Overview
- Footage captured overnight shows coordinated drones forming the Genie and Agrabah above Disney Ranch in Santa Clarita, California.
- Disney has not confirmed any plan to replace fireworks or to debut a specific drone show at Disneyland Resort.
- Rising costs for nightly pyrotechnics, estimated at $40,000–$50,000 per show at Magic Kingdom, plus environmental and neighborhood complaints, are driving exploration of alternatives.
- Patent filings describe drone-controlled puppets and 3D aerial light displays, and Imagineering executive Steven Davison has publicly highlighted rapid improvements in the technology.
- Disney has already mounted large-scale drone productions at Disneyland Paris and staged the 2024 Disney Dreams That Soar show at Disney Springs, though crowd and operational constraints affect where drones can be used.