| Things become calmer and more delicate as the notes
of “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” echo across Lake Disney, synchronised to
the elegant water fountains and some small fountains of pyrotechnics. As the
Sugar Plum Fairy fades slowly away, the “Pines of Rome” suddenly begins,
with its lively and exciting opening presented with some high-flying rockets
and energetic blue and white bursts. A huge blast of fireworks from the floating bonfire
heralds the arrival of the “Firebird Suite”, and the lighting of the bonfire
itself! Streams of fireworks shoot towards the bonfire and soon it bursts
into a giant floating flame! Once the Firebird Suite has come to an end with
more swirling rockets exploding in the sky, Disney provides a glorious
finale of “Land of Hope and Glory”, with a suitably grand last few sparks of
fireworks before the deafening final big bang!
How much does it cost? Disney’s Bonfire Spectacular is free for all
guests, but subject to the capacity of Disney Village and the lakeside.
Disney also reserve the right to charge non-Disney Hotel guests to see the
show (although this has not been the case for several years), so remember to
take along your hotel ID. What time does it start? The Bonfire Spectacular is advertised for 20.00 (8pm), but usually
begins at around 20.30 or a little later. That said, make sure you
arrive early, since this event attracts huge crowds to Lake Disney. In strong winds or other bad weather conditions,
the show is, unfortunately, likely to be cancelled. Therefore, if you are in
the resort for a few days, it is recommended that you attempt to see the
show on the first possible date and do not leave it until your final night! Where is the best place to stand? The show takes place on and above Lake Disney,
so a good view can be had from numerous places around the Lake. The best
places to watch the show, however, are on the lakeside in front of Disney’s
Hotel New York or Disney’s Sequoia Lodge. Is it suitable for small children? Disney’s Bonfire Spectacular certainly lives up
to its name, with fireworks far larger than those usually seen in Disneyland
Park. These fireworks obviously also produce louder bangs, and the blazing
bonfire is also very impressive. Therefore, do make sure your children are
ok with large fireworks before planning to see the show.
Disney’s Bonfire Spectacular borrows heavily from
the soundtrack of both Fantasia 2000 and Fantasia itself, using Disney’s
versions of these unforgettable classical music pieces to bring the
fountains, bonfire and fireworks to life. The show ends with “Land of Hope
and Glory”, a classic British patriotic song known for being played on the
Last Night of the Proms, which itself uses a composition taken from Edward
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance, featured earlier in the Bonfire Spectacular.
On the evening of the 5th November in 1605, Guy
Fawkes and his gang of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up the Houses
of Parliament in London on the night when the Protestant King James I was
inside. Before Fawkes could detonate his team’s gunpowder, however, he was
discovered and arrested, then later hung, drawn and quartered with the
fellow conspirators he was forced to name. Every year since this occasion,
celebrations have taken place across the country to commemorate the failed
gunpowder plot, with fireworks, bonfires and the burning of the “Guy” – a
straw dummy made by children to represent the famous conspirator. In modern times, however, the event has had no political significance, and
has simply become a chance to spend a cold November evening of celebrations
with your family, watching some spectacular fireworks next to the heat of a
blazing bonfire! | 
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