News Epcot Forever to debut as interim show before full Reflections of Earth replacement

[Jwhee]

My thoughts:

Pre-show announcements are HORRIBLE. Pre-Schoolers. A joke
Pre-show music is good
The show intro is amazing
The Sage of Time script being read off by the kid then the torches kicking on is quite awesome

The finale falls flat on its face and ruins the rest of the show we all just saw. They could've put the IP anywhere else in the show and it wouldn't have nearly as big of a negative impact on peoples thoughts.

Also, no classic Epcot post show music??? Why no ROE in the show at all either..? Blows my mind

 

[RSoxNo1]

Come on guys, we need to bring the criticism down a bit here. Even with A Whole New World slapped on at the end, you have to give Disney credit for going this deep with the fan service. Sure, it’s no RoE, but for what it is, it packs the right emotional punch overall. If there’s anything that should taken away from EPCOT Forever, it is to appreciate the calm before the inevitable IP storm that will be HarmonioUS.

This wasn't fan service, this was an attack to our intelligence and a deep lack of understanding of what EPCOT Center was. If this was fan service, it was done by someone that wasn't a fan.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

I find it interesting how many on this forum talk frequently about to much IP being put in Epcot.

The other day I was watching a YouTube video, I think it was called A Day In Epcot that Disney must have put out in the late 80's. In the video Epcot appeared to be LOADED with Disney characters waking around, etc.

That made me think, well maybe they're just going back to the way Epcot used to be in the 80's. Lots of Disney characters and IP.

 

[jrhwdw]

Listend to the finale again, totally get why Whole New World is in there. And You know what ? All they Sang was Let Me Share This Whole New World with You. Thats it , the rest was just instrumental. It's not the whole song in vocals or Gasp, Let It Go.... It's not BAD! I love this Show! Let's enjoy it while we have it because EF might be the right way to do IP. I'll be checking this week for supply issues, be back if I see anything.

 

[iMax]

Honestly I liked the show, Whole New World shouldn't be in it, but that's unfortunately what's coming next year.

As for the HarmonioUS preview...let's just say they're combining WOC with HEA.

If these new shows keep up the trend I'm afraid for MK's 50th fireworks show..and potential parade.

 

[Rteetz]

I mean the show isn’t perfect but man some people are just over the top dramatic I think about how bad it is. Yes it could be better but it’s That bad. I actually enjoyed it until the Aladdin part. Obviously haven’t seen it in person yet. I thought we all knew the Epcot of old died a while ago?

 

[RSoxNo1]

Listend to the finale again, totally get why Whole New World is in there. And You know what ? All they Sang was Let Me Share This Whole New World with You. Thats it , the rest was just instrumental. It's not the whole song in vocals or Gasp, Let It Go.... It's not BAD! I love this Show! Let's enjoy it while we have it because EF might be the right way to do IP. I'll be checking this week for supply issues, be back if I see anything.

Vocals or not, we know what the song is and the song isn't befitting of an Epcot tribute show.

 

[brb1006]

After rewatching it several times it becomes more and more obvious that for a company that has dedicated itself to telling stories, this show is completely missing one. Or at least any cohesive way of tying all of these elements together. As it is, it’s just a random clip show of old Epcot songs. That is such a shame because this show could be so much more, even if it is just temporary.
This show needs a host. Imagine if instead of a random kid talking every once in a while it was Dreamfinder and Figment. It is astonishing that the two biggest characters in all of Epcot’s history didn’t even get a mention (not including the song) but Eric Idle got directly quoted. What a missed opportunity.

I actually missed the Eric Idle quote until now.

 

[Kate F]

Possible ways to acronym HarmonioUS:
hUS
h-US
H-US
HarUS

 

[Epcot82Guy]

You guys think this is bad, go see the preview for Harmonious that there showing at the odyssey

So true. It seems the new show could be put in any park with no unique aspect at all. I mean, Happily Ever After is about following your dreams. This will be identical.

And this is beyond the forums. In the bus, I talked to two couples who were clearly not major fans like us who railed the new show. This smacks of things like JIYI and Disneyland's treatment of it's passholders a while ago.

 

[Kate F]

Shame that the show seems to be a bit of a disappointment, my brother who is a huge Epcot fan was really looking forward to this (and is not too happy about HarmonioUS).

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

World of Color pulled a Whole New World before it was cool....

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

I actually missed the Eric Idle quote until now.

Even for him he agrees about Epcot Forever

 

[brb1006]

Currently returning to my Resort hotel after having witnessed tonight's debut performance and the clear audience reactions.

Starts off promising, ends with a thud somewhat.
Mixed feelings.

Some elements I liked naturally, as this temp Show is designed to cater to the hardcore EPCOT Center fans, but other elements were jarring.
A couple of outright awkward 'gaps' in the presentation made me think for about five seconds the system went down ( no music, no lights, awkward song ending ).

Kite elements were cool in person.
Good reaction from the crowd for those.
Biggest reaction was the re-lighting of the lagoon side torches.
Big cheer went up for those.
Other two big cheers were for 'Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit' references and Millennium Celebration music ( Tapestry of Nations / Celebrste the Future ).

Getting off the bus....will post more soon....

-

You forgot to mention the child singers are quoting Nigel Channing's version of "One Little Spark" and not Dreamfinder!

 

[FigmentJedi]

Possible ways to acronym HarmonioUS:
hUS
h-US
H-US
HarUS

HarmUS

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I find it interesting how many on this forum talk frequently about to much IP being put in Epcot.

The other day I was watching a YouTube video, I think it was called A Day In Epcot that Disney must have put out in the late 80's. In the video Epcot appeared to be LOADED with Disney characters waking around, etc.

That made me think, well maybe they're just going back to the way Epcot used to be in the 80's. Lots of Disney characters and IP.

I'm not sure how old you are (meaning only if you saw it firsthand too), but as someone who visited Epcot actually at that time, they were there. But, those videos were meant to play them up. Epcot had it's own environments, music and characters. That's not too say Disney characters weren't there. But they were almost exclusively used either "on holiday" in Epcot or in costumes where they were representing the Pavilion or Country. If the characters were ambassadors here for real world ideas or cultures, this would be different. If they rewrote A Whole New World as an inspiring Epcot-like song, maybe. But they aren't. That's the difference in my view.

 

[Kate F]

HarmUS

Perfect

 

[Musical Mermaid]

HarmUS

Harm On US. The more I see the name of this show, the less I like it. It sounds so mean.

 

[Cmdr_Crimson]

Oh, and uh....Happy...37th Epcot? It's Epcot right? Yeah.....it's something...Here's a Mediocre Firework show for you..

 

[brb1006]

Was there and there were audible cheers with the Tapestry song came on but dead silence when Aladdin started. The whole thing felt disjointed but the ending was particularly weak and embarrassing. No finale, no heart.

Also, between the new MNSSHP fireworks show and Kidzbop Epcot Forever, when did Disney decide just to make shows for pre-schoolers?

Meanwhile at Disneyland


DCA's Oogie Boogie Bash (which started this year) is already making MNSSHP look even more embarassing. Especially with the new addition of "Villains Grove" where they transformed a section of DCA into a different atmosphere at night taken over by Disney Villains (and the Cheshire Cat) But guests at DL are already loving it because of how well executed it was.