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30 January 2003: Reflections of Earth to end GE sponsorship
Reports are in that GE has ended their sponsorship of the show. Announcements are to be removed from the audio track, and the GE logos on the barges are likely to be removed shortly. This information has not yet been officially confirmed.
29 December 2000: Official Confirmation of the Extension
Because some celebrations are too good to end, smash-hit entertainment from the smile-making, record-breaking Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration is being extended indefinitely at Epcot.
That means the moving spectacle of “Tapestry of Nations” and the sky-filling fireworks-and-laser dazzler, “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth,” won’t end when the year 2000 does. After entertaining millions of Epcot guests, both spectaculars will be continued so millions more can experience them, announced Karl Holz, vice president of Epcot.
“Response to these two shows has been phenomenal,” Holz said. “Our guests told their friends who told other friends. Their message became clear: don’t bring the curtain down on these smash hits.
“That’s welcome news to those who weren’t able to make our millennium celebration or for those guests who did attend and want to come back for an encore.”
Here’s a closer look at the shows:
“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” -- This dazzling nightly finale on and above World Showcase Lagoon is filled with the fiery glow of torches, high-energy music, lasers and booming fireworks. The sky transforms into a kaleidoscope of colorful pyrotechnic bursts. Comets streak across the sky as video images are displayed on the giant Earth Globe, the floating centerpiece of “IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.” Then, the sphere blossoms like a flower, revealing a brilliant ball of fire. Dreams of hope for a better tomorrow are cast as the music builds, lasers shoot skyward, fireworks light the night and flames leap across the surface of the lagoon.
“By any measure,” said Holz, “our millennium celebration was a huge success. “We will continue the fun and spirit of that celebration right into the new year.”
4 December 2000: Reflections of Earth extended beyond Jan 1 2000
As we all expected, the awesome IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth, will be extended beyond the Millennium celebrations. The show is rumored to be running for the next 5 years - with minor tweaks along the way.
July 8 2000: July 4 Show at Epcot (report by Alex)
As rumored, the perimeters were not used. This was because when they
were planning the show, the drought threat was real. So they decided that
rather than cancel the fireworks as before, they placed 5 (by my count,
might have been more) extra small barges in the lagoon, along with the
WWIII barge and a launcher on one of the islands.
After the regular show, the female announcer said something to the
effect of we hope you have enjoyed Reflections of Earth, and now we
present a special finale to celebrate the first 4th of July of the new
millennium. Then they play the Golden Dream theme from American
Adventure, with pyro going off. Also, I think that the Mexico/Canada/USA
laser were projecting images, although my angle forbade me a good view.
After this portion, an announcer introduces Sandy Patty to sing the
National Anthem and her own special additions. All this is set to mass
pyro from the mini barges. I didn't see that much off the WWIII barge
though, maybe b/c of my angle. Plenty of lasers were used throughout the
whole time. Finally, that's done, there's a special thank you, and
Promise plays, with the American Adventure's outline lights on.
Throughout this whole time, the globe keeps on spinning. The flames are
extinguished and relit several times which really makes a neat effect.
July 4 2000: Interview with Don
Dorsey and Gavin Greenaway
Be sure to read this fascinating interview over at Theme Park Adventure. Some amazing insights into the development of the ultimate nighttime spectacular! Here is a small taster!
"Theme Park Adventure is thrilled to announce the availability of its newest Online Feature, titled "We Go On... Epcot's Millennium Celebration". In the tradition that TPA has established, we bring you two very personal, exclusive interviews with two of the main talents behind Epcot's Millennium shows IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and Tapestry of Nations. The first part of the Online Feature is an interview with Disney Legend Don Dorsey, the Show and Music Director for Reflections of Earth. The second is our first interview ever with industry talent Gavin Greenaway, the gentleman that wrote the music for both Reflections and Tapestry of Nations."
July 3 2000: July 4 Show Update (thanks WDWGUY)
This year's Fourth of July Fireworks at Epcot will be completely on
the lagoon..NO PERIMETER fireworks this year...So everyone around the
World Showcase Lagoon will get a great view...and because its on the
lagoon, there has been new fountain, lasers, and Pyro programming for
the Tag....Same music..but because its on the lagoon new programming had
to be done..
Reflections of Earth will begin at 10pm on the 4th followed immediately
by
the holiday tag....
January 25 2000: Answer from John!
Fantasy of Flight is a 'an aviation themed attraction' (a museum of
aircraft, and a simulator) located in Polk City, FL, about 20 minutes
west on I-4 from WDW. Visit
www.fantasyofflight.com
for more information.
The message is an add for the attraction, encouraging Eisner to visit
FoF just as he had visited IOA. Kermit refers to the attrations founder,
Kermit Weeks.
