IllumiNations to Close August 30?

[fishersman]

I'm going to need some support on this, but I am 100% certain that there was a globe used in the EPCOT laser/light shows well before 1999 - without a doubt as early as 1993, and I think as early as the '80s. I don't know what they were calling the show back then, and I'm guessing it wasn't the same globe, but they definately had a big globe out in the middle of the lake WAY before 1999.

I am not sure if they had a globe in the lake, but they used to project lasers onto Spaceship Earth to make it look like a globe. As the park emptied after the show was over, the projection was still there. I miss that part of the show. I always thought it was pretty cool the way they did it.

 

[BostonRob]

Gotta say no.

The current Video globe was newly-built for IllumiNations 2000.

What used to be in the previous shows was a passive sphere.
It was used as a "projection screen" for some of the laser effects.

Right, thanks, that's what I was talking about! Call it a sphere or a globe, call it active or passive, but it was a big round thing in the middle of the lake that lit up. That was my only point.

 

[Sorahana]

The nighttime show we saw last year at DisneySea in Tokyo was fantastic. I do love Illuminations. I do not remember the name of the show we saw in Tokyo, but it involved a love story between fire and water. Fire was represented by a very tall fire breathing dragon that rose from underwater. Water was represented by tall white abstract water sprites that looked like representations of female ballerinas.

That would be BraviSeaMo! I want to go to Tokyo DisneySea so bad!!

The rumor I heard was they're going to replace it with World of Color, the same show California Adventure is getting but thinking about it, it doesn't fit the theme of Epcot at all.

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned "DisneySea Symphony"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_5JU-R6iF8
If Epcot ever does replace Illuminations, I could seriously see this being at Epcot minus Mickey and changes to the music.

Who knows, nothing's official ubntil Disney says something about it and they haven't. I'd miss Illuminations ROE though, it's grown on me =(.

 

[sharadoc]

I am not sure if they had a globe in the lake, but they used to project lasers onto Spaceship Earth to make it look like a globe. As the park emptied after the show was over, the projection was still there. I miss that part of the show. I always thought it was pretty cool the way they did it.

That was really neat. I also miss the focus on each country and their corny music from the old Illuminations. You'd hear the can-can, then all the spotlights would go to France, then the lights on the building would dance along to the music. Simple but comfortable.

That old show had a lot less fireworks, but it was really nice.

 

[hkeller27]

I have "some" (it's only some though!) inside scoop as I'm a Disney travel agent....our official word is that Illuminations is scheduled to show every night between now and the end of November (as that is as far as the calendar goes for now). There are three dates in Septmember (4, 11, 18) where it will show at 8pm instead of the usual 9pm for the rest of the month.

It is scheduled nightly for October at 9pm, and nightly for November at 9pm, but at 9:30 for the last 4 nights of the month.

On a personal note, I'd be bummed to see it end - the beginning of the show when the torches are "blown out" gives me goosebumps everytime. And yet I remember being in a huff over the Main Street Electrical Parade leaving.....and oh how I've come to love SpectroMagic!

 

[WEDWDW]

clubthemeparks is still reporting this information.To my knowledge clubthemeparks is not affiliated with Jim Hill.Also,to my knowledge,this is not being reported on Wikipedia.clubthemeparks uses a "description" of IllumiNations from Wikipedia,but the actual announcement is only on clubthemeparks.

 

[Nicole786]

This my have been true at one time but it's not any more. The characters appear throughout the WS and you can buy character merchandise everywhere.

Characters have always been present I'm just talking more in the parks attractions and theme

 

[Robo]

Characters have always been present I'm just talking more in the parks attractions and theme

That's not quite true either.

In the early days of Epcot, the only thing "Mickey" to be found easily was
the famous 3-circle logo on the manhole covers. (I'm not kidding.)

Not to worry, however.
These things can become convoluted and policies have changed over the years.

Those of us who were around and keeping track of such trivia
tend to get stuck in the fine details, but that's what this board is all about.

 

[Mitzicat]

Last year Illuminations was not fully operating - they were redoing the globe. So we did not see the show (we chose to wait and see it complete this year).

Isn't it weird that they just refurbed the glove last year and now they are changing the show??

Just curious?!?!

Amy

When we were at Epcot in Sept 08, they had just put the now refurbed globe back in the show. It was amazing. I find it hard to believe that they would pay all the money to refurb the globe and change then change the show?

 

[Sabi]

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth, a mesmerizing fireworks, laser and water show featuring a rousing soundtrack, plays nightly for Guests of all ages in the World Showcase area in Epcot theme park. NIGHTLY 9.00 p.m.
Didn't it close!

 

[idofabric]

OK, take this with a grain of salt...
In Jan. of this year we were talking to a man that said his wife was a VP at WDW and in charge of the firework show at ECPOT. We had heard that there were changing the show in our Dec 08 trip, and had seen the new globe at last years F&W.
Anyway, he said that she said that they were revamping the show. More, better improved, new sound and so on, maybe a little longer. And it might be down on and off for a while, but not longer then a few weeks at a time...
Rember that grain of salt....
Hope that it is true.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Whenever they do get around to replacing Illuminations, I hope that they don't get artsy fartsy with it. That globe is a huge snoozefest in the middle. Before anyone starts telling me the story and art behind Illuminations, I know it - heard it, read it, seen it - and still think it is a bore.

I love Illuminations, really and truly. The fireball, the way everything lights up when those white things are going off all over the place and the end are all fantastic. I love it when the torches go out right before it starts. Even like the dancing lights on the buildings. I got the music and listen to it all the time in the car. Big fan.

But the middle part sucks.

Less art, more pop.

 

[AmberHeartsDisney]

i guess i might be seeing a new show when i get in dec then

 

[sarhenty]

I agree with whole middle part sucks. Its too long of a pause. I also got to say that although the fireworks are beautiful they are no match to the Wishes fireworks. I just REALLY HOPE that they don't change the musical score and the ending song as well. It is one of most beautiful scores even the intro and the man blowing out the lights is absolutely breathtaking.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Just to reiterate: "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth" is NOT ending on August 31. It IS running through September. It's missing from the calendar at disneyworld.com due to a glitch, which isn't uncommon for that site. If you visit the Epcot September calendar posted on the UK site, you will see ROE being performed every night:

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wd...alendarParkHoursMonthlyViewPage&date=20090901

So to paraphrase Mark Twain: The rumors of ROE's death have been greatly exaggerated.

 

[bratmomma]

See, I was looking forward to this show BECAUSE it pales in comparison to Wishes's fireworks. My DD3 is terrified of fireworks and when we saw this show last in '05 the fireworks were not as spectacular as some of the local displays that have frightened her. I thought by staying far enough away she might actually enjoy all the lights and colors without the explosions, more at Epcot as opposed to Wishes at MK.

I hope the PP who is a travel agent was correct and it is indeed running through all of September.

 

[bratmomma]

Thank you Brian!

 

[granmaz]

I wouldn't mind a different show, but I would be so very upset to see the wonderful music go. Gives me goose bumps every time.

 

[xipetotec]

I absolutely *love* Illuminations. I'm not one to say "don't change anything!!!!" ... but if they ever do change it, it had better be something REAL special...

 

[phyllis1966]

If Illuminations ever closes in the near future I will cry.

Illuminations is also my favorite and I would be so sad to see it gone. The music alone makes me cry...I would be upset it if turned into just a giant fireworks show. I love that the show now has a message and uses several different media to get the point across...

I'm in total agreement with you guys! I have the CD and it always brings a tear to my eye just listening and imagining it.