Fantasmic! is a long-running nighttime show at both Disneyland in California and Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida, and formerly at Tokyo DisneySea. It is about the power of the imagination, showcased by Mickey experiencing a dream during a night in which he is asleep. It originated at Disneyland in 1992 after Disneyland's entertainment department was asked to create a nighttime spectacular involving water and fireworks to invigorate the space in front of the Rivers of America. Disneyland Entertainment employed the resources of Walt Disney Animation Studios and Walt Disney Imagineering as collaborators. Much of the area around the Rivers of America needed to be reworked, including terracing the walkways to accommodate viewing and modifying part of Tom Sawyer Island so that it could act as a stage for much of the show's live-action. The show temporarily closed at Disneyland in 2016 to make room for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, but was brought back with completely new scenes on the park's 62nd birthday on July 17, 2017. On April 22, 2023, the animatronic dragon burst into flames during the finale. While no cast members or crew were hurt, the dragon and much of the show equipment in their pit were severely damaged. On May 24, 2024, the show reopened, with a new battle scene of Maleficent and Sorcerer Mickey, without the animatronic dragon. The Peter Pan ship segment is also returning, replacing the Pirates of the Caribbean sequence.
In 1996, Walt Disney Entertainment in Florida partnered with Imagineering and Feature Animation to bring a new version of the show to Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly the Disney-MGM Studios), featuring newly animated and live-action scenes. The Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom was not conducive to a duplication of the layout at Disneyland, so a new purpose-built 10,000 seat amphitheater was built at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Intended to boost low attendance numbers at that park, the new Fantasmic! show was also seen as a needed replacement for Sorcery in the Sky, an aging nighttime fireworks show. On March 12, 2020, the show temporarily closed at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland due to the coronavirus pandemic. On August 17, the show's water feature was drained after Walt Disney World reopened during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in July 2020. However, following Disney Parks' reopening, Disneyland announced that the updated version of the show would return on May 28, 2022 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Disneyland version, while Walt Disney World announced that a newly revised and upgraded version of the show would return on November 3, 2022 at Disney's Hollywood Studios as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration.
The third edition of Fantasmic! debuted on April 28, 2011 and ended on February 28, 2020 at Tokyo DisneySea in Japan. It featured a new theme song and, being set in the Mediterranean Harbor area of the park, was done on a series of barges, with a central "hat" tower instead of a stage on which Mickey and other characters could appear. Prior to the start of the show, guests would engage in doing the wave to get others excited and pumped up for the event. This is quite common at Disney's Hollywood Studios. As of 2022, some of the elements from the defunct Tokyo version are now shown in the revamped Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios version as well as the Imagination song used in the Disneyland's version post-show until 2023, when the original Bruce Healey's post-show song was returned.
The show is located on the waters of the Rivers of America at Disneyland and on a stage across the waterway. A tavern and tall trees act as a backdrop for the show. To begin, lights around the Rivers of America fade and a female narrator introduces the story.
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. Are the powers of Mickey's imagination strong enough, and bright enough, to withstand the evil forces that invade Mickey's dreams? You are about to find out. For we now invite you to join Mickey, and experience Fantasmic!... a journey beyond your wildest imagination.
The show follows a dream of Mickey Mouse that he has one night while fast asleep, which begins with him in a tuxedo discovering the water and light effects while he tests them out. He then proceeds to direct the effects like a conductor. Then he shoots pyrotechnics from his index fingertips just like in the "When You Wish Upon a Star" number in the Sing-Along Songs Disneyland Fun. The show's signature water projection screens are eventually activated, onto which animation from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence from Fantasia. Musical scores from "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" and the "Imagination" theme accompany the animation as Mickey conducts animated shooting stars pyrotechnics launched from the six pyrotechnic barges on the river.
