EPCOT fireworks?

[mb168]

While staying at the BCV this week with an EPCOT view, we were eager to watch Illuminations from our balcony. Wednesday night, our last night , we were lying in bed and sometime after 11PM, we heard a "POW". Didn't think much of it 'til we heard another a few minutes later and another went off. DW went to the window and sure nuff, there was a smoke puff up in the sky. A few minutes later, we heard some noise, like music. This time I got up and went to the door and opened it, nothing, it went away. "AAAAAGGGGHHHH, whats going on here?" OK, now its after 11:30, and all of a sudden, pow, pow, bang, boom, music starts and theres a fireworks display over EPCOT but it seemed different. Now I havent seen Illuminations in a year and a half except for seeing it from our balcony which only gives a aerial view and barely able to hear the music. But this definitely seemed different. Anyway, it went on for what seemed a longer time than normal and we were just puzzled as to WHY???? At 11:30 at night? It had POURED rain around 7:00 PM but stopped by 9:00 which is when Illuminations begins now, and I don't think they would delay it 2.5 hours. My only other thought was they are changing it or getting ready for July 4th and something different. There were a few red white and blue ones but not enough, I don't think for July 4th, anyway, anyone have any ideas?

 

[DebbieB]

That happened one time when we were staying at BWV. We had a standard view that had a view of Illuminations. About 11:30 we saw fireworks but they were not as spectacular as Illuminations. I assumed it was a private party being held afterhours.

 

[safetymom]

From what I understand from my daughter who is a CM, they are preparing for the Fourth of July. Also if you heard a loud boom around 10:30 that is when they release all of the propane out of the center of the World after the show, in the world showcase lagoon.

 

[Baloo]

Here's what my friend who's a tech at EPCOT wrote me about the fireworks last week!

As a matter of fact, it WAS a 4th of July practice show. I saw the whole thing. They don't shoot all the product they plan on shooting for the real event, they just shoot the ones that are important for their timing and computer tests. It's still pretty impressive, though!

Several years ago at Disney/MGM Studios, they ran a practice show around 2am WITHOUT AUDIO! They had special fireworks made up that looked exactly like the normal fireworks, but made almost no noise! It was eerie! They don't do that any more, though, because it's too expensive to have them specially made like that. Besides, they usually order more than they need, and have to shoot the extras off to get rid of them.

 

[donmil723]

I was there too and wondered what was going on but forgot to ask before we left. I thought it was either an after hours event for a private group or they were making some changes to Illuminations and were practicing it. I thought it very similar to Illuminations which I had seen the night before.

Donna

 

[Terry S]

safetymom... Thanks for explaining what I saw one night while at BCV. I was lying in bed around 10:30 ish reading my book. I heard a big boom and went to the balcony. I saw a huge poof of fire and smoke from the lagoon. I assumed it had something to do with the fireworks, but I wasn't sure what.