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[birds chirping]
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[announcer] Remain seated, please.
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[in Spanish]
Please remain seated.
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[♪ theme music]
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[indistinct chattering]
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[narrator] Just as it's always been,
since Disneyland first opened in 1955,
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a day in a Disney park
is one of endless possibilities,
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- thrills...
- [roaring]
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- ...adventure, discovery.
- [train horn honks]
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Everything under the sun
can be found in these magical lands,
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and everything not under the sun as well,
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because when night falls,
that's when it's time for...
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- Fireworks.
- [fireworks crackling]
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[narrator] But, of course,
it doesn't end there.
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Don't forget the lights, lasers,
and parades.
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These are the nighttime spectaculars...
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It really changed your perception
of what nighttime entertainment can be.
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...that transform the Disney park
of the daytime into a whole new world.
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But there's a reason
for this radiant ritual,
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a guiding philosophy, if you will,
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that dates back to the earliest days
of Disneyland.
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There's a great story
with the Sherman Brothers.
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♪ Shining at the end of every day ♪
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When they were with Walt Disney
on Main Street
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and there was a firework show
that started.
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[fireworks crackling]
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{\an8}And Walt turned around
and said to Richard Sherman,
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{\an8}"This is our kiss goodnight."
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[narrator] Literally and figuratively,
sparks were flying.
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Did Walt say the kiss goodnight?
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Did he actually say that?
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There is the rumor.
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I don't know that that is true.
I think it's kind of apocryphal.
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[narrator]
Well, one shouldn't kiss and tell.
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But it's... it's a good urban legend.
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[narrator] Oh, well, in any case...
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{\an8}Walt thought that we really needed a way
to bring everyone together
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{\an8}at the end of the night
and kind of encapsulate the day.
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[narrator] Hm, almost like a...
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{\an8}Like a moment that kisses you goodnight
before you leave at the end of the day.
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{\an8}[narrator] Thank you.
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But let's not get ahead of ourselves,
we've only just begun our evening.
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In fact,
the story of fireworks in the park,
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the very first nighttime spectacular,
started before the first park even opened.
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{\an8}Before Disneyland opened,
Walt Disney started telling folks
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{\an8}about it on television.
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[Rebecca] He created a show called...
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[announcer] Walt Disney's Disneyland!
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...and started doing, uh, reports
on how the construction
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and how the development was going
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to get people excited
about coming to see the new park.
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Now we want you to share with us
our latest and greatest dream.
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And he opened that show with Tinkerbell
flying in and waving her wand
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and making fireworks explode.
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And so when people came to the park,
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they expected to see Tinkerbell
and the fireworks...
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[guest 1] Can't wait to see the fireworks.
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- ...and there weren't any.
- [crickets chirping]
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[guest 2] I guess
they're not doing any fireworks.
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We didn't have the wherewithal
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to do a big firework show
or anything at that time.
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[narrator] But all of that was about
to change,
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thanks to Mickey.
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No, not that Mickey!
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Mickey Aronson was the first
full-time pyrotechnician at Disneyland
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that was hired by Walt Disney.
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[narrator] Yes, Mickey Aronson,
who, in 1957,
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would begin overseeing
Disneyland's first fireworks spectacular,
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which, later that year,
would be formally titled...
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Fantasy in the Sky.
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[crowd cheering]
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When it started,
it was literally about five minutes long,
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and it was cast members
shooting the fireworks themselves
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up in the sky behind the castle.
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They would take a music track...
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[♪ fanfare music playing]
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...and then the pyrotechnicians
would light a flare
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and you would hear, "Two, three, fire one!
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Fire two!
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- Three! Four! Five!"
- [fireworks crackling]
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[crowd cheering]
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And they knew how long the timers were
on each of the shells,
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and then by doing that,
they would create a show in the sky,
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but it was all done by hand with a flare.
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[narrator] But while Mickey and his flare,
along with his team,
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were handling the magic behind the scenes,
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there was only room
out front in the spotlight
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for one minute master of ceremonies.
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Walt knew that the fans wanted to see
Tinkerbell starting the fireworks,
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and he wasn't able to do that
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until after the Matterhorn was built
in 1959.
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Then, he had a place where he could have
Tinkerbell fly down behind the castle.
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[announcer] Here comes Tinkerbell now
over the happiest land of all!
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[narrator] Naturally, the Tinkerbell role
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would require someone
both acrobatic and tiny,
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which is quite literally what Walt found.
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[Rebecca] Tiny Kline
was a fairly famous circus acrobat
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and she was famous for her iron jaw act,
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where she would slide down a wire
holding on to a bit in her teeth.
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[♪ fanfare music stings]
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And so, at 70 years old,
she's living in Southern California
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and Walt met her and said, "Will you come
and be Tinkerbell for me at the park?"
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[narrator] And so Tiny took to the sky,
hanging by her teeth and...
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Not with her teeth.
She slid with, you know, with a harness.
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[narrator] Probably sensible!
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Fantasy in the Sky was a huge success,
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making Walt's dreams of a lively park
after dark a reality.
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And as the parade of time marched onward,
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ultimately making its way
to early 1970s Florida,
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the firework spectacular
would light the skies of the Magic Kingdom
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at Walt Disney World as well.
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But all of the excitement
wasn't just confined to the park.
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The nearby contemporary
and Polynesian hotels
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were destinations of their own,
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and when guests visited those places...
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{\an8}There needed to be
some kind of nighttime entertainment,
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something special for them.
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[narrator] And with both hotels
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sitting on the sprawling lagoon
at Magic Kingdom,
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it seemed only natural for the folks
at Disney World to test the waters!
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So the Electrical Water Pageant
was created.
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[narrator] A parade of literal actual
floats, literally, actually floating!
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[Rebecca] They used these wire frames
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with thousands of twinkling lights
and music.
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The music and the lights would synchronize
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and form different types
of whimsical characters,
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dragons and water creatures,
and things like that.
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[narrator] Hugely popular,
these twinkling lights dazzled the eyes
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of more than just the guests, namely...
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Card Walker.
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{\an8}[narrator] Who, at the time,
was the executive VP
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{\an8}and COO of the Walt Disney company.
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{\an8}Card Walker saw
and loved the Electrical Water Pageant
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and said, "We need something like this
for Disneyland."
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{\an8}Just because a show works in one park,
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{\an8}does not necessarily mean
it's gonna work in another park.
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[narrator] And so, out in California,
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Disneyland chose to go
a slightly different route.
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You know,
Disney's just all about innovation, right?
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So there's this pageant on the water.
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{\an8}We come to Disneyland
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{\an8}and the idea is to translate that
into a nighttime parade.
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That, naturally,
would march down Main Street.
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[narrator]
Which would make it a Main Street...
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Yes.
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- ...Electrical Parade?
- Yes.
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[narrator] Yes!
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[♪ epic music]
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[crowd cheering]
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And to design this luminous cavalcade,
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Card Walker turned to Disney
Director of Entertainment, Bob Jani,
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who, with the advanced technology
of Disney R and D at his disposal,
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began prototyping the show with...
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his Christmas tree.
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He basically was in his living room
and took the Christmas lights off the tree
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and had them on the floor,
and his wife goes, "What are you doing?"
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- [glass shatters]
- And he goes, "What do you think
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if we did this in three-dimensions
and sent it down the street?"
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And it's like, "Are you crazy?"
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[narrator]
As it turns out, no, thanks to batteries!
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And there were these switches
that would go...
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[imitates electricity crackling]
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[imitates electricity powering up]
...and turn on!
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[narrator]
Like the many lights themselves,
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the many floats came together
to create a dazzling spectacle.
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So it was developed to be a series
of individual segments
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that had lots of little twinkling lights
on them.
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There was a giant drum
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{\an8}manned by Mickey Mouse
with the logo on it.