The animation then blends with live performers interpreting different flowers. The petals then become huge green leaves and combine with onscreen animation to become flora and fauna of the jungle. The projections then show Sorcerer Mickey walking into the "Circle of Life" scene from The Lion King, as Rafiki then goes and lifts a baby Simba into the air. The lighting and music change to a jungle beat, and Kaa from The Jungle Book makes his way across the island with hypnotic beams of light firing from his eyes. Accompanying this scene are three floating barges carrying King Louie and black-lit monkeys (from the Tokyo version) across the river, dancing along to the beat; with images of pink elephants playing the tune to "Hakuna Matata" as Timon, Pumbaa, and a growing-up Simba walk across a log like in the song, followed by more pink elephants.
The music segues to a contemporary rendition of "Pink Elephants on Parade" from Dumbo, as more pink elephants appear onscreen and in the form of performers on the island. The elephants continue to dance until Mickey discovers a magical lamp. He rubs it, causing Genie to be freed via onscreen animation. He then shows Sorcerer Mickey his powers while singing "Friend Like Me". Some of the transformations include turning into Donald Duck and Goofy, as well as turning Mickey into Pinocchio complete with dancers that look like Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck, as a tribute to the original Pinocchio sequence. Genie then disappears causing Sorcerer Mickey to go underwater.
Sorcerer Mickey then finds the kingdom of Atlantica. As the guests see Ariel swimming around on the projections, it then transforms into the world of Finding Nemo, as Mr. Ray takes Nemo, Dory, and the rest of their classmates on a trip to see the stingray migration. Onscreen animation then shows Cleo, Pinocchio, and Jiminy Cricket underwater. An animated Monstro the Whale interacts with live splash effects on the river. The storyline progresses as Sorcerer Mickey notices his dream becoming darker as he has sucked down a whirlpool on a spellbook. After his eyes were shown wondering where he is, a ship lost in a stormy sea at night is shown. A concussion cannon is fired from Sailing Ship Columbia, which has been transformed into the Black Pearl, where Hector Barbossa, Jack Sparrow, Elizabeth Swann, and the pirates participate in a stunt sequence as the ship makes its pass. Originally, this sequence was themed to Peter Pan, but it was transformed into a Pirates of the Caribbean scene following the 2017 refurbishment. However, the Peter Pan sequence has since returned.
After that, Naveen, Tiana, Aurora, Prince Philip, Snow White, and the Prince dance on a projection as a transition to the princesses segment.
The music turns darker, Mickey in his Sorcerer's Apprentice outfit encounters the Magic Mirror as he tells him "True magical power lies within the mirror, gaze deep into your own reflection and see powers better than you could even imagine." Mickey is skeptical at first, but he eventually decides to take a look. Mickey then gets trapped inside the mirror where he eventually encounters The Evil Queen who has been transformed into The Old Hag. The hag summons Dr. Facilier's Shadow Demons as the "forces of evil" to transform Mickey Mouse's dream into a "nightmare Fantasmic." Onscreen, we see her face dissolve into that of Ursula. Ursula sings a bit of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" and joins the plot against Mickey. Onscreen, the face of Ursula transforms into Chernabog. Animation from the "Night on Bald Mountain" sequence from Fantasia accompanies Mussorgsky's score. Luckily, Mickey eventually manages to escape the mirror.
A pyrotechnic burst of flames heralds the arrival of Maleficent, beginning the climactic showdown sequence. Maleficent rises 30 feet from the stage before breathing fire onto the river using her magic cane. (Originally, Maleficent appeared in her dragon form, but the dragon caught fire in 2023). Sorcerer Mickey appears as he eventually uses his mind and sorcerer powers to destroy Maleficent. As she screams, the villains who have appeared are also destroyed onscreen (resulting in Chernabog vanishing away, destroying him. Ursula screams in agony as she is struck by bolts of lightning, destroying her too. The hag transforms back into the Evil Queen, causing her to also be destroyed and finally, Maleficent falls to her death causing her to be destroyed), and the sequence ends with a pyrotechnic burst from the river.
Following an appearance by Tinker Bell, the Mark Twain Riverboat crosses the stage, piloted by a black and white Mickey Mouse, dressed in attire from Steamboat Willie. Approximately fifty Disney and Pixar characters dance on the ship in a ribbon routine. The sequence is accompanied by searchlights, fountains, and pyrotechnic effects.
