Harmonious: how would you rate it?

[LPnerd]

The lagoon is the connecting point for all the countries. The lagoon is what joins them/us all together. The lagoon is what makes the world smaller. YES, we often stop to look across, take pictures and enjoy the "small world" feel. I suppose there are those who just hustle around, not taking in the beauty or meaning of it. When you lose the connection it further reduces the pavilions to a food court / shopping mall. While Illuminations wasn't everyone's favorite, and many didn't understand the depth of the story and I agree it was probably time for an upgrade .... I was hopeful a new show would remain relevant to where it was and why it was.

NOTE: I have no issue with IP rides in pavilions, I think it makes it more fun for kids and creates interest at a younger age for the countries, but the big finale show, that could have been more artistic than commercial. We lost more than we gained, that is sad.




Seems to be a common comment. WHY would you build a show that requires limited locations for a good view (like being in HUB for castle projections)? For 30 years they provided great views from all around the lagoon. Now once people figure out the views vary so much, you'll have people crushing in to certain areas. I am at a lost for so many of the decisions made lately.

exactly!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

This is how I felt too. Initially I had the TV on mute, and I was thinking there was a lot going on and it looked good. But then when we watched it back with the sound on, I did not get it. And the ending? So awkward--the big fireworks finale, a long pause, and then that last weird statement.

My overall rating is: Not worth having those ugly barges in the lagoon all day long.

After reading a lot of people saying it's better in person, we are planning to see it when we go next month. I am hopeful that we will like it.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I only watched the live stream, and I was disappointed. We’re going to WDW next week and we have the Rose and Crown dinner viewing. I want to see it again and hope what I read here about the difference between live stream and in person is as great as people indicate.

However, some of my disappointment is with the content. It doesn’t do justice to what I think Epcot’s show should be.

We cancelled the R&C dining because we didn’t want to eat at 9 PM. Plus, we found we had decent views by France, and enjoyed the show much better in person!

 

[LPnerd]

Having now seen both Harmonious and Enchantment in person, I will agree that both are more impressive in person than on the videos. And it seemed that most of both audiences were impressed and enjoyed both shows. I am guessing that a large percentage of the audiences are not comparing the shows to those from the past or looking for a story line.

The barges are ugly, but the effects that they create are visually beautiful to look at. They should turn off the lights along the fence to the lagoon during the show. We were in front of one and it was distracting - I vaguely remember that those lights were out during Illuminations.

If there is a cohesive story/message that this show is trying to tell then I think they have made it hard to decipher. Since the music incorporates multiple languages, one would not know what message those song choices are sending unless they are familiar with each of the songs and the particular passage that is used during the show.

The projections didn't really help with any storytelling given that a lot of them were abstract.

I personally wish Disney would stop just re-using songs from their movies as the soundtrack for their evening shows when they have the people who could compose some great original songs.

Glad I saw it in person. Lights and fireworks were beautiful, but not worth having the permanent structures in the lake. Music leaves something to be desired as it is nothing new.

it's a 50 yr celebration, no mickey, no pals, no walt and you are packed in front of the castle with about 2,000 of your closet covid friends, how is this good???

 

[imbelle]

I saw it in person and thought it looked like it looked like a rock concert stage. I kept expecting the band to come out and yell "Thank you Epcot!". The "brontosaurus" bars dipping in and out was weird. I liked the concept of the Disney music sung in alternate languages and yet I remained unmoved.

 

[wings91]

0 out of 100
Worst show disney has ever produced.

 

[gharter]

Saw it tonight. It definitely is much better in person. Very impressive. The technology is amazing and good fireworks. If I had never seem Illuminations, I would have been amazed. But it lacks any soul, I didn't find anything that pulled any emotion like the previous show. As a musical score set to fireworks and tech, it works. Unlike the previous show, its not one that I feel like I want to see several times during a trip.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I watched it last night. Can't understand the comments about lacking in pyrotechnics. There are many colorful fireworks especialy during the Mexico piece. What's not there are lots of big white booming fireworks.
There were people from other cultures around me that were really enjoying the show, in fact, the whole audience was clapping and cheering loudly.
I loved the Lion King Piece.
The show was upbeat, very colorful, and immersive.
It does have an HDE feel.
I am saddended by the negativity here and, in my opinion, the weak reasons publically given for not liking the show.

