The EPCOT Forever nighttime spectacular has temporarily returned to the World Showcase Lagoon following the end of Harmonious. The returning nighttime spectacular will be performed each night as an interim replacement ahead of the debut of a new 100th-anniversary nighttime spectacular expected to debut at EPCOT later this year.
EPCOT Forever Returns
EPCOT Forever initially debuted in October 2019 with the end of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.
The nighttime show honors the park’s musical heritage, with a spectacular display of fireworks, music, lighting, lasers, and special effects set to revamped versions of iconic songs from classic EPCOT attractions such as “Journey Into Imagination,” “Spaceship Earth,” “Soarin’,” “Tapestry of Nations,” and “Universe of Energy.”
The show was designed to pay tribute to the past, present, and future of EPCOT.
Just before the first firework is lit, “One Little Spark” is projected throughout the speakers surrounding the World Showcase Lagoon, leading into the music that welcomes guests at the EPCOT entrance plaza, before nearly twelve minutes of EPCOT-inspired songs accompany the fireworks of the returning nighttime spectacular.
Like Harmonious and IllumiNations, it’s performed on World Showcase Lagoon for a 360-degree audience. Unlike Harmonious, it doesn’t utilize the hated “taco”-shaped barges that blocked the view of World Showcase.
Watch the Return of the EPCOT Forever Nighttime Spectacular Below:
Harmonious Nighttime Spectacular
The 50th Anniversary celebration has come to a close across Walt Disney World, and the nighttime spectaculars introduced as part of “The Most Magical Celebration on Earth” have now been performed for the final time. Last night, guests visiting EPCOT were able to watch the last performance of the “Harmonious” nighttime spectacular before it was replaced by the limited return of “EPCOT Forever”.
“Harmonious” debuted on October 1, 2021, using five barges within the waters of the World Showcase Lagoon to deliver an all-new 20-minute nighttime fireworks spectacular. Harmonious featured a soundtrack of 15 songs in 13 languages from 240 artists around the world.
Cranes are already in place around World Showcase to remove the barges following last night’s final performance of “Harmonious” at EPCOT. These barges were widely considered unsightly and impeded the stunning vistas of the lagoon on either side. In addition, they were plagued by a variety of problems, ranging from malfunctioning equipment to outright fires. They have already been removed from the EPCOT map in the My Disney Experience app and online at the Walt Disney World website.
Disney100 Celebration
Eventually, a 100 Years of Wonder nighttime spectacular will debut at EPCOT, replacing EPCOT Forever. In October of 2022, we reported that it was rumored that Disney will incorporate the use of drones in their new nighttime show. It is scheduled to premiere late this year, but an exact timeframe has not been announced.
In addition to the new nighttime spectacular, guests will be able to meet Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse in their platinum attire, see a platinum sculpture of the one who started it all, and watch Spaceship Earth illuminate the evenings with a new Spectacle of Light show. Journey of Water, CommuniCore Hall, World Celebration Garden, and Dreamers Point are all scheduled to open in late 2023 at EPCOT.
Walt Disney World recently announced monthly themes for Disney100.
The 100 Years of Wonder celebration is in full swing at Disneyland Resort, where guests can enjoy “Wondrous Journeys” at Disneyland and “World of Color – ONE” at Disney California Adventure. The platinum Mickey sculpture at EPCOT will presumably be the same as the one at Disneyland, which had to be fixed because the Walt Disney quote on the base was incorrect. Disneyland also has a platinum Minnie statue.
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