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{\an8}Certain float sections were inspired
by Disney animated classics,
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such as Alice in Wonderland,
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the Blue Fairy from Pinocchio,
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and Pete's Dragon,
another very popular one added in 1977.
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[narrator] But there was more
to the Main Street Electrical Parade
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than meets the eye.
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The ears got their fair share too.
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{\an8}♪ The Main Street Electrical Parade! ♪
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{\an8}[♪ lively parade music playing]
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{\an8}It's a very interesting song
that is played
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during the Main Street Electrical Parade
called "Baroque Hoedown."
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[narrator] Definitely a catchy tune.
But as unique as the song itself was,
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so, too, was the way in which park guests
were hearing it.
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Was our first parade
that had tracking show control.
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[narrator]
That's right, tracking show control!
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- [music stops]
- Um, what is tracking show control?
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The technicians at Disney
had figured out a way of moving the sound
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down the street with speakers
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so that it was always synchronized
to the floats.
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So no matter which float
was in front of you,
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you were hearing the portion of the song
that was designed for that float.
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Say it was Alice in Wonderland,
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as the float went by you would hear
the Alice in Wonderland music
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incorporated into the main song.
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And then when it passed you
and went to the next zone,
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the music would start
for the people in the next zone.
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[narrator] Well, that's cool, but how?
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When they recorded it,
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there was a two-inch piece of tape
that had 24 tracks,
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and one of it was the bass track
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that went around
to all the wayside speakers,
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then every single other track
was transmitted to the float,
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that would then pick up a radio signal
and then play it back.
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I mean, that was nuts back then!
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[narrator] And it's been that way
since it opened in 1972.
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{\an8}Although, not a permanent lighting fixture
at Disneyland,
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{\an8}the Main Street Electrical Parade
has returned for limited time runs,
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and when it does, it's plain to see
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that there are some fancy new frills
on display.
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{\an8}For guests to be able to see
Raya and Moana, and Hercules,
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you know, a character representation
that they may not have seen
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in the Electrical Parade before.
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[narrator] And that's not all!
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As the finale float
comes down Main Street,
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it enchants all of the buildings around it
with projection mapping.
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[narrator] Yes, projection ma...
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Actually, we're gonna need an explanation
on that one too.
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Projection mapping, basically,
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is instead of projecting on a flat screen
like a movie,
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you're projecting it
on a dimensional surface
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and marrying that surface
with what you are projecting on it,
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{\an8}which gives you so much latitude
in creating illusions.
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[narrator] But projection mapping
is nothing new to the Disney parks.
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In fact, it goes back further
than you might think.
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The first instance of it is Madame Leota
in The Haunted Mansion back in the '60s.
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Awaken the spirits with your tambourine!
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And that was done
in a very rudimentary way
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at the time with a film projector.
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[KC] These days, it's all done with video.
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And I love that we're continually growing
and changing things like our parades
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and to be able to...
to keep that fresh for guests.
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{\an8}[narrator] And that's no small feat
after more than 50 years.
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And when it comes to Tokyo
Disneyland's Electrical Parade,
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there's no small anything,
with this one clocking in at 45 minutes,
234
00:12:19,572 --> 00:12:22,616
over double the length of the original.
235
00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,161
{\an8}It's a giant version
of the Electrical Parade
236
00:12:25,244 --> 00:12:26,287
{\an8}called Dreamlights,
237
00:12:26,370 --> 00:12:28,831
{\an8}and Dreamlights has been running
since 2001.
238
00:12:29,498 --> 00:12:33,627
[in Japanese] Welcome, everyone,
to the world of light and fantasy!
239
00:12:33,711 --> 00:12:36,797
[narrator] But unlike
Main Street Electrical Parade,
240
00:12:36,881 --> 00:12:41,218
Dreamlights has left the nostalgia
of those holiday bulbs behind
241
00:12:41,302 --> 00:12:44,263
in favor of some sparkly new tech.
242
00:12:44,346 --> 00:12:47,516
What was wonderful
when Dreamlights came on in Tokyo
243
00:12:47,600 --> 00:12:51,729
is it really took kind of light technology
to a whole different level.
244
00:12:51,812 --> 00:12:55,900
LED technology has been incorporated
over the years.
245
00:12:55,983 --> 00:12:58,569
It has really evolved
from the Christmas light
246
00:12:58,652 --> 00:12:59,653
that we know and love
247
00:12:59,737 --> 00:13:02,072
from the original
Main Street Electrical Parade.
248
00:13:02,156 --> 00:13:04,909
And it really started to transform
how you can do lights.
249
00:13:04,992 --> 00:13:06,327
[Steve] Like with the Genie,
250
00:13:06,410 --> 00:13:09,830
the whole Genie can change
and morph in front of you.
251
00:13:09,914 --> 00:13:12,166
Just a beautiful nighttime display
252
00:13:12,249 --> 00:13:14,794
that will just bring you back
to your childhood like that.
253
00:13:14,877 --> 00:13:18,964
{\an8}[in Japanese]
In each and every float we feel a story,
254
00:13:19,048 --> 00:13:24,887
and the characters
seem to shine brighter than usual
255
00:13:24,970 --> 00:13:27,848
in the many lights that illuminate them.
256
00:13:27,932 --> 00:13:30,768
[crowd cheering]
257
00:13:30,851 --> 00:13:33,020
[narrator] With guests mouths agape
258
00:13:33,103 --> 00:13:36,565
at the spectacle of fireworks and parades,
259
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:40,653
nighttime's have become the highlight
of many people's day.
260
00:13:40,736 --> 00:13:42,780
But back in 1984,
261
00:13:42,863 --> 00:13:45,658
when Michael Eisner
joined the Disney company,
262
00:13:45,741 --> 00:13:49,286
where others saw
a spectacular array of dazzlement,
263
00:13:49,370 --> 00:13:55,125
Eisner saw a spectacular opportunity
specifically for Disneyland.
264
00:13:55,209 --> 00:13:57,461
Not content
with just the nightly fireworks
265
00:13:57,545 --> 00:13:59,922
and Main Street Electrical Parade,
266
00:14:00,631 --> 00:14:05,427
Eisner set his sights
on adding a third event, but where?
267
00:14:05,511 --> 00:14:06,512
Well, let's see.
268
00:14:06,595 --> 00:14:10,015
[narrator] It's not like Disneyland
had a spare lagoon laying around,
269
00:14:10,099 --> 00:14:11,517
or did it?
270
00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:14,895
So of course,
where better than the Rivers of America.
271
00:14:14,979 --> 00:14:18,148
[narrator]
Of course, the Rivers of America,
272
00:14:18,232 --> 00:14:24,196
there since opening day in Frontierland,
surrounding Tom Sawyer Island,
273
00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:29,994
which they figured could be used to stage
this brand-new nighttime spectacular,
274
00:14:30,077 --> 00:14:32,413
whatever it would end up being.
275
00:14:32,496 --> 00:14:36,333
{\an8}They wanted to create something
that would attract a lot of people,
276
00:14:36,417 --> 00:14:39,295
{\an8}you know, kind of like the fireworks,
tell a definite story,
277
00:14:39,378 --> 00:14:42,006
and the name of the show
was "Imagination!"
278
00:14:42,089 --> 00:14:44,174
[narrator] The concept being that
the entire show
279
00:14:44,258 --> 00:14:49,054
takes place in Mickey's mind,
or rather Mickey's...
280
00:14:49,138 --> 00:14:50,431
Imagination!
281
00:14:50,514 --> 00:14:51,515
[narrator] Exactly!
282
00:14:51,599 --> 00:14:52,600
- Okay!
- [narrator] Yep.
283
00:14:52,683 --> 00:14:54,018
- Good name!
- [narrator] Um...
284
00:14:54,101 --> 00:14:55,102
Is it, though?
