Illuminations Facts

[FutureCEO]

Earth Globe is the world's first spherical video display system, wrapped in 15,000 LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes).

1,105 shells are used for each show; 34 firing positions. Shells come from China, Italy, U.S. and Japan.

Shell types: comets, candles, mines, shells, tailed shells, crossettes, scattering bees, whistles, reports/salutes, ground effects, floaters.

Four fountain barges each pumping 4,000 gallons of water per minute.

A 150,000-pound inferno barge uses 37 nozzles to shoot propane flames skyward.

A full color spectrum of lasers, including four custom Disney colors (lagoon blue, mint green, pumpkin orange and lavender).


Walls of flames and a giant torch climb 40 feet above World Showcase Lagoon.

Managing producer John Haupt, show director Don Dorsey, symphonic score composed by Gavin Greenaway.

 

[Blizz]

Cool facts, I never knew that they used that many shells.

 

[BenS]

Cool.

 

[Goofster]

Does anybody know if Gavin Greenaway has done anything else for Disney or anything in general besides the Millenium stuff like tapestry, illuminations, and we go on, because this guy is awesome. Disney shouldn't let him go if they can help it.

 

[Blizz]

Originally posted by Goofster
Does anybody know if Gavin Greenaway has done anything else for Disney or anything in general besides the Millenium stuff like tapestry, illuminations, and we go on, because this guy is awesome. Disney shouldn't let him go if they can help it.

Yeah I love the score to Illuminations: ROE

 

[BenS]

You can find that song at http://www.soundofmagic.com

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

Interesting facts - thanks.

 

[AdLibSean]

Originally posted by Goofster
Does anybody know if Gavin Greenaway has done anything else for Disney or anything in general besides the Millenium stuff like tapestry, illuminations, and we go on, because this guy is awesome. Disney shouldn't let him go if they can help it.

He is incredible isn't he! He actually composed the Share A Dream Come True Parade Theme Music and Fantasy from the Suite of Dreams. (Basically the same thing) Also did the "When you Imagine" with Kellie Coffey- the vocalist who sings "We Go On" and "Promise" from IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

 

[TheOneVader]

He also does music for some Disney movies

 

[orangefan15]

Wow! Interesting info...thanks for the facts.

 

[goofyfordisney]

Most Excellent Info. Thats awesome!

ILLUMINATIONS IS OUT OF HAND! I LOVE IT!
:sohappy:

 

[CREEKWAYNE]

Very cool! Thanks for the info!!:sohappy:

 

[gjpjtj]

I just love that show!!! Thanks for the info.

 

[Pippa]

I am a dance teacher and I use ROE in competitions for my pupils, other schools are so envious of the music!!!!

 

[Smee]

Here's a few more trivial facts:

The fireworks used each night cost $35K.

The globe is on a barge powered by 6 jet ski engines and is not on a track. It is driven by a cast member who is part of the fireworks team and remains on the barge in a steel bunker built on the barge through the fireworks display. The barge has it's own diesel generator for the power to the LED's and lights. The torch is fueled with liquid propane.

The fire barge uses 360 gallons of LP each show. The LP is pumped to the barge through a 3" flex line laid under the water from a container. The LP is ignited by a spark plug on each fuel nozzle.

There are 4-2 story fireworks/dancing water barges and 8 additional 10x10 platform barges for fireworks. Each of the 2 story barges has it's own DG for power to the water pumps and lights.

There is over 26,000 feet of string lights on the pavillions.

 

[imagineergurl]

*stitch voice(
oooOOO

lol nice facts

 

[ReDefined]

Cool!

 

[mbro2002]

Originally posted by Smee
Here's a few more trivial facts:

The fireworks used each night cost $35K.

The globe is on a barge powered by 6 jet ski engines and is not on a track. It is driven by a cast member who is part of the fireworks team and remains on the barge in a steel bunker built on the barge through the fireworks display. The barge has it's own diesel generator for the power to the LED's and lights. The torch is fueled with liquid propane.

Smee, I was just wondering where you got the figure for the cost of each show. You hear lots of numbers when you ask people around property (I've heard numbers up to $50K), but the most reliable people I've talked to put the nightly cost between about $5K and 10K. I'm not necessarily doubting you, just raising the issue.

Also, I know for a fact that the globe barge isn't on jet-ski motors. The motors are very similar to what you would find on a jet-ski, but are actually designed for tug boats. That barge weighs something like 350 tons - jet ski motors wouldn't budge it.

 

[Smee]

The info came from a cast member that captained our boat for the Illuminations cruise, he had a bunch of Disney history and facts written up and gave me a copy.

Not doubting you either, but 350 tons sounds like a lot of weight. I agree that jet ski engines could not push such a weight.

 

[mbro2002]

I'm sure I saw somewhere that the globe was listed as 350 tons, but I just checked and wdwmagic.com has it listed at 350,000 POUNDS, which would equate to 175 tons, right? That does seem like a much more realistic number.

Back when I worked at Epcot, Disney University used to offer seminars that you could sign up for to learn about ROE. It was taught by the the principle stage manager for the show and I got to spend a few hours shadowing him the next week. I can't remember for sure now, but the I'm pretty sure he told me that the per night cost was under $10K. The number that sticks out in my head is $6K.

He also said that the motors on the globe barge are some of the most powerful that you can buy and the company that manufactures them had to spend a lot of time making sure they could adequately control the barge.

As a side note, there is room for two people aboard the globe barge and they used to occasionally let shadowing cast members ride it during the show. Sadly, my schedule never worked out so that I could do it.