Ignite the Dream

It's been over a year and a half since I visited Shanghai Disneyland, I realized that I never posted photos from their premiere nighttime spectacular, Ignite the Dream!  This pyrotechnic-accented castle show features plenty of projection mapping and even some flamethrowers, but when I say castle show, I mean it.  It's not a fireworks show; just a show with fireworks in it.  Unlike the shows at American Disney parks, Ignite the Dream focuses more on visuals to tell the story of Mickey Mouse traveling through various franchises after he discovers the power of his spark of imagination.  From The Lion King to The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo, then Pirates of the Caribbean, Aladdin, and Mulan, and finally Up, Star Wars, Frozen (which surprisingly gets the biggest reactions) and a closing montage, the show is a series of scenes, loosely tied together by Mickey moving through them.

Truthfully, it's nowhere near my favorite Disney pyrotechnics show, and I only waited to watch it one of the two nights I was at Shanghai Disneyland.  The second night, I happened to catch it from Tomorrowland.  I feel lit lacks the magic and captivating allure that classics like Remember... Dreams Come True and Disneyland Forever and even the original Disney Dreams in Paris retain (funny, since Paris' current Disney Illuminations show is almost a clone of the Shanghai show).  But it does provide a few photogenic moments, so here are some of them presented below.

Big pizazz at the opening montage.

Olaf is always seeking warm hugs.

The castle provides a huge canvas for the projections.

The waters of the Gardens of Imagination provide nice reflections.

Surfing with Crush and Squirt from Finding Nemo.

Fire is always good.

Yes, lots of fire!

MOAR FIRE!!

Oh look, a lot of balloons.

Must mean an Up interlude.

Elsa lets it go to a grand reception.

Genie makes it a wrap.

And a beautiful projected painting covers the Enchanted Storybook Castle during the post-show.