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

[Mac Tonight]

I haven't seen the show yet (videos would be my only option) but based on everything I've read over the past pages, I'm not sure I really want to.

I have all the old pavilion soundtracks anyway, so I think I'll just stick with those for now

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

Flame me all you want. I think they created a cute little send off to Epcot before it changes its mission forever.

I agree. But “cute” and “little” really aren’t the standards we’ve come to expect from Disney night time shows. This show seems to have a very small amount of pyro in it. But I would like to know from the experts if I’m correct that it is a cheap show pyro wise.

It feels like a show a regional park would do if they were trying to copy Disney.

I’m actually fine with a whole new world.... I get it and while I may have rolled my eyes when it started opening night, it didn’t bug me too much. By then I had figured the show wasn’t gonna be the home run I was hoping for.

 

[Disney Analyst]

I agree. But “cute” and “little” really aren’t the standards we’ve come to expect from Disney night time shows. This show seems to have a very small amount of pyro in it. But I would like to know from the experts if I’m correct that it is a cheap show pyro wise.

It feels like a show a regional park would do if they were trying to copy Disney.

I’m actually fine with a whole new world.... I get it and while I may have rolled my eyes when it started opening night, it didn’t bug me too much. By then I had figured the show wasn’t gonna be the home run I was hoping for.

I guess I had my expectations in check a bit more. We knew this was temporary, simply a fireworks show with the added element of kites. It really just seems like a classic Fantasy in the Stars style show, which I do appreciate that classic older style Disney fireworks.

And anyway, the largest spectacle they've ever created (their words) is debuting next year at Epcot...

 

[FigmentFan82]

Great temporary show! Definitely eager to see in person!

So many complainers here, so childish. (Cue the inevitable - "I'm being attacked for having opinions that make me out to look like a 8 year old having a temper tantrum! I know Disney better than you, Disney used to be so much better, I wish it was 1982 even though I was born in 1999)

 

[TJJohn12]

As far as the "Whole New World" not fitting in, I guess I really appreciated the new verse of "One Little Spark" they wrote to transition into that moment:

The dreams we dream, the hopes inside us,
ignite the path we take to guide us,
and hand-in-hand the future is unfurled,
from just one spark: A Whole New World.

I guess I've just really begun to embrace what appears to be the new theme of EPCOT as it rolls forward: humanity working together in harmony. With the "death" of Future World and its division into "World Discovery," "World Celebration," and, "World Nature," the theme seems to be coalescing in my mind - and this verse leads perfectly into that concept. So I saw a choral arrangement of "A Whole New World" as an obvious extension of the new theme. The focus on cohesive community and collective power seems like an underlying element of Walt's original city project as well - so the Walt quotes tee'd me up for liking the finale as well.

 

[brickbuilder711]

As far as the "Whole New World" not fitting in, I guess I really appreciated the new verse of "One Little Spark" they wrote to transition into that moment:



I guess I've just really begun to embrace what appears to be the new theme of EPCOT as it rolls forward: humanity working together in harmony. With the "death" of Future World and its division into "World Discovery," "World Celebration," and, "World Nature," the theme seems to be coalescing in my mind - and this verse leads perfectly into that concept. So I saw a choral arrangement of "A Whole New World" as an obvious extension of the new theme. The focus on cohesive community and collective power seems like an underlying element of Walt's original city project as well - so the Walt quotes tee'd me up for liking the finale as well.

Good point. This is the context to which I understood the finale.

 

[TrainsOfDisney]

guess I had my expectations in check a bit more. We knew this was temporary, simply a fireworks show with the added element of kites.

You weren’t expecting more pyro? I didn’t hate the show. I look forward to seeing it again on my next trip as I didn’t have the best of views over in Canada (but I could see the lasers really good.) I really didn’t like the kid announcer and I expected more big pyro and yes i was expecting a little section of ROE, but I wasn’t expecting the tapestry music so that kind of evened that out.

 

[Disney Analyst]

You weren’t expecting more pyro? I didn’t hate the show. I look forward to seeing it again on my next trip as I didn’t have the best of views over in Canada (but I could see the lasers really good.) I really didn’t like the kid announcer and I expected more big pyro and yes i was expecting a little section of ROE, but I wasn’t expecting the tapestry music so that kind of evened that out.

I don't know, it seems mostly in line with the type of ROE pyro to me, minus the blank globe section, and obviously this show is much shorter.

Edit:

Biore isn’t here for the complaints I guess?

 

[skimbob]

Goodbye Illuminations I miss you already.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Great temporary show! Definitely eager to see in person!

So many complainers here, so childish. (Cue the inevitable - "I'm being attacked for having opinions that make me out to look like a 8 year old having a temper tantrum! I know Disney better than you, Disney used to be so much better, I wish it was 1982 even though I was born in 1999)

With due respect, though it seems little is shared in return. Many of us were born well, well before 1999 and have a lot of first hand knowledge. And, if you read our comments, there is a lot of substance to the criticisms. Disney used to put a lot more thought into its attractions and their contextual fit. That is simply the truth. They didn't always get it right, but the "show" in that regard was paramount. That has been given up.

And, that is not speculation. I was told that in my welcome speech by the President of Epcot at the time about how they go about trying to design attractions. It was part of Disney Park's design at that time (which was, frankly, a very low point for the company and the country/economy generally).

I greatly appreciate that you are enjoying the new and don't care about such things. But, the point is many do - and that is what made us fans of the Disney parks. Throwing that out the window takes away what we enjoy. Perhaps if we tried to actually listen to, understand and learn from each other vs. name calling, we'd find a new and better way to do things.