 

[gharter]

I watched it last night. Can't understand the comments about lacking in pyrotechnics. There are many colorful fireworks especialy during the Mexico piece. What's not there are lots of big white booming fireworks.
There were people from other cultures around me that were really enjoying the show, in fact, the whole audience was clapping and cheering loudly.
I loved the Lion King Piece.
The show was upbeat, very colorful, and immersive.
It does have an HDE feel.
I am saddended by the negativity here and, in my opinion, the weak reasons publically given for not liking the show.

The crowd around you was clearly different than the crowd around us. There was very little clapping or cheering anywhere during the show. Previous shows when it was over was loud cheers and clapping. I heard and saw very little. Most around us were just, oh, its over, time to go.

 

[Jonathan Friedman]

Didn’t love it. Technically speaking was amazing but had very little emotion and failed to tell a story. I watch the Tim Tracker interview which explained the show a bit and helped, but 99% of people won’t see that and shouldn’t to understand the meaning. Even with that, I was underwhelmed.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

7/10. It's pretty cool. I've seen it three times. OK to watch from anywhere, but most effective looking right down the middle of the Stargate.

I am not sure how many persons ripping it have only seen the livestream, and how many are just angry because it's not Illuminations. It actually has more pyrotechnics, so there is definitely something else lacking. Maybe it is just the use of movie music that everyone already knows instead of writing something specific to the show. For years there's been complaints that there aren't enough Disney touches, they put in more Disney and it's like "No, not that way," so I don't really have an issue with the use of Disney characters.

Those barges could be programmed and used for anything though.

 

[tseitel]

I watched videos of it beforehand, wasn’t impressed, but tried to keep an open mind.
Saw it Sunday in person. Definitely did not blow me away enough to make up for the massive amount of money spent on it, and having the oil rigs in the lagoon all day ruining the view.
and what happened to the “fountains” that were supposed to hide the monstrosity during the day?

 

[tseitel]

I saw it in person and thought it looked like it looked like a rock concert stage. I kept expecting the band to come out and yell "Thank you Epcot!". The "brontosaurus" bars dipping in and out was weird. I liked the concept of the Disney music sung in alternate languages and yet I remained unmoved.

definitely! All I could think of was big octopus arms going up and down.

 

[lcc2]

I watched multiple livestreams when it premiered. Started to watch it in person on Sunday but halfway through we left to go ride FEA with a 10 minute wait. Maybe it will grow on me.

 

[gharter]

I watched multiple livestreams when it premiered. Started to watch it in person on Sunday but halfway through we left to go ride FEA with a 10 minute wait. Maybe it will grow on me.

I doubt it. We had dinner at 6:30 and planned to stay around to watch it a second time. In the past, to stay 90 minutes to watch Illuminations, Wishes or HEA was an easy yes! Tonight, we walked around a bit and decided we were not excited enough to wait that long to see it a second time and left. No regrets. That's a really sad statement. We always stay for the fireworks shows.

 

[Pens Fan]

OK. I tried to keep an open mind on this. We watched the DPB video (dear God what a train wreck) and were underwhelmed. Then we saw Craig's video and thought, OK it's visually appealing though lacking in emotion, but maybe when we get there and see it in person we will get it.

So, now we've seen it first hand, in person. And I hate it. Sorry to those that like it. But for me it was even worse in person than on video. If this was in ANY other park besides Epcot I'd be OK with it. But as a family whose favorite park has always been Epcot, this show embodies everything that is wrong with Disney right now. There is no heart. No soul. It's all about selling the Disney product. It made me sad.

For the record we all really enjoyed Enchantment in the MK. Though it is the first Disney nighttime show that didn't bring me to tears. Still it was fun and the pyro was incredible. So we aren't just anti change negative nellies, but Bargemonious - yeah we won't be scheduling our day around seeing that again.

 

[Mcert01]

You know what? I question why I still show any interest in Disney given the direction the company has taken on so many fronts. It's a deep emotional connection to it that pulls me in with the hope that things can change. I will continue to criticize what I regard as poor judgment on the part of decision-makers and I will applaud what I perceive to be an enhancement to the guest experience. Don't like it? Put me on ignore and you'll never see my posts.

You got it. Ignored

 

[BK2014]

0 out of 100
Worst show disney has ever produced.

Have you seen the kite show?

 

[minie_meese]

We were there Monday night and everyone with us really enjoyed it. I saw Illuminations many times and enjoyed it too.

 

[catnik]

We saw it 10/9. Fireworks 10/10. Projections: 6/10 because we were not right.in.front.of.the.sphere. Music: 4/10. Huge distortion, volume 12/10 eardrum piercing. Would I line up 90 minutes ahead to see it again? No. Walk by and watch it? Yes