According to a Laughing Place interview with Walt Disney Imagineer Steve Davison, it was Disney CEO Bob Chapek’s idea to use Disney music for “Harmonious,” EPCOT’s new nighttime spectacular.
Davison, discussing the creation of “Harmonious,” said Chapek said, “Why don’t we do a Disney concert? Everyone loves Disney music.”
Davison then used that concept to create a storyline that would work within World Showcase.
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Chapek is a painfully ignorant CEO.
I don’t remember which imagineer but on the golden Jamboree I remember a quote that really sums it up “He was not a good show designer but he had the power to be one and that shows the dangers of power” or something like that.
wow, if this doesn’t prove that Chapek doesn’t get it….I don’t know what will.
Imagine who we have to blame for the show being this, thanks again chapek
Ah, that explains alot. Still too much IP infused into show that is better fitted for HS. Nothing special or unique to Epcot, like Illuminations was. Fail.
We really enjoyed Harmonious. Saw a preview of it on our 20th anniversary after a nearby dinner. Didn’t have a great vantage point to be able to see it all (especially the lower half of all the projections, etc.) but since then we’ve seen it on YouTube to help fill in the blanks and it is IMHO the best lagoon show EP has put on since I’ve been going there (2010). And I appreciate all the pictures you guys and gals have been posting of the show, since they made it into my trip album after I got home. Thank you.
Wow, imagine downvoting someone simply because they liked the show.
Narrator: but the storyline did not work within World Showcase
I guess after Chapek reads this article we can all assume that Davidson was back in the unemployment line.
Because if the established IPs aren’t in it then audiences won’t like it. What? The data tells us so. We never have to think or be creative again
What storyline? The show is a random montage of gratuitous intellectual property with no cohesive story. Wholly inappropriate for EPCOT. I understand Iluminations had probably run it’s course after 20 years but when you replace something it needs to exceed, not be inferior to its predecessor. In this context, not only is the new show light on pyro in lieu of cheaper water and lightning effects, it is just another step in the continuous degradation of the humanist and edutainment concept of EPCOT that is so beloved and hoped for by paying fans.
Bring Illuminations type show back. Characters and movie music has its place in the parks, but NOT EPCOT fireworks.
Exactly. I know Disney is against this, but this latest fail proves that they really need to do focus group testing with things like this prior to launch.
#firechapek
Robot-Bob stikes again.
So he’s the Kathleen Kennedy of a things going wrong with parks decisions.
So that’s the state of the world. Bob Chapek demands and the imagineers are tasked with shoehorning whatever demand into something that works to the best of their abilities. This seems worse than accountineering.
They really missed the mark on this! Harmonious is anything but. The score of Illuminations was truly outstanding and transcended the usual Disney sing-a-long. THAT’S what made Illuminations touch the heart. Harmonious is a huge step backward and is just cheap kareoke fill with minimal effort on pyro effects. Update Illuminations and dump Harmonious.
Poor choice by a poor executive.
but the only song to ever win an academy award for disney is not allowed.
Not sure what story they were going for, but I received no story from this show. Visually it is stunning and I fully appreciate the coordination between all of the elements. Technically, I think the show is great. But telling a story? I came away specifically wondering “where’s the story?”. It was just a bunch of random IP with some various languages tossed that have zero connections to anything other than making it confusing and disconnected. A story, this show does not tell.
Chapek is a genius – who would have thought of sth like that? What a creative mastermind. Reminds me of Paul Pressler, who came up with the brillant idea of a hidden mickey on a golf ball…
I think he’s like Eisner from the opening of Euro Disneyland to his retirement.
My son is into everything about Disney music which actually inspired him to continue his career as a symphony, cinematic, classical composer on line which 2 publishing companies sells his composition. His name is Joshua Idio and he’s on Youtube. One music Disney I would recommend Vision Beyond a Star. His music is niw being played from Universities, Schools and Symphonic Bands. Pls listen and i appreciated any help he can get. Such a talented musician.
Dear Bob,
You’re not at H.J. Heinz making ketchup anymore.
So that’s why it’s so awful? Legit why would he ruin that beautiful view with those ugly things in the water. He also doesn’t understand EPCOT. So over him, hopefully he’s out soon.
Wow!! What an original idea!!! We never saw that before!!!
Thus confirming that he indeed to blame for this steaming POS.