Robert Niles
Editor
Robert Niles

What is the Best Theme Park Show in the World?

June 21, 2015, 9:39 PM · We've been asking for your help in rating and reviewing top theme park locations for this year's Theme Park Insider Awards, which we will award on July 4. Today, we'd like to draw your attention to the leading contenders in the Best Show category.

Fantasmic!Disneyland's Fantasmic! won this award last year.

All Theme Park Insider readers are eligible to rate attractions on the site. Readers who register with the site may also submit comments and photos, too. The winner in this category will be the show with the highest average reader rating as well as a minimum number of reader ratings. Here are the current leaders in this category, in alphabetical order:

Please take a few moments to rate (and review) any of the shows above that you've seen in the past year. And if there are show not listed above that you'd like to rate, please visit our Park Reviews pages to navigate to those listing pages, where you can submit your ratings and reviews.

Replies (20)

SC121
Sylvain Comeau
June 21, 2015 at 11:06 PM · Fantasmic! and Aladdin are probably still the best. But I have to disagree with the decision to put parades on this list. That's stretching the definition of "show" quite a bit.
Also, Soarin' is a ride, not a show.
anonymous
71.239.149.16
June 21, 2015 at 11:17 PM · Aladdin is always great thanks to the Genie's lines, always hysterical.
domimickey
Dominique Mol
June 22, 2015 at 6:29 AM · I think you are forgetting one : "Puy du fou" winner of several awards and holder of the biggest theme park show in the world : 2300 actors and a stagesetting of 23 ha .. check out this interesting video for more information on the show:
https://youtu.be/DVKTI3Jo6w8

or check their website
http://www.puydufou.com/en/shows/night-time-shows/cinescenie?season=summer

the park has no regular attractions at all but is completely aimed at offering immersive theme park shows based upon historical facts and fantasy and several different time periods from the stories of King Arthur to the second world war , vikings and traditional roman shows.. all are breathtaking and unique in the world with revolving castles and amazing special effects..

Vod
Kris V
June 22, 2015 at 10:21 AM · Soarin' = not really a show, not really a ride. Though I'm okay with the version represented on this list because it is actually in California as opposed to a ride-show-meh that exists in Orlando that runs a film of scenes from California rather than the state it is actually in.

Pretty much seems like a toss up to me between Fantasmic and World of Color.

I will give special props to "Dive!" at Holiday World. Kudos to those poor kids that have to jump into a vat of highly chlorinated water 3+ times per day. Plus one has to set themselves on fire as part of the show. I bet they draw straws for that one.

anonymous
64.125.180.226
June 22, 2015 at 10:42 AM · The Fantasy Fair Theater in Disneyland consistently has the funniest 15 minute shows around. Simply fantastic, for parents and kids.
jhensler
John Hensler
June 22, 2015 at 11:04 AM · Gotta give my vote to Illuminations. I know the core show is showing signs of age, but with the recently renewed lasers, the show still hits a home run for me every time. The holiday tag is a nice bonus for those who see the show during the holidays, too.

I also feel the MK shows, like Wishes, are just too saccharine. Hoping that the Rivers of Light show for DAK is closer in tone to Illuminations than Wishes.

Also love Impressions de France, but wish they would edit just a couple of the 80's-dated images with some 2015-era replacements. Fortunately that's not too difficult to do, most of that show is timeless.

jimthedj
Jim Robinson
June 22, 2015 at 4:42 PM · While there are so many great show, some of the best ones are seasonal. For example, 'Mickey and the Magical Map" happens every summer and is amazing, and so is the "Candlelight processional" at Epcot.

Although, Illuminations on NYE is the most spectacular of all. Everyone should experience that once.

anonymous
70.126.135.117
June 22, 2015 at 6:25 PM · Until I physically see Disneyland's Fantasmic, gotta say Wishes. It's literally 3 shows in one! You've got the fireworks, the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, (or at least an iteration of it...I wouldn't know, I haven't been on this planet long enough to know) and a short film on the Castle that highlights all of Disney's greatest cinematic achievements!
bagsdeservesbetter
robert morris
June 22, 2015 at 6:56 PM · Still a big fan of Horror Make Up Show. Proof that bigger expense does not allows equal a better show.
rocanlover
Enrique Jimenez
June 22, 2015 at 6:57 PM · World of color is my favorite in the U.S. Disney Dreams is our favorite show in the world.
Gio02071998
Giovanny Cruz
June 23, 2015 at 8:29 AM · I only been to the Florida theme parks so in Florida I think the best ones are philar Magic and fantasmic.
anonymous
67.5.254.21
June 23, 2015 at 11:26 AM · Got to go with both Waterworld and Philharmagic! I don't know what it is, but I just love those two!
blakestudios
Blake Han
June 23, 2015 at 3:41 PM · I love how Shrek is so immersive and doesn't seem like a show, but not yet a ride
anonymous
86.180.178.236
June 23, 2015 at 3:44 PM · What on earth is Soarin' doing on here? It's not really a show at all.

If you include it, then surely every simulator with a screen needs to be included...why not add Spiderman, Transformers, Simpsons ride etc.

Also noticed the shows from IoA aren't featured (not that they are the best) such as Poseidon's Fury and Voyage of Sinbad

anonymous
24.168.205.49
June 23, 2015 at 7:32 PM · Nemo all the way
robert
Editor
Robert Niles
June 24, 2015 at 12:10 AM · We classify Soarin' as a movie and not a ride because your seats do not move during the show, unlike on simulator attractions, where the seats move during the presentation and become part of the attraction.
anonymous
99.156.52.58
June 24, 2015 at 4:33 AM · It's your site, so you get to make the rules. But, in my eyes, if something has a height requirement, it's definitely not a show.
anonymous
81.155.118.38
June 24, 2015 at 9:27 AM · I think Impressions de france is the best I have done. The music the very out of date film, still love it.

For a live action show Waterworld would make my number 2 spot.

anonymous
59.148.208.39
June 25, 2015 at 12:43 AM · Big Band Beat in Tokyo DisneySea?
anonymous
86.180.178.236
June 25, 2015 at 2:05 PM · Robert - thanks for your reply, but I'm a little confused.
Isn't the vote for a show, not for movies? Most of the candidates are not just a movie projected onto a screen.

Also, I though the Soarin' seats did move. Certainly they go up in the air, and from memory I thought they swayed during the presentation.

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