IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

World Showcase, Epcot

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Earth barge leaves the lagoon for the final time

5 years ago1 photo

IllumiNations Reflections of Earth from Norway - September 2019

5 years ago9 photos

IllumiNations Reflections of Earth from Italy - September 2019

5 years ago8 photos

Epcot future firework show island construction

5 years ago10 photos

Epcot future firework show island construction

5 years ago10 photos

A piece of IllumiNations Reflections of Earth pyro launch hardware to be auctioned
4 years ago

Despite much of the hardware from Reflections of Earth being scrapped, some of the smaller pieces are now be sold by Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers.

VIDEO - The final performance of IllumiNations Reflections of Earth
5 years ago

After 20 years, Epcot's firework show is closing to begin a new spectacular.

VIDEO - Epcot's Fourth of July fireworks with the final performance of 'Heartbeat of Freedom'
5 years ago

See the last performance of the current Fourth of July show at Epcot.

VIDEO - Epcot Forever nighttime spectacular to debut October 1 2019
5 years ago

Hear the music and see test footage of the new kites that will be part of Epcot's new nighttime spectacular.

Write a Review

"Absolute Perfection" 11 years ago by AimYourBrent

I wish there were enough stars for me to rate this with "100" instead of just "10" This is without a doubt the absolute best part of everything WDW has to offer. This show is totally breathtaking. The music alone brings tears to my eyes. The visuals are stunning. It is simply phenomenal. You cannot visit WDW without watching Illuminations. Otherwise your visit would be incomplete. It is worth the price of admission just by itself. The spirit of EPCOT Center lives on through this spectacular show.

"Absolutely Breathtaking " 14 years ago by CrescentLake

If I had to die tomorrow, my dying wish would be to see Illuminations: Reflections of Earth, one last time. It is my favorite part of my entire Walt Disney World vacation, hands down, and is, in my opinion, the best fireworks/nighttime show on property. The score gives me goosebumps, the fireworks are incredible, and the globe is also amazing. If you can only do ONE thing at Disney World, watch this show. You won't regret it.

"MUST SEE" 15 years ago by perry23

One of the greatest shows on earth!
Watching it always makes me feel great.
The music is excellent, the fireworks are excellent= MUST SEE

"My Fave Show" 16 years ago by BigB911

This was my favorite fireworks show! Seeing the globe drift out and come to life was amazing. A must see!

Final performance of Reflections of Earth

5 years ago20 mins

Final performance of Heartbeat of Freedom July 4 finale

5 years ago17 mins

Reflections of Earth Heartbeat of Freedom July 4 finale

7 years ago5 mins

Description

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a daily nighttime firework spectacular performed over the World Showcase Lagoon at Epcot.

Details

Opening Date: IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth officially debuted on October 1, 1999.

Historical Notes: Previously called "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth," name change to "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," on January 1, 2001 following the close of the Walt Disney World 15-month Millennium Celebration. The unofficial opening for "IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" took place on September 22, 1999. IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth was introduced at Epcot for the Walt Disney World 15-month Millennium Celebration as an all new show. More than a simple update, the show was created from "scratch," with more than 30 percent more fireworks than any prior show at Epcot.

Show length: 12 minutes, 32 seconds

Description: "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth," is a nighttime spectacular filled with the fiery glow of torches, a high-energy soundtrack, sky-piercing lasers and thunderous fireworks.

The skies above World Showcase Lagoon transform into a kaleidoscope of colorful pyrotechnic bursts. Comets streak across the sky as video images displayed across a giant sphere tell Earth's incredible tale. Then, the sphere blossoms like a flower, exposing a brilliant ball of fire and setting up the show's emotional finale. Dreams of hope for a better tomorrow are cast as the music soars, lasers shoot skyward, fireworks illuminate the night and flames leap across the surface of the lagoon. This breathtaking new show will be presented nightly during the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration at Epcot®.

• Show Director: Don Dorsey
• Development of the show began in July of 1997, taking 26 months to complete.
• 67 Computers in 40 locations are required to produce the show.
• 1,131 men and women contributed to the production of this show.

• Show Sequence
o Act 1: Chaos. Presents a stylized version of the universe through pyrotechnics and fire effects. The "inferno barge" in World Showcase Lagoon will spout flames and pyrotechnics more than 100 feet in the air.
o Act 2: Order. The earth globe (a rotating ball with curved screens) moves through space into the lagoon. Images of earth will be presented on the ball.
o Finale: The globe blossoms like a flower, exposing a brilliant torch of fire. The music soars, lasers shoot skyward, fireworks illuminate the night and flames leap across the surface of the lagoon.

• Earth Globe
o The show's video segment, which is displayed on the "Earth Globe" located in the center of the World Showcase Lagoon, features 56 famous faces and covers 5 continents (screens).
o The globe weighs 350,000 pounds (equivalent to the weight of 150 midsize cars).
o The main structure of each petal consists of 4 inches of thick steel plate.
o The hydraulic system is capable of producing 650,000 pounds of force.

• Fountain Barges
o There are 4 fountain barges with 40 water nozzles per barge.
o Each barge pumps approximately 4,000 gallons of water per minute.