Mickey appears on top of the tavern (sometimes on the stage when the lift isn't working) as Sorcerer Mickey, and "conducts" laser beams, fireworks, and lighting effects that span the length of the river stage. In a flash, he disappears from atop the tavern, and re-appears center stage, resuming his tuxedo. Mickey says to the audience, "Some imagination, huh? Haha!" and with a laugh, he disappears in a flash. A final burst of pyrotechnics is accompanied by searchlights placed around the tavern and stage. As a finale, a brilliant green flash of pyrotechnics ignites on the water where the river once again becomes quiet and dark.
Disney's Hollywood Studios version
The show follows a dream of Mickey Mouse that he has one night while fast asleep. As the lights fade, a female narrator gives a brief welcome and mentions of the powers of imagination. A very faint musical note is heard, swelling and growing into a dramatic chord in the complete darkness. Once the chord strikes, two tall columns rise on stage left and right, with roving spotlights, until finally, Mickey appears center stage. He conducts various water fountain effects, until bringing up the giant water-mist "screens", which, in conjunction with a few flares, fade into the famous "Sorcerer's Apprentice" scene from Fantasia.
From there, the falling stars of the Sorcerer's Apprentice scene morph into flowers, and after a brief interlude, into a jungle scene. Elephants, giraffes, monkeys, birds, ostriches, rhinos, crocodiles, and cheetahs in black-lit fluorescent colors begin to herd in the mountain. The neon animals make noise and move around on the island while Rafiki and monkeys do a dance on floats traveling across the water, and Simba and Nala romp together on the water-mist screen. Next, a large bubble montage takes place, where scenes and characters from major classic animated Disney movies (The Lion King, The Jungle Book, Dumbo, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Alice in Wonderland, Hercules, Pinocchio, Aladdin, Mulan, Cinderella, Lady and the Tramp, Fantasia, The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Moana, Frozen, Bambi, Tarzan, Beauty and the Beast, and The Little Mermaid) appear in floating bubbles. An animated Monstro then appears onscreen, accompanied by a heavy musical score as he crashes through the waters. The chaotic sea morphs into Mickey lost in an overflowed room as he is whisked into a whirlpool. After Mickey wonders where he is, he makes a cry for help, and the scene shifts to a medley of Disney heroes and heroines. First is a scene from Pocahontas, with Pocahontas singing Just Around the Riverbend, then it transitions to scenes of Mulan, Tarzan, Encanto, The Princess and the Frog, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Hercules, Aladdin, Frozen II, and Moana.
The music takes on an eerie tone as Mickey's dream takes a turn for the worse. The Queen appears and concocts a spell amidst pyrotechnics and other special effects, and turns herself into a hag. She invokes the help of Ursula, Cruella De Vil, Scar, Frollo, and Jafar. Jafar uses his magic to send Mickey to the Cave of Wonders. After escaping a wave of lava, Mickey encounters Jafar, who transforms himself into a giant black cobra to squeeze him and possibly drain him dry, appearing on both the stage and the mist screens. Seeing a magic lamp, Mickey rubs it, assuming it will help him. Unfortunately, Jafar is transformed into a genie and calls upon Hades, who laments on how "noble" Mickey's thoughts are before he calls Chernabog, who summons spirits from the dead.
As Chernabog finishes, Mickey, now in his Brave Little Tailor outfit, comes face to face with Maleficent, who tells the mouse that he'll now deal with her and all the forces of her imagination. As her pinnacle rises, she transforms into a 40-foot-tall fire-breathing dragon that sets the waters ablaze as the villains laugh at Mickey and his imagination. Guests as far as halfway back in the theater can feel the heat from the fire. Mickey, finally deciding to stand up to the villains for his dream, manages to pulls a nearby sword out from its stone (similar to The Sword in the Stone) and creates a wall of water around the island, smothering the flames and defeating the dragon. He eliminates the villains from the dream world using the power of his imagination and his sword. The villains feel the wrath of the magical electricity from the sword, resulting in Chernabog attempting to shield himself from the light of the electricity as he vanishes away, Hades cringes in surprise from the effects as he too disappears, Jafar screams in agonizing pain decimating him as well, Frollo looks back in shock as he yells out "Witchcraft!" as he is overpowered, Scar snarls in a fury as he is overtaken, Cruella looks back in shock, yelling out "What is this?!" before also being vanquished, then Ursula is also taken down as she screams in agony while being struck by bolts of lightning, followed by the hag who transforms back into the Evil Queen causing her to also be annihilated, and finally Maleficent dies as the water splashes with a large firework bang.
