Think of the new “Encanto” projection show at Disneyland as a brief palate cleanser between the main courses of the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show and Main Street Electrical Parade returning soon to the Anaheim theme park.

The new “Encanto” projection show on the It’s a Small World facade debuted on Monday, April 11 during a steady drizzle that made Disneyland sparkle amid a spectrum of colorful lights. The new 4-minute projection show will play multiple times nightly between 9 p.m. and park close.

On opening night, the first “Encanto” show played at 9:15 p.m. as an encore to the fireworks-less “Mickey’s Mix Magic” just a few minutes after the nighttime spectacular came to an end. Crowds that stretched down the Small World midway stuck around after “Mickey’s Mix Magic” in anticipation of the new show featuring the hit song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno.”

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The “Encanto” show began with what seemed like the Small World clock tower stirring to life on the quarter hour before dissolving into an eerie green that cloaked the attraction facade and midway. A cheer went up among the crowd when a hooded Bruno appeared on the Small World clock tower.

As the chart-topping song began, the imagery on the Small World facade drew inspiration from the lyrics.

A sun spun across the facade under a golden array of spotlights before turning to storm showers when “Bruno says, ‘It looks like rain.’” The effect on the drizzling night with the spotlights strafing the low-lying clouds added to the chill of the already damp Southern California night.

Twirling umbrellas did little to stem the flood waters that soon swamped the Small World facade — a not- so-subtle nod to the flooding that closed the ride for three weeks in 2021 at the start of the busy Christmas season.

Hourglasses drained as the lyrics spoke of the “​​sound of falling sand” while Madrigal cousins Mirabel and Delores walked across the Small World facade.

The show was at its best when the scene slipped behind the stone walls where Bruno hid as grim green spotlights searched for the recluse before turning into hypnotic spirals.

The most beautiful segment featured flower petals raining down as Isabela Madrigal swayed on a flower swing before the facade transformed into rosy reds with spinning floral petal wheels.

The highlight of the show came when the Disneyland Railroad passed in front of the Small World facade while riders floated into the attraction below aboard an endless stream of boats. The kinetic energy brought the park alive as the passengers on the train and boats were painted in a rainbow of light and became part of the show.

The brief show wrapped up in an explosion of colored powders reminiscent of the Holi festival trailed by golden pixie dust before returning to the eerie green opening scene.

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The challenge for the new “Encanto” show is following the incessantly upbeat “Mickey’s Mix Magic” that pulsates in a kaleidoscope of color.

The mid-tempo cha-cha-cha salsa style of “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is no match for the bombastic bass-heavy beat of the “It’s a Good Time” theme song of “Mickey’s Mix Magic” when it comes to beats per minute.

Disneyland brings up the parade lights on the Small World midway for less than 5 minutes in between the “Mickey’s Mix Magic” and “Encanto” shows — but it’s not enough time to get the nighttime spectacular theme song out of your head and feet.

Disneyland isn’t saying exactly what time the “Encanto” show is playing each night — in part to discourage crowds from milling in the Small World midway before each performance. The shows are intended to be a surprise and delight — but that didn’t stop the crowds from filling the midway on opening night in anticipation of the new production.

The “Encanto” show will play nightly at seemingly random times that are nonetheless scheduled down to the second by Disneyland entertainment. On opening night, the “Encanto” show played multiple times between 9 and 11:45 p.m. Your best bet to avoid waiting endlessly and pointlessly: Ask a Small World cast member when the next performance is expected to start. At the moment though, even the cast members don’t seem to know when the next “Encanto” show will play.

“Encanto” showtimes should become a little easier to figure out once the “Disneyland Forever” fireworks and the Main Street Electrical Parade return on April 22. The “Encanto” projection shows will play in between and around the nighttime spectaculars — likely on the quarter or half hour.

That pacing should make the “Encanto” show feel more like a palate cleanser between nighttime spectacles and less like the final course tacked onto the end of the evening as it is right now. Either way, the brief “Encanto” respite between Disneyland nighttime spectaculars should serve as a delicious small bite of a fan-favorite scene from the popular new animated movie.

For now, the best way to think of the new “Encanto” show is as a delightful and delicate dessert after gorging yourself on the high-calorie main course of “Mickey’s Mix Magic.”

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“Disneyland Forever” fireworks will only play on weekends when the returning nighttime spectacular first kicks off with the “Mickey’s Mix Magic” projection-only show presented on weeknights. The “Encanto” show will play nightly for a limited time.

It’s important to remember the “Encanto” show will only play on the Small World facade — and won’t appear on Sleeping Beauty Castle or Tom Sawyer Island like other Disneyland nighttime spectaculars.