If you’ve been following along with me on Instagram, then you know I spent not just one, but three nights at Disneyland Paris to see its drone show, called Disney Electrical Sky Parade. And if you’ve really been paying attention, you’ll know that I actually only saw it for two nights. The first night of Disney Electrical Sky Parade got cancelled for weather.
So I consider myself somewhat of an expert.
With that, I want to give you my review of the Disney Paris drone show. Because while it’s good, there are some issues with the whole experience. And if you do go to Paris to see the Disney drone show (and if you’re reading this, then you absolutely should!) read on for my tips around watching it.
Disney Electrical Sky Parade: the ultimate guide (with reviews and tips)
Disney Electrical Sky Parade: all about the show
Disney Electrical Sky Parade debuted in early 2024 inside Disneyland Park in Paris, which is one of two Disney-owned theme parks just outside of Paris.
The elaborate drone show is synced to music, as well as other effects like projections on the castle and buildings of Main Street. It features up to 500 drones which fly in shapes seen from the Main Street Electrical Parade, which true Disney fans may recognize as a quirky, 1970s-era parade that today has somewhat of a cult following.
Disneyland Paris Entertainment puts on the nightly show in collaboration with Dronisos, which is one of the best drone show companies in the world. It’s set to run through Jan. 6, 2025. It’s not clear what happens to all the drones after that. (Though if I had to bet, I’d guess a new drone show will fly in.)
And this is not Disneyland Paris’s first show. Past drone shows have included Disney D-Light and Avengers: Power the Night (the latter of which played at the sister park to Disneyland Paris and is located adjacent to it). Disney Paris even recently broke a Guinness World Record with a Bastille Day show that featured a tricolor Mickey Mouse head made out of 1,571 drones.
The show occurs nightly at 10:30 p.m. Because it doesn’t get dark until really late at the height of France’s summer, the show has to occur that late in order to see the drones. Here’s the other kicker. The 10-minute drone show is actually just the opening act of the fireworks show, which launches almost immediately after the drones clear the area.
The fireworks show, Disney Illuminations, similarly uses music, projection effects and other castle effects like fountains. But, it basically replaces the drones with fireworks.
And I’m saying it — not just because I’m The Drone Girl. Disney Electrical Sky Parade, which is supposed to be just the appetizer, is better than the Disney Illuminations fireworks show. And with that, here’s my review.
My review of Disney Electrical Sky Parade
I’ve seen a lot of Disney fireworks shows. Growing up in Southern California, I had a Disneyland annual pass since I was seven years old. (Yes, I was spoiled, but also annual passes were way cheaper back then, and our parents preferred us tweens and teens hanging out at Disneyland versus getting into mischief.)
In high school, I worked at Disneyland. That was primarily in Mickey’s Toontown, where the fireworks were launched. And if you didn’t dash out of work fast enough, you got trapped and had to watch the fireworks show. Yes, I watched a lot of fireworks.
So as you can see, I know a lot about Disney fireworks. I also know that they generally follow a prosaic formula. They kick off with a series of smaller, colorful bursts set to the hottest Disney tunes. It’s either classics, like hits from “The Lion King” that we all know, or a song from the latest movie Disney is seeking to promote. From there, the fireworks build up in intensity, accompanied by a crescendo of upbeat music. A grand finale features larger, more elaborate displays. It’s always set to power ballade with lyrics that inspire some sort of message like “follow your heart” or “just believe” that’s sung by what sounds like discount-Celine Dion.
Perhaps that’s why the Main Street Electrical Parade is such a cult classic (and why the drone version is so refreshing, too). Both electrical iterations buck that trend of Disney fireworks. Instead, you get a kitschy, one-of-a-kind ear-worm with no such cliche messaging. The song, Baroque Hoedown is one of few words.
The drone version takes the spirit of the 1970’s parade and gives it a 2024 spin. The heart and soul of the parade is there. But rather than dancing lights on wheels — which felt tech-forward in 1972 — we now have dancing lights in the sky.
Add in effects like projections and fountains, and it’s a thoughtful, multi-sensory experience.
And at 10 minutes, it’s long enough to feel fulfilling, but short enough to leave you wanting more.
Let’s talk about the Disney Illuminations fireworks
Remember the cliche fireworks shows I told you that Disney is infamous for? Disney Illuminations, which is the fireworks show that immediately follows Disney Electrical Sky Parade, fits the bill perfectly. And that’s not a good thing.
Disney Illuminations is not bad. But following Disney Electrical Sky Parade, it’s not great.
It’s kind of like when you have a wonderful meal of fresh ravioli or melt-in-your-mouth pizza at your favorite Italian restaurant. Just as you’re cleaning your plate, the waiter comes up to you with a basket of bread and says, “ah, this is also part of your meal.”
I’m sorry. I don’t want some bland, mediocre bread after I just ate the best ravioli of my life. Before hand, as I was browsing the menu, sure. But to pile on dull carbs after consuming the most dazzling carbs ever? No thank you.
(Disney Illuminations is the bread basket in this analogy).
In fact — I’m not making this up — on both nights that I watched the drone show, people who watched the drone show left either just after (or during) the subsequent fireworks show.
I’m still confused as to why Disney would place two similar shows, back-to-back. Placing the drone show first makes sense because smoke from the fireworks might cloud the drones. But why fireworks in the first place?
