The Wonderful World of Color

Last November I had the pleasure of attending Disney's California Adventure park for the first time in about ten years. While the design improvements throughout the park in general were both countless and impressive, there was one thing in particular that captured my attention, and that was the World of Color. 

For those who don't know, World of Color is a nighttime show at California Adventure combining light, water, music, fog, visual projections and fire into an entertainment phenomenon. The whole thing required about $75,000,000 to design, manufacture and build (according to Wikipedia), and I'm assuming the cost of upkeep isn't a small number either. 

World of Color is truly one of the most, if not the most, breathtaking thing I have ever seen in my life. The show runs about 27 minutes in length, and there's not a single dull moment. My jaw literally fell open over and over again in sheer awe of the beautiful choreography. It's a visual delight guaranteed to fill you with nostalgia if you grew up with Disney. 

This is the perfect event for parents and children to enjoy together. I saw the production for the second time just recently, and looking around at the crowd, I was incredibly surprised by the attentiveness of young children, teenagers and adults alike. Everyone looked to be enjoying themselves, despite the fact that it was the end of the day and you have to stand for the entire duration of the show on tired feet. 

I think the thing that makes this show particularly successful is that it draws on all the senses simultaneously. You can smell the fog, hear the music and feel the mist of the water and the heat of the fire even from the very back of the viewing area. You feel one-hundred percent engaged in the moment.

I highly encourage you to see the World of Color if you ever get the chance. The visual and auditory content is constantly being updated and revised to encompass the latest Disney movies, songs, and characters. However, there are also snippets of the classic films and even the company's early cartoon shorts to satisfy older Disney-goers and die-hard fans.

If you can't make it to California Adventure anytime soon, you can catch the entire show here. Naturally it's not quite as impressive online, but it gives you a taste of what World of Color is all about.