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When You Wish Upon a Starburst

By Arthur Levine, About.com

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The Wishes fireworks show uses Cinderella's Castle as its iconic backdrop.

Disney

What:

"Wishes" fireworks show

Where:

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, Florida

When:

Presented most evenings

Best Place to View:

At the end of Main Street, just before the hub in front of Cinderella's Castle

Running Time:

12 minutes

Tips:

Stake out a spot at least a half-hour before the scheduled show.
After the show, spend time wandering around Main Street's shops instead of fighting the post-show crowds leaving the park.

Overview:

While the Magic Kingdom show that preceded it for many years, "Fantasy in the Sky," was a relatively traditional fireworks display, "Wishes" is a more subtle (if subtle can be used to describe any fireworks show) and captivating presentation. Less 4th of July flag-waving, the show mines the rich Disney catalog and tells the story of making wishes come true through familiar songs, the voices of animated characters, and, of course, pyrotechnics.

Tinker Bell, a welcome holdover from the last show, gets the pixie dust flowing as she flies from Cinderella Castle. The castle, which provides a dramatic backdrop for the display, is itself integrated into the show through some impressive lighting and effects. The synchronization between the soundtrack and the fireworks is astonishing--down to the syllable. The fireworks feature some graceful "brocade waterfalls" or "chrysanthemums," bursts that paint the sky and linger as they cascade for a stunning effect.

"Wishes" is not as spectacular as either Epcot's "Illuminations" or Disney-MGM Studios' "Fantasmic!"--two of Walt Disney World's crowning achievements--but it is a must-see show and a wonderful way to end the evening at the Magic Kingdom.