Disney Fireworks in Philadelphia? (4th of July)

[Kram Nebuer]

Firstly, Happy Independence Day (USA) to all those who celebrate it!!!

Soooo, I was wondering if anyone happened to know...do the theme park people who stage and design the fireworks shows for the Disney theme parks design firework shows for other places?

We just watched the 4th of July fireworks in Philadelphia on television and a soundtrack was synchronized with the fireworks. The soundtrack had the expected snippets of familiar patriotic music and clips of famous speeches from great Americans (e.g. Abe Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., President Obama), but what my sister and I found most interesting is that they wove in bits and pieces from Disney fireworks shows. There was a cut version of "Illuminations: Reflections of Earth" between Martin Luther King and President Kennedy's speech. Prior to the big America finale, they used a rerecording of the WDW Millenium Celebration's theme song ("Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand") and fooled a lot of people (ourselves included) into thinking that was the firework show finale, haha.

We were watching the fireworks on our local ABC network, but even if they were just playing Disney fireworks music b/c they were allowed to, how did they get it to synch up with the show? I'm pretty sure that the people watching it live in person in Philadelphia also had the same soundtrack blasting on speakers.

Anyhow, I was quite tickled and happy to be watching a Disney fireworks show really far north and east of a Disney theme park.

[goofystitch]

That is interesting. I am unaware if Disney designs fireworks shows for other places. It isn't unheard of. Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas hired Disney show designers to help them synch their fountain shows to music. So really, anything is possible.

I watched Macy's fireworks tonight and I don't know if its just the fact that I'm used to seeing fireworks with music in Disney parks, but I couldn't help wondering if Disney helped with those as well. They certainly seemed to be inspired by Disney's display.

As for music from Illuminations being used, I know that a lot of Epcot music isn't actually owned by Disney. They paid to use music that other people own the copyright to, so it is possible that your local fireworks show paid for the rights as well. I'm not sure if Disney owns all of the music in Illuminations.

[Kram Nebuer]

Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas hired Disney show designers to help them synch their fountain shows to music. So really, anything is possible.

Oh wow, I didn't know that! I definitely need to check that out if we ever go to Vegas again. There is a fountain and light show at Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City...I wonder if Disney helped with that, too?

I also didn't know that about Epcot music. I know at Hollywood Studios, they play some non-Disney music. I think I even heard Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter before!

[WonderlandFever]

Well in Ocean City, NJ their 4th of July fireworks had Disney music playing which I thought was weird because they have never done that before and it was also sad because it made me really wash I was at WDW!!!