January 24 2000: New Years Eve
Word around Epcot is that on New Years Eve both Michael Eisner and Jimmy Carter were viewing IllumiNations from the roof of Mexico. Probably a good idea as security would be hard to guarantee inside the park that night.
We also have this photo taken during the morning of New Years Eve - anyone any idea what it was about? (A light aircraft was flying this thing repeatedly around Epcot)
January 6 2000: New Years Eve
We all know RoE is an amazing show. Well, New Years Eve 1999/2000 took the show to new heights. Starting 11:45, the regular show began, finishing just before midnight. At this point a cool narration was played, talking about how we have all gathered here at Epcot to celebrate the New Year etc... this lead into a countdown to the New Year, played on both the center Earth, and projected onto Spaceship Earth via laser.
At the stroke of midnight the pyro kicks in from everywhere around the World Showcase. Extreme amounts were launching from behind the countries (the same launch areas as July 4, but more intense). This lead into the Celebrate the Future Hand in Hand finale (track 18 on the WDW CD). The Earth Barge remained open during this part, playing images - along with huge sustained barrages of pyro, and then the finale barge kicks in, not only in the lagoon, but at each point around the rear of countries. The whole finale was over in about 5 minutes. The Epcot crew went for intensity rather than length. The only failure I noticed was the Inferno barge didn't fire during the RoE portion, but from what I could see all pyro fired. The whole show was being broadcast around the world by many TV crews - including ABC (surprise!). A down side of this was that they occupied the prime viewing location in front of the World Showcase Plaza area.
Crowd control was excellent, and Epcot did a great job of soaking up a capacity crowd!
Below: Some of ABCs coverage - thanks Dan.
December 2 1999: Review by Alex
Illuminations 2000: IS AWESOME! The show starts with a male voice saying something to the effect that the shows is a story, "as a old as time", but "is still being written". There is this really neat effect where he "blows" and all the pavilion lights go out. The music then begins, a series of spaced out drum beats. When they end, all the lights go off, and this really high paced music starts. This act is called Chaos, and features the ever popular fire barge. That thing is awesome! The fountain barges also shoot out fireworks horizontally, in a sort of fan shaped manner. It's really well done, as the music and fireworks are perfectly synchronized. The whole point of this section is the formation of the planet.
Then begins the act called "Order", at which point the Earth Globe enters the center of the lagoon from its parking space next to the American Adventure. The continents turn from red to white to blue, symbolizing their formation. They then begin to show images of water, which in turn leads to vegetation, and the animals. Finally, humans appear. This is all set to very slow paced music, which picks up as the planet gets more and more complex. The fountains are also doing their thing during this time.
Next, images of humanity's accomplishments begin to emerge: cities, technologies, planes, etc. Then the pavilion lights turn on, symbolizing the rise of nations. This is followed by images of famous people, set to very uplifting music and a helluva lot of fireworks.
The final scene is called "Meaning", which is set to the song "We Go On" (available on the Millennium CD). This is when the Earth Globe opens up, and fireworks and later flames shoot out of its central torch. The torches around the promenade also turn on, as well as several bursts from the sea wall pyros.
September 30 1999
Awesome new photo of the show.
September 25 1999
Reflections of Earth was produced entirely in Florida through Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney World Entertainment, Ride and Show Engineering, Central Shops and Buena Vista Construction.
September 23 1999
WDWGUY has sent us this great review of the first night of the show.
Well...the verdict is in everyone...Walt Disney World Entertainment has created...in my opinion....another QUALITY production here on property.
As I write this, the show got over about 45 minutes ago and I am still trying to take it all in. I mean there was so much to see and experience that an additional viewing (or two or three...ehehe) will definitely be necessary.
Here we go!! Before my review...a couple of things to say:
1) You will not recognize the show. The show is COMPLETELY different from any other previous versions of any lagoon show seen here at Epcot. Its that good folks.
2) This was a SOFT OPEN performance. As we know, the 28th and 29th of this month are the press events here on property...and October 1st and after is what REALLY counts.....but after you read this, I think you will agree that tonight could have been the grand opening.
THE PRESHOW
We viewed..Shimer and I.... the show near the American Adventure Pavilion. and we couldn't have been more thrilled with the viewing location. Because they have shifted the way in which the barges sit in the lagoon, any viewing restrictions are light..if any...but the traditional good spots....on the Italy Bridge, in Canada, In Mexico....are all still VERY good.
