Illuminations at Epcot has changed...

[kendall1968]

My friends and I just returned from a great week at WDW! We had a blast! The only thing that I was slightly disappointed in was the Illuminations show at Epcot. We had 4 newbies with us and I had talked up this show and told them that we had to stay to see it. It was a total bust! For as long as I can remember (...and I have been going pretty regularly since participating in the College Program in '93) during the Illuminations show each "pavillion" was individually focused upon, had special lighting and music that pertained to that Country. Now it is just a giant fireworks display with the globe floating in the middle of the lagoon. When did this change? I really wish they would bring the old show back! The show used to bring emotion. Now it just brings loud bangs and lots of smoke. My friends liked the fireworks. Disney does fireworks like no other, but my big build up was a met with disappointment.

 

[Heidi Lou]

I agree 100%. What the heck happended...I feel like i noticed this a while back though...like almost 3. I could be wrong but that is when we started thinking it was awful compared to what it used to be. I loved when the countries it up and their music played. It was pretty special. and i am sorry but that globe with dolphins swimming on the screens...what in the world!!!!! so dumb!

 

[kendall1968]

I agree 100%. What the heck happended...I feel like i noticed this a while back though...like almost 3. I could be wrong but that is when we started thinking it was awful compared to what it used to be. I loved when the countries it up and their music played. It was pretty special. and i am sorry but that globe with dolphins swimming on the screens...what in the world!!!!! so dumb!

Thank you for reconfirming! I was afraid I had too many pints at The Rose & Crown and may have blacked out or something...lol. It really is a sorry version compared to the old one.

 

[disneyfanlincoln]

I thought that illuminations had been watered down somewhat too. Glad to know it wasn't just my imagination. DH particularly enjoys the globe thing and so we have to watch it a lot and I'm not allowed to criticise !!!!

 

[MouseMomx2]

The current show has been in place for more than 10 years. It was created for the Millennium Celebration in 1999/2000. The versions (there was more than one) that focused on individual countries were previous to this one.

Different strokes for different folks and all but I much prefer this version to all other incarnations of Illuminations.

 

[DebbieB]

My friends and I just returned from a great week at WDW! We had a blast! The only thing that I was slightly disappointed in was the Illuminations show at Epcot. We had 4 newbies with us and I had talked up this show and told them that we had to stay to see it. It was a total bust! For as long as I can remember (...and I have been going pretty regularly since participating in the College Program in '93) during the Illuminations show each "pavillion" was individually focused upon, had special lighting and music that pertained to that Country. Now it is just a giant fireworks display with the globe floating in the middle of the lagoon. When did this change? I really wish they would bring the old show back! The show used to bring emotion. Now it just brings loud bangs and lots of smoke. My friends liked the fireworks. Disney does fireworks like no other, but my big build up was a met with disappointment.

I don't remember showcasing the individual countries since it was changed to Reflections of Earth in late 1999. Before then they did.

 

[recmouse]

I'm so glad it's not just me! When I watched it in January when it was over I was like, "Huh?" The same feeling wasn't there... there just seems to be no story line... just not the same.

 

[WSLover]

I also prefer the previous version to the current one. But I do like the original music of the current version. I thought the buildings around World Showcase still lit up but I have not been for 6 years (going this Nov) so I could be mistaken.

 

[maxiesmom]

It has been all about the globe for many years.

 

[KellyNY]

OK, I am lost, I do not remember focus on individual countries but I did not see before 2000 version. Last time I was in 2010. Someone, please tell me nothing changed since because I was already disapointed back then with less fireworks.

 

[MHSweb79]

The Floating Globe Show leaves me, DH and DD pretty cold. We have been skipping Illuminations for years.

My DH said the other day (while i was watching yet another Disney documentary) that he wishes they'd bring back the laser show in the sky. Now THAT goes back a lot of years!

 

[mesaboy2]

Saw it Monday night for the first time in maybe three or four years and was kind of underwhelmed. There is a portion where some of the countries light up, but not really individually and there is no focus that I saw. Give me Wishes any day.

 

[stlouisdisneyguy]

They definitely need to put a new show in Epcot for the nighttime. Illuminations is okay, but having seen it so many times I just wish that they would give us something new!

 

[kendall1968]

The current show has been in place for more than 10 years. It was created for the Millennium Celebration in 1999/2000. The versions (there was more than one) that focused on individual countries were previous to this one.

Different strokes for different folks and all but I much prefer this version to all other incarnations of Illuminations.

...well, I did say "as long as I remember" and my memory could be going bad. lol. I just find this new version very underwhelming.

 

[POOHsie]

I remember the old show. They would highlight a certain country, then play a clip of iconic music while the building lights flashed. France was a can-can song, America started with the clarinet solo at the beginning of "Rhapsody in Blue," etc., etc.

Someone tell me if I'm crazy here... I remember the show being longer. I thought it was about a full 15 minutes. Now it's 12 minutes or less. Watching the latest show, I always feel it's ended too early.

 

[Sammie]

Here you go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfuDsaACOu4&feature=bf_prev&list=PL7A9FDB815C430F8D

EPCOT IllumiNations - The ORIGINAL - 1988 -

The video part is not very good, but you can hear the various songs for each country. I had forgotten about this, too many visits I guess lol

Here is 97-99

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw1kIfbmKKI&feature=related

 

[kendall1968]

I remember the old show. They would highlight a certain country, then play a clip of iconic music while the building lights flashed. France was a can-can song, America started with the clarinet solo at the beginning of "Rhapsody in Blue," etc., etc.

Someone tell me if I'm crazy here... I remember the show being longer. I thought it was about a full 15 minutes. Now it's 12 minutes or less. Watching the latest show, I always feel it's ended too early.

I totally agree. The new show is shorter.

 

[Heidi Lou]

I remember the old show. They would highlight a certain country, then play a clip of iconic music while the building lights flashed. France was a can-can song, America started with the clarinet solo at the beginning of "Rhapsody in Blue," etc., etc.

Someone tell me if I'm crazy here... I remember the show being longer. I thought it was about a full 15 minutes. Now it's 12 minutes or less. Watching the latest show, I always feel it's ended too early.

I think you are right....and i remeber the globe being incorporated in 1999/2000ish...but the show still had certain focus on countries as compared to what it is now. It really seems like since the globe was incorporated, it has changed. Maybe i am just not as interested as i used to be but i could have sworn when i went about 4 years or so ago was the first time i thought,"Hold on, what happened here???" who knows? it's another one of those things ill never understand

 

[maxiesmom]

I totally agree. The new show is shorter.

But it is not really a new show. It is the one that has been being shown for at least 7 years.

But I will agree that I liked the show where they put the spotlight on each country better.

 

[DOOM1001]

The current show has been the same for years now,it's my favorite Disney nighttime show as I've seen it probably 200 times and have yet to get tired of it.I understand a new show will eventually come but I always worry if whatever new show goes in there will leave me underwhelmed and missing this current show even more.