A mesmerizing fusion of emotion and innovation, Disney Tales of Magic brings the façades of Main Street, U.S.A. to life for the first time at Disneyland Paris, alongside the iconic
Sleeping Beauty Castle, celebrating the magic that lives within each of us.
Disneyland Paris invites guests to experience Disney Tales of Magic, an all-new immersive nighttime spectacular where emotion and magic take center stage. Since the debut of Disney Dreams! (2012) and Disney Illuminations (2017), these evening shows have become iconic unforgettable moments for guests. Drawing inspiration from beloved tales by Walt Disney Animation Studios and Pixar Animation Studios—such as Inside Out, Coco, Encanto, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, Toy Story, and WALL-E—this new production focuses on the essence of magic. It goes beyond what we can see with our eyes, capturing the profound magic we feel within our hearts: the excitement of chasing your dreams, the joy of adventures with friends, the warmth of love, the nostalgia of cherished memories, and the sense of belonging to a community, a clan, or a family.
This spectacular show delivers an emotional experience enhanced by cutting-edge technology in a breathtaking production that integrates Main Street, U.S.A for the first time alongside Sleeping Beauty Castle. The stunning projections of the main thoroughfare of the Disneyland Park blends seamlessly with the one on Sleeping Beauty Castle, immersing guests in the story and making them feel like active participants. The show, with a runtime of approximately 20 minutes, combines fountain displays, strobes, pyrotechnic effects, 15 ultra-bright lasers, and new technology including 60 ultra powerful lighting fixtures, more than 200 architectural LED lighting packages, and a new immersive audio system; not to mention drones creating 3D figures in the sky in collaboration with Disneyland Paris’ official technology provider, Dronisos. These extraordinary special effects come together to create an unprecedented visual experience. To achieve unparalleled projection quality, Disneyland Paris teams also enlisted the expertise of London-based supplier NorthHouse, to help bring the show’s immersive visual experiences to life with a new level of artistry and innovation. This complex show programming required over 17,500 hours of work, leveraging advanced 3D processes.
This new show is accompanied by an exclusive soundtrack that captures the essence of Disney magic through an arrangement of over 20 iconic tracks from Disney Animation and Pixar films. At the heart of this soundtrack is “Live in Magic”, an original song performed in both French and English by the talented Noémie Legrand, accompanied by a 100-piece orchestra recorded at the legendary Air Studios in London. Composed by Noémie Legrand, Tony Ferrari, and Lucky West, “Live in Magic” will be a deeply emotional moment for the audience.
With dazzling scenography, powerful intergenerational storytelling, cutting-edge technology, and an original soundtrack, this timeless experience will captivate guests of all ages, reminding them of the magical moments that shape a lifetime.
Like all our shows and parades, this new nighttime spectacular is included in the Disneyland Park admission ticket.
Creative Director
Disney Tales of Magic explores the evolution of Disney magic, from its visual origins to its emotional depth. The prologue highlights classic visual magic with classic Disney films such as Mary Poppins and Disney Animation films including Pinocchio and Cinderella, showcasing iconic characters and their physical enchantments. The story transitions with the Pixar Animation Studios film Inside Out, where magic becomes an internal feeling tied to emotions, dreams, and memories. A medley follows, featuring characters like Lilo and Stitch, highlighting the magic of friendship, as well as Buzz Lightyear and the green Aliens emphasizing the thrill of adventure. Key themes include the magic of love (Beauty and the Beast), memories of loved ones (The Lion King), and belonging (Encanto), culminating in a heartfelt celebration of family and connection.
The show uses Main Street, U.S.A. and Sleeping Beauty Castle as distinct yet interconnected spaces to create a multi-layered experience. Main Street, U.S.A transforms throughout the show, starting as Cinderella’s 18th-century ballroom, then becoming a London street with lamps and rooftops from Mary Poppins. During the Inside Out section of the show, it is taken over by rows of colorful emotion-filled memory spheres inside Riley’s mind, and during the Buzz Lightyear and Emperor Zurg battle, it becomes Buzz’s space station, contrasting Sleeping Beauty Castle, which turns into Zurg’s red lair. These dual perspectives immerse guests, making them feel like participants in the story depending on their location.
