The Illuminations Story: the meaning behind the popular Epcot nighttime spectacular

Welcome to this month’s Blogorail Green Loop. Today we are discussing some of the amazing nighttime spectaculars at the Disney Parks.

“A must-do.”
“The best fireworks show you’ve ever seen.”
“The most heartwarming end to a day at Epcot.”

I’ll admit, I heard all of these things in our years of visiting Walt Disney World and I just didn’t understand them. Epcot is my favorite park, just edging out the Magic Kingdom. It always has been. “We Go On” and “Promise”, the two most prominent songs in Illuminations: Reflections of Earth are among my most-listened to park songs. I enjoyed it well enough each time we saw it (and markedly more so when they updated the technology to make photos on a spinning globe more clear), but it was absolutely not the best fireworks show I’d ever seen. It ranked firmly below nearly every other Walt Disney World nighttime spectacular, and if you’re looking at just the fireworks even below our local Labor Day festival. To be fair, it’s one of the largest displays in the country… but it was still always noteworthy to me that it was better (again, from a fireworks standpoint alone!) than Epcot’s Illuminations.

Several years ago though, I stumbled across the actual story of Illuminations. In retrospect, it seems so obvious – but given that  my friend Sam and I have told this story to countless people and almost all of them were hearing it for the first time, I can remember a time when it wasn’t so clear.

Good evening. On behalf of Walt Disney World, the place where dreams come true, we welcome all of you to Epcot and World Showcase. We’ve gathered here tonight around the fire as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands of years before us… to share the light… and to share a story. An amazing story as old as time itself, but still being written. And though each of us has our own individual stories to tell, a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one. We hope you enjoy our show tonight: Reflections of Earth.

These words are spoken by Jim Cummings (current voice of Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and other Disney characters) before the show begins each night. I suppose that should have been my first clue that the event would share a story! 🙂

c. stellti (creative commons via flickr)

Act 1: The Earth is Born represents a state of chaos, before the world as we know it was formed. Explosions and wildly spewing fountains represent disorder.

Act 2: The Triumph of Life represents order brought to creation. While the lagoon is otherwise calm, the globe moves into place, showing all aspects of our planet – wildlife, nature, landmarks, and people.

C. Disney

Finally, Act 3: Hope for the Future represents meaning. During this final act, the countries of World Showcase light up around the perimeter of the lagoon. Fireworks, lasers, and music are orderly yet exciting. The globe opens, revealing a torch that represents our unified dreams for a better tomorrow.

Viewing Tips

• Truthfully, if you can get a spot anywhere along World Showcase Lagoon with a view of the center (watch for trees that may obstruct your view!), you’ll be able to enjoy the show. These spots may begin filling up an hour before the start of Illuminations during busier times, but we have found great spots with just 10-15 minutes left on more than one occasion.
• That said, if you have been going all day, the 30-60 minutes before Illuminations begins can be a wonderful time to wind down for the night and take a load off of weary feet. Grab a snack (there are plenty to choose from, see our favorites here) and have a seat on the ground or a bench near the fence. As a bonus, the 30 minutes prior to the show has some of my favorite Epcot background music. There isn’t a lot of actual seating right up along the fence; keep in mind that if you’re a few feet away from it, it’s very likely someone else will find those few feet the perfect spot for them to see – and block your view 🙂
• Rose & Crown, Cantina de San Angel, and Spice Road Table offer limited seating in their restaurants with wonderful views. Ideally you can get a late dinner and watch as you’re finishing up, but the timing can be tricky. We have heard plenty of great success stories and how wonderful that experience is, but it’s never been worth it to us to risk poor timing, tie up a table for an inappropriate amount of time, etc.
• Illuminations Cruises and Dessert parties are often an option, depending on when you visit. They are an additional fee, but we have experienced a few dessert parties and you absolutely CANNOT beat the viewing. Or the desserts.
• Disney Tourist Blog has some unique vantage points (with gorgeous photos!) that are worth checking out, especially if you’re a repeat visitor.
• Please note: it can be loud, as most explosions and fireworks can be, and it is even more so from some of the most spectacular viewing locations. When we saw the special tag on Illuminations to celebrate Epcot’s 30th birthday we could feel the blasts through our whole bodies. We have had dozens of trips with children ages 7 months – 7 years, and I cannot recommend these highly enough. They get plenty of use at home, too (during thunderstorms as well as fireworks), and are worth every penny! 
• While Fastpass+ is available for Illuminations (and the viewing location is a good one), we almost never use it anymore. Disney allows you to choose additional Fastpasses once you have used your initial choices, but Illuminations will not be used until the day is done. Additionally, it is a “tier 1” attraction which means by choosing a Fastpass+ spot for Illuminations, you are giving up the option to select one for Soarin’ or Test Track.  If you get to the afternoon and you have the opportunity to select an Illuminations Fastpass, then it may be worth it – but most seasons that is unlikely. There are plenty of other great spots! {Editor’s Note: Fastpass+ confusing you? Check out TouringPlans.com’s advice page}

Fun Facts

• The globe used in Illuminations: Reflections of Earth was the first spherical video display in the world. It is 28 feet in diameter and is the only barge in the show with a driver on board.
• Footage from the extinct parade, Tapestry of Nations can be seen on the globe just before the song, “We Go On” begins.
• 1105 firework shells are used in each presentation. Walt Disney World created (and was the first to use) a compressed air system to deliver fireworks timed precisely to music, instead of relying on calculations for timing the less-predictable gunpowder.
• During the show, two computer servers are running identical controls simultaneously. If one goes down, it (in theory!) would be a seamless transition to the other without missing a beat of the show.
• The inferno barge is 150,000 pounds and is capable of sending balls of fire 40-60 feet in the air.
• The FAA requires notification of the use of outdoor laser systems, so every night they are contacted by a control system in the Mexico pavilion.
• Four Fountain Barges have 26 nozzles each, and disperse water at a rate of more than 4000 gallons per minute. That’s crazy, you guys, and the water effects probably get noticed the least.
• There is a drawbridge that raises between the African Outpost and the China Pavilion to allow the barges and globe to get into position each day. It’s almost never noticed until you’re stopped by it, and then you can’t forget every time you walk by!
• Special “tags” are added for holidays and events such as park anniversaries. These usually include several minutes of additional music and pyrotechnics.
• When the nations of World Showcase light up during Act 3, two remain dark. The Morocco pavilion contains buildings that represent significant religious sites, so they are not lit. In order to keep symmetry, the Norway pavilion remains dark as well.

Want more? Listen to Episode #47 of The Disney Nerds podcast, where we chat in depth about this spectacular nighttime event with my friend Sam (Sam’s Disney Diary) narrating and even sharing some audio clips from special Illuminations events. Also, check out this video of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth!

Here is the map of our Magical Blogorail Green | Disney Nighttime Spectaculars Loop:

• 1st Stop – The Delightful Life | YOU ARE HERE 🙂
• 2nd Stop – Mommy to All Girls | Wishes
• 3rd Stop – Saving Up for Disney | Paint the Night
• 4th Stop – Love Our Crazy Life | Disneyland Forever Fireworks