285
00:14:55,185 --> 00:14:57,563
{\an8}Imagination is kind of a generic term.
286
00:14:57,646 --> 00:14:59,857
{\an8}What was needed was a Disney term,
287
00:14:59,940 --> 00:15:05,863
something that would more fantastically
show the imagination of the show.
288
00:15:05,946 --> 00:15:08,073
[narrator] Which was Mickey's imagination.
289
00:15:08,157 --> 00:15:09,158
Oh, boy!
290
00:15:09,241 --> 00:15:13,203
[narrator] And taking a cue
from the 1940 film Fantasia,
291
00:15:13,287 --> 00:15:15,539
one word came to mind.
292
00:15:15,623 --> 00:15:21,337
"Phantasmagoria," and that was felt to be
a little too much of a mouthful.
293
00:15:21,420 --> 00:15:22,421
[retches]
294
00:15:22,504 --> 00:15:26,842
[narrator] So after tapping out of
and then into their imagination,
295
00:15:26,926 --> 00:15:28,802
they conjured up "Fantasmic."
296
00:15:28,886 --> 00:15:32,514
And, of course,
also that sort of brings in Mickey Mouse
297
00:15:32,598 --> 00:15:34,433
at the end of it too, Fantasmic.
298
00:15:34,516 --> 00:15:38,020
{\an8}- [narrator] And on May 13th, 1992...
- Fantasmic!
299
00:15:38,103 --> 00:15:41,941
{\an8}[narrator] Yes, Fantasmic became
the newest way to punctuate your day.
300
00:15:42,024 --> 00:15:44,193
Let's not forget the exclamation point.
301
00:15:44,276 --> 00:15:46,403
That's the most important part!
302
00:15:47,613 --> 00:15:48,697
- [chimes]
- [narrator] Right!
303
00:15:48,781 --> 00:15:52,451
Well, there are other contenders
for most important part.
304
00:15:52,534 --> 00:15:54,536
[announcer] Welcome to Fantasmic!
305
00:15:54,620 --> 00:15:57,081
{\an8}From pyrotechnics. The water effects.
306
00:15:58,165 --> 00:16:02,002
The first mist screens that ever appeared
were here on Fantasmic.
307
00:16:02,086 --> 00:16:03,420
[Jessica] The projections.
308
00:16:04,088 --> 00:16:06,548
The barges as they were coming by.
309
00:16:06,632 --> 00:16:08,717
[♪ epic music]
310
00:16:09,802 --> 00:16:12,721
Mickey on top of the mill
with the fireworks going off around him.
311
00:16:13,305 --> 00:16:16,308
[narrator] But the really impressive
part of Fantasmic
312
00:16:16,392 --> 00:16:19,561
is the show before the show.
313
00:16:19,645 --> 00:16:23,190
One of the most amazing things
is that you'd never know it was there
314
00:16:23,273 --> 00:16:25,109
when you walk by the park during the day.
315
00:16:25,192 --> 00:16:29,613
It's really quite unbelievable
that this is pulled off night after night.
316
00:16:29,697 --> 00:16:32,908
[narrator] In the afternoon,
before a Fantasmic show,
317
00:16:32,992 --> 00:16:38,288
Tom Sawyer Island is fully transformed
into the stage for Fantasmic.
318
00:16:38,372 --> 00:16:40,708
{\an8}It's an amazing system
that all works together,
319
00:16:40,791 --> 00:16:45,170
these huge towers
that have lighting, projection, audio.
320
00:16:45,254 --> 00:16:47,798
They have to be brought out
in time for the show.
321
00:16:48,298 --> 00:16:51,885
[narrator] And as the sun casts its shadow
over the lagoon,
322
00:16:51,969 --> 00:16:54,263
it's not just the guests that gather.
323
00:16:54,346 --> 00:16:56,807
[Jessica] It takes a casting crew
of over a hundred people
324
00:16:56,890 --> 00:16:58,225
to bring this show to life.
325
00:16:58,308 --> 00:17:01,562
[David] Stage technicians that are working
on the Columbia and Mark Twain
326
00:17:01,645 --> 00:17:03,397
getting it all set up for the show.
327
00:17:03,480 --> 00:17:07,860
[narrator] As crew members and characters
prepare to light up the lagoon,
328
00:17:07,943 --> 00:17:13,240
there's one character in particular
that truly brings the heat.
329
00:17:13,323 --> 00:17:15,367
[roaring]
330
00:17:15,451 --> 00:17:19,288
{\an8}Any show that has a huge,
fire-breathing dragon is okay by me.
331
00:17:19,371 --> 00:17:20,664
[fire crackles]
332
00:17:20,748 --> 00:17:22,499
[narrator] The Maleficent Dragon!
333
00:17:22,583 --> 00:17:26,879
Our Maleficent Dragon
stands at 45 feet tall, 35 feet wide,
334
00:17:27,296 --> 00:17:30,591
and can fire an isopar
dragon's breath flame.
335
00:17:30,674 --> 00:17:31,675
[roaring]
336
00:17:31,759 --> 00:17:35,054
She's breathing fire, real fire,
337
00:17:35,137 --> 00:17:38,766
and all of the Rivers of America
are set aflame.
338
00:17:38,849 --> 00:17:43,020
[narrator] But not all of this spectacular
is hidden away by day.
339
00:17:43,103 --> 00:17:45,773
The Mark Twain Riverboat
and the sailing ship, Columbia,
340
00:17:45,856 --> 00:17:48,692
both make a spectacular appearance.
341
00:17:48,776 --> 00:17:52,529
We sneak a giant pirate ship
up in the darkness,
342
00:17:52,613 --> 00:17:54,281
and all of a sudden,
Jack Sparrow's up there
343
00:17:54,364 --> 00:17:55,532
swinging through the ratlines.
344
00:17:55,616 --> 00:18:00,829
[narrator] From a boat load of effects
to a boat load of Disney characters,
345
00:18:00,913 --> 00:18:06,543
Fantasmic set the standard
and pushed the boundaries far beyond
346
00:18:06,627 --> 00:18:09,546
where live shows had been
in the Disney parks.
347
00:18:09,630 --> 00:18:11,548
[David] This is the one
that started it all
348
00:18:11,632 --> 00:18:14,718
when it comes to spectaculars we show
around the world.
349
00:18:14,802 --> 00:18:18,806
[Jessica] Fantasmic was the show
that made me wanna work for Disney.
350
00:18:18,889 --> 00:18:21,433
It was something
unlike anything I'd seen before.
351
00:18:21,517 --> 00:18:23,435
[fireworks crackling]
352
00:18:23,519 --> 00:18:25,521
[♪ epic music]
353
00:18:25,604 --> 00:18:30,150
[narrator] The dazzlement of Fantasmic
wows park guests at Disneyland
354
00:18:30,234 --> 00:18:33,445
and now at Disney's Hollywood Studios too.
355
00:18:33,904 --> 00:18:38,200
But Fantasmic isn't the only show
to have graced Anaheim.
356
00:18:38,283 --> 00:18:42,788
Right next-door to Disneyland,
at Disney California Adventure Park,
357
00:18:42,871 --> 00:18:46,416
something new was lurking in the depths.
358
00:18:48,502 --> 00:18:53,549
In 2010, Walt Disney's vision
of bringing a film-like experience
359
00:18:53,632 --> 00:18:57,094
to Disney park nightlife
reached a new height,
360
00:18:57,177 --> 00:19:02,641
where a groundbreaking
380-foot wide water screen
361
00:19:02,724 --> 00:19:06,436
immersed viewers
in Disney's cinematic history.
362
00:19:07,437 --> 00:19:08,564
[crowd cheering]
363
00:19:08,647 --> 00:19:10,858
And it was all thanks to this guy.
