pm, 7 pm, and eight:15 pm. (Very related thought to the EPCOT competition live performance sequence–and an idea that continued till 2016.)
Animal Kingdom didn’t get something entertainment-wise, however it did have longer working hours. Needless to say this was lengthy earlier than Pandora, at a time when Animal Kingdom frequently closed at 5 pm or 6 pm. Throughout Summer season Nightastic, it was regularly open till 8 pm.
Different parks noticed summertime extensions, though that was extra par for the course throughout this timeframe. Disney’s Hollywood Studios noticed later closings on Star Wars Weekends nights; EPCOT hours have been unchanged. Magic Kingdom was open till 11 pm or midnight each evening, with night Further Magic Hours till as late as 3 am.
As for why Walt Disney World ought to deliver again Summer season Nightastic, let’s begin with that final level–park hours.
Disney has realized that summer time is not peak season within the parks, and has decreased hours accordingly. This summer time, Magic Kingdom has had solely a handful of 11 pm closings. On the overwhelming majority of dates, it closed at 10 pm. No different park has closed later than 9 pm. Animal Kingdom is routinely again to six pm closings.
The issue with that is that sundown in Orlando through the summer time is round 8:30 pm. This implies Animal Kingdom is closing earlier than sundown each single evening, EPCOT and DHS are barely hitting nightfall, and Magic Kingdom has an hour or two of nighttime. Summers are scorching in Orlando, so to have so few hours that provide even a slight reprieve from the warmth is a doubtful choice.
As a brief time period enterprise choice, it is sensible that Walt Disney World has extra restricted hours given the shortage of summer time crowds, however it’s nonetheless wild that–with out paying further–there are so few dates when any park is open for greater than an hour of nighttime. That is exactly why Prolonged Night Hours are extra fashionable through the summer time months and After Hours occasions have bought out regardless of decrease crowds. Company need to spend extra nighttime hours within the parks. It’s apparent and unsurprising.
It’s additionally unsustainable. Company will go to throughout summer time, be caught with unbearably scorching daytime hours, decide it’s “not value it” and never return. Not solely that, however they’ll inform their buddies about their poor experiences and warn them in opposition to visiting through the summer time. It’s a vicious cycle, and the summer time slowdown gained’t simply proceed–it’ll worsen.
As a easy matter of visitor satisfaction and intent to revisit or advocate metrics, Walt Disney World wants later closings through the summer time months. It’s the obvious technique to beat the warmth and make the parks extra enticing from June via August–and so they may as nicely make it right into a marketable level whereas they’re at it.
{The summertime} dynamic is mainly the reverse of what Walt Disney World has achieved for the remainder of the 12 months. Over the past decade-plus, Walt Disney World has made a concerted effort to redistribute crowds and improve the recognition of as soon as low season dates. October went from gradual to conference season. Winter now has EPCOT’s Competition of the Arts. Then there are the massive youth occasions on the ESPN Wild World of Sports activities, extra runDisney races, and a spread of different choices strategically scattered throughout the calendar.
Mockingly, these all aimed to make different dates as fashionable as summer time by including occasions to the months that weren’t June via August. Walt Disney World has been exceedingly profitable at this, however guess what? Now it’s the summer time season that has an empty calendar of occasions and is in want of help.
It’s not possible so as to add sporting occasions (for causes that needs to be apparent) and businesspeople doubtless have the nice sense to not schedule conventions in Orlando throughout summer time for a similar motive. Nonetheless, diehard Disney followers like us are identified to be unsensible now and again. If there’s a giant summer time celebration, we’ll flock to the parks for it. Even with all my latest bellyaching about summer time warmth and humidity, I’ll be the primary to guide extra summer season within the parks if Disney offers me compelling causes to take action.
As for what Summer season Nightastic ought to or would wish to encompass past later park closing instances, the plain factor is leisure to fill these night hours. Again in 2010, Walt Disney World decided that the tentpole leisure needs to be concentrated in Magic Kingdom, with Fundamental Road Electrical Parade at 9 pm and 11 pm, and the Summer season Nightastic Fireworks in between at 10 pm.
Lots has modified since then, and I don’t suppose a brand new parade and fireworks are a good suggestion in Magic Kingdom. Simply seeing the gang circulation points brought on by such a dynamic through the vacation laborious ticket occasions, I feel the higher strategy is a brand new evening parade at Magic Kingdom plus smaller-scale leisure elsewhere within the park plus main counterprogramming within the different parks.
There are already robust rumors of a brand new nighttime parade coming to Magic Kingdom, however I’ll imagine it once I see it. I’ve been burned too many instances up to now, even through credible sources claiming an evening parade at Walt Disney World was a “achieved deal.” With that stated, I need to imagine.
It makes full sense for a brand-new evening parade to lastly debut at Walt Disney World in 2025. A brand new evening parade might anchor a summer time celebration at Walt Disney World and is the most effective card that may be performed at this stage within the recreation as an “reply” to Epic Universe.
