Reflections of Earth improvements including new lasers

[aladdin2007]

I like the introduction of the countries as someone above mentioned it does harken back to being epcot-ish.
But miss the grand bass/sound of the organ in the music, it just doesnt seem nearly as stirring or moving but then they have made darn sure to get rid of any such notion in that park over the last few years so the trend continues.
The worst part for me is the narration, she sounds like a monotone robot just like the people mover and the monorail. And the whole thing seems very fast paced and rushed through. Sorry but thumbs down. They have once again taken something that was always somewhat epic and short cut it into a rushed flat overlay, they are just enjoying that a little too much anymore.

 

[Thelazer]

I believe, that the original laser setup used a diffraction type grating (think plastic lens) to create some of those "Fan" effects, the new lasers are using a set of mirrors moving very fast as well as color modulation to achieve the same effect. This would explain "flicker" that you might see now. By using the new method the lasers are capable of MUCH more effects and colors than before that static lens could ever do. Indeed, your seeing just a SMALL fraction of what these units can do. I would tend to think that on special event nights (NYE, 4th..) you may see more additional and unique effects.

 

[flyerjab]

I am just going to keep this brief as I see this as a tough crowd on this thread.

I have never seen PoE before following Illuminations. I witnessed it for the very first time tonight and found it to be stunning. My 11 year old turned to me at the ending and simply stated "that was amazing." I concurred.

Oh, and @marni1971, having finally viewed Illuminations in person following the laser improvements, I thought that they looked great tonight.

 

[tirian]

I like the introduction of the countries as someone above mentioned it does harken back to being epcot-ish.
But miss the grand bass/sound of the organ in the music, it just doesnt seem nearly as stirring or moving but then they have made darn sure to get rid of any such notion in that park over the last few years so the trend continues.
The worst part for me is the narration, she sounds like a monotone robot just like the people mover and the monorail. And the whole thing seems very fast paced and rushed through. Sorry but thumbs down. They have once again taken something that was always somewhat epic and short cut it into a rushed flat overlay, they are just enjoying that a little too much anymore.

I also don't understand why Disney would replace a fantastic — dare I say perfect — soundtrack simply because the fireworks were updated. True, the lengths are a little different, but it's nothing that couldn't have been edited. And I agree with everyone who says the kids choir is too schmaltzy. Kids choirs sound awful when amplified on a large scale. It's as if Chip and Dale gathered their friends to sing for us.

But

The fireworks are incredible. Well done!

 

[tirian]

ItS down to refresh rate vs shutter speed. Refresh rate being how fast the beam is redrawn. If the camera shutter speed matches the refresh it's more solid. If they don't match or miss match you get flicker.

Same way some cameras can record a film projection and it's fine and others flicker horribly. Depends on the frames per second and shutter settings vs the film speed.

Marni, do you happen to have a video of the old, lengthy Christmas show in which this was merely the finale? I would love to see it.

Although this Illuminations update is fantastic, I'm disappointed to see how Disney keeps cutting special event entertainment. Mickey's VM Christmas Parade has lost three units over the last few years (southern paddle wheeler, dancing snowflakes, and xylophone players) and many ancillary characters. The Studios and DAK lost their parades outright. The Illuminations holiday tag is lovely, but I'd like to see the full show again.

 

[flynnibus]

I have to admit I didn't know it was possible to create a high power laser that could create multiple colors from the same source...

 

[articos]

How hard would it be to get some WOC-esque fountain grids on barges...?

Just asking... hahaha

More complicated/expensive engineering-wise than it may seem. Easier to do somewhere else.

Discounting varying opinions on this year's narration/score, Illuminations looks better than it has in a long time.

 

[Tom Morrow]

I'm not completely sold on that either. It doesn't help that, as was pointed out by a previous poster, it has been "Disneyfied" so the voices are overly harmonized and auto-tuned.

Yep. With the autotuning, the children singing to give it that Magical patented Disney Park feel, and the (while not bad) generic voiceover, "Disneyfied" is an apt description.

Which would be fine for an MK fireworks display.

 

[Sage of Time]

Marni, do you happen to have a video of the old, lengthy Christmas show in which this was merely the finale? I would love to see it.

