What is your Fireworks display?

[cameronwr]

Illuminations over the rest of the field by far.

[jlagarde]

When we saw Fantasmic at DHS in Jan 2010 I was completely underwhelmed. Not a thing we'll be spending any significant time with this year.

I have to agree. I saw it once, now i use that time to ride all the rides while everyone else in the park goes to the show.

[MetalRage]

Wow, Illuminations is dominating lol.

[BenB]

With Fantasmic, unfortunately the show isn't consistent. I've seen it probably 20 times, and no 2 shows have been the same. We make it a game to find what isn't working that day. The last time we saw it, Mickey didn't appear at the top of the mountain at the end. Very disappointing since we'd directed our 2-year-old to look up there and then *poof* wait, no Mickey! They had problems with the Indian torches for years, but in April they were different - I think they went to a different system to fix the glitch. One year I even watched a canoe ram into the side of the river. The person steering in back seemed to have no clue how to control the boat. Sometimes the snake doesn't move or its eyes don't light. Sometimes the dragon's fire doesn't ignite the river. I know there are lots of variables and it's probably a technical nightmare to keep it working right... but I expect Disney to keep it working right. It's the Disney way, or at least it used to be.

It also depends on where you're seated. I know, I know, "all seats provide excellent viewing". No, they do not. Some are better than others, and some downright stink. I recommend front & center, about 10-15 rows up (as long as you don't mind being misted a little if the wind is blowing toward you). Otherwise you miss things or don't get the full picture. And, you haven't experienced the cannon until you've had it pointed right at your chest! If you can't get the center (hint: go where the cast members direct you, walk down all the way to the front, and then go back toward the middle looking for empty seats. I have ALWAYS found some, even for a family of 4.) - but if you can't, then try to sit in the middle of the left or right sections, so at least you don't have a pillar in your way. This may not be possible when the park is packed - we never go then so I don't know.

Even with its flaws, Fantasmic is still my favorite "fireworks" show, with Illuminations being a close second. (Though, I'd say Fantasmic is more show than fireworks. I'm not sure it can be considered a true fireworks display.)

And if you don't like it... hey, no problem, more seats for me.

[Amy]

I've always wondered if the times Mickey doesn't appear, if the CM is ill that day, or there is too much wind or another reason why he is not up there. I imagine you are correct, the complexity of the show must be quite a challenge, but I also agree, they should do their best to keep the show going off without any noticeable hitches. Safety for the performers first of course.

[MmeLeota]

When we saw Fantasmic at DHS in Jan 2010 I was completely underwhelmed. Not a thing we'll be spending any significant time with this year.

I have to agree. I saw it once, now i use that time to ride all the rides while everyone else in the park goes to the show.

Haven't seen the DHS version of Fantasmic! since it opened in 1998. We weren't impressed by it then and haven't had the desire to see it since. The original Disneyland version reigns supreme in our household, and is one of my personal favorites.

[MetalRage]

I love the soundtrack to Fantasmic and listen to it alot, but I never really got into the show its self. I do exactly what jlagarde does by going on the rides while everyone else is watching the show.

[Sharonofwindham]

Is there anyone out there that thinks we could use a break from Illuminations? I was almost afraid to ask after I saw the percentage it received in your poll . Don't get me wrong I have always loved it too, but a change sure would be nice. It's had a VERY long run . Maybe by the time I get back to the "world" there will be something new

[Amy]

Is there anyone out there that thinks we could use a break from Illuminations? I was almost afraid to ask after I saw the percentage it received in your poll . Don't get me wrong I have always loved it too, but a change sure would be nice. It's had a VERY long run . Maybe by the time I get back to the "world" there will be something new

I wouldn't mind a new version at the very least. I liked the previous show better than the Illuminations version we saw the past two years we went...

[Sharonofwindham]

Let me add, Reflections of Earth, to that. I forgot, I guess it's always been called Illuminations

[Amy]

Let me add, Reflections of Earth, to that. I forgot, I guess it's always been called Illuminations

Yeah, that's the tricky thing....F1gment and I were confused when we saw it two years ago. We looked at each other and shook our heads because it wasn't the same show we had seen 10 years before that, but it had the same name

[Sharonofwindham]

Do you remember way back when they would play music associated with each country as they lit up? I would enjoy seeing that version once again . That was in the very early days of EPCOT

[Thumper1]

Sadly, I haven't seen any of these yet,I'm always too busy trying to get things done.I would like to see Illuminations though,just because I love the music from it on ssr so much!!

[Amy]

Do you remember way back when they would play music associated with each country as they lit up? I would enjoy seeing that version once again . That was in the very early days of EPCOT

That was the one we were expecting to see. It was great music and really fun with the countries illuminating!

[MouseMan]

This is sorta a hard poll because they are all great in their own right. But I think Illuminations stands just a bit above the rest of the field. Songs, spectical, story, and just enough wow factor.