8:45pm - FEMALE voice giving the fifteen minute introduction.....and it is only referred to as "Reflections of Earth"....At the beginning of the announce, all of the torches around World Showcase began to flame...very pretty effect...they remained that way until the start of show
8:50pm- 10 minute announce by same female
8:55pm - 5 minute announce by same female
9pm - Showtime! An incredible deep voiced gentleman...invites you all to gather around the fire for a story..the beginning of Earth...(this was chilling...he was very very good) Drums begin to rumble and beat...and beat...and beat and beat and beat.....until...BAM! a shooting star hurls into the lagoon from a far and ignites gorgeous pyro in the center of the lagoon and sets the inferno barge on fire! This is amazing...When the inferno barge lights up..it illuminates the entire center of the lagoon and just explodes with firery orange....hurling flames everywhere...and then more fireworks begin.....with all NEW fireworks mind you..these pieces were beautiful
and then the most awesome thing happens...I loved this part...The
Earth Globe....Lights up...you see all of the continents on the barge
light up (video Screens)...the globe begins to spin..and then it
MOVES....read that again folks..it MOVES...the entire earth globe starts
slowly moving towards the center of the lagoon..(I should tell you it
begins at a dock right next to the American Gardens Theatre)...while the
ball itself is spinning and video images are displayed on it. It looks
like Earth traveling through space...and then this gorgous video
sequence happens on the ball..complete with re-programmed water
fountains on the barges. Images of Earth, life, animals, famous people,
water, are just some that I caught. then more celebrating occurs with
lots more pyrotechnics and the torches also come
back on during the show.
The shows finale is one that will give you chills..as the globe is
spinning...it slowly opens up only to reveal a HUGE FLAMING TORCH in the
center..and then Pyro shoots out of the barge to ignite the
finale...with lots and lots of pyro....The music fit so well with the
new fireworks programming...its is very tightly choreographed..I was
very impressed by
this.
Of course....the lasers and lights on the countries also were part of the show..and they were very good as well..but this spinning, moving, and pedal-opening earth globe was definitely some thing to see...when that thing started moving to the center of the lagoon..I practically peed my....well never mind...ehehe
All in all...I couldn't believe this was a soft open...For the Epcot
Entertainment creative team and technicians to do the OLD version of
IllumiNations last night, and to come out with this soft open of the new
show tonight....was amazing....I will be back again and again to see it
I am sure.
September 22 1999
OK, as soon as we confirm the date it changes again! IllumiNations 2000 will preview tonight.
September 18 1999
The following information is now confirmed.
The current IllumiNations will now run through September 24, 1999.
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth will soft open on September 25, 1999.
Holiday Illuminations will not be seen this season.
IllumiNations 2000 will run straight through the holiday season.
September 11 1999
IllumiNations closes on September 18 1999.
IllumiNations 2000 begins September 19 1999.
August 25 1999
Some interesting rumors have surfaced about viewing locations of the new show. The traditional barge facing locations of N/W/S/E position they're in now (Facing USA, UK, Norway, and Future World) may be history, to be replaced with NW/SW/SE/NE positions (facing Germany, France, Canada, and Mexico).
The new Millennium Pavilion roof is equipped with a roof mounted sprinkler system to cool the roof in the event of a stray pyro element from IllumiNations. Another interesting fact about the Millennium building is that the skin is bulletproof. The material was not chosen for that property, but still useful!
Disney's Imagineering developed compressed-air launched fireworks will be used for the first time in the new show.
The new Inferno barge will pump a wall of flames and pyro to a height of 100ft - should be interesting!
The latest news on what will happen during December is that we will see a hybrid show. Traditionally during December, a special Holiday version of IllumiNations has been shown. Although it is a special holiday show, it has never been that spectacular with firework content, more of a musical event. Disney is yet to officially announce what will happen this year, but we have word that the new IllumiNations 2000 show will run, with an extended portion based on the Christmas Holiday.
August 7 1999
Concept art of how the new show will look. This shows the center ball open, and the flame torch elevated from the center.
July 27 1999
Testing is continuing nightly on the new show. Besides running the inferno barge, and the BIG bang, the video ball is now running. Some problems have also surfaced over the movement of the ball. The barge ways in excess of 500000 pounds, and when placed into the lagoon marina, it went straight to the bottom! The important parts were still above water, but the base was sitting on the floor! the marina area was dredged by 3 feet, and it is still hitting the bottom. This adds further weight to the fact that they may have to leave the barge permanently in the lagoon. Although reports indicate that it is not much of a looker in daylight! :-)
July 22, 1999
The BIG bang effect was tested last Tuesday night. All the windows of the surrounding hotels survived, but there were plenty of car alarms set off, and lots of calls to the resort front desks!
July 16, 1999
The new show Illuminations 2000 will use a total of 17 lasers, up from 7 for the current show. Parts of the show have been under rehearsals at around midnight in the lagoon. Lasers and pyro have been spotted in the surrounding areas of Epcot.
