Walt Disney World is turning 50 years old this Friday. They originally had a whole lot of things on the docket to celebrate the milestone anniversary, but the COVID pandemic put the kibosh on a lot of it, as a cost-saving measure. That being said, a bunch of stuff is still happening.
Disney loves to put on a fireworks show, and they’re actually going to have two brand-new ones that will both officially begin on October 1st.
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth was finally retired on September 29, 2019, one day short of its twentieth anniversary. A new show, Epcot Forever, began performances the next day and has been running ever since (save for the 4 months that the parks were closed due to COVID).
However Epcot Forever was always planned to just be a temporary replacement, and Epcot’s new show, Harmonious, is scheduled to begin the evening of October 1st.
From WDW’s website:
Watch the World Come Together
The heart of the Epcot transformation comes to life with Harmonious, one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for Disney Parks. The show is a beautifully crafted medley of classic Disney music and visuals reinterpreted by a culturally diverse group of 240 artists from all around the world. Come and be dazzled by all of it as you discover how Disney music and stories have the power to inspire and unite us all, overcoming any language or border.
This magnificent new show brings to World Showcase Lagoon an innovative combination of floating giant screens, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers in a 360-degree view. Enter amazing worlds inspired by Moana, Aladdin, Coco, Brave, The Lion King, Mulan, The Princess and the Frog and other classic stories. Colorful images and effects dance and change as Harmonious weaves familiar Disney music and stories together in brand-new ways. Through unique perspectives as diverse as the world itself, Disney songs hop from language to language as the show brings people from different parts of the world together to unlock the magic of possibility.
Debuting in October 2021 with the launch of the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration, Harmonious is a brilliant centerpiece to The World’s Most Magical Celebration.
WDW will stream Harmonious at 9pm ET today, Wednesday, September 29th, on the Disney Parks Blog website.
But that’s not all!
Whereas the fireworks show at Epcot was there for 2 decades, Disney is better at refreshing their nighttime shows at Magic Kingdom. Well, sometimes, anyway.
Their first fireworks show, Fantasy in the Sky, ran for 32 years(!) from 1971 to 2003.
That was followed by Wishes: A Magical Gathering of Disney Dream, which “only” ran for 13.5 years (Oct 2003 to May 2017).
Happily Ever After has been running from May 2017 until now, minus 16 months (March 2020-July 2021) due to COVID (the parks were closed from March through July 2020, but they said they held off on fireworks to decrease the chance of crowds mingling together).
And their newest fireworks show Disney Enchantment, debuts on the evening of the park’s 50th anniversary.
From WDW’s website:
An Incredible Journey Awaits
Be swept up in a world of wonder filled with friendship, love and fun as you watch this nighttime spectacular unfold. Inspiring everyone to believe in magic, Disney Enchantment will feature captivating Disney music, enhanced lighting, stunning fireworks and—for the first time—immersive projection effects that extend from Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom park.
It’s an awe-inspiring show you won’t want to miss—debuting October 1, 2021 during the Walt Disney World Resort 50th anniversary celebration.
WDW will stream Disney’s Enchantment (and “a special celebratory moment”) at 10:15 pm ET, tomorrow, Thursday, September 30th, on the Disney Parks Blog website.
Enjoy!
Feature Photo: The Walt Disney Company
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This post first appeared on Your Mileage May Vary
