This is the last post in a three-part series about Disney shows and firework displays. The first two posts are Fantasmic and Disney’s IllumiNations: Reflections on Earth.

If you haven’t been to Walt Disney World yet in 2011, you’re in for a major surprise. Believe it or not, the Magic Kingdom’s widely popular after-dark celebration that centers on the Cinderella Castle has changed.

Now don’t jump to conclusions. Disney officials haven’t taken away the “Wishes Nightime Spectacular.” In fact, they’ve actually enhanced the 12-minute fireworks show with a new and exciting “pre” show…show.
Introduced earlier this year at the Magic Kingdom,“The Magic, The Memories and You” is a 10-minute nighttime show that uses Cinderella’s Castle as a back-drop of sorts for the projection of real guest photos.

The spectacle is scheduled most nights with up to two shows per night, depending on theme park operating hours and other special ticketed events.

Each day, Disney PhotoPass photographers capture a variety of shots that show park visitors enjoying themselves and now, thanks to “The Magic, The Memories and You,” it’s possible for guests to see themselves in one of the nearly 500 images that are projected onto the castle during each show.

In similar fashion, photos of guests are projected onto “it’s a small world” on select nights at Disneyland Park in California too.

When the sun sets in Orlando, 16 state-of-the-art projectors shoot images onto the castle from different angles in storyboard fashion, almost as if they’re part of a short, animated film.

As Disney-themed music plays in the background, various elements of photography, video and animation are used to enhance the experience. In fact, guests witness spinning turrets, the launch of a rocket and even growing vines on the face of Cinderella’s castle itself while simultaneously looking for shots of themselves from earlier in the day.

Ultimately, the experience concludes with animated and live fireworks.

Admittedly, some of the pictures used during each show are a bit distorted however, considering their size and the fact that they’re being projected onto a surface that isn’t exactly movie-theatre flat, the overall quality is outstanding.

Shortly thereafter (don’t worry, you have several minutes), following a few opening remarks by Jiminy Cricket, Tinker Bell flies from atop Cinderella Castle and passes overhead (thanks to a sturdy but well-hidden safety cable) to mark the beginning of Disney’s “Wishes.”

Fast facts about “Wishes:”
• Fireworks firing cues: 557
• Individual pieces of pyrotechnics: 683
• “Wishes” is several times larger than “Fantasy in the Sky,” the previous fireworks show at Magic Kingdom, and roughly five minutes longer.
• The score for “Wishes” contains portions of 15 songs from 10 classic Disney animated features.

Guests who want additional information about “The Magic, The Memories and You” or “Wishes” can visit the Disney World website.