All is quiet until we see Tinker Bell fly to restore the mountain. Magical stars sparkle in the mountain as the Steamboat Willie riverboat approaches. Then a spark of pyrotechnics ignites from the riverboat, revealing Mickey, looking as he did in the original short, controlling the boat. As it glides past the audience, various Disney characters appear aboard the boat, usually waving streamers. A celebratory atmosphere prevails amid a flurry of fireworks.
With another flash of pyrotechnics, Mickey disappears from Steamboat Willie riverboat and re-appears atop the highest point of the mountain in his Sorcerer outfit as fireworks, fire, and water light up the stage. As the finale concludes, Mickey disappears from the top of the mountain with another spark of pyrotechnics, a small explosion in the main stage and simultaneously reappears in his shiny tuxedo suit. A small applause from the crowd and Mickey says, "Some imagination, huh? Haha!" Pyrotechnics shoot out of the main stage and barges on the moat, he vanishes one last time to the final notes of the music while a cone of lights and searchlights bright up the stage for a few seconds. All turns dark once again and the show has concluded.
Tokyo DisneySea version
Like the other incarnations, the show follows a dream of Mickey Mouse that he has one night while fast asleep. The show begins with the tune of the Sorcerer's Apprentice as out of the stars, Sorcerer Mickey emerges on a tower of stars in a comet. The new theme song, Imagination plays as Mickey conducts the water and images of different characters appear on the tower. The music shifts into the instrumental Fantasmic theme and continues into Sorcerer's Apprentice as Mickey conducts the stars and sea and calls on the Magic Brooms. The waters rise and we enter the sea with Ariel singing "Part of Your World", with Crush and his sea turtles swimming in the background. The dancing fish from Fantasia's Nutcracker suite also appears as does Jiminy Cricket in his bubble, who pops it and fills the sky with bubbles.
When Rafiki is about to hold up Simba though, Stitch appears instead (similar to one of the Inter-Stitch-al trailers of the film) and the music goes into an electric guitar version of Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride with Stitch conducting the water while Angel pilots Stitch's red speeder shooting plasmablasts. Mickey appears again, accompanied by the show's theme song and When You Wish Upon A Star and sets the stage for an appearance by the Genie singing Friend Like Me as well as the scene of A Whole New World. As Aladdin and Jasmine fly off, the music segues into Cinderella and a sequence based on the Disney Princesses.
After the Princess medley, Mickey encounters the Magic Mirror and asks "Who's the most powerful Sorcerer of all?" The Mirror tells him "True magical power lies within the mirror, gaze deep into your own reflection... Look closer... That's it, closer...". Mickey is then trapped inside, allowing the Witch and the villains to take control, each one appearing within the mirror. The Witch calls on the assistance of Ursula (singing "Poor Unfortunate Souls") and Chernabog (whose appearance is accompanied with a mix of Night on Bald Mountain and "Hellfire"). The witch laughs at the power of Imagination and the last villain emerges from the mirror: Maleficent who shows the power of her imagination by turning into her dragon form. Mickey defeats Maleficent (along with Chernabog, Ursula and the Witch who transforms back into the Evil Queen) with his magic wand and the power of his imagination. He falls back into his sleeping body and with a wave of Tinker Bell's wand, the show moves into the finale, with a reprise of the song and many of the good characters appearing on the barges, including regular Mickey. The barges stop and Sorcerer Mickey reappears on the tower, clad in a flowing white robe to conduct the final fireworks and fountains as the theme builds. Mickey then remarks "Imagination! Haha!" translated to Japanese "イマジネーション! ハハ!" and disappears, with a few notes of the Sorcerer's Apprentice theme and the final fanfare. The tower takes on the appearance of the Sorcerer's Hat and the exit music plays.
