Last week I had the unbelievable, amazing opportunity to attend the premiere of Disney California Adventure's World of Color. Just from the preview video I knew I'd be captivated by this new attraction.
Many years ago, my brother and his friends entertained our family in the backyard with light shows. They strung lights everywhere and carefully synced the lights with music. Sometimes one of his friends would play the piano live while my brother made the lights dance to the music. Lights are magical, as is music. World of Color has both, plus fire, water, lasers, unique projection screens, and unexpected other features, such as a hidden bubble machine and synchronization of the show with lights on other attractions and the park street lamps.
It is impossible to use mere words to describe World of Color because it is definitely more than a light show, or a water show. Just as when the black and white Disney cartoons burst into a new dimension once color was introduced, World of Color has created a new dimension in entertainment.
Both Disney parks participate in what has been dubbed "Summer Nightastic" the catch-all term to describe how the night lights up with color, music, fire, and water. CA Adventure has "Glow Fest" and "World of Color" while Disneyland has "Fantasmic" and of course the fireworks spectacular "Magical". "Pixie Hollow Enchantment" and "TLT Dance Club" also light up the nightlife at Disneyland.
People who have seen "Fantasmic" have been introduced in part to what "World of Color" entails. In "Fantasmic," for example, high-pressure water curtains create a projection screen for scenes from popular Disney films. But "World of Color" is even bigger. (Fantasmic has its own unique elements, such as Mickey vanquishing a large dragon, and some excellent entertainment on boats. The on-board stunts for Peter Pan are especially impressive.)
The colors in World of Color - of course, are spectacular. But it is the way the water bends and flows that creates even more magic. It is mind-blowing to consider how much effort was involved in choreographing the water to match the music to match what is being projected on the water.
My mouth was open in awe during the whole presentation. I didn't want it to stop because it transported me into a relaxed state where I could just enjoy. Too often I rush around and am trying to take in too much. I have to remember this or not to forget that. But during World of Color, I could allow the show to dictate my experience. I could enjoy and pull from my memories. I could use my imagination. Sure, there were scary parts, and I anticipate that some kids might be frightened at times, but they will also be captivated by the colors.
There is one scene that brought nearly everyone to tears, and I don't quite understand why such impact is necessary. I think the happy colors provide enough of a "wow!" factor that tugging on the heartstrings so dramatically isn't needed. True, I know that Disney often pairs tragedy with triumph, and I understand that to create a metaphor for life and fantasy, we require the "downer" bits. But... that one scene was uncomfortable. In one description of World of Color, Disney described the spectacular as "an emotional experience." Yes, indeed!
After the show, I got a chance to record a little introduction to World of Color for y'all. During the first take, I was perfect, but there was a glitch with the mic; the second time around I fumbled a bit on the intro and I tend to pull faces a bit too much, but it just shows I was having fun (and was a bit tipsy on blinking colorful alcoholic drinks thanks to the after-party.) Enjoy!
Thankfully my adventure was not over once the World of Color was done for the evening. The next morning I had the opportunity to sit in on a special "What's Next?" presentation that highlighted new attractions, such as Ariel's Undersea Adventure in 2011, new Star Tours adventures in 2011 (Catch the current moons of Endor storyline by July 26, 2010 before the Star Tours hiatus!) and Cars Land, an entire section of CA Adventure devoted to Lightening McQueen and his best buds, which will open in 2012. The Disneyland Hotel will continue renovations, and look for new princess Rapunzel this fall. (She stars in the new movie Tangled, which opens November 16th of this year.)
I also learned more about Disney Cruise Lines. I've never taken a cruise, although I've been intrigued by this sort of entertainment. During the "What's Next?" presentation, I learned that from January 23rd to March 20, 2011, Disney Cruise Line will offer a special "Kids Free" offer on seven-night cruises to the Mexican Riviera. (Yes! After a hiatus, Disney Cruise Lines returns to the West Coast!) Another West Coast itinerary will be Alaska cruises sailing from Vancouver. Finally, a new cruise ship is currently being built. Called Disney Dream, this big boat will have the very first "aqua coaster" at sea, entitled the "Aqua Duck" (get it - aquaduct, aqua-duck?) This will be a series of clear-tubes, some of which go out above the water. This is sure to be a thrilling experience.
Perhaps the most thrilling for me during the "What's Next?" presentation was being treated to a performance from Jodi Benson (the voice of Ariel) and Samuel E. Wright (Sebastian.) As much as I adore magic, it is fun to see the faces behind the magic, too.
My kids loved Summer Nightastic. We had a great adventure during the day, but the night truly was magical. Since many of the Nightastic shows repeat throughout the night, my suggestion is to skip the first showing, instead using that time to go on rides that would typically have a long wait. One night the ride operators let us go on Splash Mountain three times in a row without getting out of our log! We then caught the second showing of "Fantasmic," plus saw the "Magical" fireworks before returning to the nearly-abandoned rides (because the little kids had long fallen asleep) to close out the park. (Yes, we stayed until midnight both nights we were there!)
I'm truly in awe of the experience I had last weekend. It is certainly one I'll never forget. And thankfully, my kids won't forget it either!
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Disclaimer: I was invited to participate in the premiere of Disney CA Adventure's World of Color. As part of that opportunity, Disney provided my flight and one night hotel stay, park tickets, and some other park-related perks. My family paid for our hotel for two nights (at a reduced rate provided by Disney,) most of our meals, our souvenirs, and our driving expenses (since my family drove rather than taking an airline flight.) Disney expected that I would write about my adventures, but my words are my own. I will receive no further compensation related to this trip, nor will I receive any sort of commission should any of my readers choose to take a trip to Disneyland or CA Adventure. We were planning to do a Disney trip sometime soon in the future, so the World of Color opportunity merely provided excellent timing for us to do so! Drop on by The Karianna Spectrum for more about our Disney adventure, including a video of Splig fighting Darth Vader.
