It’s the end of an era as Disney Parks Blog announces that the Illuminations: Reflections of earth night-time show at Epcot will be closing. It had been rumored for quite some time that a change would be coming to the show. Illuminations at Epcot closing is part of a bigger project to increase Epcot’s popularity. Other changes include the highly anticipated Guardians of the Galaxy type coaster attraction, new restaurant near Mission: SPACE and a Ratatouille-inspired attraction at the France Pavilion. It seems like Disney is trying to provide Epcot with more of a WOW factor. There is no word on what will be replacing the show at this point. However, the new show will be “all-new nighttime fireworks spectacular” at the World Showcase Lagoon.
A little background
For those that don’t know, Illuminations: Reflections of Earth has been captivating park guests for almost 20 years. It is located in World Showcase Lagoon, using fireworks, music and globe to put on a nightly extravaganza that celebrates the Earth and unity. Illuminations: Reflections of Earth started in October 1999. The night-time show will run until summer of 2019 before the new night-time show will take its place. Illuminations have gone through a few variation in the past, including Illuminations and Illuminations 25.
Thoughts
This is no big surprise that they will be replacing Illuminations. Especially as Magic Kingdoms has already undergone changes to the nighttime show in the past couple years. Disney has done well in the past to continue to innovate the guest experience, so I do have high hopes. However, I also hope that the new show continues with the same feel as Illuminations, as it portrayed us as one world and unity – very inline with the feel of Epcot as a whole. The idea of Epcot is based around the idea of creating a community of tomorrow (EPCOT – Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow). It would be disheartening if this was slowly stripped from the parks. Unity is needed these days and I will hope it will remain the main theme of the new show. It is saddening that illuminations at Epcot closing but look forward to the future.
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