Here now - just saw Illuminations ????

[Mouse511]

Hi - we are at Disney now and just got back to our room from watching Illuminations and we were very underwhelmed ......we haven't watched this show in over 5 years and I remember it being much more 'spectacular' then it was tonight. It seems as though there are a lot less fireworks and a lot less fire from the gas barge.

Is this one of Disney's cut backs or am I just imagining this ??

 

[Tara]

It was as spectacular as ever in August. Maybe there was a problem with the show tonight.

 

[Sammie]

It did change at one time but honestly I can't remember. After yearly trips it all begins to run together.

Maybe I need to take a break, naw.

 

[Hunclemarco]

I didn't check it out tonight, but from our room in the Boardwalk, i didn't hear as many fireworks go off as we normally would. There are 3 sections of the show where you hear a huge amount of fireworks go off...and i noticed 2 "sounds of them" tonight. If we get a chance, we'll be seeing them tomorrow. Suppose to be having dinner at Tutto Italia at 8:25, so we should be there for illuminations.

 

[Sammie]

Maybe there was a malfunction then.

Sadly that seems to happen more lately at Disney. Monorail problems, rides broken down, Fantasmic, has had problems.

And yet ticket prices continue to rise.

 

[Brandis]

I agree, the older version (Millenium Celebration, I think and the one before that) were much more impressive, more fireworks and more fire from the inferno barge. You used to feel the heat when the fire erupted, not so much anymore. Also, noawadays, there are many "scenes" only with music and not much more going on. I seem to remember that the circa 1995 version of Illuminations was pretty much non-stop fireworks.

I also liked the part where the lands were introduced by a native speaker ("From my homeland ..., welcome" and then the same in their language)

 

[Mouse511]

I agree, the older version (Millenium Celebration, I think and the one before that) were much more impressive, more fireworks and more fire from the inferno barge. You used to feel the heat when the fire erupted, not so much anymore. Also, noawadays, there are many "scenes" only with music and not much more going on. I seem to remember that the circa 1995 version of Illuminations was pretty much non-stop fireworks.

I also liked the part where the lands were introduced by a native speaker ("From my homeland ..., welcome" and then the same in their language)

Thats kind of what we thought......after the 'first score' - the world was just spinning with music and scenes on the ball and nothing much else.

Then the ending - I remember non stop fireworks of epic proportion....but now its just a bunch of bright white firworks and thats it.

We saw lots of people heading to the exits long before the end of the show. - Oh well - I guess Illuminations is now on the 5 year plan.

 

[dianeschlicht]

The last several years, we have noticed they do less fireworks midweek than they do on the weekends. From Thursday through Saturday, you will see bigger displays than you will midweek. The music and show is basically the same, but they cut back on fireworks when the crowds are lower.

 

[lucyem]

We saw Illuminations for the first time in Feb and were totally underwhelmed. I just cannot understand why people make such a big deal about it Last month we saw Wishes for the first time and that on the other hand was amazing .

 

[crisi]

I also liked the part where the lands were introduced by a native speaker ("From my homeland ..., welcome" and then the same in their language)

I miss that as well. I'm not a huge fireworks person, but the schmaltzy "introduce the countries in Epcot" thing was great - with each country lighting up in turn.

I also LOVED the Epcot Tapestry of Dreams parade.

 

[lugnut33]

It doesn't need fireworks, the gas barge, or the video globe to be good. All it needs is the music which I consider the best musical score.... ever!!

 

[bwvBound]

I also liked the part where the lands were introduced by a native speaker ("From my homeland ..., welcome" and then the same in their language)

I miss that, too!

 

[dianeschlicht]

It doesn't need fireworks, the gas barge, or the video globe to be good. All it needs is the music which I consider the best musical score.... ever!!

I agree!!! LOVE that music. I miss the country introductions too, but I guess maybe it is time for another Illuminations redo. The current one has been running since 1999. If I remember correctly, the current "Reflections of Earth" is the 3rd version of Illuminations.