364
00:19:10,941 --> 00:19:12,860
No, wait, hang on, that guy!
365
00:19:12,943 --> 00:19:17,197
In 2005, when Bob Iger became the new CEO,
366
00:19:17,281 --> 00:19:20,117
Disney made a number
of exciting acquisitions,
367
00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:23,579
like Pixar, Marvel, and Lucasfilm.
368
00:19:23,662 --> 00:19:26,957
But Bob wasn't only focused
on movie studios.
369
00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:32,671
In 2007, he ordered a major overhaul
of Disney California Adventure Park.
370
00:19:33,130 --> 00:19:36,133
{\an8}Disney California Adventure
had traditionally been a park
371
00:19:36,216 --> 00:19:38,802
{\an8}that closed around 7:00 o'clock
in the evening.
372
00:19:38,886 --> 00:19:40,596
[crickets chirping]
373
00:19:40,679 --> 00:19:41,680
[owl hoots]
374
00:19:41,763 --> 00:19:48,604
So, the desire was to also give
those guests a kiss goodnight as well.
375
00:19:48,687 --> 00:19:53,317
[narrator] And who better to do that
than fireworks expert Steve Davison?
376
00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:55,819
We had fireworks at Disneyland
and the park wanted to do
377
00:19:55,903 --> 00:19:56,904
something in the lagoon.
378
00:19:56,987 --> 00:19:57,988
[narrator] But this time,
379
00:19:58,071 --> 00:20:01,408
Steve would have to be
a little more fluid with his plans.
380
00:20:01,491 --> 00:20:02,826
"Why don't we do a fountain show?"
381
00:20:02,910 --> 00:20:05,454
So I'm like, "Okay."
Know nothing about fountains.
382
00:20:05,537 --> 00:20:07,331
So we just go out
and we start to research it.
383
00:20:07,414 --> 00:20:09,583
[narrator] And as ideas flowed...
384
00:20:09,666 --> 00:20:12,085
We decided to do
the world's biggest color fountain.
385
00:20:12,169 --> 00:20:14,379
[narrator]
Steve and his team put together the pitch
386
00:20:14,463 --> 00:20:17,090
for the Wonderful World of Color,
387
00:20:18,008 --> 00:20:20,010
which was not to be confused with...
388
00:20:20,093 --> 00:20:24,389
the Disney television program
from the 1960s,
389
00:20:24,473 --> 00:20:26,934
that took its name
from the newfangled fact
390
00:20:27,017 --> 00:20:30,687
that television had begun broadcasting
in color.
391
00:20:30,771 --> 00:20:32,439
A bit of color magic will fix it.
392
00:20:34,650 --> 00:20:37,236
[Walt] Bippity, boppity, blue.
393
00:20:37,319 --> 00:20:42,074
[narrator] So, why not call the new
colorful lagoon show World of Color?
394
00:20:42,157 --> 00:20:44,576
And so we ran with that.
395
00:20:44,660 --> 00:20:48,372
[narrator] Straight to Bob Iger's office,
where, of all the colors,
396
00:20:48,455 --> 00:20:50,916
- Steve was most concerned about...
- [cash machine dings]
397
00:20:50,999 --> 00:20:52,000
...green.
398
00:20:52,084 --> 00:20:53,502
I never thought it was gonna sell.
399
00:20:53,585 --> 00:20:54,795
It's too expensive.
400
00:20:54,878 --> 00:20:57,047
[narrator]
But after showing Bob the plans...
401
00:20:57,130 --> 00:21:01,677
The big question from him was, "When,"
so then the real work starts.
402
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:02,928
[narrator] Water work.
403
00:21:03,011 --> 00:21:07,557
The team tested fountains,
just like this one, and this one,
404
00:21:07,641 --> 00:21:09,643
oh, and don't forget about these bad boys,
405
00:21:09,726 --> 00:21:15,274
and devised a way to hide them
in the lagoon, all 1,200 of them.
406
00:21:15,357 --> 00:21:20,445
Basically, if you drain Paradise Bay,
it goes to 14 feet at the base.
407
00:21:20,529 --> 00:21:23,156
[narrator]
Where they set some massive tables.
408
00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:26,243
Three platforms that are built
on man lifts that go up and down.
409
00:21:26,827 --> 00:21:30,038
These are the platforms
by which we attach all of our equipment.
410
00:21:30,706 --> 00:21:33,417
[David] Our power, our data.
We have projectors.
411
00:21:33,500 --> 00:21:35,127
This is where they live.
412
00:21:35,210 --> 00:21:38,755
[narrator] And these platforms
are more than just surface level.
413
00:21:38,839 --> 00:21:43,343
Under every single table
is a giant warehouse of electronics.
414
00:21:43,427 --> 00:21:45,929
[narrator]
All of which can be raised and lowered!
415
00:21:46,013 --> 00:21:48,640
During the day, you wouldn't even know
there's a show here.
416
00:21:48,724 --> 00:21:51,059
[narrator]
But, of course, there is a show here.
417
00:21:51,143 --> 00:21:56,064
A show known for dazzling audiences
and puzzling its creators.
418
00:21:56,148 --> 00:21:58,483
When we were looking
to design the fountains,
419
00:21:58,567 --> 00:22:00,027
there was no road map for this.
420
00:22:00,694 --> 00:22:02,612
[Steve] You start to learn things
very quickly,
421
00:22:02,696 --> 00:22:07,117
like if you turn on all the fountains
you're gonna sink the platform.
422
00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:09,828
[narrator] And even
when it's just some of the fountains...
423
00:22:09,911 --> 00:22:13,790
The distribution of weight,
sometimes it has them a little off-kilter.
424
00:22:13,874 --> 00:22:16,209
So suddenly, we're adding weights
to certain parts.
425
00:22:16,293 --> 00:22:18,003
[David] We're talking about
weights you lift,
426
00:22:18,086 --> 00:22:19,838
weights you might find in a theater.
427
00:22:19,921 --> 00:22:22,507
[narrator]
The team also had to deal with currents.
428
00:22:22,591 --> 00:22:24,259
Electrical, that is.
429
00:22:24,343 --> 00:22:26,178
[Steve] Oh, look,
we only have so much power.
430
00:22:26,261 --> 00:22:28,930
We can't run the entire system at once.
431
00:22:29,473 --> 00:22:31,308
[narrator]
But of all the challenges there are
432
00:22:31,391 --> 00:22:34,227
to running one of the world's
largest fountain shows,
433
00:22:34,311 --> 00:22:36,563
the biggest one might come as a shock!
434
00:22:36,646 --> 00:22:40,484
We love the way the water looks,
but water gets into everything,
435
00:22:40,567 --> 00:22:44,363
so one way we protect our equipment
is by using things like silica packets.
436
00:22:44,446 --> 00:22:46,823
[David]
These are the packets you find in shoes.
437
00:22:46,907 --> 00:22:49,785
These are the packets that you'll find
in certain food products.
438
00:22:49,868 --> 00:22:53,038
[narrator]
And the water truly did go everywhere,
439
00:22:53,121 --> 00:22:58,210
because wider than a football field,
and taller than a four-story building,
440
00:22:58,293 --> 00:23:02,714
the World of Color mist screen
sprayed a backdrop
441
00:23:02,798 --> 00:23:05,133
for some of Disney's most famous imagery.
442
00:23:05,217 --> 00:23:07,886
But when the team planned
on limiting the projections
443
00:23:07,969 --> 00:23:09,805
to animated characters only...
444
00:23:09,888 --> 00:23:13,266
His live action figures don't read well
in water.
445
00:23:15,685 --> 00:23:16,812
You know you can't read.
446
00:23:17,479 --> 00:23:20,690
[narrator] This made one character
particularly animated,
447
00:23:20,774 --> 00:23:25,445
so he took his grievance up
with Shelby Jiggetts-Tivony, who is...
