Glow With the Show ears debut at Walt Disney World with freebies filling the audience for Fantasmic! 15th anniversary

in Disney, Entertainment, Walt Disney World

The marginally popular Glow with the Show Ear hats that first appeared at the Disneyland Resort in June 2012 made their Walt Disney World debut tonight in honor of the 15th anniversary of Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

The interactive versions of Disney’s famous Mickey Ear hats light up in a variety colors in sync with show elements, often to the beat of music.

Each set of Glow with the Show Ear hats is normally available for $25, but Fantasmic! dinner package guests attending tonight’s performance received them free, filling the middle section of the audience – a perfect opportunity for Disney to snap some promotional photos to show off how fun this technology can be when it’s used en masse. (Note: The ears are not normally included in the dinner package nor are they free. This was a one-time giveaway.)


Video: Glow With the Show ears debut at Walt Disney World during Fantastmic!


Here’s what they looked like tonight in the center section filled with glowing heads:

But here’s one of the side sections in which far fewer people actually purchased the ears:

There was still a fairly large number of these ear hats found in the side sections, likely due to it being the debut night, but they certainly didn’t fill up as much.

The Glow With the Show ears haven’t proved to be terribly successful in California’s parks, despite a similarly large debut. When the ears were first handed out for use with the World of Color nighttime show during a big press event, the spectacle was impressive:

But since then, only a handful of glowing ears can be seen on an average night in the park, not nearly the hundreds Disney would hope for. With a large inventory now in Walt Disney World’s hands, Disney’s hoping it will catch on on the east coast more than it has out west.

Beginning Oct. 19, guests will also be able to experience the Wishes fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom with the new Glow with the Show Ear hats, followed by more glowing entertainment during the holiday season, glowing with the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Holiday Wishes as well as Holiday Wishes and Celebrate the Magic at the Magic Kingdom.

(Photos and video by Dave Drumheller)

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