Epcot Forever is a fireworks show that premiered October 1, 2019 at Epcot as an interim replacement for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth (until its long-term replacement Harmonious premiered on September 30, 2021) and took the form of a celebration of Epcot's musical history. The show celebrated the park's 37-year history, featuring fireworks, music, lighting, lasers, and special effects kites set to new arrangements of music originating from some of the park's classic attractions, such as Journey Into Imagination, Spaceship Earth, Soarin', and Universe of Energy.[1]
The show was originally supposed to end in September of 2020, but ended earlier than planned on March 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, following Walt Disney World Resort's reopening, Walt Disney World announced that the show would return on July 1, 2021, alongside with the return of Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom, with additional pyrotechnics replacing the kites and lasers, as the installation of Harmonious infrastructure made the jet skis pulling the kites unsafe to use in the lagoon.
On September 28, 2021, the show had its final performance and it was replaced by Harmonious, as part of Walt Disney World's 50th Anniversary celebration. However, on January 10, 2023, Disney announced the show will temporarily return to Epcot beginning April 3, 2023 until December 4, 2023, as part of the Disney 100 Years of Wonder celebration, replacing its successor, Harmonious, which then played its last show the night prior.[2]
Summary[]
Epcot Forever is structured around medleys of Epcot music and the voices of children quoting different attractions, with some audio clips of Walt Disney in the EPCOT film also being incorporated into the opening and closing.
- Opening
- "One Little Spark" (Journey Into Imagination)
- "We've Just Begun to Dream"
- "Welcome to the future, or should I say, your future"
- "New Horizons" (Horizons)
- "Universe of Energy" (Original Universe of Energy)
- "Listen to the Land" (Listen to the Land)
- "Soarin' to tower, you are ready for take-off"
- "Legacy" (Future World area music)
- "Tomorrow's Child" (Spaceship Earth)
- "Soarin'"
- "Magic Journeys" (Magic Journeys)
- "And so, as you can plainly see, imagination works best when it's set free!"
- "One Little Spark"
- "Makin' Memories" (Magic Journeys pre-show)
- "Veggie, Veggie, Fruit, Fruit" (Kitchen Kabaret)
- "It's Fun to Be Free" (World of Motion)
- "May peace go with you forever and ever, as you celebrate the future, hand in hand"
- Finale
- "One Little Spark" (reprise with new lyrics)
- "A Whole New World" (Aladdin)
Special editions[]
New Year's Eve Countdown Edition[]
In December 31, 2019, a special New Year's Eve countdown show occurred normally beginning very late after they fixed some technical issues before they start Epcot Forever. It began with the original show production and was then immediately followed by a special countdown show 2020. Highlights of New Years celebrated the same countries like in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth in individual countries began the show; the Asian pavilions (Japan and China) go first, followed by those in Europe (Italy, Norway, France, and Germany), after that, the countries of those in the GMT time zone (Morocco and the United Kingdom). During the show, fireworks shot from the back of each pavilion accompanied by custom celebration music from each country. The countdown began at 10 seconds prior to midnight with the North American nations: United States, Canada, Mexico. It started with a dong (which originates from the American Adventure Pavilion) and lead to the massive celebratory firework display at midnight including a 360-degree launch of fireworks around the World Showcase lagoon. "Auld Lang Syne" played as spectators cheered and watched the massive firework display. This tag used different the number of fireworks that were launched in Epcot Forever. However, they used some new special additional pyrotechnics and also added some special fireworks that were used including Holiday finale, Fourth of July, DVC Magic Moonlight and Epcot's 35th Anniversary Special Edition replacing the old New Year's Eve Illuminations: Reflections of Earth fireworks. [3] A female announcer concluded the show wishing the guests a Happy New Year and reminded them of extended park hours for the New Year's Eve celebration.
Fourth of July[]
On July 4, 2023, the Heartbeat of Freedom tag was returned in 2023 and it's shown around 9:10 pm immediately after Epcot Forever ended. This was used from 2006 to 2019 for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and 2022 for Harmonious used once again after the show's regular performance, which is part of The Walt Disney Company's 100th Anniversary celebration, enhanced with some few similar pyro fireworks. This segment continued to be used after Harmonious, which is the tag returned on Fourth of July 2023.
Gallery[]
Concept Art[]
Logos and Poster[]
Video[]
References[]
- ↑ "New Nighttime Spectaculars & ‘Beauty & The Beast’ Sing-Along Announced for Epcot".
- ↑ Bevil, Dewayne (January 10, 2023). "Disney sets dates for ‘Happily Ever After’ return, ‘Harmonious’ farewell".
- ↑ Back to the Future – Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. wdwinfo.com. Archived from the original on October 28, 2014. Retrieved on October 28, 2014.