As for what the counter-programming in different parks may very well be, it’s conceivable that different night leisure involves Disney’s Hollywood Studios and/or Animal Kingdom. With regard to DHS, Fantasmic continues to be lately reimagined, so it in all probability could be smaller scale. Possibly a DJ and dance get together and/or new projections present. Maybe an ‘After Darkish’ model of Tower of Terror a la Mission Breakout throughout Halloween. I’d love a return of Star Wars Weekends or one thing of that nature, however that seems like wishful considering and eager for a time that’s gone for good.
Relating to Animal Kingdom, I’ve droned on endlessly a few drone present. Suffice to say, I refuse to imagine Disney Desires That Soar is the top recreation for drone shows at Walt Disney World. There’s no means that the corporate spent all of that cash creating nighttime leisure for a present at Disney Springs. It’s simply too good to be the ultimate fruits of drone exhibits at Walt Disney World. It’s gotta be proof of idea–a take a look at of the expertise for one thing larger and higher in 2025.
Animal Kingdom is the plain touchdown place for a drone present at Walt Disney World. Adjustments must be made for staging and to deal with authorized legal responsibility, however it may very well be achieved. And it is sensible, provided that Animal Kingdom is in want of a lift and can doubtless be hit hardest by Epic Universe. Drones would resolve a variety of issues for Animal Kingdom, and supply the counterprogramming to a brand new evening parade at Magic Kingdom that’s in all probability wanted.
At both Hollywood Studios or Animal Kingdom, I’d additionally like to see a nighttime stage present. I’d fortunately commerce that for the daytime stage exhibits which might be completely depressing in the summertime. Nobody needs to face round for 25+ minutes in direct daylight with no shade. (If the rumors are improper and there’s no evening parade at Magic Kingdom, the stage present makes probably the most sense there–however logistics make a brand new parade + fireworks + stage present a horrible thought.)
Then there’s EPCOT. It’s means too early to interchange Luminous: The Symphony of Us, however I might see ‘enhancements’ added to that nighttime spectacular. Extra doubtless, Take a look at Monitor 3.0 might function the large draw for summer time (regardless that it’ll exist past August). I’d additionally add a brand new summer time competition at EPCOT, however I’d’ve achieved that this 12 months–so I gained’t belabor that time.
Whereas I’d count on the entire above to be included within the value of admission, I additionally wouldn’t thoughts seeing extra upcharge choices. The vanilla After Hours have grown stale, however what a few themed one at Hollywood Studios or EPCOT a la Jollywood Nights or Disneyland After Darkish Nites? DHS may very well be a enjoyable setting for ‘Disney Afternoon Evenings.’ (If Magic Kingdom is getting a brand new evening parade, I don’t suppose it’s smart for it to have laborious ticket occasions–regardless that a reprise of Pirate & Princess Celebration or Villains After Hours could be superior.)
Finally, it makes an excessive amount of sense to not do Summer season Nightastic from Memorial Day via Labor Day (or thereabouts) at Walt Disney World in 2025. Summer season attendance is trending downwards at Walt Disney World–and has been since 2016 whenever you take away the closure and pent-up demand anomalies of 2020-2022.
It’s the one time of 12 months going within the ‘improper’ course for Disney, and they need to do one thing to reverse that. A limited-time seasonal celebration that will be marketable to informal company and trigger followers to flock to the parks. It could create a way of urgency and beef up a time of 12 months when many individuals in any other case would keep away from visiting.
Then there’s the necessity to have some semblance of an “reply” to Epic Universe (once more, counterprogramming might be the extra apt time period). Clearly, Walt Disney World is just not going to have something that may compete with Epic Universe in 2025 on a 1:1 foundation. That wouldn’t be potential, neither is it even the objective–the objective is peeling away visits from Common’s present gates (and capturing on-site lodge stays) from vacationers doing longer stays and planning to see extra than simply Epic Universe.
As needs to be apparent, this isn’t simply nostalgia speaking. No matter Walt Disney World does for Summer season 2025 will differ completely in substance from Summer season 2010. Heck, it in all probability wouldn’t even be referred to as “Summer season Nightastic,” as that’s not precisely a reputation with robust model consciousness amongst followers. (Even when it’s a good title that succinctly conveys the when and what of the particular seasonal celebration.) Not solely is a Summer season Nightastic-like occasion precisely what Walt Disney World wants, however I’d be keen to wager it’s what we’ll get. Right here’s hoping we discover out quickly–the D23 Expo is lower than two weeks away!
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YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you consider a Summer season Nightastic (or related) celebration at Walt Disney World? Would one thing like this persuade you to guide a visit to WDW in Summer season 2025? How do you suppose Walt Disney World will (unofficially) try to “compete” with Epic Universe subsequent 12 months? Agree or disagree with our evaluation? Another ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even whenever you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!