Remember... Dreams Come True was a fireworks display at Disneyland commemorating the park's 50th anniversary in 2005. Described as an "E ticket in the sky", the show features fireworks, lower level pyrotechnics, isopar flame effects, state-of-art projection mapping, lasers, searchlights, and lighting set to the soundtracks of some of Disneyland's most famous rides and shows. It was created as an homage to Disneyland and Disney parks worldwide, its lands, its attractions, and its continuing legacy.
Tokyo Disneyland also features an almost identical fireworks and projection mapping show, named simply Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland, as part of its 35th anniversary celebration.[1] It features state-of-the-art projection technology, lasers, water cannons, and more for a performance on a grander scale than ever before experienced at the park. With Cinderella Castle as the stage, Mickey Mouse takes guests on a magical, musical journey around the park. This show was created as an homage to all Disney Parks around the world, including Tokyo Disneyland.
Disneyland version was produced by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, under direction of VP Parades and Spectaculars Steve Davison and fireworks designer Eric Tucker.
On October 26, 2017, Disney confirmed that Pixar Fest would start on April 13, 2018, and a new fireworks show "Together Forever: A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular" will run during Pixar Fest.[3]Remember... Dreams Come True closed on April 7, 2018 for Pixar Fest and returned on September 7, 2018.
In November 2018, it was announced that a new fireworks show based on Mickey and Minnie Mouse called "Mickey's Mix Magic" would open at Disneyland on January 18, 2019.[4][5] It is currently unknown whether this new show is a limited time or permanent replacement for Remember... Dreams Come True, or whether Remember... Dreams Come True is on another hiatus or has been retired for good.
Show summary[]
Disneyland version[]
Opening[]
Introduction - The introduction is provided by 50th Anniversary Ambassador and Disney Legend, Julie Andrews. Andrews tells the audience about the magic of Disneyland and the beauty of dreams and how important they really are. The "Wishes" fanfare and theme plays here, introducing the main musical theme of the entire show.
Tinker Bell's Flight - Andrews invites the audience to share Walt Disney's dream come true, Disneyland, and honor its magical spirit. Tinker Bell flies out over Sleeping Beauty Castle as Walt Disney's original opening day dedication speech for Disneyland (and the "Wishes" theme) plays.
Main Street[]
The original announcement from the Disneyland Railroad is heard, as is the whistle and bell of DLRR #1, C.K. Holliday. Then music from Main Street, U.S.A., such as the "Maple Leaf Rag" and "Baroque Hoedown", is heard as the "old world" segment shows the Main Street Station, complete with American Flag bunting projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle while one of the trains seems to leave from it. Then, Old Glory is projected while the stars start to move on it. In the "new world" section, not much happens in the way of projections until the final fanfare explodes with multicolored stars emanating from the center of the castle.
Jack Wagner as the synthesized parade voice and the railroad announcer
Adventureland[]
Music from Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and the Indiana Jones Adventure are played. Now, the castle has very colorful projections of the Tiki Room with all the rooks and the Matterhorn being transformed into the Totem Poles while the birds are projected onto the second and third stories of the castle. During the Indiana Jones segment, the eye of Mara is projected onto the Matterhorn and the snake room from Indiana Jones Adventure is projected onto the castle. Also, six jets of fire shoot from the sides of the castle during the segment.
Features music from The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean. The exterior of the Haunted Mansion is projected onto the castle followed by the stretching room portraits. During the "Wicked Waltz," Madame Leota is projected floating around the castle as instruments are projected above her. At the end of the segment, Little Leota is projected as she says her "Hurry back" spiel.
During the Pirates of the Caribbean segment, a skull is projected onto the castle and Matterhorn as flare fireworks are launched from the mountain's peak (however, since mid-2017, the effect has been removed from the Matterhorn and flares are now launched from atop the "Alice in Wonderland" show building). Diagonal fireworks are launched in a way that make it look like Fantasyland and Adventureland are exchanging cannon fire.
Note: The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad portion of the show was removed in 2009 and moved right into the music for Critter Country, Fantasyland, and Toontown.
The segment starts with the Buzzards asking if they have found their "Laughin' Place." Splash Mountain is projected onto the castle. From there, Peter Pan flies across it with the Darling children. The Mad Hatter and March Hare are then heard as colored bubbles are projected, followed by Casey Jr. chugging across. As Benny the Cab introduces the second half of the segment, saxons spin next to the castle and a spiral is projected onto it followed by a barrage of rainbow colored lights dancing across it. Finally, the weasel says "Pop goes the weasel" and the segment ends with a door slamming shut and everything fades to darkness.
