CONFIRMED: Disney Almost Used DRONES In World of Color

Disney California Adventure’s incredibly popular World of Color show almost looked very different.

World of Color – ONE

The World of Color water show debuted at the Disneyland Resort in 2010 and has gone through a few different iterations over the past several years. Today, it has evolved into World of Color — ONE, honoring Disney’s centennial. The show occurs at Paradise Gardens Park (formerly Paradise Pier) in Disney California Adventure and features special water effects, projections, and sound and lighting effects. It also almost featured drones.

According to The Orange County Register, the Disneyland Resort had plans to include aerial drones in World of Color but ultimately scrapped the idea due to certain obstacles

World of Color at Disney California Adventure

Apparently, Disney changed course after governmental regulations were placed that restricted the use of drones in nighttime spectaculars.

During this year’s D23 expo in Anaheim, Walt Disney Imagineering Vice President for Parades and Spectaculars Steven Davison said Disney initially partnered with Intel to create the drones that were supposed to premiere with World of Color.

World of Color — ONE at Disney California Adventure

While drone restrictions prevented their inclusion in World of Color at the time, regulations have greatly decreased since then. Intel finally got its drone show in 2015 in Germany and drone shows have started popping up in the Disney sphere.

In 2016, 300 Intel drones appeared in Disney Springs’ Starbright Holidays show over in Florida. That wasn’t the last time Disney Springs would see drones, as it debuted Disney Dreams That Soar, a drone show that premiered on May 24th, 2024. This nighttime show was a rousing hit that showcased several Disney hits. The show ended its run on September 2nd, 2024.

Dumbo during Disney Dreams That Soar

Marvel Entertainment also did a drone show promo for Deadpool and Wolverine after its panel and showing during San Diego Comic-Con 2024 and Disneyland Paris has used drones in its Disney D-Light and Disney Electrical Sky Parade nighttime spectaculars. According to Davison, pioneering drone shows through resorts like Disneyland Paris has been easier due to fewer restrictions overseas. “We’re finally getting a chance to actually look at them and use them,” said Davison.

An all-new lake show featuring fountains, drones, lasers and music will come to Disney Adventure World at Disneyland Paris in 2026.

Disney has also filed patents for new drone concepts, “including drone-controlled puppets and 3D drone displays that mimic fireworks shows,” according to The Orange County Register. Clearly, Disneyland wants to move more toward drones, as its local competitors have. Notably, Universal Studios Hollywood nighttime Hogwarts shows feature drones, including drone art of the iconic stag patronus from the Harry Potter films.

Photo by David Sprague, Universal Studios Hollywood via The Orange County Register

The creative possibility of drones in addition to their eco-friendly nature (or at least more so than fireworks) has attracted the theme park industry greatly over the past decade-plus. Of course, this includes Disney and it’s interesting to see that Disneyland has been involved all along with talks of bringing drones to Disney California Adventure as early as 2010. With plenty of opportunities for drone entertainment enhancements, we’re curious to see if drones come to World of Color or any Disneyland Resort nighttime show in the future as drone restrictions continue to evolve.

World of Color

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