Illuminations Gone? Epcot news/?'s

[strobe]

Originally posted by DanMan
Well, I just took a trip over the weekend to disney world and of course had a great time. We ended our vacation in Epcot, my favorite park. In my eyes, you can't close a disney vacation with anything other than Illuminations, but will I have to adjust to something new?
I was talking to a disney cast member there about the park and whatnot, and she told me that since GE has dropped sponsorship of the show, disney is seriously thinking about dropping Illuminations in the near future (possibly any day now!! ). She says she doesn't know how likely it is that such events will occur, but she said it is a serious contemplation right now.
Also, I was speaking to another disney worker about Mission: Space and she said that it was definately postponed by the Columbia disaster and it will open the latest by June or July. As for the new hotel? She said with the war looming over the horizen, disney park attendence will be dipping and the hotel may not open for a long while.
One last thing, in Epcot, Germany, China, and more noticibly Italy are going through some rehabs. Basically, half of Italy is closed and being worked on. All the signs say regarding the refurbishment say, "we are building the future epcot." Does anyone know what they are doing?
Alright, I think I've said enough. My main concern is that I love Illuminations and it would totally suck if the show ended. Adios

Killing off Illuminations would be one of the worst decisions made recently. With the current condition of attendance at EPCOT, they NEED this show. It draws in a big crowd. It is one of my favorite things to see at WDW as well!!! I hope they don't touch it.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Iluminations was one of the best things about Epcot last time I visited... in fact, it was one of the best things about WDW.

I really can't see them stopping it - that wouldn't be business decision, that would be an act of pure madness!

 

[leeocean]

I love Illuminations and hope it is around as long as I am still able to enjoy Epcot.

 

[tigsmom]

I think with all that is going on in the world today (that would effect tourism) rumors are going to be plenty. I agree with everyone else...I don't see this being disc. because it is one of the biggest draws. I think we all have to take what the CMs say with a grain of salt. Remember, they are worried too and may just be repeating what they heard someone else say.

 

[Passport]

Somebody please help me. Illuminations is just the fireworks show in Epcot at night, right? I've seen it and spinning globe of pictures and thought it was no big deal. Remember the old show when they used to light up the different countries towards the end of the fireworks and shoot lasers at Spaceship Earth? I enjoyed that show much more than this.

 

[strobe]

Originally posted by Passport
Somebody please help me. Illuminations is just the fireworks show in Epcot at night, right? I've seen it and spinning globe of pictures and thought it was no big deal. Remember the old show when they used to light up the different countries towards the end of the fireworks and shoot lasers at Spaceship Earth? I enjoyed that show much more than this.

I can't think of the name of it, but I LOVED that show. I will say though, Illuminations is awesome too. You need to get there when the show starts, and have a good view. But, in my opinion it is the best show they have had.

 

[Passport]

Thanks Strobe. Maybe I will give it another try next week. And Reflections of Earth comes to mind. Was that the show I was thinking about?

 

[dopey]

Illuminations isn't being dropped, but from now on guests will be asked to bring in their own box of sparklers.

 

[Passport]

Originally posted by dopey
Illuminations isn't being dropped, but from now on guests will be asked to bring in their own box of sparklers.

And you can only bring those in if you do not put them in a backpack. Remember, they only check bags, not bodies.

 

[no2apprentice]

That would mean you would have to hide the sparklers in your...uh...never mind.