The dismantling of Harmonious gets underway on EPCOT's World Showcase Lagoon

Apr 05, 2023 in "Harmonious"

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Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

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Posted: Wednesday April 5, 2023 9:50am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Crews are working in the center of World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT, dismantling the Harmonious show barges.

Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

Work is concentrating on the German "taco" video barge, which looks like it will be the first to be removed from the lagoon, clearing the way for the larger central icon barge to be moved backstage to the marina.

Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

Crews are stripping the barge of lighting and other hardware. Each barge is a complex piece of machinery equipped with pyrotechnic launchers, fountain pumps and piping, lighting, LED screens, computer control systems, fire suppression, and air conditioning.

Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

Although most of the work is taking place on the Germany barge, crews are also removing lighting from the central icon platform.

Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

Backstage, a large crane is ready to move the barges out of the marina and position them on the site originally prepared to build Harmonious.

Harmonious barge dismantling - April 5 2023

Disney has not yet given a timeframe for the total removal of the Harmonious hardware, but our estimates put the work at around 6 weeks.

With Harmonious now dark, the interim EPCOT Forever show is being performed, which does not rely on any Harmonious hardware. A new show is currently in development, set to debut this fall.

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Disone4 days ago

Great questions .... And I don't want to be rude and ignore your questions, as in general I enjoy your posts a lot, but at the same time I said my peace on this. Thank you.

peter114354 days ago

What costs would it save? What hassle would it avoid other than inconveniencing guests? If cost and hassle were their reasoning why wouldn’t they do it everyday?

Disone4 days ago

Having waited through the process once... I did not notice it being longer. They brought through two large ones and lowered it back. There's was still more to bring out later. But as I said.... The harmonious barges really were not the deal breaker for me they were for so many others so.... Shruggs. I still think they are putting a cost savings and hassles avoidance over safety and show but I am also "it is what it is regardless of what I think" on this one.

peter114354 days ago

Except there were times even with Illuminations that the barges or some of the barges would be left in the lagoon. Although that was far less frequent. The amount of time the bridge needs to be raised for Luminous IS consequentially longer.

Cmdr_Crimson4 days ago

Ehh..Kinda? Like a tribute to the beginning. But, also more lighting and using Pavillion buildings from left to right and then all at once for the last few beats to then go into the flying sparks to convey life has started... After that The segments of Happiness, Darkness, Inspiration and Celebration..With different fireworks and such..No clue what I would have in the lagoon for projection use if it was needed nor how the score would even sound like but, the finale would have perimeter fireworks launching off the WS pavillions at the finale..Not many but, just enough..

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

Wow that concept is identical to how Illuminations ROE started except now your using an actual heartbeat sound? Instead of one flying spark, your concept is going with sparks all around the lagoon launching together. Your calling the show Illuminations: Eternal Flame Is this a bringing back Illuminations in a bigger way I would think is what your trying to convey here?

Cmdr_Crimson5 days ago

I would also include using the lighting on SSE and the....*sigh & grumble* Dreamers point area... The way I see the opening is as the torches blew out..You just slowly start hearing a heartbeat as it gets louder and louder and then around the lagoon the sparks launch to create life...Aaannd that's all I got for the moment..Feel free to add what could go next...

aladdin20075 days ago

I know I would really enjoy that.

aladdin20075 days ago

Agree, the first one is way over produced and I feel like Im being shouted at. One Heart Beat is really nice and would have preferred just that one used instead of the other.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

I agree with you, how I know this is because those songs took me almost three weeks to like them. And you want to know something crazy, I refused to dish on the after songs until I went in person and the first day there I absolutely loved them performed 🎭!

TTA945 days ago

Perhaps. But it’s not just the singer it’s the song all together that not catchy. I am partially team upbeat party type music, but I do also enjoy orchestral and slow music as long as it’s catchy and an ear warm. “Heartbeat Symphony” and “Beating Of Our Hearts” is not that.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

What made Harmonious for me was the different singers from different parts of the world that came together, loved the duet or even trio, back and forth, especially the Italian Tenor, French tenor, so powerful, so very Epcot vocally. Luminous is all females except the male that sings So Close and When She Loved Me which is okay but very HEA. That's why I wouldn't mind if they kept the first song in Harmonious and interesting now that Moana is officially in the park, it is removed from the nighttime show. Same feeling with having children voices in Epcot Forever! Having a male sing the 2nd song with the two ladies would change the vibe, throw the tenors in there, you know just like they did Someday. Perhaps this didn't come to fruition because Luminious didn't have a chance to have the budget as Harmonious did.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

Would your opinion change if they brought back Kellie Coffey who did "We Go On and Promise" to sing Heartbeat Symphony. I love the songs lyrics and meaning, it's just I feel if it was her then it be like a tribute of her turning the page to another lesson of life.

Chef idea Mickey`=5 days ago

Actually had Harmonious, or Illuminations stayed at Epcot, Luminous would've worked as it's own at Animal Kingdom because the heartbeat of nature's animals and creatures share the same values and living life cycle as well. However it would have visuals or just fountains with color and not fireworks.