Featured Disney films
Mickey Mouse & Friends/DuckTales (Launchpad McQuack was the only character from the series to appear in the finale)
Jafar (featured in the Night on Bald Mountain segment)
Hades (featured in the Night on Bald Mountain segment)
Villains with an * aren't involved in the takeover.
Characters appearing in the Finale
Disneyland version
Disneyland's version of the finale has included many different characters since its 1992 debut and has changed throughout the years, such as to replace older characters with newer ones.
Also, during the special 20th anniversary performances of the show in May 2012, Roger Rabbit, Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, the Three Little Pigs, and the Big Bad Wolf (all of whom previously appeared in the finale during the earlier years of the show's existence) made appearances.
Walt Disney World's version of the finale currently includes Mickey, Minnie, Chip, Dale, Goofy, Pluto, Donald, Pinocchio, Geppetto, Snow White, her Prince, Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy, Bashful, Dopey, Aladdin, Jasmine, Genie, Moana, Belle, Beast, Ariel, Prince Eric, Tiana, Naveen, Rafiki, Stitch, Pocahontas, Meeko, Fa Mulan, Li Shang, Elsa, Baloo, and Mary Poppins.
As in Disneyland, the character line-up has gone through changes since its debut. For example: Br'er Bear, John Smith, Hercules, Megara, Phil, Bert, and the Chimney Sweeps appeared on the boat regularly in the past.
Other characters who appeared in the finale over the years include Mr. Smee, Mushu, Tigger, Br'er Fox, Fairy Godmother, Quasimodo, Lilo, Timon, Max Goof, and Robin Hood.
Characters may vary in this version as well, though not quite as often.
Tokyo DisneySea version
Tokyo DisneySea's version of the finale included the following characters, besides the Fantasmic! dancers (in a clockwise direction):
Barge 1: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Snow White, The Prince, Dopey
Barge 2: Chip, Dale, Clarice, Marie, Aurora, Prince Phillip
Barge 3: Pinocchio, Gepetto, Jiminy Cricket, Ariel, Prince Eric, Max the Sheepdog
Barge 4: Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu
For a while, however, only 3 barges were operational, holding the following characters:
Barge 1: Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Snow White, The Prince, Dopey
Barge 2: Chip, Dale, Clarice, Ariel, Prince Eric, Max the Sheepdog
Barge 3: Donald, Daisy, Goofy, Aladdin, Jasmine, Abu
Differences between the versions
Although the shows in Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios and Tokyo DisneySea are similar in many respects, there are some differences between the three versions.
In the old Disneyland version of the finale, as soon as Mickey says "Some imagination, huh? Haha!", the cone of lights immediately turns on and fireworks from the barges surrounding the stage ignite. This caused the audience to view how Mickey "vanishes". Now, like the Disney World version, there is a spark of bright pyrotechnics as soon as the line is said. In the Tokyo DisneySea version, this illusion is created by pyrotechnics at Mickey's platform, followed by a quick release trap set within the platform.
The choreography of the Opening Mickey and Sorcerer Mickey in both Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios are different in their own ways. At Tokyo DisneySea, this choreography is completely removed, as this show has a different opening.
Whereas the show is performed on the Rivers of America at Disneyland, Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America was deemed insufficient for the show, Disney needed a new nighttime draw for Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Hollywood Hills Amphitheater built at Disney's Hollywood Studios was made specifically for Fantasmic!
At Disney's Hollywood Studios, the show runs for almost 27 minutes (due to the montage of Disney clips inside bubbles, the additional villains, and the wall of water at the climax), compared to Disneyland's which is only 22 minutes. The Tokyo DisneySea version runs at approximately 23 minutes.
The Jungle Scene with Kaa, King Louie, and the monkeys from The Jungle Book at Disneyland is replaced with a tribute to The Lion King at Disney's Hollywood Studios. However, King Louie and the monkeys do appear briefly in the bubble scene. Tokyo DisneySea uses characters from both films, as well as video from Tarzan to accent the "Circle of Life" scene from The Lion King. The 2017 and 2022 incarnation from Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios also now uses both films.
