Just back from Epcot to see World Celebration and Luminous. Overall, I enjoyed it. Unlike most shows, I was surprised that Luminous was as good on video for me than in person (though for different reasons). But, it still feels like a huge step in the right direction. It was in B mode (quite windy), so the pyro felt lighter, But, that's to be expected. The park was surprisingly busy, and the whole lagoon seemed 3-4 deep.
-I think the music works pretty well. I actually was pretty emotional at a number of spots. The original score continues to be great.
-The intro with the country lights is A+. It rivals the country lighting in Illuminations: ROE for me (albeit very different).
-The middle needs work. That's the slow part. The song choices aren't bad. But, I wish there were a few more songs added via medley, and they could shorten some. Friend Like Me is the biggest offender to me. And, See the Light should be in that part, not where it is. (Though I applaud the creative interpretation.)
-I don't hate the narration. I think it feels better in the park than on video. I think it's just too much. If they rewrote a fe and combined some of the sections (especially the idea of Play, Friends and Love, for example) into one larger section, I think it would work well.
-The reflective aspects worked well. (It made me think of my last trip with my dad before he died, which I appreciated.) I think the issue is it needed something livelier before. I think if you moved See the Light before, it would work wonders.
-The crowd seemed to enjoy it. There were cheers at higher spots. Applause was pretty good. The interesting thing was, listening, I heard a lot of people saying they loved it. It was just a quieter response.
-The show does feel safe and budget cut. And, I see why after Harmonious. But, I think this definitely will be better received.
-The fireworks felt a little repetitive at times. But, I think that's more budget than show design.
-This show could easily be reworked or expanded, ala Fantasmic. And, it sets itself up perfectly for tags, new fireworks/tricks, etc.
-This show had artistry and theme. It wasn't the best use, but it is something different and a bit quirky. And, that works in Epcot.
In many ways, this feels kind of how Once Upon a Time felt at MK (noting that was the first projection mapping). It has some cool tricks and a lot of heart (no pun intended). It fits the park well. And, it feels like it may be setting up whatever is next to be something wonderful. (Be that a Luminous 2.0 or a new I:ROE or something else.)
To use a theater analogy - Harmonious:Luminous:I:ROE as Vegas:West End:Broadway
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Thesis and heart of the show right there.
