GNSOAT Poll: Epcot

[Disgruntled Walt]

Which is the "greatest nighttime spectacular of all-time" at Epcot? Cast your vote and explain your reasoning below! Stay tuned for more GNSOAT polls!

 

[Disgruntled Walt]

Nothing like it before in scope and scale and heart...nothing like it since. RoE is my pick.

 

[Epcot82Guy]

Personally, I:ROE is my favorite attraction of any type ever created for a Disney Park. I think about what it could have been with updated technology for the globe and fountains. So, an easy pick here.

 

[The Colonel]

Illuminations was the apex of Disney Culture; where it all came together. Entertainment, culture, tradition, festival, pyrotechnics, story-telling, drama, music, beauty. I also think it should have been updated and run another 20 years.

 

[pixargal]

The music from RoE is what makes it superior from all other nighttime shows. I listen to it occasionally in the car and it still gives me goosebumps and makes me teary eyed.

 

[vikescaper]

I don’t remember the pre-IllumiNations shows and I honestly don’t know if my family ever stayed to watch those. I remember a bit of the original IllumiNations but we would often leave before the finale to beat the crowds. Same goes for IllumiNations 25A/B/98 but I remember much of that show. I was 19 when IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth premiered and everthing was perfect about it (preshow, the main show, and post show). My answer will probably always be I:ROE but I am optimistic about Luminous!

 

[Vinnie Mac]

Liked Harmonious (for what it's worth), am a huge supporter of Luminous, but at the end of the day Reflections of Earth was just an absolute beast of a show and i do miss it sometimes. LSoU isn't way too far off in my heart though!

 

[hismattjesty]

Without stating my obvious choice, this should be a landslide.............

On that note though, Laserphonic Fantasy was absolutely amazing and revolutionary for it's time. No theme park was using laser technology like Disney was, and as an early teenager, this show was just so cool.

 

[JIMINYCR]

RoE… everything was spectacular from beginning to end. The show provided more than expected and held you in awe throughout. It was a masterpiece that made you wish it would not end. No matter how many times we watched it we came back for another evening treat. As much as it was enjoyed by all , Disney should have found a way of letting it continue with an update.

 

[Nottamus]

I:ROE- able to tell a story with out many lyrics, narration, movie music- just an audio/visual monster.

Also, miss the music loops all over Epcot , BUT the new music loops and Luminous are doing a great job filling that void

 

[Worldlover71]

I was there, by chance, for the first showing of Illuminations, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

 

[Vinnie Mac]

I was there, by chance, for the first showing of Illuminations, so it will always have a special place in my heart.

What was that like???

 

[Worldlover71]

What was that like???

It was totally by chance back in those pre-internet days when we didn't know every tiny detail in advance! I don't think the term "Nighttime Spectacular" has been coined yet, and it was completely unique to me. As each nation's lights came on, corresponding music played. You didn't know which nation would be next and each one was transformed (the American pavilion became Independence Hall.) Pure Disney magic!

 

[Doberge]

I don't have memories of the shows before RoE. I would have watched Illuminations and Illuminations 25 I just have no memory. I couldn't have even named the first 3. Haven't seen Luminous yet. I think many are like me and are only really choosing between RoE and Harmonious, and we know how that's going to go.

 

[Minthorne]

We go on…

 

[The Empress Lilly]

^^^ The RoE astronaut looking back at Spaceship Earth


With the exception of my DGF (a budding astronaut) and the people I love, and of hearing Bruce Springsteen, I have never seen anything more beautiful in my life than World Showcase during and after RoE.

I've seen many of the older shows in person. But this is the one, RoE is to nightime shows what Horizons is to dark rides. Simply the greatest ever, the one that ties the park together, that gives it heart and soul. Odd to think the very highlight of EPCOT came after the Epcotalypse of the second half of the 90s. RoE did prove EPCOT as a concept wasn't stillborn, as Eisner thought. Nor even dead yet. But more vibrant and profound than ever in the new century (which, as the fans know, began in EPCOT in 1982)

 

[NelleBelle]

I:ROE is hands-down the best night time show Disney has done. I even preferred it to any of the MK shows and would happily skip Wishesto see ROE. I wish I could find the full soundtrack to stream besides on YouTube. Bring it back!!!!

 

[Nottamus]

Aaaand I forgot to add

Tapestry of Nations playing as show ended and we were walking out to buses. That part of the song is ALSO burned into my brain as part of Illuminations. Miss that.