July 4th Illuminations

[onceuponadream]

Just wondering if the July 4th Fireworks are incorporated into Illuminations or if they are something completely different. In other words, is their Illuminations and then Fireworks, just Fireworks or July 4th Fireworks after the regular Illuminations show.

If we wait to get to Epcot until about 7:30 pm is there a chance the park will be closed to crowds? Didn't know if Epcot ever reaches max capacity.

Thanks!

 

[safetymom]

It is the regular Illuminations then another 10 mins of 4th of July fireworks. They are awesome!!!!

 

[civileng68]

Just wondering if the July 4th Fireworks are incorporated into Illuminations or if they are something completely different. In other words, is their Illuminations and then Fireworks, just Fireworks or July 4th Fireworks after the regular Illuminations show.

If we wait to get to Epcot until about 7:30 pm is there a chance the park will be closed to crowds? Didn't know if Epcot ever reaches max capacity.

Thanks!

There will be a completely normal Illuminations. Nothing special in it. The same from beginning to end.

Then when it is over, there will be a moment where they talk and welcome everyone and then they do the special show which is completely unique (nothing about Illuminations in it).

Also, you'll be fine coming in late. At MK it will be closed most likely but at Epcot you'll be fine coming in whenever.

 

[wdwguide]

There will be a completely normal Illuminations. Nothing special in it. The same from beginning to end.

They tend to do the full version (i.e. all perimeter elements) during holidays, not the slightly stripped-down version they show most of the year. But 99% of all people won't be able to tell the difference. My disclaimer here is that I haven't seen many Illuminations shows since the inferno barge "incident" last year, so I do not know if they still do the version with multiple rounds of perimeter shells at all.

The holiday tag (which follows the regular show) is awesome. Really, all Disney/July 4 fireworks are awesome, especially the ones over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Since they are usually not all presented at the same time (usually 9 pm over the Seven Seas Lagoon/behind and around the Magic Kingdom; same time for Sorcery in the Sky at the Studios and 10 pm at Epcot), you can usually see two shows that day if you feel adventurous, know what you are doing and don't mind rushing a bit (especially if you want to see the MK and Epcot shows - it's not so difficult for the Studios and Epcot since they are just 25 minutes apart from each other if you walk - while you will probably want to since transportation might be very congested if you are not one of the first to leave the park after the show ends).

 

[civileng68]

They tend to do the full version (i.e. all perimeter elements) during holidays, not the slightly stripped-down version they show most of the year. But 99% of all people won't be able to tell the difference. My disclaimer here is that I haven't seen many Illuminations shows since the inferno barge "incident" last year, so I do not know if they still do the version with multiple rounds of perimeter shells at all.

The holiday tag (which follows the regular show) is awesome. Really, all Disney/July 4 fireworks are awesome, especially the ones over the Seven Seas Lagoon. Since they are usually not all presented at the same time (usually 9 pm over the Seven Seas Lagoon/behind and around the Magic Kingdom; same time for Sorcery in the Sky at the Studios and 10 pm at Epcot), you can usually see two shows that day if you feel adventurous, know what you are doing and don't mind rushing a bit (especially if you want to see the MK and Epcot shows - it's not so difficult for the Studios and Epcot since they are just 25 minutes apart from each other if you walk - while you will probably want to since transportation might be very congested if you are not one of the first to leave the park after the show ends).

Since the inferno barge has returned to action, everything is the same as before, except better.

As mentioned on the Disney podcast, more money has been incorporated into the show and the fountains have had added pressure added, the lighting is better, the lasers have been worked on and are more noticeable, and at the end of the show, they now do the laser writing on the back of Spaceship Earth every evening.

 

[teacher31]

Okay, what barge *incident?"

 

[wdwguide]

Okay, what barge *incident?"

I believe one of the shells that used to be air launched (specifically the second shell of the show, the one that simulates the opening comet "exploding" over the center of the lagoon) detonated within the launch tube when it wasn't supposed to, basically destroying the barge. The barge was missng from the show for several months until it was rebuilt. Since then, air launched shells aren't used at Epcot any more (the opening comet is now launched "conventionally" from the shore of the lagoon instead of the UK pavilion, and the second shell is also conventionally launched).

This happened last September 18 in the afternoon, I believe.

 

[onceuponadream]

Thanks all...EPCOT for July 4th fireworks it is!

 

[paras4ri]

they now do the laser writing on the back of Spaceship Earth every evening.

I saw the writing on Spaceship Earth one night this past December. It was late and we were some of the last people in the park. We were joking that the message was "get out" in lots of different languages!

 

[civileng68]

Just a note to throw in, though it is obvious, you dont normally think of it......Disney is the largest consumer of fireworks per year, in the world.