To unify the spaces, elements like falling rose petals appear simultaneously on Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A fostering a shared magical moment. Unique soundscapes enhance immersion, such as the ballroom’s festive cheer or the intense battle effects, providing a dynamic and inclusive experience for guests in all areas.
The Lion King sequence is a deeply meaningful part of the show, especially the moment with Rafiki and the fireflies. It connects the memories of loved ones to the spiritual journey Rafiki leads Simba on, reminding him that his father lives within him. The visual power of Simba fading into the stars and Mufasa’s appearance is breathtaking. Including “He Lives In You”*[1] was a personal choice, as it adds a profound emotional layer to the show. This sequence is a favorite because of its powerful combination including drones forming 3D figures, music, and heartfelt themes.
[1] It’s the title of a song
What truly stands out is the immersion. Today, technology allows us to create a more immersive experience that enhances emotion. In this new show, the audience is fully integrated into the performance. The show spans from Sleeping Beauty Castle to the main artery of Disneyland Park: Main Street, U.S.A., keeping the audience constantly enveloped in the magic. For video projection, we’ve doubled the frame rate, going from 25 to 50 frames per second. This creates a much more emotionally intense experience. The show also uses groundbreaking technologies and awe-inspiring lighting projectors. When these projectors illuminate the sky, it genuinely feels like you’re dwarfed by the grandeur of the spectacular.
The goal is for pyrotechnics to never overshadow the show itself. They should act as a supporting element, an additional performer. We meticulously designed these moments to create striking scenes at key points in the show. For each segment, the use of pyrotechnics was carefully considered. We developed multiple versions, conducted numerous rehearsals, and refined our approach between the first and second trials. A great deal evolved during this process. Our top priority was to ensure coherence and to convey the desired emotion effectively.
The Beauty and the Beast sequence is a truly magical moment. At the start, snow is gently falling over Main Street, U.S.A., making the experience even more immersive. It’s a deeply romantic and poetic scene that captivates the audience. Then, at the end of the show, a breathtaking pyrotechnic finale is set to amaze spectators, bringing the emotional impact to its peak.
Designer Effets spéciaux & Feux d’artifices
Manager Département Musique
Music plays a central role as the narrative thread of the show. It tells the stories in harmony with the visual projections, helping to shape the audience’s emotional journey.
Some moments are more dynamic, with rock energy, while others are softer and more emotional, supported by string instruments-driven ambiance. The goal is to provide an experience that alternates between different intensities, immersing the spectator in a wide range of emotions throughout the show.
We have to connect pieces that were originally not intended to be linked, such as a song from
The Lion King and one from The Little Mermaid. This requires reworking each piece to ensure they flow seamlessly together, considering factors like tonality, orchestration, rhythm, and tempo. To create these transitions, we use several techniques: sometimes an instrument or a melody from the end of one piece extends into the next, or a common element is introduced to bridge the gap. In this show, the visual elements also play a key role. The visual effects can be so powerful that they facilitate the musical transition.
Immersive sound relies on our natural ability to perceive sound in 360 degrees with both ears. This allows us to sense the distance, direction, and even the movement of sound around us. By strategically placing speakers, we can recreate these effects, making the sounds “travel” through space—such as a laser quickly moving from one point to another on Main Street, U.S.A. This technique envelops the audience and creates a sense of depth, making them feel at the heart of the action rather than just an observer. For this effect to work, it must be used precisely and coordinated with the visuals, following cinematic principles. It’s this blend of sound and image that enhances the immersion and stimulates the audience’s imagination.
