All-New Nighttime Fireworks Spectacular to replace Illuminations: Reflections of Earth as part of EPCOT’s evolution.
The big transformation promised for the core future world portion of Walt Disney World’s second ever theme park – EPCOT is in fact coming and, as largely rumored, it will include a replacement of the big nighttime fireworks spectacular called “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” We now know the end date and the replacement for the show.
Illuminations kicked off as part of the Millennial Celebration nearly 20 years ago and will have its final show at the end of Summer in 2019. The new show will debut immediately following the conclusion, so guests won’t miss out on nightly entertainment at EPCOT.
Disney plans different ways to celebrate Illuminations as it winds down to its final performances, so you have plenty of time to experience it again.
Meanwhile excitement will build for what’s next, not just for the new nighttime show, but also for the new experiences coming to EPCOT. Already announced and visible from within the park are “Guardians of the Galaxy” roller coaster based attraction, a “Ratatouille”-inspired ride based on the popular one at Disneyland Paris, a new Space themed table service restaurant at Mission: SPACE, and a new signature dining experience in Japan. Plus Disney Parks chair Bob Chapek has already told us the core section of Future World and the main entrance of EPCOT will get its on transformation.
What will the new nighttime show involve? The good money is on drones being part of the show. There have been some pretty significant advances in their performance since the Christmas show at Disney Springs two years ago. My guess is you’ll also see some Disney brands in the show, but still with a tie into how they help bring the world together in peace. Like all nighttime shows at Disney, they evolve a little bit with time, but my hopes are pretty high right now for something new and exciting.
What are you looking forward to most as EPCOT evolves to its new vision?
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth is one show I’ll be sad to see go. I know it’s probably time for a new show at Epcot, but Illuminations has been my favorite nighttime show of all time at WDW ever since I first saw it back in 2000. Mostly, it’s because it has one of the greatest soundtracks ever written, although the visuals are pretty stunning, too.
I’m sure Disney will come up with something even more visually amazing, but I find it hard to imagine they could come up with a better score to go with it. Guess I’ll have to make sure to get a final viewing in between now and next summer.
I agree with Mike.
The current music will be almost impossible to beat.
Illuminations is my favorite thing, period, anywhere within Disney World.
I’ll be sad to see it go, but I’m also confident it’s replacement will be fantastic.
As long as those torches remain……
I’m hoping they incorporate some of the dancing fountain technology used for shows like World of Color at Disney California Adventure. Surrounding the central part of the lagoon with a circle of dancing fountains and lighting effects could be really cool when combined with flame effects and fireworks.
A bigger hope is that they commission Gavin Greenaway to write a new score for the show, since he wrote the Reflections of Earth score. He wrote a score for one of Tokyo Disneyland’s shows. It’s not as good as Reflections of Earth, but it’s pretty good.
I’m scared and hoping for the best considering my disappointment in Happily Ever After as a replacement for Wishes. IP and technology can never replace heart. Illuminations has heart. Let’s hope it remains.
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