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6. Universal's Islands of Adventure

Image: Universal

It's somewhat surprising that Universal's Islands of Adventure hasn't really had a nighttime spectacular to date. Sure, like Universal Studios Florida, it's not really open well into the nighttime very often... but even so, this park – tailor made to combat Disney's dominance in detail – feels like the perfect place for a nightly show recapping the day's adventures with Seuss characters, ancient myths, Marvel super heroes, Harry Potter, and Jurassic Park's dinosaurs, all featuring Islands of Adventure's signature cinematic score... Still, the park's central lagoon is curiously quiet without a fountain or firework in sight.

Until very recently, our number one reason for staying at Islands of Adventure after dark probably would've been Port of Entry, the park's sensational "Main Street" style land representing all corners of the world joined together to create a harmonious adventurer's marketplace. There's something hypnotic and powerful about the park's icon – the Pharos Lighthouse – with its iconic beam radiating out over the park as it circles (see top of feature), but of course, that's changed...

Image: Universal

AFTER DARK DRAW: Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle

In June 2017 the park debuted the Nighttime Lights at Hogwarts Castle. Purely made of projections and the sweeping score of John Williams, we can't in good conscience call the Nighttime Lights a full-blown nighttime spectacular. But for fans of Harry Potter, the "show" is a must-see, up to and including "The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts" seasonal variation and the recently-announced "Dark Arts at Hogwarts," expected to debut this fall.

By the way, a real contender could be the upcoming Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure – an indoor/outdoor roller coaster through the Forbidden Forest that should feel all the more harrowing once the sun sets... Keep an eye out for its opening in June. 

5. Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom has gone through a number of transitions in what its night look like. After years of on-again-off-again hosting the Main Street Electrical Parade, nighttime parades were seemingly retired in October, 2016. Though fans protested the 1972 parade's "glowing away" for good, it turns out that leaving the pathways of the most-visited theme park on Earth free from obstructions has mostly been a good thing.

But for all the park's popularity, it is strange that it doesn't have a long-running, beloved, tried-and-true nighttime staple like Illuminations or World of Color, instead swapping out its projection / fireworks shows every few years. Luckily, the most recent iteration is a spectacular one...

Image: Disney

AFTER DARK DRAW: Happily Ever After

If you're staying at Magic Kingdom after dark today, it's probably for Happily Ever After, the newest iteration of the long-running fireworks / projection combo. Though the idea of projecting onto the Disney Parks castles has been around for a while, Cinderella Castle is really the only one large enough to act as the centerpiece of a show, and Happily Ever After uses it well: by transforming the castle rather than just using it as a very uneven movie screen. 

The 18-minute show is broken into six acts – Dreams, Journeys, Friendship, Love, Adversity, and Triumph – seemingly custom-built to yank a tear out of your eye by time "Go The Distance" rings out and triggers the start of the finale. Happily Ever After definitely fulfills the requirements of a nighttime spectacular and feels as epic as any other on this list.

4. Epcot

Though we're tempted to show a curve ball and nominate the sparkling pathways outside of Epcot's Innoventions, there's of course only one realistic option for Epcot's nighttime draw...

Image: Disney

AFTER DARK DRAW: Illuminations: Reflections of Earth

Some Walt Disney World fans say that Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is the best nighttime spectacular at Disney Parks. It's definitely a worthwhile opinion. Born of the resort's Millennium Celebration in 2000, the current show is long-running for a reason. Literally meant to embody the formation of Earth, our present, and the planet's interconnected future, the lofty, intellectually-thought-provoking show not only unites World Showcase's cultural pavilions, but also echoes of Future World and our hope for a peaceful, united tomorrow.

It's more important than ever to celebrate Illuminations, as Disney has already announced that it'll close for good in the second half of 2019. It'll be temporarily replaced by a show called "Epcot Forever," but only as a brief holdover until a character-infused nighttime show (that, at least so far, looks like "World of Color," but tenuously connected to Epcot's message) is ready to go. 

 
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