Disney Tales of Magic opens with a prologue paying homage to the visual magic instilled by
Walt Disney in cinematic masterpieces like Pinocchio, Cinderella, and Mary Poppins. During the sequence dedicated to the transformation of Cinderella’s gown, Main Street, U.S.A. (the main avenue of Disneyland Park) gradually lights up, evoking a majestic 18th-century ballroom, worthy of the greatest fairy tales. “For the video projection, we doubled the frame rate, moving from 25 to 50 frames per second,” details Metin Cig, special effects and fireworks designer for the show. This technical achievement reflects the scale of innovation deployed to provide an unparalleled visual experience. This opening scene introduces the fulfillment of destinies through the pursuit of dreams, experienced by many characters throughout their adventures. Guests are then transported by a heroic Walt Disney Animation Studios medley uniting the worlds of Moana and Hercules, followed by the inspiring stories of Mulan and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
This captivating journey paves the way for the magic of friendship, embodied by the unbreakable bond between Lilo and Stitch, and the colorful, whimsical world of Pixar’s Toy Story. In a moment both humorous and spectacular, guests will witness a memorable battle between Buzz Lightyear and Emperor Zurg, followed by an encounter with everyone’s favorite green Aliens. Lasers, integrated with remarkable technical precision, play a key role in this scene: “They’re not just a visual support to the story, but become actors in the narrative, enhancing the immersion,” explains Metin Cig. To perfect the experience, animations projected on the Castle, specially designed for this show, offer a big surprise: Tim Allen, the original voice of Buzz, reprises his role to deliver new dialogue for the Space Ranger.
Next comes a space journey with WALL-E and EVE, opening a touching new sequence dedicated to love. Main Street, U.S.A. and the Sleeping Beauty Castle are draped in a snowy veil, paying tribute to iconic Disney couples like Belle and the Beast, and Carl and Ellie from Up. This poetic touch is amplified with an emotional rendition of “Beauty and the Beast” where fountains and fireworks harmonize perfectly with the instrumental music.
The next scene marks a transition into a deeper, more reflective atmosphere. The lifting of a red curtain reveals an ofrenda, inspired by Pixar’s Coco, illuminated by projections of flickering candles and photos honoring the memory of lost ones. This poignant scene transitions into the iconic moment where Rafiki reminds Simba that his father lives on in him, enhanced by the song He Lives in You inspired by Disney Animation’s The Lion King. This moment, both moving and magical, celebrates the timeless values carried by Disney’s stories. “We wanted to offer a strong visual experience, notably with the symbol of baby Simba that Rafiki draws on the tree, which then gives way to a magnificent 3D Mufasa appearing in the sky, just like in the film when Mufasa emerges from the clouds. It’s one of those great visual elements we directly borrowed from the animated movie,” explains Tim Lutkin, the Creative Director of the show.
The journey reaches its climax with a scene dedicated to Disney Animation’s Encanto, where Bruno takes center stage. The Castle lights up in vibrant green hues, while an energetic South American music celebrates the sense of belonging to a family in all its forms. “At this moment, the Madrigal family symbolically gathers on the castle, and the moment is captured forever when we hear the sound of an old-fashioned camera, followed by a spectacular flash and a fireworks display. This staging was designed to unify this key moment,” explains Tim Lutkin. Bruno concludes this enchanting journey with both touching and unifying notes. The show ends with a dazzling grand finale that will captivate spectators with its magic and technological feats.
Disney Tales of Magic is part of the exceptional range of shows and parades at Disneyland Paris, highlighting the resort’s commitment to offering visitors an ever-more magical and spectacular experience.
Disneyland Paris is renowned for its world-class shows, driven by an incredible diversity of franchises, exceptional artistic and technical teams, and innovative use of technology. These elements combine to offer guests unparalleled, captivating experiences while ensuring that the performances remain accessible to all. Whether it’s unforgettable encounters with iconic characters, daytime or nighttime shows in beautifully designed theaters, or outdoor events using the parks as an enchanting backdrop, Disneyland Paris continually raises the bar for entertainment. By constantly renewing its offerings, the resort ensures it meets visitors’ expectations.The productions, praised for their quality and originality, regularly win prestigious awards[1]* from both the industry and visitors, cementing Disneyland Paris as a leader in entertainment in Europe.
All shows and parades are included in the Disney Park ticket.
[1] Mickey and the Magician, IAAPA “ Best Theatrical Production” (2016). Disney Dreams!, Best Live production Entertainment Excellence, IAAPA Brass Ring Awards (2012). TOGETHER : a Pixar Musical Adventure, « Storytelling Innovation », Blooloop Innovation Awards (2023).
Here’s a preview of the 2025 shows and events at Disneyland Paris:
*Please note: In unforeseen circumstances, such as poor weather conditions or technical issues, our shows and parade may be modified, postponed or cancelled without prior notice.
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