Everything you need to know about the Disney Dreams! night show.

Are you coming to Disneyland Paris soon and want to find out more about the park’s current and past nighttime shows? Want to know more about the Disney Dreams show and its fabulous history? Then you’ve come to the right place.

A memorable day at Disneyland Paris wouldn’t be complete without the park’s dazzling night-time show! These magical moments bring a spectacular conclusion to a day already filled with adventure and enchantment. Among the many shows on offer, Disney Dreams! stands out as one of the most iconic. In this article, I invite you to delve into the heart of this bewitching show: its captivating story, the different scenes that make it up, fascinating technical details, and everything you need to know about this unforgettable Disneyland Paris experience.

Show presentation

Disney Dreams! was a night-time show presented in Disneyland Park at Disneyland Paris. Designed by Steve Davison, famous for his work on World of Color in California, the show offered a unique sensory experience, combining projections on the park’s castle, fireworks, dancing fountains, light shows and a host of other special effects.

Launched in 2012 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Disneyland Paris, Disney Dreams! made a lasting impression with its enchanting atmosphere. Although replaced by Disney Illuminations in 2017, its return in 2023 for the 30th Anniversary Grand Finale was a reminder of its undeniable success with visitors and enthusiasts alike.

The story of the show

The captivating story of Disney Dreams! focuses on the incredible journey of Peter Pan and his shadow. It all begins when Peter’s shadow escapes his body and touches the second star on the right, triggering a cascade of magic that envelops the Disneyland Paris castle. This outpouring of magic comes to life, bringing to life Disney’s greatest animated films, as Peter’s shadow makes its way from scene to scene.

His escapade is interrupted when the shadow is captured by the fearsome Captain Hook. Fortunately, Peter Pan bravely sets out to save her, and together they confront Captain Hook. Finally, after an epic battle, Peter enlists Tink’s help to restore the magic of the second star to its rightful place, bringing the show to a close.

Technical data

Films: Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Ratatouille, Aladdin, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Lion King, Rebelle, Rapunzel, The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella
Number of characters: 48
Number of musical numbers: 10
Number of scenes: 10

Show sequence

Scene 1:

Story: Peter and Wendy search for Tinkerbell while Peter Pan’s shadow escapes and drops the star-dust magic from the castle’s highest tower.
Music: The second star to the right – Peter Pan
Characters: Peter Pan, Wendy, Peter Pan’s shadow

Scene 2:

Story: The shadow has fallen in the world of Beauty and the Beast, and Lumière takes the opportunity to introduce her to the art of French dining.
Music: Be Our Guest – Beauty and the Beast
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Lumière, Madame Samovar, Mickey, Bambi, Pinocchio, Cinderella, Dumbo, Woody, Buzz, Prof, Alice, Cheshire Cat, Dopey, Jiminy

Scene 3:

Story: A very quick scene in which Remy from Ratatouille frees Peter Pan’s shadow, which was stuck in a bubble.
Music: Le Festin – Ratatouille
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Rémy

Scene 4:

Story: The shadow comes face to face with a lamp which, when rubbed, releases a new friend: Aladdin’s genie! To thank her, Aladdin sings her song throughout the scene.
Music: Friend like me – Aladdin
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Genie, The Flying Carpet

Scene 5:

Story: Peter Pan’s shadow, on the back of the Flying Carpet, arrives in Paris and meets Quasimodo, who climbs the turrets of the castle reminiscent of Notre-Dame de Paris.
Music: Out There – The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, The Flying Carpet, Quasimodo

Scene 6:

Story: The shadow lands in the heart of the savannah and discovers the story of the Lion King.
Music: Circle of life, I Just Can’t Wait To Be King and Hakuna Matata – The Lion King
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Simba, Nala, Zazu Timon, Pumba

Scene 7:

Story: The shadow then falls into the water, this time arriving in Scotland to meet Mérida!
Music: Fate and Destiny, Touch the sky and Remember to Smile – Brave
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Will-o’-the-Wisps, Merida, Angus, Queen Elinor, The leaders of the allied kingdoms, King Fergus, Prunelle

Scene 8:

Story: Peter Pan’s shadow continues its journey and enters Rapunzel’s world, where it meets Flynn and Rapunzel in the doorway. This encounter marks the start of a sequence featuring iconic fairytale couples such as Beauty and the Beast, Ariel and Eric, and Cinderella and her prince.
Music: I See The Light – Rapunzel
Characters: Shadow, Rapunzel, Flynn, Beauty, The Beast, Cinderella, Prince Henri, Tiana, Prince Naveen, Ariel, Prince Eric

Scene 9:

Story: Peter Pan’s shadow, clinging to a lantern, meets Dr. Facilier’s shadows.
Music: Friends on the Other Side – The Princess and the Frog
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Mickey, the shadows, Dr. Facilier

Scene 10:

Story: Captain Hook finds Peter Pan’s shadow and tries to catch him with the help of Ursula and Maleficent, but Peter appears, finds his shadow and, with the help of Tink, puts all the magic back into the star to close the show.
Music: You can fly, The Second Star to the Right – Peter Pan
Characters: Peter Pan’s shadow, Captain Hook, Ursula, Maleficent, Peter, Wendy, Tinkerbell

My opinion of the show

As previously mentioned in one of my articles, my penchant for night-time shows and fireworks somewhat influences my opinion of the Disney Dreams! show. As a passionate follower of these magical performances, this show holds a special place in my heart, being the first night show I actually discovered at Disneyland Paris. This first experience marked a special moment in my memories, adding a particular emotional resonance to my perception of Disney Dreams!

First, I’d like to talk about the narration of this show! In a word: magnificent! It’s perfectly constructed, with a captivating story from start to finish, fluid transitions and unique scenes. In short, with this show, Disney has demonstrated its expertise in storytelling, a skill they’ve mastered to perfection for over a century.

What’s more, the music chosen to accompany the various scenes in the show is also remarkably well chosen. Most of them are cult tunes that awaken memories in all of us, adding a deep emotional dimension to each moment. We can also salute a few risk-takers with lesser-known music, notably in the scene from Le Bossu de Notre-Dame. In my opinion, this boldness pays off, adding authenticity to the show as a whole. It’s true, however, that there are a few long stretches, particularly in the opening scene, which lasts almost two minutes, which could be considered a slight downside.

As far as the technical effects are concerned, I’m simply blown away at every show! The perfect synchronization between the mapping on the castle, the music, the water jets and the fireworks is simply incredible! Disney’s immersive visual experience is not limited to the castle, but extends to the entire environment. However, in my opinion, the mapping could have been refined at certain points. Some scenes seem a little blurred, such as the appearance of Peter and Wendy at the beginning. I think this is due to the fact that, unlike Disney Illuminations, Disney Dreams! offers us scenes that are unique in the world, specially designed for the show. Despite this, the whole thing remains spectacular and impressive.

Despite these minor technical imperfections, Disney Dreams! remains an extraordinary show that I absolutely adored rediscovering in 2023, and whose memory will remain engraved in my mind for a long time to come. If Disneyland Paris ever decides to offer this show again in the future, I urge you to go, because it’s well worth it! The immersive experience, the magic of the stories told and the dazzling visual effects make this a must-see for all fans of shows and the Disney universe.

Official video of the show

Show photos