448
00:23:25,529 --> 00:23:28,240
The vice president of creative
and advanced development
449
00:23:28,323 --> 00:23:29,616
for Disney Live Entertainment.
450
00:23:29,699 --> 00:23:31,326
[narrator] Right! So, what did Bob say?
451
00:23:31,410 --> 00:23:33,495
He said something like,
"What about pirates?
452
00:23:33,578 --> 00:23:36,289
Why isn't pirates in the show?"
[chuckles]
453
00:23:37,165 --> 00:23:39,626
- Oh, bugger.
- [narrator] But instead of jumping ship,
454
00:23:39,709 --> 00:23:41,878
Steve had a plan.
455
00:23:41,962 --> 00:23:45,424
{\an8}The entire piece shows Jack Sparrow
in two places,
456
00:23:45,507 --> 00:23:47,801
{\an8}but the rest of it is all water and fire.
457
00:23:47,884 --> 00:23:49,845
[♪ dramatic music]
458
00:23:49,928 --> 00:23:53,390
[Steve] And it was taking that theme
that was so powerful
459
00:23:53,473 --> 00:23:56,518
and just creating
kind of this pirates battle with it.
460
00:23:57,269 --> 00:24:03,400
That exuberant, orchestral score
just took everything up to 11.
461
00:24:03,483 --> 00:24:06,945
[narrator] And when Bob Iger saw it
for the first time...
462
00:24:07,779 --> 00:24:08,905
[crowd cheering]
463
00:24:08,989 --> 00:24:10,782
[Steve] He loved it! He cheered.
464
00:24:10,866 --> 00:24:12,742
He's like, "Wow, see?"
465
00:24:12,826 --> 00:24:16,413
[narrator] In the days before
its public premiere in June 2010,
466
00:24:16,496 --> 00:24:18,999
many in the extended park's family
467
00:24:19,082 --> 00:24:23,128
got to see the finished World of Color
for the first time.
468
00:24:23,211 --> 00:24:25,672
[Steve] We had a imagineering night
469
00:24:25,755 --> 00:24:28,758
for the imagineering families
to come and see it,
470
00:24:28,842 --> 00:24:32,387
and one of the original imagineers,
Bob Gurr, came up to me,
471
00:24:32,471 --> 00:24:33,805
and I'd never met him before,
472
00:24:33,889 --> 00:24:35,682
and he goes, "Are you Steve Davison?"
473
00:24:36,224 --> 00:24:37,559
I said, yes.
474
00:24:37,642 --> 00:24:39,060
He goes, "I'm Bob Gurr,
475
00:24:39,478 --> 00:24:43,064
and I just wanna tell you,
Walt Disney would be proud of you."
476
00:24:44,149 --> 00:24:46,651
He said, "Walt would love this.
477
00:24:46,735 --> 00:24:49,488
You have taken a medium
and transformed it.
478
00:24:49,571 --> 00:24:52,115
He would be so excited to see this today."
479
00:24:52,782 --> 00:24:56,369
I think out of anything
that anyone's ever told me,
480
00:24:56,453 --> 00:24:59,998
I think that's probably been
one of the most beautiful,
481
00:25:00,081 --> 00:25:03,293
because, I mean,
he worked with Walt Disney all the time,
482
00:25:03,376 --> 00:25:06,087
and to get that comment from him
really meant a lot to me.
483
00:25:08,882 --> 00:25:13,470
[narrator] World of Color
continues to light up both skies and eyes
484
00:25:13,553 --> 00:25:16,181
at Disney California Adventure Park,
485
00:25:16,264 --> 00:25:20,227
where, in 2023, a brand-new fountain show
486
00:25:20,310 --> 00:25:23,647
debuted for Disney's 100-year anniversary.
487
00:25:23,730 --> 00:25:30,320
And in 2021, Walt Disney World in Florida
had a milestone of its own
488
00:25:30,403 --> 00:25:33,448
as it prepared for its 50th anniversary.
489
00:25:33,532 --> 00:25:35,242
To celebrate the occasion,
490
00:25:35,325 --> 00:25:38,870
it was decided that a new
nighttime spectacular was in order.
491
00:25:38,954 --> 00:25:40,664
But what would it be?
492
00:25:40,747 --> 00:25:42,999
What if we did a Disney concert?
493
00:25:43,667 --> 00:25:46,169
[narrator] Ah, yes, of course, a concert,
494
00:25:46,753 --> 00:25:51,550
because Disney and music go hand in hand,
or voice in ear,
495
00:25:51,633 --> 00:25:53,510
and being lead on the project,
496
00:25:53,593 --> 00:25:57,806
it was up to Steve Davison to decide
what kind of concert it would be.
497
00:25:57,889 --> 00:26:00,475
What if we did a Disney concert,
498
00:26:00,559 --> 00:26:04,062
but we did it
through the eyes of World Showcase?
499
00:26:04,688 --> 00:26:08,733
[narrator] Epcot's World Showcase,
a vast promenade
500
00:26:08,817 --> 00:26:12,696
highlighting 11 different nations
from around the world
501
00:26:12,779 --> 00:26:16,157
all encircling a 40-acre lagoon.
502
00:26:16,241 --> 00:26:19,369
We could then go back
and have those cultures now,
503
00:26:19,452 --> 00:26:23,123
bring that music back to us
from their point of view.
504
00:26:23,206 --> 00:26:26,710
[narrator] Of course.
A stirring ode to global oneness
505
00:26:26,793 --> 00:26:29,087
through the unifying language of music.
506
00:26:29,170 --> 00:26:32,340
Steve's show was already shaping up
to be something--
507
00:26:32,424 --> 00:26:36,886
No, it's not my show,
it's not their show, it's our show.
508
00:26:36,970 --> 00:26:40,056
That, for it to work,
we all need to work in harmony together.
509
00:26:40,140 --> 00:26:41,182
[narrator] Harmony!
510
00:26:41,266 --> 00:26:44,269
Fitting, considering
that when the Disney creative team
511
00:26:44,352 --> 00:26:46,271
had to pick a name for the show...
512
00:26:46,354 --> 00:26:47,606
We came up with Harmonious!
513
00:26:47,689 --> 00:26:50,358
When you think about harmony,
it's about music coming together
514
00:26:50,442 --> 00:26:54,946
{\an8}and intertwining it together,
and it's us, right, so harmony us.
515
00:26:55,030 --> 00:26:56,072
{\an8}Harmony us.
516
00:26:56,156 --> 00:26:58,575
{\an8}Us coming together,
celebrating our different cultures,
517
00:26:58,658 --> 00:27:02,037
but also respecting that we are all one.
518
00:27:03,622 --> 00:27:07,459
[narrator] And although it may be
a small World Showcase, after all...
519
00:27:07,542 --> 00:27:09,252
Harmonious was a big undertaking.
520
00:27:09,336 --> 00:27:12,505
...in every way, starting with the venue.
521
00:27:12,589 --> 00:27:17,844
World Showcase Lagoon
is not an insignificant body of water,
522
00:27:17,927 --> 00:27:18,928
let's say that.
523
00:27:19,012 --> 00:27:21,640
[Gary] The Epcot lagoon
is the largest body of water
524
00:27:21,723 --> 00:27:23,516
for any of our theme parks
across the world,
525
00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:26,227
so we had to make the show
in that same scale.
526
00:27:26,311 --> 00:27:29,731
[narrator] After all,
with over a mile of coastline...
527
00:27:30,148 --> 00:27:31,733
uh, lagoon line,
528
00:27:32,317 --> 00:27:36,404
that's a whole lot of front row seats
for a center stage of sorts.
529
00:27:37,405 --> 00:27:41,159
{\an8}And so our team's invented, uh,
a barge technology.
