During the last a number of days, we’ve been trying out the new-for-Summer time 2024 additions at Walt Disney World. These actually run the gamut. Some are comparatively minor ‘are what they’re‘ sorta issues, like character meet & greets. Others are additionally minor however might’ve been extra, like “¡Celebración Encanto!” or the Lion King thirtieth stuff.
Then there are the foremost everlasting issues: CommuniCore Corridor & Plaza and Tiana’s Bayou Journey. I’ve already hinted at how I really feel concerning the former, and I’m certain you’re sitting on pins and needles awaiting extra complaints about that house. As for the latter attraction, I received’t spoil the approaching experience opinions (plural) with a throwaway line right here.
There’s one new providing that’s virtually good in each method, together with the value tag for experiencing it, which is FREE. It’s the one new expertise that earns a ten/10 rating from me, together with a ‘exit of your method to expertise this must-see’ advice. That strongest addition at Walt Disney World for Summer time 2024 is the Disney Goals That Soar drone present.
Earlier than digging into what makes Disney Goals That Soar particular, let’s cowl the fundamentals. The present consists of over 800 state-of-the-art drones “dancing” throughout the sky above Disney Springs, choreographed to a hovering musical rating of iconic Disney music and memorable dialogue from beloved Disney films. The drones fly in a relentless state of transformation, designing towering components which are 400-feet tall and creating photos of a few of your favourite Disney characters from Toy Story, Coco, Dumbo, Peter Pan, Up, Star Wars, and extra.
Disney Goals That Soar is roughly 10 minutes lengthy and is introduced twice nightly, at the moment at 9 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., from now by September 2, 2024. The viewing space is on the Disney Springs West Aspect—alongside the waterfront between Cirque du Soleil and the Aerophile balloon.
Be aware that this a proper viewing space, that means that when demand is excessive (because it has been), you’ll must enter both by Home of Blues or Starbucks on the far ends. This might change, particularly on weekdays or for the ten:45 p.m. displaying, however simply remember that Disney Goals That Soar may be very fashionable.
For a similar motive, we’d additionally advocate taking Disney bus transportation as a substitute of coping with driving and parking. In idea, you can additionally watch from the waterfront in Congress Park at Saratoga Springs for those who’re staying there and don’t thoughts seeing every part backwards. The optimum method, although, is the official viewing space alongside the waterfront on the West Aspect of Disney Springs. It’s the one spot to get the total impact and listen to the hovering soundtrack.
I’ve had excessive expectations for Disney Goals That Soar because it was first introduced, saying it was my second most-anticipated new addition for Summer time 2024 after Tiana’s Bayou Journey. Following the rave opinions and fan pleasure for the Disney Electrical Sky Parade at Disneyland Paris, I used to be stunned by simply how a lot the Disney Goals That Soar announcement flew underneath the radar.
Presumably, that’s as a result of it’s at Disney Springs as a substitute of one of many 4 theme parks and likewise as a result of it’s for a restricted time solely. If this had been a everlasting nighttime spectacular introduced for, say, Animal Kingdom, the response to Disney Goals That Soar hopefully would’ve been way more enthusiastic.
Anyway, as excessive as my expectations had been for Disney Goals That Soar, the precise present/spectacular exceeded them. And it’s not like that is merely a matter of me not seeing a drone show for the reason that final time Disney Springs had one, again at Christmas 2016. Actually final week we noticed a drone present for the opening of Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea. Whereas that new land and its sights are making U.S. followers jealous, Disney Goals That Soar is among the uncommon examples of Walt Disney World getting one thing far superior to Japan.
I had seen photographs and video of the Disney Goals That Soar drone show previous to seeing it in particular person, and none of that got here even remotely near doing it justice. Nothing I can say or present goes to ‘spoil’ the expertise of standing there, seeing these scenes soar overhead.
