Remember... Dreams Come True
Remember... Dreams Come True was a fireworks display at Disneyland commemorating the 50th anniversary of the park.[1][2] Described by director Steve Davison as an "E ticket in the sky", the show featured fireworks, lower level pyrotechnics, isopar flame effects, projection mapping, lasers, searchlights, and lighting set to the soundtracks of some of Disneyland's most famous rides and shows. It was created as a homage to Disneyland and Disney parks worldwide, Disney parks' lands and attractions, and their continuing legacy.
Remember... Dreams Come True | |
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Disneyland | |
Status | Removed |
Opening date | May 1, 2005 (Original) January 10, 2010 February 3, 2017 September 7, 2018 |
Closing date | June 11, 2009 (Original) November 2, 2014 April 7, 2018 January 17, 2019 |
Replaced | Imagine... A Fantasy in the Sky (2005) Magical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations (Summer only) Disneyland Forever (2016) Fantasy in the Sky (2017) Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular (2018) (Pixar Fest only) |
Replaced by | Magical: Disney's New Nighttime Spectacular of Magical Celebrations (Summer only) Fantasy in the Sky (2015) Together Forever - A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular (2018) (Pixar Fest only) Mickey's Mix Magic (2019) |
General statistics | |
Attraction type | Multimedia and Fireworks spectacular show |
Designer | Walt Disney Creative Entertainment |
Theme | Disneyland's attractions (California only) Magic Kingdom's attractions (Florida only) |
Music | Gregory Smith (original compositions and arrangements) |
Duration | 17:11 (original) 16:19 (current version) |
Host | Julie Andrews |
Sponsor | Honda |
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The show was produced by Walt Disney Creative Entertainment, under direction of VP Parades and Spectaculars Steve Davison and fireworks designer Eric Tucker.
The show was offered seasonally in 2009 from winter to spring. To date, Remember... has been on hiatus twice: the first time in late 2014 to make way for Disneyland's Diamond Celebration (and the fireworks show Disneyland Forever), and on April 7, 2018, for Pixar Fest (and fireworks show Together Forever).[3] The show returned on February 3, 2017,[4] and September 7, 2018, respectively.
In November 2018, it was announced that a new fireworks show based on Mickey and Minnie Mouse called Mickey's Mix Magic would open at Disneyland on January 18, 2019.[5][6] It is currently unknown whether Remember... Dreams Come True will ever return.
Show summary
Opening
- Introduction - The introduction is provided by Julie Andrews. Andrews tells the audience about the magic of Disneyland and the beauty of dreams and how important they really are. The "Wishes" fanfare and theme plays here, introducing the main musical theme of the entire show.
- When You Wish Upon a Star - Andrews talks more about the magic of Disneyland. Such as Cinderella (Jennifer Hale), Snow White (Carolyn Gardner), Ariel (Jodi Benson), Peter Pan (Blayne Weaver), Pinocchio (Michael Welch), and Aladdin (Scott Weinger) all share their dreams and fondest wishes. At each character's introduction, a brief melody from the film they were in plays. In order, these songs are: "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes", "I'm Wishing", "Part of Your World", "The Second Star to the Right", "I've Got No Strings", and "A Whole New World".
- Tinker Bell's Flight - Andrews invites the audience to share Walt Disney's dream come true, Disneyland, and honor its magical spirit. Tinker Bell flies out over Sleeping Beauty Castle as Walt Disney's original opening day dedication speech for Disneyland (and the "Wishes" theme) plays.
Main Street U.S.A.
The original announcement from the Disneyland Railroad is heard, as is the whistle and bell of DLRR #1, C.K. Holliday. Then music from Main Street, U.S.A. such as Maple Leaf Rag and Main Street Electrical Parade is heard. The "old world" segment shows the Main Street Station and American Flag bunting is projected onto Sleeping Beauty Castle. Then, the American Flag itself is projected while the stars start to move on it. The Main Street Electrical Parade's closing fanfare plays and exploding multicolor stars emanate from the center of the castle.
- Music
- Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin
- "Baroque Hoedown" written by Jean-Jacques Perrey and Gershon Kingsley
- "Main Street Electrical Parade" arranged by Don Dorsey and Jack Wagner (electric version), and Gregory Smith (orchestral segment).
