Illuminations vs. Rivers of light?

[amandareid12410]

We are trying to decide between Illuminations or River's of light what is everyone's opinion. I haven't done either one.

Thanks

Amanda

 

[dreamfinder912]

this is my debate for my birthday (living here has made me SO spoiled) illuminations is a huge fireworks display with viewing for a whole ton of people (really as long as you can see the water and the sky and you're not downwind you have an excellent view) Rivers of Light is moving and beautiful and peaceful. But it takes some effort to get a good spot. (there's hardly any standby viewing seats compared to other stadium events and fastpass just guarantees you -A- seat not necessarily a -GOOD- seat) so there's going to be a bit of waiting in line involved. I adore RoL, and Illuminations has been my favorite fireworks display for as long as I can remember. It's going to come down to your preferences: an exciting firework show or a relaxing water and light show.

 

[Mickey5150]

I can only speak to Illuminations but I can tell you how awesome it is in 1 simple thing. Of all the fireworks and shows in both WDW and DLR it is the only show I have to see. It is awesome. Just don't leave after the 1st ending, there is more...

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

The original illuminations can blow Rivers of Light out of the water, reflections of earth even without the latest image technology is in my book still tanking over any nighttime show that has ever existed. There's a reason it's the second longest running vershion of nighttime show in Disney World, third if you count Disneyland and first excluding Spectromagic and the Main Street Electrical Patade.

 

[marni1971]

Never seen them?

RoE.

Arrive early enough to make sure you have a view of both the middle of the lake and the sky.

 

[mf1972]

where's a good viewing spot for ROL? we'll be seeing it for the first time later this year

 

[danyoung56]

The original illuminations can blow Rivers of Light out of the water, reflections of earth even without the latest image technology is in my book still tanking over any nighttime show that has ever existed.

Not quite sure what you're saying here. If you're saying that the current version of IllumiNations is "tanking", meaning sucking, that contradicts what you seem to indicate later in the post.

I've watched IllumiNations in its many forms many times since the mid-90's. It's by far my favorite outdoor mixed media show in WDW, or maybe anywhere (exceeded only by DL's Fantasmic!). I'm going to see Rivers of Light for the first time this Friday. While I'm hoping to enjoy it, I can't see it being greater than IllumiNations.

 

[JIMINYCR]

Deciding between the two, Illuminations is the must see. The music, drama, narration, flames, fireworks, lasers, water fountains, expanding globe...the show is spectacular.... you shouldn't miss it.

 

[ABQ]

Never seen them?

RoE.

Arrive early enough to make sure you have a view of both the middle of the lake and the sky.

Interesting....
Now, knowing what you know of the future of RoE, if said first time visitor was not going to be back to WDW in 2 years, would you still recommend they see RoL vs RoE this trip?

 

[marni1971]

Interesting....
Now, knowing what you know of the future of RoE, if said first time visitor was not going to be back to WDW in 2 years, would you still recommend they see RoL vs RoE this trip?

Recommend RoE? Yes.

 

[ABQ]

Recommend RoE? Yes.

Lol, I'm a fool, mistook your RoE for RoL initially. I'm tired, it's Monday and my eyes are crossed.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

Porque no los dos?

 

[mf1972]

Since seating is very limited, the best way for getting a good seat (or a seat at all) is using Fastpass and having one of your fastpass+ selections to be for Rivers of Light, or buy the Rivers of Light dining package for your entire group. Either way, you still need to arrive an hour early before the show starts. (Also on the Dinoland USA side of the stadium is for StandBy and Dinning packages, the other side on Asia is for Fastpass+)

thanks for the tip

 

[Mark P.]

We saw RoL for the first time earlier this month. During the same trip, we watched RoE twice, after having watched it at least a dozen times on subsequent trips. Next trip, it's unlikely we'll go out of our way to use an FP+ on RoL and will spend that time riding Everest a half-dozen times instead. It's a visually compelling show, a sheer technical marvel, but beyond that...it simply doesn't have the emotional pull that RoE has on us.