Disneyland Resort’s WORLD OF COLOR WINTER DREAMS Dazzles & Delights!

The holidays are officially in full swing at the Disneyland Resort, and one of the most exciting offerings this year is the all new World of Color - Winter Dreams nighttime spectacular at Disney California Adventure Park.  When World of Color originally debuted in 2010, one of the most notable features announced was the ability to create entirely new shows for special events and holidays, such as Halloween and Christmas.  While some of the segments of the show have changed over time, this holiday season marks the first time that an entirely new show has been featured. The excitement surrounding its debut was at a fever pitch, and we were there to catch one of the first performances.  Continue reading for highlights from World of Color Winter Dreams.

First, a special pre-show presents the “inaugural virtual honor choir”, wherein hundreds of vocalists from across the country submitted videos of themselves singing a new, original carol entitled “Glow”.  Disney then edited the submissions together, and while visually it isn’t all that mesmerizing, the music is absolutely beautiful.  I really hope they release a Winter Dreams soundtrack.  Although, I’m sure I shouldn’t hold my breath considering they have yet to release a soundtrack of the regular World of Color show.

VIDEO: A peek at “Glow” during the pre-show.

From there, Winter Dreams begins with World of Color’s modern take on the “Wonderful World of Color” theme song, but this time it’s been given a fun holiday twist (another reason I wish they’d release the music!).  As always, Tinker Bell makes an appearance, but this time she’s accompanied by the winter fairy Periwinkle!

Olaf, the affable snowman from the upcoming Walt Disney Animation Studios feature film Frozen is our host for the evening, popping in and out throughout the show.  Much like the standard World of Color, there isn’t a story line that the show follows, but rather showcases various clips from classic Disney films, interspersed with new segments starring fan-favorite characters.

Who knew Olaf was Mickey’s doppelganger?!

Thumper teaches Bambi to ice skate.

 

There are two songs from Disney’s FROZEN featured in the new show.  First is the powerful “Let it Go”, sung by Elsa, the ice queen (voiced by Idina Menzel).  Later, Olaf croons “In Summer”, giving us a peek inside his lofty daydreams.

Elsa sings “Let it Go”

 

VIDEO: Olaf longs for the warm summer sand as he sings “In Summer”

 VIDEO: Sure to be a favorite by many is the Toy Story Nutcracker!

Our host leads us in a fun sing-along to holiday classics, including “Jingle Bells”, “The Dreidel Song”, “Feliz Navidad”, and a lively gospel version of “Joy to the World”.  There’s also a segment featuring some adorable “it’s a small world” themed animation.

“it’s a small world” themed animation moves quickly through the water screens

 

Winter Dreams features new visual effects throughout the show that were truly dazzling.  Some are subtle, others grandiose, but it’s all beautiful.  Particularly, the lights added to California Screamin’ take the “stage” setting for the show to an entirely new level of WOW!

Wow, indeed!!

 

Whether you consider yourself a fan of Disney films or not, it’s hard to deny that the show is stunning.  That said, there were times I felt some of the segments ran a little long, or lacked some of the emotion that the traditional show has been able to hit.  While I very much enjoyed Winter Dreams, and I love that they’re able to create an entirely new experience for the seasons, it just felt like something was missing.  Maybe it’s because it relied so heavily on a film that hasn’t been released yet, and once we see it maybe it will resonate more (admittedly, I’m already hooked on the songs featured in the show).  All-in-all, World of Color Winter Dreams is a great addition to the Resort’s seasonal offerings, and I can’t wait to go back and watch it again.  I also look forward to seeing more enhancements like this in the year’s to come!

Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays!

 

Have you had a chance to see World of Color Winter Dreams, or are you planning to?  We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!  For more family travel news, reviews, and trip reports, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on Twitter and “like” our Facebook page, too.

About Chrysty Summers

Growing up in southern California, Disneyland has always been a staple for my family. Today, my husband and I spend most of our free time at the parks, where you can usually find us soaking up the atmosphere of Buena Vista Street in California Adventure. We also love traveling to Walt Disney World as often as we can, especially during the Epcot Food & Wine Festival in the Fall! Find me on Twitter @PenelopePeach for live updates from around the parks.