Epcot Live Entertainment - what would you add?

[GatorChris]

On our recent visit to WDW, a highlight was watching Voices of Liberty in Epcot. I love that group! It had been 13 years since I'd last seen them in 2012 and they're still amazing. For me, Epcot has always been about the entertainment offering around World Showcase. But I felt like some of the offerings were a little light this time. The two guys with the soccer ball tricks...not something I standing in heat and humidity to watch. I fell in love with Epcot when I watched the World Showcase Players in 2002. It helped me "get" Epcot.

So, if you have some say, what kind of live entertainment would you bring to Epcot? I'd bring back WSP and the Holy Grail act they used to do.

Thoughts?

 

[scrappinginontario]

I still miss the Parade of Nations. Now I'm dating myself as I'm old enough to remember it!!

And, the characters that used to visit on the double decker bus!

 

[Mommb]

Absolutely bring back World Showcase Players! I saw them on family trips in the late 1980s, and they were hilarious.

I'd love to see Broadway performers at times other than the Festival of the Arts. There are enough Disney films and stage shows set in other countries that they could fit into World Showcase.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Bring back lluminations: Reflections of Earth.

 

[GatorChris]

I still miss the Parade of Nations. Now I'm dating myself as I'm old enough to remember it!!

And, the characters that used to visit on the double decker bus!

YES! We caught that in 2002 before it disappeared. Really cool parade. But I know parades mean cast and cast costs money and Disney likes to work on the cheap. But I'd love to see it come back.

I do miss the double-decker. I'd see it, but I was never where they'd let the characters out.

 

[fla4fun]

Bring back lluminations: Reflections of Earth.

This! So much this!

It seems like there used to be more entertainment, and high quality entertainment, in each of the countries. I remember the Caledonia Bagpipe players in Canada, and then Off Kilter. So many different musical performers in the gazebo in the UK pavilion. Little by little they started disappearing and then the pandemic was the final blow for many of them.

It’s not just Epcot. I was so sad when DHS lost the Citizens of Hollywood. They added so much character to the park.

The live entertainment is a way to slow down a little and just take things in. We need more of that, whether musical or theatrical. Although I am not into villains, I am happy to see a stage show for them and hope it inspires more of the same property wide. There’s nothing quite like simply stumbling upon an amazing group of CMs in character, informally interacting with the crowds.

 

[winthropf]

I wish we still had the fife aand drum corps in front of the American Adventure.

 

[jcemom]

I used to love watching the candy lady in Japan. I also miss the fife and drum corps, the living statues, the world showcase players. I still love going to Disney, it's my first choice of vacation destination most of the time, but SO MUCH has been taken away. It's sad.

 

[DisneyFive]

I feel that the DJ "party" and the booming music at the CommuniCore Plaza Stage is weird and out of place. It's just plain loud and takes away from the beautiful ambience of Epcot.

 

[Simba's Mom]

So, if you have some say, what kind of live entertainment would you bring to Epcot? I'd bring back WSP and the Holy Grail act they used to do.

Thoughts?

Grail, Grail, Grail!!!!
Throw small children in the air!

I loved the World Showcase Players. There was a big following for the Bagpipe Players in Canada (sorry, I can't remember their names) but I loved WSP.
Further back in time, in Future World, I also loved Future Corps.

 

[BrianL]

I miss Muppet Mobile Labs. I actually was digging the acrobats they had on that ring thing in the new central area recently, but I think that show ended. I don't mind them changing out acts, as long as they replace they with something and not nothing.

 

[FastPasser.]

Fun thread down memory lane.

Epcot was my home base for years so I was able to enjoy the live entertainment there and everywhere else on a daily basis.

I did crowd control for the Voices of Liberty many, many times. I appreciated their talent and they were all very nice people but A cappella is lost on me.

And having facilitated hundreds of Illumination’s desert parties and night time private events around the lagoon, I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve watched Illuminations.

It’s been a gradual reduction but over a 22 year span it’s been disappointing to watch it became less and less. And working at all the other parks as well, it was noticeable there too. Remember the Toy Story parade at DHS and the parade at AK, all gone.

While there’s still some entertainment it’s not at the same level as it was at its height. I don’t envision it improving. The focus now seems to be on the huge attractions.

 

[bobbiwoz]

We enjoy the Mariachi band in Mexico!

I enjoy folk music, and I liked the Canada music that played music from different parts of the country.

We watched Luminous on Monday, and we both enjoyed it.

Every so often, I listen to the CD of the Tapestry of Nations Parade.


Monday

 

[hardcorestitch]

They should add a jian bing stand in the China pavilion. It is a Chinese crepe with meat, wontons, veggies and hoisin sauce, but the way they prepare it would be as entertaining as it is delicious.