EPCOT Forever confirmed to return to Walt Disney World for a third time in April 2023

Jan 10, 2023 in "Epcot Forever"

Posted: Tuesday January 10, 2023 9:06am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has announced that "EPCOT Forever" will return to Walt Disney World as an interim show on April 3 2023.

Harmonious will have its final performance on April 2 2023.

Originally developed as an interim show to be performed between Reflections of Earth and Harmonious, EPCOT Forever requires little specific hardware in the lagoon, relying primarily on mobile launch platforms that can be brought out into the lagoon each day.

The first version of EPCOT Forever that debuted on October 1 2019 featured fireworks and stunt kites. and played until Walt Disney World's closure in 2020. The show resumed on July 1 2021 as firework shows returned to Walt Disney World after the pandemic shutdown. The second version dropped the stunt kites, but added more fireworks in their place. Its last performance was September 28 2021, making way for Harmonious on September 29.

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TheCoasterNerd3 days ago

The fantasmic changes are temporary. Everything that was and more will return. They just wanted the show back at all. In addition, we have 4 viewing areas for our fireworks each with different show elements such as lighting, projections, and now even a second soundtrack. You have... one? two? viewing areas. Also yes you were just unlucky. That's not normal hours.

ToTBellHop3 days ago

Last time I went, both parks were 10-8. Guess I was unlucky! I wasn’t at all impressed with DL’s nighttime offerings but that’s a matter of preference. They keep making their Fantasmic! worse.

TheCoasterNerd3 days ago

Fireworks are on weekends most of the year, but that's just because of a legal issue with daily fireworks, not Disney themselves. They offer WoC (usually twice) every single night at DCA as well. They have two parades, Fantasmic, fireworks, and on nights without fireworks, still a stunning projection show. The projections (unless the projectors are under their occasional maintenance) are every night. Still, longer hours. Also when does it open at 10? I've never seen that. On a Thursday in November (November 17 2023) it was still 8-12 and 8-10. Even in January, it's still 8-10, which is an hour longer than WDW.

jrhwdw3 days ago

Very Fair

ToTBellHop3 days ago

To be fair, DL closes early with no fireworks and opens at 10 am on weekdays for most of the year. WDW deserves much criticism by they should be lauded for offering nighttime spectaculars in 3 parks 365 nights a year. It took DL a year to bring F! back with Maleficent in B-mode…

jrhwdw3 days ago

And F! hasn't changed their Schedule since the early 90s since DL went down to 2 a night. Also, every time MSEP returns, it falls back into the old Schedule....

jrhwdw3 days ago

Ah........ We'll see what MK comes up with......

TheCoasterNerd3 days ago

I've always thought MKs hours were dumb. 9am-10pm? Yet another reason I prefer Land, where hours are 8-midnight usually. So nice to be able to do hours of rides afterwards with minimal waits (after the families have gone home post-fireworks). I find it ironic that Disneyland's SECOND GATE is open an hour longer than all of Magic Kingdom

ToTBellHop3 days ago

Because summer in WDW is so crowded that no one comes any more.

jrhwdw3 days ago

Don't get me wrong, I'll take whatever MK gives us but why can't MK return to 11 or 12 Midnight close with the old Summer Schedule??

ToTBellHop3 days ago

They’re planning on us being gone at 11:30 unless it’s a separately ticketed event!

jrhwdw3 days ago

Followed by whatever MK is planning at 11 or 11:30.........I can't wait for that Schedule to return!!!!!!

ToTBellHop3 days ago

Yes. It would be electrical parade at 9 (dusk is ok for parades) and HEA at 10 pm.

jrhwdw3 days ago

Why 10:15? FITS & Wishes was at 10PM 1977-2016........