The Peter Pan re-enactment from Disneyland was replaced with re-enactment from Pocahontas at Disney's Hollywood Studios at the request of Michael Eisner, who wanted more recent films in the show. However, Mr. Smee appeared in the WDW version of the finale from 1999 to 2002 and again in 2014. In 2017, a Pirates of the Caribbean segment replaced the Peter Pan segment at Disneyland. However, the Peter Pan segment returned in Spring 2024 (albeit without the Tick-Tock barge due to presumably being scrapped), replacing the Pirates of the Caribbean segment; it is rumored that Disney reverted to Peter Pan in an effort to distance itself from Johnny Depp following the Amber Heard trial.
In 2022, the Pocahontas segment was replaced with a Heroes segment for the Hollywood Studios version of Fantasmic which utilizes scenes of Mulan, Tarzan, Encanto, The Princess and the Frog, The Hunchback of Norte Dame, Hercules, Aladdin, Frozen II and Moana. However, Pocahontas was still utilized within the beginning of the segment with Pocahontas singing "Just Around the Riverbend".
The "Pink Elephants on Parade" clips and Pinocchio puppets are replaced with a montage of many clips from Disney features inside bubbles at Disney's Hollywood Studios. However, they do appear briefly in the bubble scene. Clips of the bubble montage are found in "The Little Mermaid" / "Finding Nemo" section, while clips of "Pink Elephants" are projected on the screens during the "Friend Like Me" segment from Disney's Aladdin found in the Tokyo DisneySea version.
In 2017, the Rock version of "Pink Elephants" is replaced with a Dubstep remix version at Disneyland.
The Aladdin segment with the Genie replaced the original Pinocchio segment for the 2017 version at Disneyland.
Genie turning Mickey into Pinocchio complete with dancers that look like Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck served as a tribute to the original Pinocchio sequence. Pinocchio still appears in the undersea segment as well as Jiminy.
There was a little scene of Ariel, Cinderella, and Belle as belly dancers. Eventually, however, the segment was considered to be a little adult for young audiences, forcing the show to use different characters/effects from "Friend Like Me".
Ursula's reprisal of "Poor Unfortunate Souls" is taken out at Disney's Hollywood Studios to introduce the other Disney villains. She plays a smaller role in the Florida show than in the California one. In Tokyo DisneySea's version, her role is identical to California's version, with the exception that the song is in Japanese.
More villains are featured in the Florida version. Many of the additions are villains from Disney animated features released after the Disneyland version was first introduced.
In California, Mickey destroys the villains by pointing a sword at the Dragon and saying, "You may think you're so powerful, well, this is my dream!" before light shoots from his sword toward the villains. But as of 2017, he appears in his sorcerer form and instead makes fireworks to defeat them. In Florida, he still says this, but before he destroys the villains, he causes a wall of water to block out the island and douse the flames; he then marches over to the sword in the stone and pulls it out.
Instead of the Mark Twain riverboat, the characters in the Florida show dance on a smaller boat based on the Steamboat Willie boat. Tokyo DisneySea uses four barges refurbished from previous shows performed in the Mediterranean Harbor.
In the California version, the giant snake that comes out on the stage is Kaa from The Jungle Book; in the Florida version, the snake is Jafar from Aladdin. Also, Jafar has a much bigger role in the show than any other villain except for Maleficent. Tokyo DisneySea uses a redesigned Kaa as a moving float during the "Circle of Life" segment.
Having been updated, the California version's Maleficent dragon was considerably more advanced than its Florida counterpart and had a wider range of movement, but was destroyed in a fire in 2023. Tokyo's dragon consists only of the head and neck emerging from a mirror. It is unknown if it is a puppet or an animatronic.
The final battle scene in California and Tokyo DisneySea's shows differ from their Florida counterpart. While the Florida version put Brave Little Tailor Mickey against the dragon Maleficent, Sorcerer Mickey is the one who battles Maleficent at Disneyland where he uses his magic controls and Tokyo DisneySea where he, instead of using a sword, shoots fireworks from a magic wand topped with a Hidden Mickey emblem.
