Birds at Illuminations???

[24KK9]

Our first time to see Illuminations was in 1999 when our DD was six years old. She insists she remembers that when the globe opened that birds flew out of it. Does anyone else remember this? Could this be something she dreamed? Or could we have been downwind and sniffed too much smoke?

 

[SnackyStacky]

I would have to imagine there's no live animals anywhere NEAR those barges because of all the pyrotechnics.

Maybe what your daughter is remembering were the white fireworks that shot straight up??

But no - definitely no birds. At least not now. Were you there on New Years Eve of '99? Other than something special, there's no birds,

 

[Robo]

Nope, no birds were housed in or released from inside the globe.
One, as stated before, too much FIRE!
Two, you'd not be able to SEE much of their flight in the darkness, even with spotlights, so that would be a rather needless continuing expense.

And, as of a year or so ago, nearly all bird-releases have been discontinued at WDW outdoor pageants.
Neither are there balloon-releases.

 

[Robo]

Speaking of birds...
What is fascinating to watch is what all the DUCKS that live around World Showcase Lagoon do DURING the show.

They simply float on the waves virtually taking no notice of the fire, pyro, and sounds that surround them.

We have a favorite spot to watch IllumiNations and there are virtually ALWAYS 2 to 3 ducks that come out of the water 20 minutes before the show to beg for popcorn from the crowd.
Then, at about TWO MINUTES BEFORE the show actually starts, they trundle back into the water and float just a few feet from shore. They stay right there very close to the fire-barge and the sub-woofer speakers in the torch-tower and just IGNORE the show... amazing!

 

[Chuck S]

Doves and pidgeons would be overcome by the sulphur fumes from the fireworks. While the ducks would be floating below the worst of it, I doubt doves would survive in an elevated globe