Crews working on EPCOT's new nighttime spectacular Luminous have begun testing the new mini-barges in World Showcase lagoon.
These new show platforms are unique in that they are brought out into the lagoon daily, docked inside each of the six large barges. Once the large bargees are anchored, the four mini-barges are pulled out of each large barge by boat and docked into position on the recently installed pilings in the lagoon.
At least 24 of these mini-barges will be deployed around World Showcase lagoon, allowing show designers to position effects in a wide area across the water and quite close to guests watching from the promenade. Luminous will have more than 30 floating platforms to deliver fireworks, lighting, and fountains.
Today's testing also shows where these mini-barges will be docked. We can see from the photo below that the mini-barges radiate out from the large barge.
Three of the mini-barges are arranged in a straight line radiating out from the back of the large barge. They are tethered together with a rope to hold them in position and an umbilical cord, presumably supplying power and data signals from the main barge.
The fourth mini-barge is positioned off to the side, in a position that will be between two of the large barges.
The same pattern will then be repeated for the remaining main barges and their group of 4 mini-barges.
When viewed from overhead, the barge arrangement is like spokes of a wheel emerging from a central point.
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