Many Tomorrowland attractions and show scenes are projected onto the castle including the Rocket Jets, Submarine Voyage, Adventures Thru Inner Space, the PeopleMover, and Autopia. The main part of the segment is centered around Star Tours, with the logo being projected to start the scene. As the fanfare begins, we appear to go through Hyperspace and meet a few Tiefighters; however, mainly stars are projected onto the castle.
The concluding narration is also provided by Julie Andrews. She tells the audience that Disneyland has grown to become the "Happiest Place on Earth". The song "Wishes" plays and Tinker Bell comes back for a return flight. The show ends in a cavalcade of fireworks then Julie Andrews says "Remember...Dreams Come True!". After the show the song "Remember When", performed by LeAnn Rimes, is played throughout the park. This song was the official song of the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and Disney Parks worldwide. For Christmas in 2005, however, while Disneyland opted to continue with Remember... Dreams Come True for the 50th anniversary, the snowfall finale still returned and the song "White Christmas" (both from Believe... In Holiday Magic) would be played instead of "Remember When", with Julie Andrews commenting that the most special time for believing in dreams is during the holidays with family and friends.
As of 2017, the scene of Walt holding hands and walking with Mickey Mouse (forming the Partners statue), from World of Color: Celebrate! and Disneyland Forever, is shown.
Soundtrack[]
The entire soundtrack to the show can be found on A Musical History of Disneyland and on The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort. The soundtrack reappeared on the Official Album for the Year of a Million Dreams with new narration to coincide with the end of the 50th Anniversary. The score was arranged by Greg Smith.
This fireworks show was also used during the 2006 and 2007 Grad Nite programs - the show itself remained almost unchanged except for the soundtrack being replaced with one consisting primarily of contemporary music (different each year) and projection to match it. The show is renamed to Grad Nite Explosion for these events and runs for approximately 10 minutes at 1:00am and 3:00am. Video screens along with additional lighting effects are also added on either side of the hub (already in place as part of Club KIIS).
Difference between the different versions[]
There are actually four (or five) distinct versions of the show: the original version that presented from 2005-2006, the second version presented from 2006–2009, the third version presented from 2009-2014, and fourth version (including alternate version) beginning in 2017. While the soundtrack is almost unchanged for these versions, there are many difference:
The original version contains Julie Andrews' narration with references to Disneyland's 50th Anniversary, such as Fifty years ago and Fifty years later.
Although Remember When and Wishes! were both used as exit music, in the past, this portion was altered for special occasions:
Prior to the introduction of Disney's Celebrate America in 2008, there was a special Independence day fireworks finale in every July 4, namely A Salute to America's Golden Dreams, replacing two closing themes in the regular version. This theme song was borrowed from Epcot's The American Adventure and Disneyland's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attractions. This special show used a combination of the former Believe and current Remember... pyro equipment. It also appeared during Disneyland Forever with the Celebrate America! finale.
For the 2005 holiday season, "Remember When" and "Wishes!" were replaced with the "White Christmas" segment of Believe... In Holiday Magic, complete with magical snowfall. This version of the "White Christmas" segment contained a short introduction by Julie Andrews.
In acknowledgment that Disneyland is now more than 50 years old, current showings (from October 2006) feature the following changes to the Julie Andrews narration:
"Fifty years ago" has been replaced with "In 1955".
"Fifty years later" has been dubbed over with the word "Today".
In 2009, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad segment was removed and the pyro effects were made smoother and thinner.
In 2017, following the conclusion of Disneyland's 60th Anniversary celebration, the show returned with a massive upgrade, with the addition of projection mapping technology, laser mapping, and new lasers developed for Disneyland Forever. It also incorporates much of the other new equipment installed for Disneyland Forever, including more than 100 searchlights that appeared around the park (in either side of Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street USA), new projection effects from Matterhorn Bobsleds, and a new water screen in Rivers of America. The rest of the show remains unchanged from the 2009 version.
As of 2017, there is an alternate version of this show (if fireworks are cancelled due to winds or inclement weather). This version omits the fireworks so only the soundtrack, projections, water screen (in Rivers of America only) and searchlights are shown. This alternate show featured the opening and closing sections from "Wishes". The E-Ticket in the Sky section was skipped. This alternate show was shown in 6 minutes (13 minutes if including exit music), longer than the alternate version of Disneyland Forever which was shown in just 3 minutes (9 minutes if including exit music).