Dots on a display have gotten nothing on these drones in actual life. It’s akin to the distinction between watching Peter Pan’s By no means Land Journey or Mario Kart: Bowser’s Problem and truly using them and being enveloped within the expertise. It doesn’t assist that my photographs right here should not excellent (I used to be type of distracted by, you realize, having fun with the present). However even when they had been, it’d appear like depictions of a Lite Brite within the sky as a substitute of one of many coolest issues I’ve seen at Walt Disney World in a very long time.
So simply bear that in thoughts for those who’re taking a look at what’s right here and considering, “that doesn’t look very magical, majestic, and so on.”
Beginning initially, I like the doorway sequence of the drones in Disney Goals That Soar. The fleet takes flight, illuminated in blue, gliding from the floor car parking zone at Disney Springs over Lake Buena Vista. It’s such a easy factor, but it surely’s downright entrancing and flips the script on drone reveals that usually attempt to conceal their nature. Right here, the expertise is showcased fairly than hidden, and visitors get probability to savor the tech throughout this subtly beautiful sequence.
It’s one of some little issues completed by Disney Goals That Soar that, actually, type of seems like Walt Disney World displaying off. This drone show has a way of self-assuredness–a swagger that nearly says, “we higher present them the drones now, as a result of in contrast to different drone reveals, the infrastructure is fading into the background after this!” I beloved this little twist. It really works very well right here due to the distinction with the remainder of the present, and I’m one who thinks Walt Disney World is usually a tad too tech-forward (see Harmonious for a current instance of this method operating amuck).
The opening arrival visuals are accompanied by narration over the Disney Goals That Soar unique track. It’s easy and simple, but it surely’s the proper begin. Properly, nearly good. This present seems like a really perfect alternative to convey again Jiminy Cricket as narrator. (Sorry, Mark Daniel–you’re nonetheless nice.)
I’m not going to do a scene-by-scene recap of Disney Goals That Soar; there’s no scarcity of video if that’s what you’re after. What I’ll say is that all of it flows very well. One of many causes the ascension of the drones flips the script and is a brilliant transfer is since you don’t see any of that through the present itself.
The transitions are clean, with the drones disappearing and reappearing in some instances. In different, extra spectacular, scenes there’s an precise transformation or shift from one scene to the subsequent. For example, Dumbo fading away however his balloon remaining as the home from Up materializing round it.
All of those transitions are completed purposefully, fairly than out of necessity. In contrast to different non-Disney reveals, you don’t see the drones visibly rearranging within the sky–besides when that’s completed for a motive, because it’s probably the most partaking segue between scenes. However generally, the slate is cleared utterly between scenes.
Once more, phrases don’t do that justice–the perfect I can say is that the transitions, no matter they’re, are swish and purposeful–becoming for the visuals and arc of the present. (Like I stated, Disney Goals That Soar has swagger, and that is an instance of that.)
The animated sequences are additionally lots of enjoyable, like when the Dying Star (bigger than Spaceship Earth!) seems and blaster fireplace is simulated in a battle sequence. There’s one other enjoyable animated ‘quantity’ through the Guardians of the Galaxy sequence, which breaks up the present properly and amps up the vitality.
It’d sound jarring or incongruous to have Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, Walt Disney Animation, and theme parks IP all in the identical present, but it surely’s not. The thematic through-line of Disney Goals That Soar is flight (becoming for a drone show). All of those tales have a good time the enjoyment of flight, which is about as cohesive as you’re going to get from a contemporary Disney montage manufacturing.
Between that and the transitions, I felt the circulation of the present was implausible. I additionally very a lot appreciated the inclusion of underutilized, fan-favorite movies and characters. That made Disney Goals That Soar really feel much less like a glorified Disney+ sizzle reel than a few different current nighttime spectaculars at Walt Disney World.
The animation and transitions are additionally added by spotlights alongside the Congress Park space of Saratoga Springs throughout the water. These give Disney Goals That Soar a little bit of depth and assist elevate it above only a easy drone show. (Another excuse I’m inclined to name it a nighttime spectacular even when Disney doesn’t. It’s definitely higher than the projections reveals at DHS!)
