Disney debuted the Wondrous Journeys nighttime spectacular at Disneyland Park on January 27, 2023. Wondrous Journeys has been met with rave reviews, with many saying it’s Disneyland’s version of the beloved Happily Ever After show in Magic Kingdom.
Following the debut of Wondrous Journeys, Disney issued a press release loaded with fun facts about the new show.
The nighttime spectacular weaves in music, characters and moments from every film released by Walt Disney Animation Studios over the past century, including “Hercules,” “The Princess and the Frog,” “Peter Pan,” “Treasure Planet,” “Big Hero 6,” “Frozen” and the upcoming “Wish.”
Guests have quickly turned this fact into a miniature game. It’s been fun trying to spot all of the films from the Walt Disney Animation Studios library. It’ll take several viewings from different angles to see everything, and even that is challenging because things move so quickly. The easiest way to see all the references might be on the “it’s a small world” façade.
State-of-the-art projection effects surround guests with blank pieces of paper, pencil sketches and splashes of color, as the artistry of animators breathes life into beloved characters ranging from Mickey Mouse and Bambi to Ariel and Mirabel.
Projections during a Disneyland Park nighttime spectacular isn’t new. But, the projections during Wondrous Journeys are exceptionally well done. That’s especially true on Main Street U.S.A. where the projections truly pop.
There was some concern after the projections in Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom disappointed compared to Happily Ever After. Thankfully, the projections in Wondrous Journeys restored all faith.
Speaking of projections …
The projections are customized for each primary viewing area – Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America and the façade of “it’s a small world” – creating a unique experience for each location.
As mentioned earlier, projections are viewable on Sleeping Beauty Castle, Main Street U.S.A., on “it’s a small world”, and in the Rivers of America. These are suitable locations to catch the show, and may offer a better perspective of what’s going on.
During a climactic moment in the story, the thumping bass of the song “Immortals” from “Big Hero 6” can be heard as Baymax takes to the skies over Disneyland Park (for the first time!) with his rocket boosters propelling him into the night.
Baymax flying through the sky is one of the highlights of Wondrous Journeys. It’s almost easy to forget the Blue Fairy also takes flight near the Castle because Baymax steals the show.
18 Disney songs are heard throughout “Wondrous Journeys,” including the original song, “It’s Wondrous.” The new song features music and lyrics by Duddy Brown and GRAMMY® Award-winning artist Alex Geringas.
The soundtrack to Wondrous Journeys is arguably one of the best Disney has created for a nighttime spectacular. The new song itself – “It’s Wondrous” – is already a hit, and has guests comparing it to the beloved Happily Ever After theme.
The musical score was recorded by an 80-piece orchestra and includes 16 lead vocalists and a 33-voice choir.
And what a musical score it is. Instant goosebumps.
There you have it! Now you know some fun facts about Disneyland Park’s newest nighttime spectacular, Wondrous Journeys. What do you think of the show? Let us know in the comments.
Concept art via Disney.
