Drone shows deploying hundreds of unmanned aerial aircraft over the skies of Disneyland and Disney California Adventure could soon be joining the lineup of nighttime spectaculars at the Anaheim theme parks.
“Drones are the next thing,” said Disney Live Entertainment Parades and Spectaculars Executive Steven Davison.
Davison was part of a panel discussion featuring the creative team from “Behind the Attraction” hosted by Walt Disney Imagineering during a media preview for the returning documentary series.
The second season of “Behind the Attraction” debuts Nov. 1 on the Disney+ streaming service with episodes dedicated to Disney nighttime spectaculars, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Indiana Jones Adventure and Disneyland food.
“They’re very cool,” Davison said of drones during the “Behind the Attraction” panel discussion. “They’re kind of a new thing. We’re doing a lot of work in that. So all I’m going to say is, ‘There’s more to come.’”
Davison is the creative director for parades, fireworks shows and nighttime spectaculars at Disney theme parks worldwide. He got his start at Disneyland and has worked on most of the nighttime spectaculars at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure during the past 25 years — including the “Remember … Dreams Come True” fireworks show, Paint the Night parade and “World of Color” water show.
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Disney Live Entertainment appears poised to introduce more nightly drone shows at theme parks around the world after rolling out a pair of drone light shows at Disneyland Paris over the past two years.
The “Disney D-Light” drone pre-show that debuted in 2022 at Disneyland Paris served as a prelude to the “Disney Illuminations” fireworks show — marking the first time a Disney theme park has utilized autonomous aerial technology as part of a daily outdoor show.
In early 2023, Disneyland Paris rolled out a Marvel drone show at Walt Disney Studios Park that combined the unmanned aerial aircraft with music, lights, pyrotechnics and video projections on the Tower of Terror.
Where could Disneyland or DCA add a drone show?
Adding drones could “plus up” — Walt Disney’s phrase for upgrading or improving an existing attraction — the nightly fireworks shows, “Fantasmic” or “World of Color.”
Importing the Marvel drone show from Disneyland Paris to DCA would be a natural fit for Avengers Campus and Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout — the former Tower of Terror drop tower ride before undergoing a Marvel makeover.
Disney has been working with Intel drones since 2016 when Walt Disney World deployed a holiday aerial light show at the Disney Springs outdoor shopping mall.
“Everyone’s like, ‘What are you doing with drones?’” Davison said during the “Behind the Attraction” panel discussion. “I was working with Intel a long time ago when we first started it.”
X-Wing fighter drones hovered over Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge during the Rise of the Resistance dedication ceremony at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in December 2019.
Disney has filed patents for cutting-edge drone concepts — including drone-controlled puppets and 3D drone displays that mimic fireworks shows.
Disneyland Paris developed “Disney D-Light” with Dronisos, a France-based drone entertainment company that opened offices in Orlando, Florida, in late 2019 just before the pandemic struck.
Dronisos has created more than 40,000 drone shows for major worldwide events like the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics and partnered with the Puy du Fou and Futuroscope theme parks in France on drone shows of their own.
Dronisos bills its drones as a cost-saving alternative to fireworks – which can easily run into five figures per show.
Outdoor shows with up to 1,000 drones cost $100,000 to $300,000 to develop, according to Dronisos. That’s pocket change for Disneyland – which can spend six figures on a week’s worth of fireworks.