Spotlights aren’t the one method that Disney Goals That Soar has dimensionality. Whereas a number of sequences have a 2D high quality, like the standard animation upon which they’re based mostly, there are others that look 3D. That’s obvious even simply as they float by the sky (Up home) but it surely turns into crystal clear with the visuals that truly rotate, just like the characters from Wall-E or ship from Guardians of the Galaxy. Once more, phrases/photographs/movies don’t do that justice–it’s additionally one other place the place it seems like Disney Reside Leisure is sorta displaying off.
Against this, the finale excels because of its simplicity. Disney Goals That Soar is completed displaying off, now it’s time for a enjoyable ending that includes fan-favorites.
The Disney Goals That Soar unique track begins taking part in and a montage of characters takes flight. These are all extra primary and fewer ‘wow-worthy’ than the earlier scenes, however that’s for good motive–they’re showing concurrently. Right here you’ll be able to spot Mary Poppins, Zero the Ghost Canine, Elliot the Dragon, Flora, Fauna, & Merryweather, Mandalorian & Child Yoda, Launchpad McQuack, Pegasus, Genie, and Tinker Bell. Oh, and my private favorites–Figment, Orange Fowl and the Rocketeer!
There’s actually one thing for everybody right here, and I can nearly promise that you simply’ll squee in delight as your favorites seem (100% of the adults in our crew did). It very a lot jogged my memory of the finale of a light-weight parade–reminiscent of SpectroMagic–that won’t have probably the most wowing floats, however that greater than make up that with a barrage of characters and hovering rating.
In truth, this entire finale had a distinctly Nineteen Nineties high quality that basically, actually endeared me to Disney Goals That Soar. Quite than having a trying-too-hard at relevance up to date pop music sound, this has a healthful and timeless 90s high quality. (It’d as properly be sung by Kellie Coffey!)
Not less than to me as an elder Millennial who grew up on that period of Walt Disney World, there’s an oddly sentimental high quality about Disney Goals That Soar. It related instantly on a nostalgic stage, making me really feel like a child once more and sparking reminiscences from when Sarah and I first watched SpectroMagic or Needs collectively. I can’t consider the final nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World that did this. Even Wondrous Journeys or Fortunately Ever After, each of which I like, didn’t evoke one of these emotion.
For lack of a greater clarification, Disney Goals That Soar simply hits in a different way. I’m not saying it’s higher than Wondrous Journeys or Fortunately Ever After (it’s not–however that’s additionally an apples to oranges comparability), simply that the sensation it gave me was distinct from these reveals. It was like an surprising shot of sentimentality, however throughout a primary viewing, that I haven’t felt since Have fun Tokyo Disneyland (that was a nostalgic present, so it’s additionally not the identical).
It ought to go with out saying, however clearly I can not promise that this might be your response to Disney Goals That Soar. Whereas I can say that it’s objectively excellent and punches properly above its weight, emotional resonance may be very a lot a subjective factor. In case your circumstances or Disney historical past differ, maybe so too will your response. However that was ours, and in discussing Disney Goals That Soar with similarly-situated pals, it feels like theirs was comparable (albeit in several phrases).
With all of that out of the way in which, the sensible planning query is that if it’s price visiting Disney Springs to see the Disney Goals That Soar drone show? Our reply may appear apparent given our effusive reward, and to make certain, it principally is an emphatic YES. Should you’ve ever visited Walt Disney World earlier than–most likely 95% of the viewers for a assessment like this–we might extremely advocate a particular journey to Disney Springs to see the present. Not solely that, however we’d advocate it early in your journey so you’ll be able to pivot and see subsequent showings ought to it wow you as a lot because it did us.