Unlike the US versions, Tokyo DisneySea's show does not open with the "Welcome to Fantasmic!..." phrase as part of the opening act; instead, it starts off with Dukas' Sorcerer's Apprentice. The narration is recited as part of the pre-show announcements in both Japanese and English, by two male voices, instead of a female voice. It doesn't open/close with Mickey in a tuxedo. Instead, it opens and closes with Sorcerer Mickey.
The Finale music at Tokyo DisneySea is almost identical to the US versions except when the chorus sings the "Imagination" theme song instead of Bruce Healey's lyrics for the US versions. The choreography is different as well, with no dancing ribbons.
The music of the Villain segment of the show is almost identical to Disneyland's version, with two notable exceptions: in the Chernabog scene, the music is instead a mixture of "Night on Bald Mountain" and "Hellfire"; and instead of the Evil Queen's transformation into the Old Hag, Mickey is the one who summons the Magic Mirror and the power of evil.
The dialog in Tokyo DisneySea's version is in Japanese. When translated from Japanese to English, Mickey's dialog in Tokyo DisneySea's version is literally the same as the US versions (except when Mickey calls the Magic Mirror and the magic of romance).
In the Florida and Tokyo versions, Bruce Healey's exit music can be heard after each performance. In 2017, Disneyland's version replaced Bruce Healey's exit music with the "Imagination" song from Tokyo's version, but the original exit music can still be heard in the entrance plaza in between the two theme parks. After the show's return in 2024, the "Imagination" song from Tokyo's version was removed and reverted back to the original Bruce Healey's exit music.
Tokyo's Princess sequence does not include vocals, but a more orchestral soundtrack than its US counterparts. It also features Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora. The US versions feature Belle and Beast, Ariel, and depending on which US version is seen, Snow White and her Prince, or Rapunzel and Flynn Rider.
Tokyo's version features Ariel (as both human and mermaid), Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog (as animation), and Snow White (Theme and Finale). Cinderella is the only featured Princess who does not appear in all three versions. Belle and the Beast are featured as animation only; they do not appear in the finale.
During Walt Disney World's years Mickey has had a total of 3 three different swords. The first one that was used from (1999-2003) was thin and long, the second one that was used from (2003-2011) was remodeled and was a bit bigger and pointier, and the current one is a lot larger and has more effects that include a red light beam effect that shoots toward the dragon.
In early 2014, Disneyland received new World of Color fountains that move to Mickey's movements, but were shortly taken down due to problems. In 2017 the new fountains were replaced with improved versions which move more like their World of Color counterparts.
In late 2011, Walt Disney World was given new firework effects in the finale which includes Mickey's new fireworks that appear behind him and new finale fireworks. Likewise, Disneyland got new firework blasts at the end of the show. During the 2011 refurbishment, the show returned to 7 shows a week and was given new dragon lighting effects. During the 15th anniversary, Walt Disney World was given new lights on the princess barges, like Disneyland's, and new low smoke effects and new fire in the dragon's mouth where it hits the water, the lift at the top of the mountain was experiencing problems and now comes up slower than it normally does for the performers' safety.
In 2010, Disneyland was given new lasers for the finale that move.
In (1999-2002), Mickey disappeared with flash fireworks all around the stage and so from any angle, you could not see how he disappeared, but in 2002 Mickey was given a spark blast around his elevator to make it more magical for the audience.
In the intro of the WDW version, almost anyone can see Mickey coming up the lift; Disneyland's lift is so fast when the lights hit Mickey he just came up.
In 2017, the original female singer in Disneyland's Fantasmic! was replaced by Heather Headley who also provided vocals on other Disney nighttime shows like World of Color Winter Dreams, Season of Light and Disney Illuminations in Paris. The original female singer can still be heard in the Orlando version.
Alternate Show
A Taste Of Fantasmic!
