Disney announces the end date for EPCOT's Harmonious and confirms removal of the lagoon hardware

Jan 10, 2023 in "Harmonious"

Posted: Tuesday January 10, 2023 9:09am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has just announced that EPCOT's Harmonious will have its final performance on April 2 2023.

The show will be replaced with "EPCOT Forever" as an interim show, debuting April 3 2023. A brand-new EPCOT firework show will debut later in 2023.

Disney has also confirmed that there will be a phased removal of the fireworks platform in World Showcase lagoon.

Harmonious, which debuted as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary and the brain-child of former CEO Bob Chapek, has faced heavy guest criticism for the daytime impact on the view across World Showcase Lagoon and disappointing as a show.

Alongside Harmonious closure news today, Disney has also announced the return date for Magic Kingdom's 'Happily Ever After.'

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

View all comments →

TTA947 hours ago

Maybe USOs new nighttime show will be more “fun” and “party like” lol, so that group can go there.

MisterPenguin8 hours ago

Needs more Party Rock Anthem.

ToTBellHop10 hours ago

I think that would help in lieu of such an overt reference to death. Plus, I’ve been Toy Storied to death…

James Alucobond12 hours ago

I agree that they shouldn’t cave to the party crowd and completely remove the loss segment, but I do think it’s musically one of the weakest parts (along with Friend Like Me and the short chunk of Can You Feel the Love Tonight). I think they should adjust the messaging a bit to still be about loss, but more broadly about meetings, partings, and the constancy of change. Then just shove in a rendition of Dos Oruguitas.

DisneyDean9712 hours ago

I really like Luminous opening and finale. As long as they keep those, I don't care how they rework the middle.

Disney Analyst14 hours ago

One of those times we do agree, and I am not saying they are not untitled to their opinion or preference, I just don't think it's a preference the artistic team should regard.

Brian14 hours ago

Hard to feel sympathy for their position.

Disney Analyst14 hours ago

I think we saw the same videos. People were upset that they were partying and drinking all night, and that this show was thoughtful and emotional, and interrupted their "vibes". Meh.

gerarar14 hours ago

Hey maybe that's why DL keeps bring back Mickeys Mix Magic for the party vibe.... ...ugh A lot of those Luminous Day 1 reaction videos where the main criticism was lack of likeable upbeat party-like songs and such, turned it off immediately lol.

Squishy15 hours ago

Lacking pyro it did not have. It pretty much was pyro constantly unlike Illuminations & Luminous.

trainplane315 hours ago

Once they realized they couldn't move them, the project should've been halted and re-evaluated. Money should've been shifted to marina expansion and China bridge expansion (due to the unwieldy size of the new barges). I feel bad for those involved but it was doomed once that was announced. And the fact the show was basically watching a TV screen for 20 minutes with lacking pyro and barely noticeable fountains.

pigglewiggle15 hours ago

As you age, everything will make you cry. At this point I just need to hear the sound of the Friendship boat horns and my throat tightens, thinking of my parents when they were younger. Ah, life. It's a downer. 😄

Disney Analyst15 hours ago

The only complaint I saw online from my age group is they missed the "party vibes" Epcot had with Harmonious, and that the loss segment was a real "downer". The show isn't as upbeat and "dancey". Frankly, I wouldn't trust their taste if that is how they feel, and it goes into a larger trend of my generation seeing Epcot as a party spot. Don't get me wrong, I love the vibes also, let's get a drink - but Disney is hitting the right notes with Luminous, of course it could use tweaking, but this show feels far more Epcot than Harmonious. But it seems my generation, based on feedback online and survey data, would just rather they bring Harmonious back, so they can continue the party vibes, no thanks. It's okay for a show to put you into an uncomfortable emotional space, for a brief moment, even in a Disney park.

MisterPenguin15 hours ago

You're reading too much in to the scores. Len uses a 5 point system which -- like any other scoring system -- has its advantages (it's simplicity) and disadvantages (lack of fine distinctions). A 5 point system is like a 100 point system, but you tell people you can only choose: 20, 40, 60, 80, or 100. No 90s, no 70s, etc... And so anything that is relatively good gets a score of mostly 4s (80s) or some 5s (100s). That means for all the good attractions, their scores will cluster in the range of 4.00 to 4.30. If we were to take the scores that Len gives and inflate them to a 100 point system, it would be: Show 5 Point Score 100 point score IllumiNations: RoE 4.31 86.2 Luminous: tSoU 4.18 83.6 Harmonious 4.12 82.4 EPCOT Forever 3.97 79.4 Everyone's favorite and gold standard, RoE, only gets an 86.2 on a inflated 100 point scale. I'm sure if people were able to give it scores above 80 (4 on a 5 point scale) without committing to 100 (5 on a 5 point scale), it would score much higher. The other indicator of popularity is whether people are staying in the park to see it over and over again, or, if it was a one and done. For, me, EF and H.us were one and done. And insiders were telling of how Disney and the EPCOT restaurants were not happy that that was the case for a lot of people and the number of guests staying for the fireworks were fewer and fewer. But, they also have said that tSoU has turned that around. And in the end, that extra crowd that buys merch and makes use of the restaurants and food kiosks is what counts for Disney... and is a sign of tSoU's greater popularity than H.us.