Should you’re a first-timer, the advice just isn’t as clear-cut or unequivocal. For as a lot as we completely adore Disney Goals That Soar, it’s additionally not on the identical stage as Fortunately Ever After, Fantasmic, and even Luminous. The primary two of these are absolute must-dos, and are world-class nighttime spectaculars that need to be seen at the very least as soon as. I additionally actually like Luminous, however even those that are extra combined on it will most likely concede that it’s a larger-scale nighttime spectacular deserving to be seen at the very least as soon as to kind your individual opinion.
The great (?) information is that Animal Kingdom doesn’t have a nighttime spectacular and likewise closes early. Seeing Disney Goals That Soar in your DAK day is a no brainer! So, undoubtedly try this if in case you have at the very least 4 days within the parks. That’s a reasonably apparent and simple advice.
However let’s say that you simply solely have 3 days. In such a state of affairs, our advice is double-dipping! You’ll be able to watch the 9 p.m. displaying of Luminous at EPCOT, exit out Worldwide Gateway, stroll to one of many Crescent Lake resorts, catch a bus to Disney Springs, and simply make the ten:45 p.m. displaying of Disney Goals That Soar. (It’ll be harder with Fantasmic, particularly when it has 9:30 p.m. showtimes, however may nonetheless be possible for those who’re quick.)
That is exactly what I plan to do on analysis journeys to Walt Disney World over the subsequent 3 months. My objective is to see Disney Goals That Soar a complete of 10 instances to firmly embed it in my reminiscence, have most nostalgia for the drone show, and savor these flashbacks to the 90s and early aughts that it evokes in me.
Finally, we each completely adored Disney Goals That Soar, as might be apparent by this level. I had excessive expectations getting into, and this simply exceeded them. A part of that’s most likely that I anticipated this to be a pilot challenge. Proof of idea for a future present in one of many 4 Walt Disney World theme parks. (It’s one thing we’ve been masking this 12 months in Will Walt Disney World Get a Dazzling Drone Show? We lay out the ‘why’ in that put up, however our reply has been that it’s an inevitability, and sooner fairly than later.)
I nonetheless imagine that Disney Goals That Soar most likely is a trial balloon or take a look at flight. But it surely’s not merely a swiftly thrown-together tech demo (or whether it is, they actually captured lightning in a bottle by not overproducing it). This can be a fully-fledged manufacturing, and there’s an excellent probability it’ll be the perfect drone present you’ve ever seen. (Assured for those who’ve by no means seen one.)
Whereas I’m nonetheless barely involved that Disney Goals That Soar is it, and we’ll go one other 7+ years earlier than seeing drones once more at Disney Springs as a result of authorized received’t give them clearance to fly anyplace close to visitors, I doubt that’s the case. The visitor response has been resoundingly constructive and crowds are colossal. That has to have executives salivating, figuring out the type of shot within the arm {that a} drone show might give Animal Kingdom. They’ll work out no matter legal responsibility and staging issues may exist.
Above all else, I’m excited for what I feel this indicators–ushering in a brand new period of leisure at Walt Disney World. Once more, I’m pretty assured that Disney Goals That Soar is the place to begin for drones at WDW, however definitely not the endpoint. That this can be a take a look at, and (hopefully!) the actual deal will come to Animal Kingdom in 2025. The upside to drones in a theme park at Walt Disney World is simply too excessive–they’ll discover a method to make it work.
It’s extra than simply that, although. This identical leisure staff can also be engaged on greater and higher issues for the parks at Walt Disney World. If that is what they’re able to creating for a brief show that may be seen totally free, simply think about what they may do with a completely hypothetical new night time parade for Magic Kingdom.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever seen Disney Goals That Soar? What did you consider the drone show? Do you assume that is testing for a fully-fledged, drone-driven nighttime spectacular at Walt Disney World in 2025? Or do you assume it ends right here, at Disney Springs? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? If a drone present involves Walt Disney World, at which park would you wish to see it? Every other ideas or commentary so as to add? Any questions we may help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