Due to the typical rainy weather in Florida, Disney Hollywood Studios will present a Taste of Fantasmic! which contains just the fountains and launches off the preloaded pyro, as it is too dangerous and impossible to unload it. This show is about five minutes and runs only once.
The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural
When Disneyland's version was under a major refurbishment following the aftermath of the fire, a smaller show was shown instead. This show is about a frog and his dreams of visiting New Orleans. Just like A Taste Of Fantasmic, this show is also five minutes, but unlike it, this show can be played several times per night.
FastPass
With the success of FastPass viewing for the World of Color show at Disney's California Adventure, Fantasmic! at Disneyland started to offer the service. On December 12, 2013, Outdoor Vending Carts converted to FastPass machines were placed along the Big Thunder Trail offering Blue, Yellow, and Green Section FastPass tickets. Only guests with FastPass tickets are allowed in the viewing areas. Limited stand by viewing is available in small sections around the viewing area. In addition to FastPasses guests may also purchase a Dining Package at Blue Bayou or Riverbelle Terrace for a reserved viewing section. Aladdin's Oasis also offers a To-Go dinner package but it only grants the purchaser access to the Blue Section. For a limited time, Hungry Bear restaurant also offered a reserved viewing section called the Dessert Party.
In 2017, the FastPass for Fantasmic was redone with the distribution now occurring next to the Mark Twain/Columbia dock. The regular Fastpass tickets are now for just one section of the viewing area with the rest reserved for those with dining packages from Riverbelle Terrace, Blue Bayou or Hungry Bear Restaurant with Aladdin's Oasis no longer offering the Fantasmic On-the-Go package and the package itself moved to Hungry Bear.
Maleficent Dragon Fire
Around 10:54 P.M on April 22, 2023, everything was normal until there was a hydraulic leak coming from the Dragon after a ignition from the 1st blast from the Maleficent Dragon animatronic. She was acting normal until Mickey said "Well, this is my dream!". She then caught fire on the top her head and it quickly spread to her whole body. The show was stopped, and the Anaheim Fire Department was called to the scene, while the audience in the viewing area was quickly evacuated. All the Cast Members were safe, but few were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. As the fire blazed. The Water Curtain tried covering the fire and everyone was evacuated.
The day after, a scrim was placed around the remnants of the Dragon. A few weeks later, she was either dismantled or still underground, under the stage. There have been conflicting reports regarding what will ultimately happen with the dragon; one rumor states that Imagineering is planning to rebuild the dragon, as the endoskeleton survived relatively intact. Since this fire occurred during a period when Disney suffered a series of high-profile box office bombs, rebuilding the dragon is currently put on hold. However, with Disneyland's 70th Anniversary in 2025, Fantasmic’s 35th Anniversary in 2027, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Summer Games of the 34th Olympiad just a few years away for when they return to the U.S., they might start getting to work with it.
Trivia
From 1992 to 2016, cast members working traffic control at the Disneyland version wore shirts that were yellow with a black stripe. They quickly gained the affectionate nickname "Fantasmic Bumblebees". When the show returned in 2017, the shirts were replaced with a simpler blue design.
Before the nighttime Rivers of America show project settled on what we now know as Fantasmic!, a show themed around The Haunted Mansion's 999 ghosts taking over the Rivers of America with the working title "The River Haunt" was proposed but ultimately deemed too expensive.
The barges in the Jungle segment is also used for the Princess segment.
On April 22, 2023, the Maleficent dragon at the Disneyland version of the show caught fire during the scene where Mickey vanquishes Maleficent in defeat, sending plumes of smoke and fire into the air. The Anaheim Fire Department was called to the scene and the audience viewing area was quickly evacuated. No injuries were reported.
As of July 27, 2024, the reduced pyrotechnics in Tom Sawyer Island and the firework barges have been removed from Rivers of America, and Maleficent's scene no longer involves fire on the river.
Gallery
Posters
Original 1998 Walt Disney World poster
Updated version of Disneyland's Fantasmic! Poster, including Pirates of the Caribbean, Tangled, and The Lion King
Updated version of Disney's Hollywood Studios' Fantasmic! Poster, including Moana, Aladdin, and Frozen