Wouldn't it be cool if Disney built a park or something that pushed a message like that...

 

[tribbleorlfl]

In my defence, I was okay with half of these songs when I first heard them. But when you replay a decent song like it’s When You Wish Upon A Star, I just get tired of it.

Oh, you don't have to defend yourself, I was just ribbing you for your perceived "hot take." There's far too much gatekeeping in fandom (and this board), and just because you have a minority opinion doesn't negate the validity of your opinion. I know Festival of the Lion King is beloved with the vast majority of WDW fans, but I loathe it and no one will ever change my mind that it needs to be replaced by a mini version of the Broadway show.

 

[tribbleorlfl]

I don't know, it seems mostly in line with the type of ROE pyro to me, minus the blank globe section, and obviously this show is much shorter.

Edit:

Biore isn’t here for the complaints I guess?

I got to do that! Was blown away when it showed up at Disney quest a few years later. Also, isn't there an Aladdin mng in Morocco?

 

[Epcot82Guy]

I got to do that! Was blown away when it showed up at Disney quest a few years later. Also, isn't there an Aladdin mng in Morocco?

Correct. I think people were more saying it has a minimal presence and no tie to the actual announced attractions. So, it would sort of be like ending Happily Ever After with Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride.

 

[WDWTrojan]

The show continues to be terrible. The children's voices, both in the songs and pre-show announcements, are embarrassing. It's like the show designers didn't think any adult could be bothered to take the material seriously enough to want to sing it. Dreadful. Rename it Kidzbop Forever.

The new MNSSHP is also an atrocious mess. The projections and fire works are great... the music has nothing to do with what is being projected. They show the Haunted Mansion or the Silly Symphonies skeltons, but the music seems wholly unrelated and tonally off. It's a show for pre-schoolers.

 

[brickbuilder711]

I got to do that! Was blown away when it showed up at Disney quest a few years later. Also, isn't there an Aladdin mng in Morocco?

Randy Pausch. I remember his Last Lecture. That seemed like an interesting attraction

 

[Rickcat96]

I've only seen the YouTube version- and compared to HEA replacing Wishes- even if temporary looks horrible.

 

[FigmentFan82]

With due respect, though it seems little is shared in return. Many of us were born well, well before 1999 and have a lot of first hand knowledge. And, if you read our comments, there is a lot of substance to the criticisms. Disney used to put a lot more thought into its attractions and their contextual fit. That is simply the truth. They didn't always get it right, but the "show" in that regard was paramount. That has been given up.

And, that is not speculation. I was told that in my welcome speech by the President of Epcot at the time about how they go about trying to design attractions. It was part of Disney Park's design at that time (which was, frankly, a very low point for the company and the country/economy generally).

I greatly appreciate that you are enjoying the new and don't care about such things. But, the point is many do - and that is what made us fans of the Disney parks. Throwing that out the window takes away what we enjoy. Perhaps if we tried to actually listen to, understand and learn from each other vs. name calling, we'd find a new and better way to do things.

Wouldn't it be cool if Disney built a park or something that pushed a message like that...

There are hundreds of good people working for TDO and trying to put something out there that pople will like and enjoy, and it's sad when so many, especially here, just dump all over it like it was some school project done overnight. That's disrespectful to the very hard working people behind the scenes. You make a baseless judgment that the people working at Disney don't care. I call BS on that assessment!

 

[Yert3]

There are hundreds of good people working for TDO and trying to put something out there that pople will like and enjoy, and it's sad when so many, especially here, just dump all over it like it was some school project done overnight. That's disrespectful to the very hard working people behind the scenes. You make a baseless judgment that the people working at Disney don't care. I call BS on that assessment!

And what they have done and are doing is disrespectful to the original planners and creators of Epcot. ripping out the Fountain of Nations might be the most disrespectful and disgusting things I’ve seen modern Disney do to their predecessors.

 

[Dizknee_Phreek]

I'm so tired of this mentality that if someone complains about any aspect of changes at Disney they're being childish, disrespectful and mean. I'm sorry, but I'm not bowing down to any company and applauding everything they produce regardless of quality. That's not realistic. Sometimes even the best companies have missteps. And Disney has had a lot in the past several years. I grew up with Disney from the early 90's on. I've seen what they are capable of. They are charging more and offering less quality product. They insist on dumbing down and being cheap. That's not the Disney I grew up with. And being that Disney is a luxury, they need to be called out and held accountable when they are being lazy and cheapening their own product, especially when they ask more and more money from their loyal return guests. And, like it or not, we have just as much right to our opinion as people who like what Disney is doing right now. I really wanted to love Epcot Forever. I was actually looking forward to it even though I was heartbroken over the loss of my all-time favorite nighttime show. But then Disney completely botched it and missed the mark. So yeah, I'm going to point out what I feel is wrong with it. Because if no one ever complained, no one would ever be held accountable and nothing would ever improve.

 

[Figments Friend]

I haven't seen the show yet (videos would be my only option) but based on everything I've read over the past pages, I'm not sure I really want to.

I have all the old pavilion soundtracks anyway, so I think I'll just stick with those for now

No, DO go and see it in person as videos do not capture the full effect.
I might have mixed feelings on seeing the debut performance, but anyone interested should see it in person and then form their own opinion.
You may well like it.

The laser effects all around you were pretty cool.
Lots of pyro.
Music was okay in some spots....and the kite elements are terrific fun.

Do go and see it at some point.
Then share your thoughts here.


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