Although this Illuminations update is fantastic, I'm disappointed to see how Disney keeps cutting special event entertainment. Mickey's VM Christmas Parade has lost three units over the last few years (southern paddle wheeler, dancing snowflakes, and xylophone players) and many ancillary characters. The Studios and DAK lost their parades outright. The Illuminations holiday tag is lovely, but I'd like to see the full show again.

Agreed with this, implicitly, though I mist say that I'm glad that EPCOT runs Reflections of Earth AND something for the holidays instead of just running the regular show OR Holiday IllumiNations and then charging to see it, like in MK. Getting very sick of not being able to go to MK on certain nights... and when I do get to MK, regular entertainment is running and not the seasonal stuff, especially when Disneyland runs EVERY holiday offering all the time.

The blessings and curses of being an AP.

Also, yes, I'd love to see a video of Holiday IllumiNations. Loved that show. Was very disappointed when they removed it in... 2005? 2004? Seems like ages ago, already. :-/

 

[Kman101]

I noticed yesterday truly how nice it was Epcot offers so much for the season. The gospel singers were fantastic as were the "Holiday Voyagers" (or however you spell it LOL). And the Candlelight Processional is so well done.

 

[aladdin2007]

I noticed yesterday truly how nice it was Epcot offers so much for the season. The gospel singers were fantastic as were the "Holiday Voyagers" (or however you spell it LOL). And the Candlelight Processional is so well done.

It use to be a lot better, aside from some entertainment its minimal now, especially decor wise.

 

[Kman101]

It use to be a lot better, aside from some entertainment its minimal now, especially decor wise.

I'm sure there used to be more, but I still quite enjoyed it. I rarely got to Epcot during the holiday's so it was great to see all of the offerings that were included. It's decorated nicely, actually. More than I thought it would be, which maybe isn't saying much. I felt more in the Christmas spirit there than at MK.

 

[Sage of Time]

It use to be a lot better, aside from some entertainment its minimal now, especially decor wise.

Still bitter over Lights of Winter... Hear, hear!

 

[tirian]

It use to be a lot better, aside from some entertainment its minimal now, especially decor wise.

Plus Epcot had the poinsettia trees, Lights of Winter, snowflake light balls, an additional (small) entrance display in the old tram roundabout by World Gateway...

 

[flyerjab]

I'm sure there used to be more, but I still quite enjoyed it. I rarely got to Epcot during the holiday's so it was great to see all of the offerings that were included. It's decorated nicely, actually. More than I thought it would be, which maybe isn't saying much. I felt more in the Christmas spirit there than at MK.

I have to agree with you on that point. Just leaving WDW for home today and I felt that EPCOT gives you way more bang for you buck regarding additional Christmas offerings that you don't have to pay an up charge for.

 

[marni1971]

Did someone say new lasers?

I finally got the video that shows the upgrades perfectly. The instalation is still being tweaked but by God. I nearly fell off my chair.

Just hopefully waiting for permission to upload the whole thing.

 

[marni1971]

Good news. Full video coming very soon.

 

[THEMEPARKPIONEER]

Did someone say new lasers?

View attachment 75617 View attachment 75618

I finally got the video that shows the upgrades perfectly. The instalation is still being tweaked but by God. I nearly fell off my chair.

Just hopefully waiting for permission to upload the whole thing.

Looks like the good old days over the World Showcase lagoon, do both islands have lasers and are we getting more laser time thru out the show?

 

[ptaylor]

Did someone say new lasers?

View attachment 75617 View attachment 75618

I finally got the video that shows the upgrades perfectly. The instalation is still being tweaked but by God. I nearly fell off my chair.

Just hopefully waiting for permission to upload the whole thing.

Good to see, but just a word of warning from seeing the show over the past few days. Those pics are massively over-exposed. Don't expect it to look like that when you see the show in person. I dare say that the old lasers could have been made to look like that if shot in a similar way.

 

[RSoxNo1]

Did someone say new lasers?

View attachment 75617 View attachment 75618

I finally got the video that shows the upgrades perfectly. The instalation is still being tweaked but by God. I nearly fell off my chair.

Just hopefully waiting for permission to upload the whole thing.

The important question is, do the lasers make a "pew pew pew pew" noise? That's how you know they're good.