- Voices
- Jack Wagner as the synthesized parade voice and the railroad announcer
Adventureland

Music from Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room and the Indiana Jones Adventure are played. Colorful projections of the Tiki Room are featured on Sleeping Beauty's Castle with the birds featured in that attraction. During the Indiana Jones segment, the eye of Mara is projected onto the Matterhorn and the snake room of Indiana Jones Adventure is projected onto the castle. This section includes pyrotechnics.
- Music
- Voices
- Wally Boag as José
- Fulton Burley as Michael
- Ernie Newton as Pierre
- Thurl Ravenscroft as Fritz
- Bob Joles as Sallah.
New Orleans Square
Music from The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean are played. The exterior of the Haunted Mansion is projected onto the castle followed by the attraction's stretching room portraits. During the "Wicked Waltz," Madame Leota is projected floating around the castle as instruments are projected above her. At the end of the segment, Little Leota is projected as she says her trademark "Hurry back" spiel.
During the Pirates of the Caribbean segment, a skull is projected onto the castle and Matterhorn as flare fireworks are launched from the mountain's peak (after summer 2017, this effect was removed from the Matterhorn and flares were subsequently launched from atop the "Alice in Wonderland" show building). There is a "cannon fight" of diagonal fireworks between Fantasyland and Frontierland.
- Music
- "Grim Grinning Ghosts" (Buddy Baker, Xavier Atencio)
- "Yo Ho (A Pirate's Life for Me)" (George Bruns, Atencio)
- Voices
- Paul Frees as the Ghost Host, the "dead men" pirate, and the Pirate Ship Captain
- Eleanor Audley as Madame Leota
- Leota Toombs as Little Leota
Frontierland
Music from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Rivers of America is played. During the Rivers of America scene, the Mark Twain Riverboat is projected steaming across the castle.
- Songs
- "Oh Shenandoah"
- "The Ballad of Davy Crockett" (Until 2009) (Bruns, Tom W. Blackburn)
- "Main Title" from The Big Country (Until 2009) (Jerome Moross)
- Voices
- Dallas McKennon as the Prospector
Note: The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad portion of the show was removed in 2009.
Critter Country, Fantasyland, Toontown (Laughin' Place)
Music and sounds from various rides in Critter Country, Fantasyland, and Mickey's Toontown are heard. Attractions featured include (in order) Splash Mountain, Peter Pan's Flight, Alice in Wonderland, Casey Jr. Circus Train, Mad Tea Party, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Country Bear Vacation Hoedown, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, and America Sings.
The segment starts with the Buzzards asking if the audience has found their "laughin' Place." Splash Mountain is projected onto the castle. From there, Peter Pan flies across it with the Darling children. The Mad Hatter and March Hare are then heard as colored bubbles are projected, followed by Casey Jr. chugging across. As Benny the Cab introduces the second half of the segment, Saxons spin next to the castle, and a spiral is projected onto it followed by a barrage of rainbow-colored lights dancing across it. Finally, the weasel says, "Pop goes the weasel," and the segment ends with a door slamming shut and everything fades to darkness.
- Music
- Ev'rybody Has a Laughing Place
- The Unbirthday Song
- "Second Hungarian Rhapsody" (Liszt)
- "Infernal Galop" from Orpheus in the Underworld (Jacques Offenbach)
- Voices
- Edward Conor and John Kelfreese as the Splash Mountain vultures
- Dallas McKennon as the maniacal laughter voice over sound effects
- Ed Wynn as the Mad Hatter
- Bobby Driscoll as Peter Pan
- Margaret Wright as Casey Junior
- Jerry Colonna as the March Hare
- Charles Fleischer as Roger Rabbit and Benny the Cab
- Mike West as Max the Buck
- Thurl Ravenscroft as Buff the Buffalo
- Jim Cummings as Tigger
- Jack Wagner's announcement from the Matterhorn Bobsleds: "Remain seated please. Permanecer sentados por favor!"
Tomorrowland
Sound effects, narration, projections, and music from Space Mountain, Submarine Voyage, Autopia, Rocket Jets, PeopleMover, Adventure Thru Inner Space and Star Tours are played.
Many Tomorrowland attractions and show scenes are projected onto the castle including the Rocket Jets, Submarine Voyage, Adventures Thru Inner Space, The Peoplemover, and Autopia. The main part of the segment is centered around Star Tours, with the logo being projected to start the scene. As the Star Wars theme plays, the effect of jumping to hyperspace is shown. Then, TIE Fighters are projected on the castle with a starry background. Green lasers are projected from the castle during this segment.
