New Halloween Fireworks show HUGE letdown - music GONE.

Watched it last night from the west garden, not crowded, unobstructed view, and tbh I need another viewing which I'll get next Friday. I agree, the music was off putting, I mean "step in time" at Halloween? I loved the fireworks and thought the projections went nicely without taking away from the fireworks. But not sure about the music, yet

I went back and rewatched Hallowishes on Youtube and was surprised that the musical pieces were more lacking than I had remembered (they're Disney Channel-ized versions) but the pacing and theming of the music works better than the selections they picked for the new show - even though they use A LOT of the same pieces (hunchback, little mermaid, etc) Also, why start with Jack Skellington as your MC and then promptly go to Mickey Mouse?! Why toss out the Haunted Mansion which should be the perfect pairing with any halloween festivities?

The projections are REALLY good - but as another poster says here - it distracts from majesty of the fireworks that have to carry the show in Hallowishes and are now almost background filler in many cases.

I'm curious what this foretells for the new Holiday fireworks show which will probably also have a mickey mouse tie-in this time.
 
I worry that if you aren't really close, you miss most of the show-especially the Jack Skellington narrator. I don't feel like trying to keep little boys happy waiting 45 minutes or more staking out a place for the show when they will want to be doing something RIGHT THEN. And the fireworks did seem less spectacular, but maybe because the focus is the action on the castle. If it is crowded the night we are there, September 6, we will likely leave after the parade (which has tons more options to find decent viewing areas) .
 
Just watched the full video of the new show. I completely agree with the OP. As stunning as the new visuals are, the new soundtrack leaves a lot to be desired. For me, it is a fun idea that was lost in execution. The choice to use princess and upbeat dance related music, instead of Haunted Mansion or other more classically considered “Halloween” type music, certainly made for an unusual tone to the show. This new show, plus the unusual additions of the Incredibles and Toy Story sections to the parade, only help to confirm that they are leaning further away from the creepy Halloween aesthetic, and more into a generic Disney one instead, which disappoints me greatly. Nevertheless, I am sure the new show will be a hit and will bring joy to many for years to come. I just will not be one shelling out my money for the party again any time soon. Enjoy everyone.
 


Ugh, I just watched Wishes on YouTube. It feels like home. I love HEA, so I disagree with the 'far superior' part of your statement but boy do I miss it.

Totally agree! (not to hijack this thread to talk about Wishes haha). I do love watching HEA, but there was something emotional about the storyline and music of Wishes that I miss!
 


Everyone told me I’d hate rivers of light and I really enjoyed it. Just gotta wait till I see myself.

I heard how HOA was worse then wishes and I hated it the first time cause that was in my head. Seeing it the second time showed me how amazing it was and how the magic was even better than wishes. Now I think it’s far superior then wishes and more emotional.

Just gotta make own judgement. Can’t wait to find out
 
I think as with most things people consider to be traditions, change is often met with resistance. I have watched several videos and it seems pretty cool.
I'm not going until October, will reserve judgment until then. This will be year 7 of going for us, I believe, so we'll definitely feel the difference.

Main thing I am hoping for are realistically capped crowd numbers.
 
I just watched The Dis's livestream of the fireworks from this year and then from last year to compare. Hallowishes has been my hands down most favorite fireworks show since I first saw it in 2012 because of the music. I don't hate this new show, but I don't love it yet either. HW always had me bouncing and dancing around to the music, this one not so much. However, the castle projections are 1000x better. You can actually tell what they are and they are fully animated. The pyrotechnics are also IMHO larger and amazing. I think they do a 180 like Hallowishes did but they seemed larger to me in the new show. But the music...I like the new Trick or Treat song, it was cute, but WHERE IS MY VILLAINS MIX?! WHERE IS GRIM GRINNING GHOSTS?! AND BARELY ANY OOGIE BOOGIE?! I hope they at least played the villains songs throughout the park all evening?
 
Just watched the video. I actually like Step in Time there since the point is the skeletons were being silly. I think it looks pretty good, but I will reserve final judgement until I see it in October. However, I only saw Hallowishes once, so I don't have a lot to compare it too. For the record though, I was a huge fan of wishes, and still miss it.
 
I think that our opinions are all in what we are use to.
My son has grown up with Wishes and Hallowishes. We made a point to see the last ever Wishes and sat and cried on Main St, it was like losing a friend. Later that week we went to give HEA a chance-I'm short and between shoulder kids and phones it was all but impossible for me to see it. I hated it. I've now seen it from plaza garden with a dessert party and from California Grill-I have to say it's growing on me, still I miss Wishes.