• Inferno Barge
o The inferno barge weighs 150,000 pounds with 37 nozzles that shoot propane flames skyward. Energy produced: 1.7 million horse power

• Fireworks
o The spectacular cosmic explosion which begins the show is made possible through the use of Disney's patented Air Launch Fireworks (ALF) technology.
o 1,105 shells are fired during each show.
o Two special floating fireworks effects were created specifically for the show
- Starfield Effect
- Floating Torches
o The effects in the show include a unique palette of colors featuring:
- mint green
- pumpkin orange
- lagoon blue
- lavender
o Shell Types: comets, candles, mines, shells, tailed shells, crossettes, scattering bees, whistles, reports/salutes, ground effects, floaters

• The lasers used during the show are made up of the full spectrum of color.

• Music
o Original music for show composed by Gavin Greenaway and supervised by Hans Zimmer, Oscar-winning composer for Disney's "The Lion King."
o Music Director - Steve Skorija
o Musical selection entitled: "Song of Meaning" can be heard during the show
- Includes expanded version of song following the show entitled: "Song of Meaning - Promise" , Vocals by Kellie Coffey

o "Reflections of Earth" musical themes:
Prologue: Acceleration
Chaos
Space
Life
Adventure
Home
Celebration
Meaning

o The original score for the show includes 150, 000 musical notes

• Torches:
o There are 19 torches located around the World Showcase Lagoon.
o The torches stand 26 feet above the water line.
o The torches are powered by natural gas.

Show Variations

There are currently 4 editions of IllumiNations Reflections of Earth.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth - the regular show that plays on all nights with the exception of the performances below (video available here)
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth with Peace on Earth finale - plays as part of Epcot's holiday offerings in late November and December (video available here)
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth July 4 edition - the special July 4 edition (video of the show available here)
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth New Year's Eve edition - the special New Year's Eve edition (video of the show available here)
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth Epcot 25th edition - a special one-off performance to mark Epcot's 25th (video of the show available here)

Show Notes by Don Dorsey

OVERVIEW

Time is a constant, but progress is exponential. From the beginning of what we know as Time up to the present, significant events come slowly at first, then faster and faster. ACT 1 – CHAOS represents what happened before Time as we know it began. ACT 2 – ORDER represents the span of Earth Time up to the present moment. As ACT 3 – MEANING begins, we must now confront the future, or the Time yet to come.

INTRODUCTION

Storytelling around the fire is a human tradition. This sets up the theme of "hand in hand" across generations, and stresses the importance of each individual as a link between past and future. The theme is that each individual is at the center of the action (and indeed responsible for the action) that moves life forward. This emphasizes the importance of tradition, gathering together, and storytelling and as the way we celebrate and pass on our heritage and values.

The accelerating drum beat musically sets up the concept of accelerating progress.

ACT 1 - CHAOS

A spontaneous explosion in space initiates a cosmic event that leads to the formation of stars, and the birth of planets. One of them is Earth.

ACT 2 – ORDER

"Space"
Matter cools in its new form and neighborhood.

"Life"
Vegetation appears. Large creatures roam the terrain. A brief white flare-up symbolizes the extinction of the dinosaurs, and the beginning of new forms of life.

The animals shown all glance towards the camera – us – watching us as we watch them. A white horse gallops into frame and is "frozen" into a cave painting by the eyes of this new, clever creature; Man.

"Adventure"
Man leaves the safety of his cave environment and sets out to explore the Earth. This is not about HOW we get around ("transportation"), but that we set out to do so ("exploration")... a statement of the inherent curiosity of Man to reach out and see what Earth is about. It is the curiosity of man to discover that led to new forms of transportation.

Exploration reveals the scenic wonders of the Earth, and Man settles far and wide, creating architectural and cultural monuments to new locations and ideas.

Man’s inherent creativity is further developed and expressed; through the arts and through technological development. The pace of advancement picks up, and soon the space shuttle launches skyward, bringing our story up to the present era.

We pause on the brink of a new Millennium to look back… where we have come from, what brought us here. From within the smoke clouds of the launch emerge memories of some of the beloved people of history, receding into the mists of time. The final "face" is that of an astronaut, who (reflected in his visor) sees the Earth in an important perspective: one place, home to all people.

"Home"
With a swirl of special effects, the image on the Earth transitions and for the first time WE, the audience, see the globe as Earth with full geography instead of pictures. This is a suggestion that we should all try to share the same perspective as the astronaut. The Earth is everyone’s home.

"Celebration"
Lasers and fireworks surround the entire Earth. The "Tapestry of Nations" puppets are depicted on the globe, dancing with the world as Act 2 concludes.

ACT 3 – MEANING

We must "take the future in our hand" and make of it what we will. "1000 points of light" illuminate the entire audience, providing a chance for us to "look at ourselves." Then, after a moments breath... we are catapulted into the future as a new acceleration begins with a final barrage of fireworks.

Show Credits

Show Created and Directed by Don Dorsey
Pyrotechnic Design by Eric Tucker
Music Direction, Lyrics and Script by Don Dorsey
Music Composed, Conducted and Produced by Gavin Greenaway

For Walt Disney World Entertainment:
Executive Producer: John Haupt
Producers: Steve Zimmerman and Mark Nichols
Production Manager: Joe Kivett
Executive Music Producer: Steve Skorija

The male narrator at the beginning of the show is Jim Cummings (who also does several Disney character voices including Winnie the Pooh.)

The female preshow announcement voice was performed by Mary Thompson Hunt until 2009 when it was replaced by a male performer.

Many thanks to Don Dorsey for his help with the Reflections of Earth pages on this site.

IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

World Showcase, Epcot