EPCOT Illuminations questions

[michellelovesthemous]

Hiya! We have tried to sit thru illuminations each and every trip these last few years but if we miss it it isn't the end of the world ok so now that you have picked your jaw up off the key board I think that perhaps we either don't get the backstory or aren't seeing it in the right spot! I would love to understand it better and then go find the perfect spot to really watch it, any help or opinions will be much appreciated as when we go this summer for our first August trip I would love for all of us to actually get it and really enjioy it. Don't get me wrong the fireworks are beautiful it's the earth ball.... please help!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I can't help you b/c I am the same way, I have seen it 10+ times and while it is nice its not a must do, I feel like I'm missing out on the emotional connection that others here have to it. I try to give it a honest shot and have viewed from several locations including walking up last minute to waiting an hour beforehand with drinks/snacks to get a great seat and it still just doesn't do it for me. I would love to see some convincing arguments that might sway my mind next trip too.

 

[lmmantini]

Same here. We're going back in August and it's not on our to do list. I think it's time for a revamp.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

When it first came out, we enjoyed it, but now I'm also in the camp that it needs a revamp. More than once we've left the park just when it was starting. The (Christmas) holiday version has a neat little ending tacked onto it.

One way to see it that is slightly neat, but tricky to get - is a dinner reservation witha view of the fireworks. As with any such thing, a view is not guaranteed - part of what makes it tricky, and only few places have a real view. I think GB and the new Mexico TS are the only ones. I think one of the French restaurants has a partial view from the wrong side of the walkway.

 

[carly3592]

I'm not one of those people that freak out if I come across a person that deems Illuminations as "skip-able", but I think it's the best night time show at WDW. I love it because of the music and the way the fireworks synchronize to it. I'm a pretty sappy person , so when I see the countries shoot off their own fireworks, and the earth opens up and has the flame inside, symbolizing that although we're all different and come from different cultures, backgrounds, histories, etc... we're still "one" (see? I can feel the tears swelling up behind my eyes as I type this)...anyway, when that all happens, I cry. Every time. Not sobs, though haha There's not really a specific story to Illuminations (like Fantasmic), but at the same time, it represents the story of us as a people and the different ways we have come together throughout our history here on Earth. Or at least that's my representation of it.

And even though I don't see myself as a very cultured/international person to really connect to the story on a personal level, I cry at the end of every Disney movie..... so there you go.

Now, for where to watch it from... last time I watched it from Italy and had a great view, the time before I saw it from Morocco and it was an ok view, and the time before that I saw it from Mexico and had an ok view as well. I think each country has it's own "great" spot to watch it from, it's just a matter of getting their in time to grab the spot.

 

[rdearth]

Agree with others. If we're there and it's on, we'll catch some of it, but for the most part we'd rather catch Soarin' or something else that we can still do while everyone else stands around.

Also, now we know not to get caught near the drawbridge where they let the barges pass through after the show. What a mess.

 

[Missytara]

My mom loves fireworks and while we do a nice show in my little home town, nothing compares to Illuminations for her. I took her one year, and there are still two things she talks about - the water taxi from POR to DTD and the fireworks at Epcot. She has never forgotten it.

 

[PoohMama]

I think one of the French restaurants has a partial view from the wrong side of the walkway.

Bistro de Paris - upstairs - we had a lovely Valentine's dinner there in 2008 and were able to see IllumiNations from the window at our table just in time for dessert and champagne! SO Romantic!!

On the whole, I enjoy IllumiNations, but I can't say it tugs my heart strings....except on Valentine's Day from the Bistro...

 

[ancestry]

Illuminations is my favorite night time show at Disney. Don't care for Wishes and can take or leave Fantasmic. I prefer illuminations. However, that being said it isn't like a do or die kind of thing for me. I feel that it is the best done show -- synchronized and choreographed but there are portions where the globe thing just seems to drag on forever.

 

[TaraPA]

I'm in the mionority here, but Illuminations is one of my favorite things in WDW. If I would miss it on a trip, my trip would feel incomplete. I think you either feel it or you don't. Just like some people are moved by a certain movie or song, and others aren't. The OP above sums it up - it's the story of humanity & how everyone is really the same, even though we all come from different places. There something about the music & the choreography of the fireworks & the earth ball that just moves me to tears.

I've watched it from almost every place possible & my favorite spot is at the end of the bridge connecting UK & France (on the France end). There are speakers right under or by the bridge so you can actually feel the music as it keeps time with the story & the fireworks.

That being said, however, I don't feel anything for Wishes. The friends I travel with cry over Wishes & I cold honestly skip it every time. So different strokes for different folks! If you don't enjoy Illuminations that would be a great time to get in line for Soarin or Test Track - I'd have to guess the lines aren't that long during the show!

 

[wcpamotm]

I love IllumiNations; along with IllumiNations classic and DL's version of Fantasmic, it's one of my favorite Disney nighttime shows of all time. And the music, "Reflections of Earth" is my very favorite theme park compositions of all time. So with all that, would you be surprised that I would wait to see it more than once in a single trip?

There is a bit of story to it, as introduced by the opening narration. And here are the movements to "Reflections of Earth" as listed on the Millenium Celebration CD:

Prologue: Acceleration
Chaos
Space
Life
Adventure
Home
Celebration
Meaning

The movements are played without pause, but they're fairly easy to pick out, especially with the images on the Earth globe to help cue you.

 

[disneygal922]

I, personally, love IlluminNations. Like one of the previous posters, I start to tear up at the beauty of meaning of it, though we are all different we are the same. Also, like another previous poster said, it is composed very well. My favorite places to watch it are in the area behind Rose and Crown (lower UK) and the Italy Isola. Both had an awesome view. The nighttime show I don't get into (and will never wait 1.5 hours again for) is Fantasmic. I just don't get the craze for it. So I do understand where you are coming from. Hopefully, you can catch IlluminNations from a great location and enjoy it!