Illuminations ending rumor- credible or nah?

[Newsies]

I was scrolling through Facebook when this post appeared in a Disney-related FB group:

According to the newest rumors, Illuminations is on its way out the door. I was lucky enough to see it twice last year: Once by myself at the entrance to World Showcase and the again a month later with my boyfriend on the bridge in front of Italy (with the Peace on Earth holiday tag!)

I will miss this show if the rumor is true, the song We Go On makes me tear up.

What do you think of Illuminations?

Is there any credibility to this rumor? That was the first time I heard anything of Illuminations ending and honestly, I'm taking it with a grain of salt until I hear accounts from others.

(And yes, at least 10 people commented "THEY BETTER NOT BE REPLACING IT WITH A FROZEN-THEMED SHOW!!!!")

 

[disney is my life]

I haven't heard anything about this but I really hope it's not true.

 

[Spacedog1975]

They made a modest tweak of the holiday version of Illuminations for 2014. Would seem an odd time to scrap it altogether. That said, it's been running for an age. Stands to reason that one day it'll be replaced.

I'm actually kind of surprised about how long all of the fireworks shows have been around.

 

[mcd2745]

There has to be some type of nighttime show. I can't see them scrapping it altogether, however i do believe Illuminations could use a little bit of an update and would not be upset if they tweaked it some.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Illuminations is one of the biggest reasons that I love WDW! I think I could watch it 365 days a year......

 

[Hammill9508]

I think that Illuminations will be here to stay, they may just tweet the show

 

[luisov]

If I recall, a new show (or an update to Illuminations) was supposed to be coming to Epcot.

 

[Oodalally13]

I used to think whatever the shows were at MK were my favorite. Last summer I had the chance to Finally watch them on back to back nights and realized Illuminations is actually my favorite. The whole part of "all gathered around the fire" and when he puffs it out make me cry. Then I get excited with the upbeat music turning the lights on at the countries.

 

[Takket]

As someone else said, they just invested in the show to add some new things to it. Companies like Disney don't shell out dollars like that for something they intend to close down in the near future. I think it will be safe for a while. It is my favorite show, I hope it stays forever. Or at least a 1000 years

 

[rteetz]

If I recall, a new show (or an update to Illuminations) was supposed to be coming to Epcot.

A new show is rumored to be in the works. They did just upgrade the lasers and supposedly the fountains are getting refurbed next. Illuminations isn't going anywhere for at least a year yet.

 

[101disneyfan]

There is a rumor that keeps popping up about an Illuminations replacement to be in works under the leadership of Steve Davison to debut in October.

 

[Crystal824]

This would make me really sad, but I wouldn't be surprised. Illuminations is 15 years old...in October it will be 16. I was on my CP (fall 1999) when it premiered. I actually saw it that first night. Everything eventually gets replaced or upgraded.

 

[circus4u]

This would make me really sad, but I wouldn't be surprised. Illuminations is 15 years old...in October it will be 16. I was on my CP (fall 1999) when it premiered. I actually saw it that first night. Everything eventually gets replaced or upgraded.

Are you talking only about the Reflections of Earth version of Illuminations? I seem to remember an earlier version of Illuminations where each of the countries was illuminated with lights on the buildings and the original ball was illuminated with projections from lasers mounted in buildings around the World Showcase.

 

[Hammill9508]

Are you talking only about the Reflections of Earth version of Illuminations? I seem to remember an earlier version of Illuminations where each of the countries was illuminated with lights on the buildings and the original ball was illuminated with projections from lasers mounted in buildings around the World Showcase.

yeah, i remember i laser show version of illuminations in the early-mid 90's

 

[rteetz]

Are you talking only about the Reflections of Earth version of Illuminations? I seem to remember an earlier version of Illuminations where each of the countries was illuminated with lights on the buildings and the original ball was illuminated with projections from lasers mounted in buildings around the World Showcase.

There have been several versions

 

[DDLand]

A new show is rumored to be in the works. They did just upgrade the lasers and supposedly the fountains are getting refurbed next. Illuminations isn't going anywhere for at least a year yet.

Indeed. Apparently it's all been TDO doing the upgrades to the current show. As we know, sometimes local spends money on things just as Burbank is ready to fork over the serious dough.

If I had to hazard a guess it would be 2017 or after when they start work. Knocking Illuminations offline before ROL would mean there's only one nighttime spectacular on property (Fantasmic is on the edge of qualifying). Bad for business. I see them using the new ROL as cover, they could take Illuminations offline for a few months to force people into Animal Kingdom and keep the nightlife going.

 

[rteetz]

Indeed. Apparently it's all been TDO doing the upgrades to the current show. As we know, sometimes local spends money on things just as Burbank is ready to fork over the serious dough.

If I had to hazard a guess it would be 2017 or after when they start work. Knocking Illuminations offline before ROL would mean there's only one nighttime spectacular on property (Fantasmic is on the edge of qualifying). Bad for business. I see them using the new ROL as cover, they could take Illuminations offline for a few months to force people into Animal Kingdom and keep the nightlife going.

I would see them doing something like Disneyland does. A small firework show or something in the meantime while upgrades are in the works. Everything is on barges so they could just build new upgraded barges and just switch them when they are ready. The lasers are out of place too where they could add or change when needed.

 

[DDLand]

I would see them doing something like Disneyland does. A small firework show or something in the meantime while upgrades are in the works. Everything is on barges so they could just build new upgraded barges and just switch them when they are ready. The lasers are out of place too where they could add or change when needed.

That's believable. No lasers and lights during upgrade but still with the basic show. That could work. They would still have to take a month to remove everything backstage and place new assets inside.

If they are going to make serious improvements they could stray from the barge model and place permanent infrastructure in. Huge parts of World Showcase Lagoon are already off limits so it wouldn't be encumbering any current resources.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I saw illuminations 2000 very early in its run - I think December 98...

I saw it at 12:00 on 1/1/2000...when they had all those light towers and "security" everywhere because they thought the power was gonna go out...

Had a dessert party there...after my EPCOT wedding and EPCOT reception...

Long before they were sold by the dozens...

I can amaze my kids by describing the type and location in the sky of each firework according to the music...with my back turned and/or eyes closed...

It's been well over a hundred times I think... And I never worked in EPCOT.

That's the backstory for this opinion:
It needs to go...still probably the best fireworks display ever in Florida...but still needs to go. 17 years is ridiculous for anything of this type.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That's believable. No lasers and lights during upgrade but still with the basic show. That could work. They would still have to take a month to remove everything backstage and place new assets inside.

If they are going to make serious improvements they could stray from the barge model and place permanent infrastructure in. Huge parts of World Showcase Lagoon are already off limits so it wouldn't be encumbering any current resources.

Remember...the barges are there by choice...not lack of time/desire/funds to build permanent banks in the lagoon.

Fireworks sound cute..like something in aisle 4 at toys r us...

But they are basically a coctail of gunpowder, dynamite, nice caustic chemicals, and industrial pigments...

They spend all day repacking those tubes on the barges and at the artillery range behind the "safety" building and near the roundhouse north of Magic kingdom...

They don't want that stuff being done in the middle of a park...no way if it can be avoided.

Say something were to happen...and some pyro tech's hand gets blown off and goes flying 300 feet into the showcase at 4:30?

Can you imagine the consequences? If it landed in Canada...it could stop the stampede on Le cellier temporarily...and hold people back from the most mediocre quality/highest prices USDA subprime steaks on earth...

Too
Much of a risk.