- Music
- "Star Wars: Main Theme" (John Williams)
- Voices
- Paul Frees as the Scientist
- Brian Cummings as the Star Tours announcer
- Paul Reubens as RX-24 (Rex)
- Steve Gawley as Red Leader
Conclusion
The conclusion is also provided by Julie Andrews. She tells the audience that Disneyland has grown to become the "Happiest Place on Earth." Tinker Bell returns to fly over the castle as a reprise of "Wishes" and "When You Wish Upon A Star" plays. The show ends in a cavalcade of fireworks as Andrews says, "Remember...Dreams Come True!".
After the show the song "Remember When" performed by LeAnn Rimes is played throughout the park. This song was the official song of the Happiest Homecoming on Earth, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Disneyland and Disney Parks worldwide.
Show facts

- Grand opening: May 1, 2005
- Closing: January 17, 2019
- Show length: 17:11; 16:19 after the removal of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Segment
- Show cost: $33,000 per showing
- The music used during the opening and finale of Remember... Dreams Come True originated from Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, which is performed by Charity Farris.
- At the conclusion of the display, "Remember When," written by Richard Marx and performed by LeAnn Rimes is played throughout the park. Later during the second season of running the fireworks show, a second song, Wishes!, performed by Peabo Bryson and Kimberley Locke (which was from the album Disney Wishes!, an album who proceeds went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation) was added to play after "Remember When." After both songs, the lands' normal area loop music returns.
- Although "Remember When" and "Wishes!" are exit music(s) of this show, this portion was occasionally altered due to special occasions:
- Prior to the introduction of Disney's Celebrate America in 2008, there was a special Independence Day fireworks finale every July 4th, namely A Salute to America's Golden Dreams, replacing two exit music(s) in their regular version. This theme song was borrowed from Epcot's The American Adventure and Disneyland's Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln attractions. This special show used a combination of former Believe and Remember... pyro equipment.
- For the 2005 holiday season, "Remember When" was replaced with the "White Christmas" segment of Believe... In Holiday Magic, complete with magical snowfall. This version of the "White Christmas" segment contained a short introduction by Julie Andrews.
- In acknowledgment that Disneyland became more than 50 years old, later showings featured the following changes to the Julie Andrews narration:
- "Fifty years ago" has been replaced with "in 1955"
- "Fifty years later" has been dubbed over with the word "today"
- The show closed on November 2, 2014 for the integration of a new fireworks launch system. A special engagement of longtime fireworks spectacular Fantasy in the Sky played in the interim until Disneyland Forever's debut on May 21, 2015.
- Coinciding with the limited return of the Main Street Electrical Parade for the Spring 2017 season, the show began a return engagement on February 3, 2017, featuring the searchlights and projection technology developed for Disneyland Forever.
Soundtrack
The entire soundtrack to the show can be found on A Musical History of Disneyland and The Official Album of the Disneyland Resort. The soundtrack reappeared on the Official Album for the Year of a Million Dreams with new narration to coincide with the end of the 50th Anniversary. The score was arranged by Greg Smith.
This fireworks show was also used during the 2006 and 2007 Grad Nite programs - the show itself remained almost unchanged except for the soundtrack being replaced with one consisting primarily of contemporary music (different each year) and projection to match it. The show is renamed to Grad Nite Explosion for these events and runs for approximately 10 minutes at 1:00am and 3:00am. Video screens along with additional lighting effects are also added on either side of the hub (already in place as part of Club KIIS).
See also
- Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dreams
- Happily Ever After
- Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland - a similar, modern version to Remember, but with different song
- Disney Dreams!
- Ignite the Dream, A Nighttime Spectacular of Magic and Light
- Disney in the Stars
- List of former Disneyland attractions
- List of Disneyland attractions
References
- Strodder, Chris (2017). The Disneyland Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Santa Monica Press. pp. 193–194. ISBN 978-1595800909.
- Shelton, Carly (December 5, 2005). "Disneyland Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- "Pixar Fest Brings Celebration of Friendship Throughout Disneyland Resort Beginning April 13, 2018".
- "'Remember … Dreams Come True' Joins the Line-Up at Disneyland Park Beginning Feb. 3".
- "Time to Party at the Disneyland Resort with Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration". Disney Parks Blog.
- "'Mickey's Mix Magic' Premieres Tonight During Get Your Ears On – A Mickey and Minnie Celebration at Disneyland Resort". Disney Parks Blog.
External links
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