Disney Cascade Of Lights: More Details Unveiled About The New Night-time Show

Disneyland Paris has lifted the curtain on major behind-the-scenes work for Disney Cascade of Lights, the all-new night-time spectacular coming to Disney Adventure World on 29 March 2026. With rehearsals now in full swing at Adventure Bay, we're getting our best look yet at how this ambitious water-and-drone show is being built, and what UK guests can expect when the new park opens.

This new information comes following the announcement of Disney Adventure World’s opening date and the news of a new night-time pioneering aquatic drone show.

What's Happening At Adventure Bay

Behind the construction walls as night falls and the construction teams have left, a different team has been taking over to prepare for the new night-time drone show coming in March 2026. Creators and technicians have been preparing the enormous central show structure that will sit in the middle of Adventure Bay's 3-hectare lake.

Key developments include:

• A five-part floating structure: a 14m² central platform with four barges forming an almost circular shape.

• Electric pusher boats silently moving the 160-tonne setup from backstage each night.

• Specially trained operators manoeuvring the barges with millimetre precision, including across the swing bridge leading from World of Frozen.

Once in place, technicians will add the 379 custom-developed aerial and aquatic drones before full show rehearsals begin.

A New Generation of Drones

Producer Ben Spalding, who helped introduce Disneyland Paris' first drone shows during the 30th anniversary celebrations, has spent more than seven years imagining this next step. Working with Dronisos, Disneyland Paris has developed:

• More weather-resistant aerial drones

• Brand-new aquatic drones, known affectionately as "ducks"

These cutting-edge drones will fly lower and closer to the audience than ever before, creating near-touchable patterns of light against the lake's reflective surface. Combined with fountains, low-angled perimeter lighting, and pyrotechnics, they form what Spalding calls "a spectacular cascade of lights".

Every moment has been previewed in 3D modelling software, allowing teams across drones, lighting, pyrotechnics, and effects to synchronise their contributions perfectly. Each nightly performance will require a 24-person technical crew, more than double the workforce of Disney Dreams! or Disney Illuminations.

Emotion First: The Show's Theme

Despite the tech, the heart of the show is its story. Director Susan Plyer (Minnie's Dream Factory) is centring the show around the idea of inspiration, treating the idea as a guiding character linking the audience with beloved Disney heroes.

Characters were chosen for the values they embody:

• Mulan - honour and family

• Moana - community and exploration

• Hercules - courage

• Judy Hopps - determination against prejudice

• The Avengers - individual paths to heroism

• Carl Fredriksen - loyalty and promise

Their visuals have been optimised for projection onto a water curtain, ensuring clarity from every angle around the lake.

The show's emotional punch will be driven by a sweeping score from Mark Hammond, produced by Jonathan Barr, and recorded at Abbey Road Studios with a 90-piece orchestra. An original anthem, "We Can Be Heroes", forms the musical centrepiece.

Designed for a 360° Audience

Because Adventure Bay's lake is enormous, the team has engineered the show to look spectacular from every angle with a strategic placement of over 240 floodlights, a distributed lakefront sound design and a central structure shaped to be equally visible from all sides.

Environmental responsibility was also built in from the start: electric boats, residue-free pyrotechnics, a lake filtration system using fish species, and material choices designed to minimise impact.

What UK Travellers Should Know

Disney Cascade of Lights debuts 29 March 2026, coinciding with the opening of Disney Adventure World. It’s a major reason for anyone to visit especially if you’re planning Disneyland Paris holidays from late 2026 onwards.

Expect high demand for evening viewing areas, especially in the opening months, even though the view is going to be 360.

This is shaping up to be one of the most technologically advanced night-time shows in Europe on a par with, or exceeding, the projection-and-drone displays that wowed fans during the resort's 30th anniversary.

Magic in a Minute

Disneyland Paris is building its most ambitious night-time spectacular yet. A 360° blend of drones, water, music, and emotion landing March 2026. If you're planning a 2026 or 2027 Disneyland Paris holiday, this is the show you'll want to stay late for.