First look at EPCOT's new nighttime firework spectacular show barges backstage

Aug 02, 2023 in "Harmonious"

Posted: Wednesday August 2, 2023 10:37am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

New aerial photos from @bioreconstruct offer a first look at the new firework platform barges for the upcoming unnamed nighttime spectacular at EPCOT.

As work progresses in World Showcase Lagoon on preparing docking points for the new barges backstage, work is well underway on prepping the new platforms.

Based on the concept art and work in the lagoon, we expect to see a central barge in World Showcase Lagoon surrounded by six large central "fork" barges pictured above in the aerial photo. Each of the fork barges will have three smaller individual barges docked inside the fork to deploy out in the lagoon - radiating outwards like spokes in a wheel when viewed overhead. Each barge will carry lighting and pyrotechnics.

Storing the three smaller barges inside the fork of each of the larger barges will make it much easier to logistically move the platforms from backstage to the lagoon each day. Unlike Harmonious, the new show will have minimal daytime intrusion of the lagoon view, with hardware being brought in and out of the lagoon before each performance.

In the few details that have been released, Disney says that the show will feature lights, lasers, and fireworks. We do not expect to see drones or video projections. Fire effects and fountains remain a possibility but are not confirmed.

Disney has previously said that the show will feature an original composition and evocative selections from the Disney songbook – all woven together to remind us that we are more alike than different. Some fans may be concerned that this show is heading in a similar direction to Harmonious, but as more details are released in the coming months, we expect a positive outlook on the soundtrack.

The new show will be the permanent replacement for Harmonious, which came to a close at the end of March 2023. EPCOT Forever continues to play as an interim show while the new show is developed for its debut later in 2023.

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    wbostic12May 04, 2025

    How close are we to having Luminous officially overtake Harmonious in number of performances? I’m pretty sure it’s less than a month at this point, but I’m pretty sure someone on this thread would know better than I.

    Chef idea Mickey`=May 03, 2025

    I was lucky enough to able to get a glimpse of this from Riviera leaving there!

    marni1971May 02, 2025

    I bet when they mixed that show for Epcots 30th they never thought it would get dragged out time and again.

    gerararMay 02, 2025

    DVC Moonlight Magic at Epcot was held the other night (4/30). The 5-mins firework show was pretty much the same show as last year. No changes in terms of Luminous barges usage – all were used for lights and fountain effects. An additional 2 WW3 barges and 4 regular barges were brought out to facilitate the pyro. Perimeters were also used again. There were some standard pyro swaps compared to last year like different colored comets and mines. Some fans got subbed. The finale also felt like it had more booms and crackles, imo. Timestamped livestream:

    Chef idea Mickey`=Apr 13, 2025

    Some might say the normies today are about the familiar characters and IP. Oldies fandom and nerds would say "otherwise" keep Epcot, Epcot. Then there's the whole Iger/Chapek retransformation of Epcot with being more kid family friendly and Disney. I suppose Luminous gives out for us both. Illumination's 2.0 isn't unlikely, had the budget for Harmonious been saved a much bigger Luminous or Illumination's 2.0 would fit the bill, if you don't have a Globe, you got Spacship Earth, however you can't do Illumination's greatness without the inferno erupting fire. 🔥

    TouchdownApr 12, 2025

    *Cough* Animal Kingdom *Cough* Park a barge in the middle of the lake, add some fountains and flamethrowers/roman candles nearer the seating. Boom AK has a proper night show again. Keeping the drones to just AK makes that show unique and more desirable.

    TTA94Apr 12, 2025

    If there’s more planned than just a few song swaps I wonder if they might look to the new show coming to Paris. It appears somewhat similar in terms of fountains but it will also include water screens and drones. Hopefully add in fire effects as well. I know many on here believe drones=less fireworks. Question is could they operate drones in WSL safely? I feel like Epcot would be the safest park for drones over the others.

    TheMaxReboApr 11, 2025

    For what it is worth, below are the ratings for the last three nighttime shows at EPCOT per Touring Plans. Luminous seems to be about equal to Illuminations (though that showed higher ratings amongst older guests whereas Illuminations is more evenly split) and both higher that Harmonius (though that did better with grade school kids) I think the issue with Hamonious (more than just the ratings out of 5 stars) was the active complaints they got about the barges during the day and that the angles to properly see it weren't good for a lot of the upcharge viewing areas - dining areas (so restaurants complained), the private party areas, the firework cruises that parked over by the bridge to France, etc) - so there was a direct monetary impact Harmonious doesn't have those issues and ratings seem good enough that it doesn't need to be replaced - tweaked, sure, but not replaced

    jrhwdwApr 11, 2025

    IDK if I like the word: Bully.....Esp if DE "had to go"......... It really didn't work at Epcot....We got Luminous after EF 2023 and still no Tags outside of July 4th/NYE

    Giss NericApr 11, 2025

    If fans were able to bully Disney for HEA to return, then why can't they bully Disney for Illuminations 2.0? Does Luminous have a high customer satisfaction rate? From what I've been hearing from people who watched it personally, this show is quite polarizing.

    Chef idea Mickey`=Apr 10, 2025

    I use to thought POE was an Illumination's ROE special especially that it hasn't returned so it was a thing revolving with the Earth Globe, however given now that Spaceship Earth is now a revolving Globe in itself it doesn't need it.

    jrhwdwApr 10, 2025

    I picked F&W because of Epcot's Birthday. Crazy that we haven't seen POE Tag since 2018! Epcot had to know it was popular.

    stuartApr 10, 2025

    Hopefully the Heartbeat of Freedom tag finale returns to the middle of the lagoon this year. It lost a lot of it's 'wow factor' being behind the American Adventure. The hogmanay one just there i'm sure was over the middle of the lagoon.

    Epcot82GuyApr 10, 2025

    I think there are arguments either way - and I think that supports the point. It's a matter of WHEN not IF for these. Plus, you could easily tie them into the SSE seasonal displays. Make it kind of a package thing, adding to the carry through of the EPCOT anthem into Luminous. It is one thing where they have cohesive theme from the redo in a very compelling way.