If I were Bob Iger (that’s Disney’s CEO), I’d put either the drone show or the fireworks over at Disney’s other park called Walt Disney Studios Park, which is due for some entertainment. The park right now is so light on attractions, that it’s getting a complete makeover (soon to be called Disney Adventure World).
A drone show would easily be the top attraction at Walt Disney Studios Park. And hey, at one point the drone show was over at that park rather than the primarily Disneyland Park.
Tips for watching the Disney Paris drone show
Whether or not you stick around for Disney Illuminations, any drone show fan needs to head to Disneyland Paris to see the drone show. If you do, here’s what you need to know:
Plan for weather at Disney Paris
Fireworks can be finicky about weather. Drones? Even more so. Throw in the fact that Paris gets snow (the U.S. parks don’t) and there’s an added layer of complication for the drones.
Fireworks typically don’t take off in rain. Drones definitely don’t — but here’s where it gets even trickier. Drones don’t take off if there’s even a chance of rain.
That’s what happened to me on my first night in Paris. I had planned to see the drone show. It had been raining on and off earlier in the day. It also rained about two hours before. Still, the drone show was cancelled — even though the fireworks show went on.
Now it’s not all for naught. Even though the drone show was cancelled, Disney still played the music and went on with the projection effects. It’s still a “B” show sans drones. But for an “A” show, only go on clear days.
And since that can be tough to predict, you might do what I did, and book three nights there to maximize your odds of seeing it at least one night. Or, check weather history and book a trip during what the history books consider the least rainy months.
Now not even past data is a guarantee of future weather, but here are all the months, ranked by least to most rainfall in Paris, according to the U.K. Met Office data:
- February (46 mm average rainfall)
- March (47 mm average rainfall)
- September (52 mm average rainfall)
- April (55 mm average rainfall)
- January (56 mm average rainfall)
- November (56 mm average rainfall)
- June (59 mm average rainfall)
- August (60 mm average rainfall)
- May (66 mm average rainfall)
- October (67 mm average rainfall)
- July (73 mm average rainfall)
- December (75 mm average rainfall)
Your best bet is to visit Disneyland Paris in February or March to maximize your odds of seeing the drone show. Alas, I visited in August, one of the rainier months.
Pick the right spot to watch
On nights when the show is on, make sure you can see it from the right vantage point.
Most people recommend watching the combination drone and fireworks shows not too close, but not too far back. Many stand right where the Main Street buildings end, before the esplanade opens up. This is good, because you can also see the projections on the Main Street buildings.
But for drone fans, I recommend getting as absolutely close as you can. Drone Nerds like you and I want to try to spot the drones themselves in the sky. You want to notice how the pyro fits onto the actual drones. You want to see every detail. With that, get right up against the castle.
Now many people arrive more than an hour ahead of time to watch. They typically grab a seat on the ground (and some even come equipped with their own picnic blanket). If you arrive and already feel like you’re farther back than you expected, though, don’t panic. Disney makes an announcement about 15 minutes before showtime asking everyone to stand up. When that happens, everyone ends up getting much closer than before (because standing takes up less space than sitting).
Drone Girl pro tip: I’m short (4’10”), so I end up always getting a view of someone’s back at things like this (and other concerts and festivals). To avoid this, find a trash can, and stand behind it. This guarantees no one can stand directly in front of you.
Pay for reserved seating (maybe)
If you really want the best experience, you can pay extra for reserved viewing, which gets you a guaranteed great spot for both the drone show and the fireworks after. The viewing area is the absolute best spot to view, as it’s right in front of the castle.
Disney recommends you arrive 30 minutes before start time, but technically you can enter anytime up until 10 minutes before the indicated start time. Though, don’t miss it, as you will not be eligible for a refund if you miss the 10 minute window.
The Disney drone show reserved seating cost varies by day, so check the official Disneyland Paris mobile app to find prices on the day of your visit. When I visited, it was about €20 per person, but it might be higher or lower depending on demand. Of course, that’s on top of holding valid theme park admission.
I opted out (because Drone Girl is a low budget operation, hehe!) but if you have cash to spare, it might be worth it.
Once you’ve purchased the tickets through the official Disneyland Paris mobile app, you’ll simply show the QR code from your app at the designated entrance to get a great view.
Fit it into your day
The drone show starts at 10:30, and the fireworks follow. From there, it takes a significant amount of time for the crowds to leave the park, so you might not even get outside of the gates until 11:30 p.m. or later. Even if you’re staying on-property at a Disney-owned hotel, anticipate staying awake until at least midnight.
If that has you feeling like Cinderella’s coach-turned -pumpkin, have a game plan. Sleep in. Or, better yet, take a midday nap. Especially if you’re visiting in the summer, parks get hot in the afternoon. No matter the day, crowds tend to peak in the afternoon.
Use that to your advantage by leaving the parks during the most crowded time, napping in your room, and coming back to the parks refreshed and ready to watch some drones.
Have you seen Disney Electrical Sky Parade? What’s your review? Do you have any tips for watching or generally visiting Disney Paris? Share them in the comments below!
Not able to make it to Paris? There’s a Disney drone show in the U.S., and it’s free! Head to Disney Springs, the free-to-visit outdoor shopping district at Walt Disney World in Florida. The nightly drone show, “Disney Dreams That Soar,” is wildly popular.
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