IllumiNations was "different" last night (2/27/08)

[Crazy Hakim]

Right from the start I knew something was up.
The show started without the normal narrated beginning (Good Evening,
we've gathered here tonight around the fire...........)
The lights just dimmed, the torches "blew" out and the show began,
quietly.....
The flame barge portion was the same, but when the fires ended, no globe
illuminated, and the show went straight to the part, where IF there was
a globe, it would have breached the center of the lake and the part
when we see man walking on the Earth. So, this is how I knew it wasn't
a fluke, the show was purposely adjusted for the missing globe. The
music was the same, but they added a few more firework effects to
compensate for the missing globe.
Most of the rest of the music was the same. The finale was the same,
but no globe, no "20th" torch rising up from the center.
And don't think this did not go unnoticed, when the grand finale ended,
it was almost dead quiet (think of the scene from "The Producers" when
the show tune "Springtime for Hitler" ends).
So, I hear that this was a test, and that it was being viewed by Disney Show and Entertainment. From what I hear, the globe is in dire need of a rehab, and this was a test to see how the show can be adjusted without the globe.
I hope they continue to adjust it, because from what I saw last night, it wasn't "plussed" enough.
The show "should" be back to normal tonight.

 

[ChrisFL]

It was working ok this past Sunday, no strange effects as far as I could notice.

 

[Michele]

I thought I heard something about the globe being refurbished.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

It was working ok this past Sunday, no strange effects as far as I could notice.

Yes, last night was a test, any other night would have been the normal presentation.

 

[belle41379]

We were there on 3/1 and the globe did move to the center, but the entire center portion of the show (where you see all the images on the globe, animals, landscapes, etc) was only the water and music. They did nothing different with the water...it was just the same as it would have been. It seemed to us that the globe malfunctioned, as it worked as it was moving to the center of the lake, then did not work at all, then worked again toward the end (it kind of "flickered" then the images came back on). It did open and the flame came up. It was pretty dissapointing. Hope they got it fixed.

 

[dogladyjw]

I was there a couple of years ago and saw the show. It was very hard to see what was showing on the globe from on shore. Has the been corrected? The globe was a complete waste of time as far as I was concerned. If you didn't have binoculars you couldn't see a darn thing on it.

 

[Luv2Roam]

PP must have had an off night for the show. I have seen Illimunations numerous times and never experienced not being able to distinguish what was on the globe.

 

[mjperry]

Man The need to do testing after the park is closed for the day not when guest who may see a show and leave wonder why something seemed missing( Am I the only one who can see a show and tell if something jsut is not right even if seeing it the first time.) If I were there I would gladley watch and give them input if the tested after hours.

 

[disrailfan]

It does not surprise me that they are trying to re-imagineer this show. The globe is now 8+ years old and unfortunately the rumor is that the company that built the globe is now belly up and out of business. That means there are not parts being made or available for the globe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Dorsey
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IllumiNations:_Reflections_of_Earth


There have been several rumors floating around on some of the other boards, however nothing is firm. The supposide new name of the show will be: Illuminations: SkyDance.

Hopefully something will be happening soon but this looks like it is due to be replaced in 2009.

 

[_queenie_]

Now that you mention it, I do remember my DS17 saying something was strange 2/27.

 

[Robo-Daddy 3000]

This is probably unreleated but when we stayed at Old Key West back in late August, one night we had voice message telling us that we may hear some noise later tonight coming from Epcot because they were testing some new effects for Illuminations after the park closed. I know that it was a long time ago but I thought it was interesting that they let guests know about it.

 

[Crazy Hakim]

This is probably unreleated but when we stayed at Old Key West back in late August, one night we had voice message telling us that we may hear some noise later tonight coming from Epcot because they were testing some new effects for Illuminations after the park closed. I know that it was a long time ago but I thought it was interesting that they let guests know about it.

This was, most likely, they special tag they added on the end of the show on Oct, 1st, which was Epcot's 25 Anniversary. They usually do this testing late at night and prefer to "warn" guests, instead of getting hundreds of 911 calls.