7 May 2013 07:31 Guy.Noronha
Bright, dazzling laser lights! Eye-blasting strobe lighting! Very loud bangs! Huge, larger-than-life characters! Villains and heroes! That is Disney at its very best. And it is Fantasmic!
Every night, during the peak tourist season, the Disney organisation at its World Resort in Florida turns on three 50 feet wide water mist screens that rise 30 feet into the air. These form the stage and backdrop to an audio-visual sensory assault that will leave you gasping with astonishment and your jaw around your stomach. Even if you are not a kid! Besides the high-tech pyrotechnic displays there are also 50 live performers essaying many of the roles.
The show is spectacular visualisation of Mickey Mouse’s dreams that turn to nightmares. It brings out a whole lot of famous Disney characters – the good, the bad and the villainous. The overall theme is the fight of good against evil.
The show is a combination of special effects, pyrotechnics, fiber optics, lasers, strobe lighting, and colourful explosions. There are dancing waters that rise and fall in time to the tunes of Disney classics. There is a 45-foot fire-breathing dragon that lights the river on fire! The final climactic scene features Mickey battling the dragon followed by fireworks. The show concludes with many of the characters singing as they sail past on an 80 foot replica of “Steamboat Willie.”
The show takes place on Tom Sawyer’s Island while the viewers sit (or stand) on and around the banks of the Rivers of America. The water screens will gently waft some wetness the way of the spectators in the seating area. It only adds to the experience.
It would be a good idea to get in early as it gets crowded and good viewing spots are very quickly taken. If you have very small children it might not be a good idea to take them to the show as some of the visualisations can be quite frightening for their young minds. It is a fairly regular feature of the show for some parent to hurriedly rush their crying kids away.
Timings:
Every night during peak season.
Weekends during the off season.
9:00pm and 10:30pm (2nd show during peak season).
The show lasts approximately 25 minutes.