Tokyo Disneyland version[]
Based on the similarly-themed Remember... Dreams Come True fireworks at Disneyland, in this brand new nighttime spectacular, a magical spell is cast on Cinderella Castle and Guests are transported around the Kingdom of Dreams and Magic through dynamic visuals and memorable music. In addition to the images projected onto the castle, this grand spectacle features colorful fountains, vivid pyrotechnics, dramatic fire effects and lighting that illuminates the trees in the Plaza and fills the night sky. Cinderella Castle and the entire Plaza area are the stage for this dazzling nighttime entertainment.
While recycling soundtrack elements from Remember... Dreams Come True, it also features its own original arrangements, as well as many elements from World of Color and World of Color: Celebrate!.
Opening[]
Introduction: In a similar fashion to Mickey's Philharmagic and the Mickey Mouse Revue, the orchestra tunes up with Goofy getting everybody ready before Mickey Mouse makes his appearance on the castle balcony to conduct the show.
The Enchanted Tiki Room: Inspired by Aloha e Komo Mai!, Stitch appears throughout the performance of "The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room" before crashing the party and starting a storm.
Jungle Cruise: Mickey pilots a Jungle Cruise boat through the rivers of Adventureland as the music builds into an instrumental version of "Circle of Life", with characters from The Lion King and The Jungle Book appearing on the castle.
Pirates of the Caribbean: As Mickey rides a boat through the attraction, a montage of moments from the attraction plays set to the music of "He's a Pirate" before cannon blasts end the scene.
Westernland[]
Mark Twain Riverboat: Mickey pilots the steamboat along the Rivers of America to the sound of an instrumental arrangement of "Just Around the Riverbend".
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Reusing Remember's Frontierland audio segment, Mickey drives a runaway mine train accompanied by the Country Bears, with the sound of Little Oscar's horn ending the segment.
The Haunted Mansion: As we find ourselves in the Haunted Mansion's stretching room, Mickey dons a top hat and a mischievous grin as the various happy haunts appear on the castle, with Mickey playing the pipe organ. While the sequence follows a similar structure to Remember's version, much of the music is re-arranged.
Critter Country and Toontown[]
Splash Mountain: As the Haunted Mansion sequence ends, Mickey finds himself on a log to take the plunge down into the Briar Patch.
Toontown: After Mickey drops from Splash Mountain, he finds himself floating down into Toontown by balloons and drives the Jolly Trolley before being pulled into the Gag Factory, where he conducts firework launches with his baton, is pulled into a whirlwind, and finally drops onto a TNT lever. Reuses the music from Remember's Fantasyland/Critter Country/Toontown montage.
Tomorrowland[]
Tomorrowland's Past: Mickey drifts into the spacey realm of Tomorrowland to the sounds of an area music re-arrangement of "Miracles From Molecules" while attraction posters for many Tomorrowland attractions past and present drift by, including the extinct Star Jets and Meet the World attractions. Eventually, Mickey sees the attraction poster for Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters and dives in.
Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters: The battle between Buzz Lightyear and Zurg seen in the attraction plays out to the sounds of the Toy Story 2 prologue soundtrack. Recycled soundtrack from World of Color.
Star Tours: Mickey climbs aboard Star Tours: The Adventures Continue and joins the Starspeeder's escape from Star Destroyers before jumping to the under-construction Death Star and escaping to a landing pad on Coruscant.
Finale[]
Popcorn: A brief interlude has an exhausted Mickey cranking a popcorn machine and filling Cinderella Castle with popcorn.
It's a Small World: As the popcorn fades, the facade of It's a Small World is revealed, with the clock opening on a "35" to commemorate the Anniversary.
Finale: A finale reprise of "Let the Memories Begin" plays as Mickey rides the music book through all of the park's lands in a recap of the show, culminating in Mickey appearing on the castle balcony to say goodbye, followed by a final blast of fireworks.
Splash Mountain:Burrow's Lament • Little Brown Jug • Shortenin' Bread • Polly Wolly Doodle • Froggy Went a Courtin' • Shoo Fly (Don't Bother Me) • Goober Peas • Camptown Races • Dixie • Swing Low Sweet Chariot • When Johnny Comes Marching Home • Comin' Round the Mountain • Ol' MacDonald • Skip to My Lou • Freight Train Blues • Wabash Cannonball • St. James Infirmary • Tennessee Waltz • Show Me the Way to Go Home • Alabamy Bound • Down By the Riverside • My Old Kentucky Home • Blue Moon if Kentucky • Blue Ridge Mountain Blues • Carolina Moon • Deep River Blues • Goodnight Ladies • Honey Comb • Jailhouse Blues • Old Mill Stream • Salty Dog • Up a Lazy River • Tom Dooley • Oh, Susanna • John Henry • Sixteen Tons • I've Been Working on the Railroad • When the Saints Go Marchin' In • You Are My Sunshine