We haven't been to MNSSHP in 4 years and when I told DS that Hallowishes was gone he was really upset. But we are going to give it a chance-a fair chance with the dessert party. I've watched the videos of the first showing-it's not Hallowishes-I miss Grim Grinning Ghosts and Everybody Screeeeem. Still I appreciate the projections-they are really nice.

For those kiddos and folks going to parties and WDW for the first time-these shows will be endearing to them.
 
I'm frankly trying to figure out how anyone can pass judgement on a show they've only seen on video. Fireworks are 100% something that can only be fairly judged in person.
Even if you say "I watch videos of Wishes, HEA, Hallowishes from last year, whatever" you can only base that on having seen it in person too. That will never leave your mind once you've seen it, no matter how many times you view online after. It will cloud your judgement forever.

So folks should really be fair and withhold their opinions until they see it. I thought as a fireworks show it was great. The shows are not just music or just projections or just fireworks. It's all of it. And for all of it, it's very entertaining. Exactly what it's supposed to be. Even if it's not the best one ever done.
 
We were at the first Halloween party and watched the new fireworks from a great spot in front of the castle. :)

*keep in mind, I was one of the nervous ones when Wishes went away. I loved it. I do think that Happily Ever After is better than Wishes and it does makes me have all the happy feels that Wishes did.

I loved Hallowishes too, but was looking forward to something new. My party of four all agrees however that the new show is only okay. We didn't love it but didn't hate it. We'd have preferred more music, and less dependence on having to be in front of the castle to enjoy most of it. We won't do the "standing in the crush" every time, but did it for the first time watching.
 
Looks like the trick or treat sound was based on an old donald duck cartoon - I like he idea of it but the main medley, like he new happily ever after show, is unremarkable. it's like Fantasy in the sky - but without the emotional oomph and tie-in that the music SHOULD be.

Ohhhh I love this cartoon! I watch House of Villains more than I care to admit. Guess I should watch a video of this fireworks display since I won’t be seeing it in person this year.

With the Villains After Hours event I wonder if the are trying to steer more towards the fun not scary side of Disney Halloween at the parties.
 
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We had Plaza Garden viewing on Friday for the new show. I was SO excited, even though I did love HalloWishes. Such a disappointment. The new Jack puppet is cool, and they did a great job with the Castle projections. But the music is so off. It didn't feel "Halloweeny" at all. I really liked the "Trick or Treat" throwback, but I felt like they really missed the mark with the Villains at the end, and the Mary Poppins and Princess medley were just weird. I honestly felt like there was a lack of actual fireworks, too. I had another dessert party booked in October but already cancelled it.
 
I'm frankly trying to figure out how anyone can pass judgement on a show they've only seen on video. Fireworks are 100% something that can only be fairly judged in person.
Even if you say "I watch videos of Wishes, HEA, Hallowishes from last year, whatever" you can only base that on having seen it in person too. That will never leave your mind once you've seen it, no matter how many times you view online after. It will cloud your judgement forever.

So folks should really be fair and withhold their opinions until they see it. I thought as a fireworks show it was great. The shows are not just music or just projections or just fireworks. It's all of it. And for all of it, it's very entertaining. Exactly what it's supposed to be. Even if it's not the best one ever done.
You have some good points @AngiTN. From watching the videos I think it is visually wonderful and it really is about the sum of all the parts together but I am just stuck on the "missing" songs. I really, really love the Villain's songs because most of them are more jazzy, bluesy and have more rythym to them. Hard to describe. However I am looking forward to seeing it in person but I won't get to do that until Oct. 27. I'm much less attached to Holiday Wishes so I don't think whatever they do on that one will disappoint me unless they try to make in non-Christmas. I will be at the last MVMCP this year to see that one too.
 
I think that our opinions are all in what we are use to.
My son has grown up with Wishes and Hallowishes. We made a point to see the last ever Wishes and sat and cried on Main St, it was like losing a friend. Later that week we went to give HEA a chance-I'm short and between shoulder kids and phones it was all but impossible for me to see it. I hated it. I've now seen it from plaza garden with a dessert party and from California Grill-I have to say it's growing on me, still I miss Wishes.

We haven't been to MNSSHP in 4 years and when I told DS that Hallowishes was gone he was really upset. But we are going to give it a chance-a fair chance with the dessert party. I've watched the videos of the first showing-it's not Hallowishes-I miss Grim Grinning Ghosts and Everybody Screeeeem. Still I appreciate the projections-they are really nice.

For those kiddos and folks going to parties and WDW for the first time-these shows will be endearing to them.
I never failed to tear up watching Wishes.
 

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