Dont get me wrong I Love Illuminations. But I am so bored with the middle section of the show. From most of the viewing area you cant see a major component of the show. Yes you can make out a few pictures on the globe but most people just dont get the story. If you have to explain the story beforehand then that means something is wrong with it. I do believe Illuminations has a deeper story and a better sountrack than Fantasmic. But with Fantasmic (which I hate the version in WDW) you dont have to explain the story to anyone. I would have to say that Fantasmic is a better WOW factor than Illuminations.
It's very abstract -- I don't think someone will necessarily get the idea that the first part is the bing bang the first time they see it, for example, as they're watching it. Just because something is not so literal or narrated doesn't make something wrong with it.