Disneyland Paris has confirmed that drones will no longer appear in its nightly castle show Disney Tales of Magic starting April 1, 2026. The change comes as the resort updates parts of its entertainment lineup. These updates also include construction work and the debut of a new nighttime show at the resort’s second park.
Disneyland Paris said Disney Tales of Magic will continue in a revised format. The updated version will focus on projection mapping and pyrotechnic effects. Drones will no longer be part of the show.
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The change is connected to refurbishment work near the Sleeping Beauty Castle bridge. Construction will affect parts of the nighttime presentation beginning May 4, 2026. The work is expected to continue through late September.
During that time, the show will also operate without its fountain effects. Disneyland Paris plans to add additional fireworks and pyrotechnic elements during the refurbishment period.
Disney Tales of Magic
Disney Tales of Magic debuted in January 2025 as the nighttime spectacular for Disneyland Paris. The show combined projections on Sleeping Beauty Castle and the facades of Main Street, U.S.A. with fountains, fireworks, lasers, and choreographed drones. The drones were among the most visible new elements of the production, forming coordinated aerial patterns timed to music and narration. The show normally runs about 20 minutes and takes place nightly at park closing, weather permitting.
Concept art for a new night time show coming to Disneyland Paris – Disney
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The show was developed by teams from Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment in collaboration with Disneyland Paris entertainment teams. External partners also contributed to the production. The multimedia studio NorthHouse helped design projection visuals used throughout the show. Drone choreography and flight technology were provided by Dronisos, a French company that specializes in coordinated drone displays for large-scale events.
Throughout the show, projection sequences feature characters and scenes from several Disney and Pixar stories. Films highlighted during the performance include Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Lilo & Stitch, Encanto, Pinocchio, Toy Story, Coco, Inside Out, and WALL‑E. These scenes appear through large-scale projections on the castle and surrounding buildings, synchronized with lighting and pyrotechnic effects.
The Change
In its announcement, the resort said the production is being adapted to evolve over time while continuing to offer guests a varied experience. The official communication made clear that drones will no longer be included in Disney Tales of Magic going forward. Disneyland Paris has not provided a detailed reason for the removal beyond the statement about the show’s evolution.
Concept art for the Cascade of Light Show in Disneyland Paris – Disney Parks
The change occurs as Disney Adventure World—the reimagined second park formerly known as Walt Disney Studios Park—prepares to open a new nighttime show called Disney Cascade of Lights on March 29, 2026. That production will take place on Adventure Bay, a central lake within the park, and is designed to include fountains, lasers, pyrotechnics, and choreographed drones, some of which are capable of flying over and near water.
The introduction of Disney Cascade of Lights shortly before Tales of Magic changes has prompted speculation from observers. Some have suggested that resource allocation—such as deploying drone technology in the new show—may factor into the revised format of the castle show.
Plans for the castle show include maintaining projections and fireworks as core elements. The production will continue performing nightly through at least the summer season of 2026, weather permitting, with the updated format in place.
Disneyland Paris has not indicated whether drones might return to Disney Tales of Magic after the refurbishment work is completed later in 2026. As of the latest official communications, the show will continue without airborne drone elements through the scheduled period of changes.
What do you think of the change? Have you seen the show? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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