530
00:27:41,242 --> 00:27:45,038
[narrator] Uh, barge is putting it mildly.
531
00:27:45,121 --> 00:27:47,749
Each one of these massive vessels
532
00:27:47,832 --> 00:27:51,795
is a fully-loaded multimedia complex
unto itself.
533
00:27:51,878 --> 00:27:54,130
[♪ quirky music]
534
00:27:54,214 --> 00:27:55,965
Take this one, for example.
535
00:27:56,758 --> 00:28:00,428
This has 360-degree video going around it.
It has a wall that moves.
536
00:28:00,512 --> 00:28:02,639
[Steve] It has scenery that comes out.
537
00:28:02,722 --> 00:28:05,266
It has fountains. It has moving lights.
Pyro.
538
00:28:05,350 --> 00:28:08,103
[narrator] Let me guess,
there are moving arms too?
539
00:28:08,186 --> 00:28:10,021
There are moving arms in the show.
540
00:28:10,105 --> 00:28:11,356
[narrator] Of course there are.
541
00:28:11,439 --> 00:28:13,233
They're over 55 feet in length,
542
00:28:13,316 --> 00:28:15,568
and that's what Steven uses
as our dancers, right,
543
00:28:15,652 --> 00:28:17,237
they're our live components in the show.
544
00:28:17,737 --> 00:28:19,489
They were able to, in one situation,
545
00:28:19,572 --> 00:28:22,867
they may be emulating the lamp
from Aladdin,
546
00:28:22,951 --> 00:28:26,329
to, uh, a palm tree
that's in, uh, Jungle Book.
547
00:28:26,413 --> 00:28:28,498
So we're able to use those
548
00:28:28,581 --> 00:28:31,167
through lighting and fountains,
and lasers here.
549
00:28:31,251 --> 00:28:33,795
Was used them as our moving cast,
if you will.
550
00:28:35,630 --> 00:28:38,133
[narrator] After years of preparation,
551
00:28:38,216 --> 00:28:42,595
{\an8}Harmonious made its premiere
in September 2021,
552
00:28:42,679 --> 00:28:47,142
just in time for the Walt Disney
World Resort's 50th anniversary.
553
00:28:48,893 --> 00:28:51,104
Everyone gather around World Showcase.
554
00:28:51,187 --> 00:28:53,398
[♪ whimsical music]
555
00:28:54,065 --> 00:28:57,569
You start to hear the chants
of our different films.
556
00:28:57,652 --> 00:29:02,240
The opening of the Lion King,
the mermaids singing, um, Moana,
557
00:29:02,323 --> 00:29:06,202
all started to come together
as one, big, uh, beautiful piece
558
00:29:06,286 --> 00:29:08,413
being sung
by all these different pavilions
559
00:29:08,496 --> 00:29:09,789
from around the world,
560
00:29:10,290 --> 00:29:11,499
and we start to bring the songs
561
00:29:11,583 --> 00:29:15,003
that were inspired by those places
around the world
562
00:29:15,086 --> 00:29:17,172
back to us from their point of view.
563
00:29:17,255 --> 00:29:20,258
[narrator] And while the ending
of the Walt Disney World Resort's
564
00:29:20,341 --> 00:29:25,597
50th anniversary celebration
has since brought Harmonious to a close,
565
00:29:25,680 --> 00:29:30,310
the message of this epic spectacular
still rings just as true.
566
00:29:31,895 --> 00:29:36,775
{\an8}It's really about giving you a sense
that the world is connected culturally,
567
00:29:36,858 --> 00:29:39,235
we're all people,
and we care about each other.
568
00:29:42,572 --> 00:29:44,032
[narrator] Be it Harmonious
569
00:29:44,115 --> 00:29:47,786
or any nighttime spectacular
that came before,
570
00:29:47,869 --> 00:29:50,663
it's clear that with every passing year,
571
00:29:50,747 --> 00:29:53,708
the nighttime spectaculars
of the Disney parks
572
00:29:53,792 --> 00:29:58,296
are getting more and more spectacular
all over the world,
573
00:29:58,713 --> 00:30:01,382
including Disneyland Paris,
574
00:30:01,466 --> 00:30:05,386
where they've taken
nighttime spectacular technology
575
00:30:05,470 --> 00:30:07,305
to brand-new heights.
576
00:30:07,388 --> 00:30:09,808
{\an8}The Disney Illuminations show
is a wonderful show
577
00:30:09,891 --> 00:30:12,227
{\an8}that takes place projected on the castle.
578
00:30:12,310 --> 00:30:14,187
[narrator] Before the show each night,
579
00:30:14,270 --> 00:30:19,651
guests are treated to Disney D-Light,
a state of the art drone show.
580
00:30:19,734 --> 00:30:22,946
Where the number 30,
for our 30th anniversary,
581
00:30:23,029 --> 00:30:24,614
appears in the sky.
582
00:30:24,697 --> 00:30:30,328
[narrator] And it's spelled out
by more than 150 independent drones.
583
00:30:30,411 --> 00:30:32,372
{\an8}Each drone is individually programmed.
584
00:30:32,455 --> 00:30:34,582
[Ben] It doesn't know
what the other drones are doing.
585
00:30:34,666 --> 00:30:39,087
[narrator] And it takes a team of four
to keep these bots buoyant.
586
00:30:39,170 --> 00:30:44,217
{\an8}[in French] We verify that they are turned
on, in working order, and fully charged.
587
00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:47,720
[narrator] And so,
with guests' hearts full of wonder
588
00:30:47,804 --> 00:30:50,181
and the drones' batteries full of charge,
589
00:30:50,265 --> 00:30:52,308
the sky comes alive.
590
00:30:52,392 --> 00:30:57,230
{\an8}[Stephane in French] All of a sudden,
the sky behind the castle lights up.
591
00:30:57,313 --> 00:31:00,400
And the reaction from the guests
once it's underway
592
00:31:00,483 --> 00:31:02,443
is "Wow," every single time.
593
00:31:02,527 --> 00:31:06,614
[Stephane]
It's beautiful and their eyes go wide.
594
00:31:06,698 --> 00:31:09,409
It has that effect on the guests
every time.
595
00:31:09,492 --> 00:31:12,996
{\an8}You know, drones is kind
of the new frontier,
596
00:31:13,079 --> 00:31:17,375
{\an8}in terms of the... the technological
live entertainment toolkit.
597
00:31:17,458 --> 00:31:20,503
[narrator] Disney drones might be
the new kids on the block,
598
00:31:20,587 --> 00:31:23,339
but the good news is,
there's plenty of space in the skies
599
00:31:23,423 --> 00:31:26,342
to share with their more fiery neighbors.
600
00:31:26,843 --> 00:31:29,012
What's a Disney spectacular
without fireworks?
601
00:31:29,095 --> 00:31:30,513
[narrator] Exactly!
602
00:31:30,597 --> 00:31:33,600
No matter
what new technology is developed,
603
00:31:33,683 --> 00:31:39,188
something about the classic firework show
seems to capture our hearts.
604
00:31:39,272 --> 00:31:43,151
But even for fireworks,
there's always room to grow.
605
00:31:43,234 --> 00:31:45,445
[Rebecca] Over the years,
from the very earliest fireworks
606
00:31:45,528 --> 00:31:46,613
up to the present,
607
00:31:46,696 --> 00:31:49,324
{\an8}the science of fireworks
has changed so dramatically.
608
00:31:49,407 --> 00:31:52,785
[narrator]
Mickey's flare has been outshone
609
00:31:52,869 --> 00:31:55,455
because now computers run the show!
610
00:31:55,538 --> 00:31:58,041
Now, fireworks are done
in a very sophisticated way.
