The nighttime spectacular that debuted last year for the Disney100 has returned to the Disneyland Resort. Wondrous Journeys debuted on January 27, 2023 and after running for a good portion of last year, it said goodbye. On Friday, March 22, 2024, the popular show returned to light up the night at Disneyland.
By early evening guests began to line up in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle to get an unobstructed view of the projections on the front of the castle, along with the fireworks above.
A light breeze could be felt and brought into doubt about the possibility of fireworks happening with the show as the sun went down below the horizon and the night cooled off. At about 9:00 PM, everyone in front of the castle was asked to stand and the excitement ramped up. Shortly after 9:30, the show began and Wondrous Journeys was back. Thankfully the breeze had died down enough that the fireworks lit up the sky, to the delight of the onlookers below. Although the Blue Fairy and Baymax didn’t fly over the castle, the show was beautiful. It can be seen in the video show by the Daps Magic team below.
Wondrous Journeys debuted at Disneyland as a part of the hundredth anniversary celebration of The Walt Disney Company. Its theme song was revealed the previous year at the D23 Expo during the Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products (now just known as Experiences) panel. When the nighttime spectacular arrived at Disneyland, Jordan Peterson, Show Director for Disney Live Entertainment, described the show saying, “‘Wondrous Journeys’ honors the legacy of Walt Disney Animation Studios through a story that mirrors the journey of an artist: starting out with big dreams, buckling down to do some really hard work and finally seeing something that you dreamt about for so long come true. Along the way, all Walt Disney Animation Studios films to date come to life through brand new projections, special effects and an amazing score.”
Roger Gould, Creative Director for Walt Disney Animation Studios said about the show, “To curate the moments brought to life in ‘Wondrous Journeys,’ we gathered a trust of Disney Animation artists and directors to discuss their favorite memories and which stories made them fall in love with animation. We also partnered closely with Disney Live Entertainment from the very beginning to develop a story that reflected on an extraordinary century of artistry.”
“What sets Disney Animation apart is the ability to bring so many iconic songs together and experience the sum of all those feelings, while still celebrating them individually. When guests hear the musical score for ‘Wondrous Journeys,’ we hope they will feel as if they’re experiencing these stories for the first time again,” said Christopher Lennertz, Composer, Music Director and Arranger.
This time around, Wondrous Journeys is scheduled to be offered at Disneyland through April 14, 2024. After this run, Mickey’s Mix Magic will make a quick return before the bringing of Pixar Fest. At this point, an updated version of Together Forever: A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular will arrive and be offered throughout the summer.
What do you think of the return of Wondrous Journeys? Will you be seeing it during its run this spring at Disneyland? What is your favorite part of this show? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
