EPCOT Forever expected to return to Walt Disney World for a third time

Sep 14, 2022 in "Epcot Forever"

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EPCOT Forever 2.0 preview show

Posted: Wednesday September 14, 2022 8:46am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Following Disney's announcement that EPCOT's Harmonious nighttime spectacular will be closing in 2023, attention turns to the likely line-up of the park's nighttime shows during the year.

Harmonious is confirmed to close in 2023

Although not announced, the final performance of Harmonious will likely occur alongside the conclusion of Walt Disney World's 50th celebration on March 31 2023.

We don't have an opening date for the currently unnamed new show, but Disney has given the vague timeline of late 2023. Should Harmonious end on March 31, and the new show make its debut in late 2023, expect to see EPCOT Forever return as an interim show.

EPCOT Forever will likely return for the third time to EPCOT

Originally developed as an interim show to be performed between Reflections of Earth and Harmonious, EPCOT Forever requires little specific hardware in the lagoon, relying primarily on mobile launch platforms that can be brought out into the lagoon each day.

EPCOT Forever

The first version of EPCOT Forever that debuted on October 1 2019 featured fireworks and stunt kites. and played until Walt Disney World's closure in 2020. The show resumed on July 1 2021 as firework shows returned to Walt Disney World after the pandemic shutdown. The second version dropped the stunt kites, but added more fireworks in their place. Its last performance was September 28 2021, making way for Harmonious on September 29.

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Mikey731812 hours ago

I really don’t get having the narration at the beginning and end but leaving out the middle. Also due to doing this is makes tracks “Luminous Family” and “Luminous Romance” unnecessary as they are only 30 seconds or so long, and would normally have narration. I think the only reason they are their own separate tracks is so when “Family” and “Romance” start it goes straight to the song without an instrumental first.

TTA943 hours ago

Much appreciated lol. I’d do it myself but lack means to do it currently. Would be great to have the original audio file of the recording or whatever it is, for best quality. I know I already said this but for me I can deal with the lack of narration, it’s the intro that’s bugging the heck out of me lol. The drum segment is not commercially available like the rest of pre show songs are correct? Even if it was the chant wouldn’t be a part of the song I don’t think? 🤔

maxairmike5 hours ago

Likely just the tracks that are currently unavailable for streaming. This isn't at all uncommon with albums with multiple artists, actually. Getting the streaming rights lined up with multiple artists/writers/etc. can be a real pain. Since all tracks are available for purchase, it's almost certainly an issue with cleaning up the streaming rights. Go look at the original Aladdin soundtrack and you'll notice that (on Apple Music in the US at least), the Robin Williams tracks are unavailable, and on the extreme end the American Graffiti soundtrack has 8 of the 20 tracks unavailable for streaming from that album, even though you can stream the unavailable songs individually from the artist profiles. EDIT: And in the shifting world of streaming, Apple Music either resynced with my library or they updated the availability recently (as in the last few days since I played the album on Saturday), because for the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack version the Robin Williams tracks now show as available, BUT on the Special Edition soundtrack version the Robin Williams tracks are still unavailable. Go figure that one out.

doctornick6 hours ago

@wdwmagic I was looking at this thread and found this post... were you talking about the DS drone show or something else for 2024?

SoFloMagic7 hours ago

Leaked was recorded audio, so it didn't differentiate. Preshow is anything before 9pm 😂

TTA947 hours ago

What was the leaked version though? Or was that a recording? The drums I could understand thats more part of the pre show, but the chants I thought was part of the show?

TTA947 hours ago

Yes the actual show version lol 😂. I know not gonna happen.

Starship8247 hours ago

I'm guessing the missing tracks, I don't think there's anything else to add.

TTA948 hours ago

More new tracks? Or just the missing tracks?

Starship8249 hours ago

Good to hear!

DCBaker9 hours ago

Post from a production stage manager at EPCOT: "Luminous has preliminarily dropped on Spotify and Apple Music. From what I hear more tracks are coming!".

Starship8249 hours ago

He did originally greenlight this show...

Starship8249 hours ago

I'll volunteer, once I find those missing songs...

MisterPenguin9 hours ago

This is not a source recording, but it's one of the best 'home recorded' versions out there. One can rip the soundtrack and use Audacity to chop it up into individual sound tracks for what one is missing...