611
00:31:58,124 --> 00:32:02,462
We use electronic systems
that basically go to each and every shell,
612
00:32:02,545 --> 00:32:05,882
{\an8}and we can now launch a shell
and probably have it hit
613
00:32:05,965 --> 00:32:08,343
{\an8}within, uh, 10 frames of a second.
614
00:32:11,054 --> 00:32:13,890
In the early shows,
we would basically go and draw them.
615
00:32:13,973 --> 00:32:16,184
[Steve] So they'd come in
and they would just take markers
616
00:32:16,267 --> 00:32:18,895
{\an8}and they'd say, "Oh, this a mine
and it would go to a gold glitter,
617
00:32:18,978 --> 00:32:22,357
{\an8}but we want it to be red and blue
to a sparkle."
618
00:32:22,982 --> 00:32:27,195
Now, all that has accelerated to the point
where we're now doing full CGI.
619
00:32:27,278 --> 00:32:31,199
We can now go and take a shell,
we recreate it in CGI,
620
00:32:31,282 --> 00:32:33,868
and now I can actually do an entire show
621
00:32:33,952 --> 00:32:36,579
and show it to you
before we ever shoot one shell,
622
00:32:36,663 --> 00:32:39,582
and it'll be probably 90 percent accurate.
623
00:32:39,666 --> 00:32:44,545
[narrator] And now, the classic air show
has a lot more air in it.
624
00:32:44,629 --> 00:32:46,673
{\an8}A researcher in the development group
came up with the idea
625
00:32:46,756 --> 00:32:48,925
{\an8}of launching the fireworks
with compressed air,
626
00:32:49,008 --> 00:32:50,301
{\an8}like a big potato cannon.
627
00:32:50,385 --> 00:32:53,137
[Ric] Each shell is in its own tube
and it can be fired up
628
00:32:53,221 --> 00:32:54,847
exactly at the moment you need it to go.
629
00:32:54,931 --> 00:32:56,849
The amount of pressure can tell
exactly how to go
630
00:32:56,933 --> 00:32:59,602
and you can aim the tube
to do exactly what you want.
631
00:32:59,686 --> 00:33:03,648
I can now take shells and position them
where I want them in the sky.
632
00:33:03,731 --> 00:33:06,734
[Ric] This is the technology
that allowed a big Mickey shape
633
00:33:06,818 --> 00:33:08,361
to show up in our firework shows.
634
00:33:08,444 --> 00:33:11,155
[KC] First of all,
it's a safer way to launch the pyro,
635
00:33:11,239 --> 00:33:13,741
and it's also a quieter way
to launch the pyro
636
00:33:13,825 --> 00:33:17,745
{\an8}because you don't have
the, uh, concussion mortar.
637
00:33:17,829 --> 00:33:21,749
Which suddenly transformed everything
because suddenly we had no ground smoke.
638
00:33:21,833 --> 00:33:23,751
[narrator] Well, there's usually no smoke
without fire,
639
00:33:23,835 --> 00:33:26,129
but now there's fireworks without smoke?
640
00:33:26,212 --> 00:33:29,590
One of the things about ground smoke
is that if you don't have any wind
641
00:33:29,674 --> 00:33:32,093
your whole show just starts to disappear
642
00:33:32,176 --> 00:33:37,432
because you just have this swell of smoke
surrounding everything you're at.
643
00:33:37,515 --> 00:33:41,853
[narrator] Today's fireworks
aren't just clearer, they're also cleaner.
644
00:33:42,270 --> 00:33:44,647
A new technology
we have called nitrocellulose.
645
00:33:44,731 --> 00:33:49,777
Nitrocellulose is a new way to make colors
of the different comets
646
00:33:49,861 --> 00:33:52,071
and the different colors
that you're seeing in the sky,
647
00:33:52,155 --> 00:33:55,658
but it's done with a product
also that doesn't use black powder.
648
00:33:55,742 --> 00:33:57,076
It changes the formula,
649
00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:59,287
so you're getting rid
of a lot of the smoke
650
00:33:59,370 --> 00:34:01,914
that used to be in, uh,
traditional fireworks.
651
00:34:02,540 --> 00:34:04,876
[narrator] From fireworks to waterworks,
652
00:34:04,959 --> 00:34:09,464
Disney's nighttime spectaculars
have always found new ways
653
00:34:09,547 --> 00:34:11,174
to tell their stories.
654
00:34:11,632 --> 00:34:15,928
But one show in particular
has truly risen to the moment.
655
00:34:17,013 --> 00:34:22,351
On June 18th, 2022,
a brand-new nighttime spectacular
656
00:34:22,435 --> 00:34:26,189
illuminated the Hong Kong sky
for the first time.
657
00:34:27,940 --> 00:34:30,651
And to call it "Momentous"
would be accurate!
658
00:34:31,778 --> 00:34:35,698
{\an8}Momentous is a nighttime spectacular
in Hong Kong Disneyland
659
00:34:35,782 --> 00:34:39,577
{\an8}unlike any other show
we've put into any of our castle parks.
660
00:34:39,660 --> 00:34:41,746
[narrator] Over five years in the making,
661
00:34:41,829 --> 00:34:45,666
this nighttime spectacular
is the prodigious product
662
00:34:45,750 --> 00:34:49,003
of Disney Live Entertainment
and imagineering teams
663
00:34:49,087 --> 00:34:52,423
in both the United States and Hong Kong.
664
00:34:52,507 --> 00:34:56,010
But just like any of Disney's
most memorable spectaculars,
665
00:34:56,094 --> 00:34:58,721
it all began with an idea.
666
00:34:59,472 --> 00:35:01,599
{\an8}When you first set out
to create a spectacular,
667
00:35:01,682 --> 00:35:03,726
{\an8}what you really need
is a mission statement.
668
00:35:03,810 --> 00:35:06,771
For Momentous,
it was "Live the moment, love the memory,"
669
00:35:07,647 --> 00:35:12,735
and what resonated with us most
was paying homage to the mentors,
670
00:35:12,819 --> 00:35:15,196
those who guided you along your journey.
671
00:35:15,279 --> 00:35:17,406
[narrator]
The story presented by Momentous
672
00:35:17,490 --> 00:35:20,159
draws upon decades of Disney lore,
673
00:35:20,243 --> 00:35:23,412
and in telling that story,
the Momentous team drew
674
00:35:23,496 --> 00:35:26,833
from the dazzling history
of nighttime spectaculars,
675
00:35:26,916 --> 00:35:31,629
combining all the most popular features
into one magnificent show.
676
00:35:31,712 --> 00:35:37,885
Lights, lasers, projections, animation,
pyro effects, and water effects.
677
00:35:37,969 --> 00:35:41,472
[narrator] And to serve as the backdrop
for this symphony of the senses,
678
00:35:41,556 --> 00:35:45,601
the team chose the iconic
Castle of Magical Dreams.
679
00:35:45,685 --> 00:35:48,271
It's a fascinating thing to be
designing a spectacular
680
00:35:48,354 --> 00:35:51,232
around an icon
that has not yet been built.
681
00:35:51,315 --> 00:35:55,862
[narrator] Well, there was a castle,
but it was due for some sprucing up.
682
00:35:55,945 --> 00:35:58,823
And both those projects
were kind of moving simultaneously.
683
00:35:58,906 --> 00:36:01,159
[narrator] Which presented
the Momentous team
684
00:36:01,242 --> 00:36:03,161
with a unique opportunity.
685
00:36:03,244 --> 00:36:06,497
We were able to custom craft the castle
and the effects.
686
00:36:06,581 --> 00:36:08,583
[Tom Williams]
That gave us the opportunity
687
00:36:08,666 --> 00:36:11,836
to really incorporate
the elements to the show
688
00:36:11,919 --> 00:36:14,964
in that amazing castle
that you see out there.
689
00:36:15,047 --> 00:36:16,507
[narrator] And for Momentous,
690
00:36:16,591 --> 00:36:19,635
the key element would be
projection mapping.