 

[madthemouse]

I know that WDW like most companies, have had to do some cut backs. From my perspective, I have not seen any cutbacks in this version of IllumiNations Reflections of Earth. It's still very much the same as it was back in 2000 in so far as their pyrotechnics.

I understand, not everyone has the same opinion. One persons likes...are another persons dislikes. IllumiNations vs Firework Shows, that we can view in our own communities. Perhaps there are more more Boom, Booms (For lack of better explanation), but less on content of story. WDW is a "Theme Park" as we all know. All their rides are telling a story. Even when we wait in the que lines. Disney starts telling us the story of the ride we're about to experience. And that story continues through out the ride. Wishes, IllumiNations Reflections of Earth, each tell a story as well. I'm sure WDW could set off a firework display without story line that would have all of us saying, "Ooh La La" I believe that it is simply stated what we are about to experience at the very begriming;

"Good evening, and welcome.

We've gathered here tonight, around the fire,

as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands
of years before us,

to share the light and to share a story

an amazing story, as old as time itself

but still being written.

And though we each of us have our own individual stories to tell

a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one.

I hope you enjoy our story tonight --

Reflections of Earth." ​

 

[LSchrow]

I also liked the part where the lands were introduced by a native speaker ("From my homeland ..., welcome" and then the same in their language)

It doesn't need fireworks, the gas barge, or the video globe to be good. All it needs is the music which I consider the best musical score.... ever!!

"Good evening, and welcome.

We've gathered here tonight, around the fire,

as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands
of years before us,

to share the light and to share a story

an amazing story, as old as time itself

but still being written.

And though we each of us have our own individual stories to tell

a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one.

I hope you enjoy our story tonight --

Reflections of Earth." ​

ditto....
i love illuminations (playing the soundtrack multiple times throughout the day) - and admit to singing along (very softly) everytime we see it. the intro gets me misty-eyed.....
it never fails that illuminations gives me goosebumps, and a "all is right in the world" feeling.
while a beautiful display, wishes has never come close to evoking the feelings illuminations does for me

 

[mufasa0505]

We saw it Sunday night and the inferno barge was out. I was told that it's been in & out for about a month now. It was definitely missed.

 

[Chilbert]

Saw it last night and was also surprised, and not in a good way. Cutbacks were very evident - the globe did not even open ! I stood there shocked when it was over thinking that can't be it. (and I've seen it dozens of times over the years and was impressed every time until last night)

 

[Mouse511]

Saw it last night and was also surprised, and not in a good way. Cutbacks were very evident - the globe did not even open ! I stood there shocked when it was over thinking that can't be it. (and I've seen it dozens of times over the years and was impressed every time until last night)

I knew it was different - I didnt see the globe open either.....as someone posted earlier - must be due to the low crowds now.

So underwhelmed by Illuminations - but able to walk on to almost any ride makes up for it....

 

[Greatfalls]

I admit to being a tree-hugger, so please don't attack me for this, but the last several times I saw Illuminations, I couldn't help but think how much natural gas they are burning every single night for the inferno. I wouldn't be surprised if the total usage in a single night could heat any of our houses for a couple of years. And they've been doing it for over ten years. With the environmental emphasis they have elsewhere (Living with the Land, AK Conservation Fund), along with the cost of gas, maybe it's time to rethink the show.

 

[wcpamotm]

I agree!!! LOVE that music. I miss the country introductions too, but I guess maybe it is time for another Illuminations redo. The current one has been running since 1999. If I remember correctly, the current "Reflections of Earth" is the 3rd version of Illuminations.

4th, if you count Holiday IllumiNations that ran for a time in the 90s, and parts of which have lately been tacked on to the end of Reflections of Earth during the season.

For those who liked the country introductions from IllumiNations 25, you'd have loved the country spotlights the original show had. Set to a bit of music appropriate to that country, each pavillion would light up in an elaborate sequence, often accented by a little extra thing, such as a maple leaf in Canada, Big Ben in the United Kingdom, and a cuckoo clock in Germany.