The new ball in the center of the lagoon is reported to only clear the marina walls by 2 inches each side as it passes through the bridge area. Rumors suggest that if this becomes a problem the ball will live permanently in the lagoon.
The 4 existing fountain barges will remain for the new show. They have recently been refurbished by switching them out of the show, one by one. When they were being rehabbed, the missing fountain barge was replaced with a pyro only barge, that sat in the spot facing the American Adventure.
The sound system is set for an upgrade too. Speakers are being installed in all of the torches that surround the lagoon, as well as on the roof of the Friendship boats.
It appears that Epcot are going all out for this show. I cannot wait to see it!!
July 12, 1999
Official Disney information on the new show.
"IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth" A nighttime spectacular on and above World Showcase Lagoon.
Earth Globe is the world's first spherical video display system, wrapped in 15,000 LEDs (Light-Emitting Diodes.
2,800 shells for each show - more than twice the number ever used in previous productions.
A fountain barge pumps 5,000 gallons of water per minute.
A 150,000-pound inferno barge uses 37 nozzles to shoot propane flames skyward.
A full color spectrum of lasers, including four custom Disney colors (lagoon blue, mint green, pumpkin orange and lavender).
Walls of flames and a giant torch climb 40 feet above World Showcase Lagoon.
The grand finale to every evening during the 15-month-long celebration at Epcot is IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth, the most thrilling and technically complex production ever created for the most popular nighttime spectacle in Walt Disney World history. The all-new nighttime extravaganza features fireworks, full-color lasers, lights, water fountains, fire and music.
Leading the creative team are director Don Dorsey, creator of the original Main Street Electrical Parade, and fireworks designer Eric Tucker, the top medal winner for the past three years in the International Fireworks Exposition.
IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth tells the story of the dawn of the third millennium, a symbolic time of rebirth, a global turning point for the human race," says Dorsey. "We’re presenting the entire history of our planet, from the beginning of time to the present, and looking into the future."
As Tapestry of Nations goes dark, shooting stars streak across the skies above World Showcase Lagoon, colliding into a ball of fire. Plumes of fire light the sky in an explosion of sound and light. Steam and smoke rise, creating a sense of chaos, a sense of the dawning of time.
A single voice becomes a chorus as the show focuses on a giant spinning globe in the middle of World Showcase Lagoon – a spherical video screen nearly three stories high projecting vivid images that celebrate human diversity and the unified spirit of mankind. The high-tech sphere "blossoms" to release a brilliant flaming gas torch which lifts 38 feet into the air in the show’s emotional closing, an artistic expression of mankind’s brilliant future as the music soars, lasers shoot skyward, fireworks illuminate the skies and flames leap across the surface of the lagoon.
As the final chord fades, a massive explosion of sound and colors is united, a symbol of oneness in today’s world as we move forward into a new millennium.
June 16, 1999
The new centre price ball has been moved from show area by the Magic Kingdom to Epcot. All of the eastbound lanes of World Drive were blocked off for about an hour around 3am this past Sunday morning for the transfer.
April 8, 1999
The new ball for IllumiNations is currently over in the Technical area (Ride and Show Engineering) near the Magic Kingdom. [Greg]
April 7, 1999
New information about the Millennium show from Greg.
The laser barge (ball) in the middle of the lagoon will be replaced with a projection system using LCD technology, similar to a giant laptop LCD display (although much lower resolution, each pixel being 1"x2"). The size of the ball will remain much the same, due to size constraints in the marina and passing through the bridge to the lagoon.
The ball is raised about 10ft off the base, and has large petals that fold down to reveal some pyrotechnic elements.
Each laser booth will be upgraded to a 3 color laser unit.
The current show will go down on September 18 1999, and the new show will soft open September 19 1999.
February 22, 1999
Reports in that gas torches are being installed around the World Showcase Lagoon. The 30ft high gas burners are to be used during the Millennium Show which replaces IllumiNations.
[Below left] One of the Gas Torches has been installed, just by the UK. Expect to see another 15 of these installed around the lagoon ready for Millennium, the new night-time show.
[Above Right] New hardware being installed into the lagoon. This is the site of some of the laser reflection mirrors used in the current show, IllumiNations.
February 19, 1999
We now have confirmation from the IllumiNations crew that the show will not be going down for rehab until mid September, most likely September 5th 1999.
February 16, 1999
OK, more news. The dates for IllumiNations being down are June 5th - September 26th. Seems that this time will be used to rehab IllumiNations ready for it's 2000 replacement - Millenniums. The new show is an extensive rework, involving new hardware. The 3 month downtime maybe confirms the rumour that new lasers will be installed in American Adventure, Mexico and Canada.
An opening date just a few days ahead of the October millennium launch gives a few days of soft opening for the new show.