691
00:36:20,887 --> 00:36:23,306
[James] There was a lot of communication
between us and the design team
692
00:36:23,389 --> 00:36:24,849
who was working on the castle
693
00:36:24,932 --> 00:36:27,685
about how the projections may work
upon their structure.
694
00:36:27,768 --> 00:36:29,770
[♪ whimsical music]
695
00:36:29,854 --> 00:36:31,355
[imagineer] We were helping to make sure
696
00:36:31,439 --> 00:36:33,816
{\an8}that our textures of the castle
were really refined,
697
00:36:33,900 --> 00:36:36,569
so that when we projected
the Momentous show,
698
00:36:36,652 --> 00:36:39,572
we were getting, uh, a clean and...
and good projection.
699
00:36:40,573 --> 00:36:41,782
[creative executive]
So not only were we able to create
700
00:36:41,866 --> 00:36:45,828
this beautiful new structure that had,
you know, locations for pyro,
701
00:36:45,912 --> 00:36:47,246
for lasers, for lighting,
702
00:36:47,330 --> 00:36:48,873
{\an8}but we also added water elements.
703
00:36:48,956 --> 00:36:50,750
{\an8}Some of the best fountains that we have
704
00:36:50,833 --> 00:36:53,169
in any of our theme parks
around the world.
705
00:36:53,252 --> 00:36:57,840
In addition to that we had mist screens,
that are more of a fountain nozzle effect,
706
00:36:57,924 --> 00:36:59,508
that allowed kind of a softer,
707
00:36:59,592 --> 00:37:02,094
more out of focused thing
in front of that.
708
00:37:02,178 --> 00:37:04,222
[narrator]
And when it came to the waterworks,
709
00:37:04,305 --> 00:37:09,185
the Momentous team didn't just build
their show around the castle,
710
00:37:09,268 --> 00:37:11,896
they also built the show on it.
711
00:37:11,979 --> 00:37:14,565
[Michael] We were able
to install big water jets
712
00:37:14,649 --> 00:37:16,567
actually on the castle itself.
713
00:37:17,068 --> 00:37:18,069
[pops]
714
00:37:19,779 --> 00:37:22,281
And the combination
of those different elements add,
715
00:37:22,365 --> 00:37:25,785
not only this level of depth
that give us different types of services,
716
00:37:25,868 --> 00:37:28,913
to light, to project on,
or to tell story with.
717
00:37:30,289 --> 00:37:33,209
[narrator] The story of creating Momentous
718
00:37:33,292 --> 00:37:37,964
was written with the pen of technology
and the ink of innovation.
719
00:37:38,589 --> 00:37:42,468
As the sun sets each night
on Hong Kong Disneyland,
720
00:37:43,052 --> 00:37:47,181
park guests gather to witness
a brand-new story
721
00:37:47,265 --> 00:37:50,268
that tells a tale as old as time.
722
00:37:50,351 --> 00:37:53,312
Momentous is about a life's journey.
723
00:37:53,396 --> 00:37:55,940
[James] You're born,
you grow, you get old,
724
00:37:56,023 --> 00:37:58,484
and along the way,
you make all these wonderful memories.
725
00:37:59,110 --> 00:38:01,487
But something that we represent
in this show,
726
00:38:01,570 --> 00:38:03,990
which is unusual, I think,
for a lot of Disney shows,
727
00:38:04,073 --> 00:38:05,783
is the idea of loss.
728
00:38:05,866 --> 00:38:07,868
[♪ dramatic music]
729
00:38:07,952 --> 00:38:10,496
[Michael] It's a theme in Disney movies
for loved ones to pass away
730
00:38:10,579 --> 00:38:12,665
and how we persevere and come over that.
731
00:38:13,791 --> 00:38:16,210
We've all lost somebody important
in our lives.
732
00:38:16,294 --> 00:38:19,547
We've all going on this journey together
through our lives.
733
00:38:23,092 --> 00:38:24,802
[music director]
This show packs a lot of heart.
734
00:38:24,885 --> 00:38:27,888
It reminds us to love
and cherish the memories
735
00:38:27,972 --> 00:38:30,099
that we have with our families
and friends.
736
00:38:30,182 --> 00:38:31,767
And that's the beauty of the show,
737
00:38:31,851 --> 00:38:37,356
{\an8}is that it encourages you
to embrace emotions.
738
00:38:37,440 --> 00:38:39,650
[♪ solemn music]
739
00:38:41,068 --> 00:38:47,491
[narrator] On a dark night in 1957,
a single fuse was lit at Disneyland.
740
00:38:47,575 --> 00:38:48,784
[fireworks crackling]
741
00:38:48,868 --> 00:38:53,706
The ensuing fireworks display
lasted only about five minutes,
742
00:38:53,789 --> 00:38:58,252
but it sparked an idea
that's lasted a bit longer.
743
00:38:58,836 --> 00:39:00,546
[Bob Weis] There's an uplifting optimism
744
00:39:00,629 --> 00:39:03,716
that Disney has been able to sustain
since Walt's time,
745
00:39:04,633 --> 00:39:08,012
and I think these nighttime spectaculars
are the cap on that.
746
00:39:08,095 --> 00:39:12,683
{\an8}[narrator] For 65 years,
Disney's nighttime spectaculars
747
00:39:12,767 --> 00:39:16,562
{\an8}have illuminated both skies
and imaginations,
748
00:39:16,645 --> 00:39:20,107
adding a new chapter
to the spectacular saga
749
00:39:20,191 --> 00:39:21,901
with each passing decade.
750
00:39:23,235 --> 00:39:27,490
And while new ideas
and advances in technology
751
00:39:27,573 --> 00:39:31,660
have provided unique ways
to tell the Disney story...
752
00:39:31,744 --> 00:39:36,374
Whether it's a parade or a firework show,
or a water spectacular.
753
00:39:36,457 --> 00:39:38,501
[narrator]
The goal has always been the same.
754
00:39:38,584 --> 00:39:42,171
[Jeanette] What we wanna do is give you
that one last opportunity
755
00:39:42,254 --> 00:39:44,632
at the end of your day for perfection.
756
00:39:45,383 --> 00:39:47,510
[Michael] Coming together
and standing shoulder to shoulder
757
00:39:47,593 --> 00:39:52,014
with people and experiencing
this profound moment of pyrotechnics
758
00:39:52,098 --> 00:39:53,682
and storytelling, and music.
759
00:39:53,766 --> 00:39:56,227
[narrator]
But it's so much more than that.
760
00:39:56,310 --> 00:40:01,357
The nighttime spectaculars
are a celebration of jubilation.
761
00:40:02,108 --> 00:40:05,820
A time to reflect on a day like no other.
762
00:40:07,029 --> 00:40:09,782
[Jeanette] It leaves you feeling
that sense of wonder.
763
00:40:10,366 --> 00:40:12,201
That's what we want our guests
to leave with.
764
00:40:12,284 --> 00:40:14,328
[narrator] As the skies come alive
765
00:40:14,412 --> 00:40:18,082
with the bittersweet feeling
that the end is nigh,
766
00:40:18,165 --> 00:40:22,378
you can almost hear Walt's words echo
across the night sky.
767
00:40:22,461 --> 00:40:24,380
[Steve] "This is our kiss goodnight."
768
00:40:24,463 --> 00:40:25,965
Did he actually say that?
769
00:40:26,048 --> 00:40:30,344
[narrator] Uh, yeah, okay.
In any case, the sentiment is clear.
770
00:40:30,428 --> 00:40:32,680
We wanna tell you
we love you on the way out.
771
00:40:32,763 --> 00:40:37,101
[narrator] Leaving just one thing
left to say, good night!
772
00:40:38,811 --> 00:40:40,813
[♪ closing theme music]