Differences between Illuminations Shows

[soniam]

I was curious what the differences are between the regular, holiday, and New Year's Eve Illuminations. We will be at Epcot on NYE and will see that one. We have seen the regular one too. I am trying to decide if we should try to make it to Epcot to see the holiday one during our trip after Xmas until NYE. Thanks

 

[FastPasser]

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[bryanb]

Absolutely, I highly recommend that you try to make it over to see the extended version of Christmas Illuminations.

When does the show switch over to the Christmas version? I'm hoping to go in November; will I catch it then?

 

[Flounder89]

When does the show switch over to the Christmas version? I'm hoping to go in November; will I catch it then?

Afaik it switches on Nov 25 when the Candlelight Processional and Holidays Around the World start. At least i hope so, we are visiting that day

 

[FastPasser]

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[disnut8]

Let's put it this way. My husband and I end every Disney day at Epcot so we have seen Illuminations a lot (just once a trip, though). We are going for Thanksgiving weekend this year and we will be at Epcot on Thanksgiving Day but will not be watching Illuminations but will be seeing it Friday night because that's when it switches over to the holiday version (it's been the day after Thanksgiving for a long time). I have not seen the New Year Eve's show so I consider the holiday Illuminations the best Disney nighttime show hands down. Nothing gets me more into the spirit of the holidays than that show. Nothing - it starts the season for me.

 

[joelkfla]

The holidays version is regular Illuminations, followed by a special Holiday "tag". The tag is variation of the finale from the full Holiday Illuminations that was presented before the Millennium, except they've recently replaced Walter Cronkite with a generic female narrator. It is definitely worth seeing.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

I personally love the holiday addition to illuminations. I have to see it at least once every trip over the holidays.

 

[cassie58]

So on NYE the 6:00 show will be holiday Illuminations, before the special NYE show close to midnight?

 

[joelkfla]

So on NYE the 6:00 show will be holiday Illuminations, before the special NYE show close to midnight?

No holiday tag on NYE. I don't know whether or not the early show includes the NYE tag.

 

[Jennasis]

The holiday tag on Illuminations is spectacular. We caught it last year and didn't realize it was a thing. I swear the sky was practically on fire! It took our breath away.

 

[disneygolfer1985]

If I remember correctly holidays around the world ends on the 30th.

 

[soniam]

No holiday tag on NYE. I don't know whether or not the early show includes the NYE tag.

I think only the last one of the night is the NYE version. I don't know, since this will be our first NYE trip. However, that was the impression I had gotten from things I had read and people I had talked with.

 

[lpizzuro123]

We were in Epcot a few years ago and watched both IllumiNations and they only did the NYE countdown on the midnight show.

 

[Dan Murphy]

The holiday tag on Illuminations is spectacular. We caught it last year and didn't realize it was a thing. I swear the sky was practically on fire! It took our breath away.

It really is something to behold. Illuminations is great, but with the addon, it is spectacular.

Spoiler here, if you want. This is with Walter Cronkite.