HARMONIOUS SEPTEMBER 29, 2021

[Kms943]

A revamped EPCOT FOREVER would be a better celebration for the 50th, with the projection screens showing ride scenes and scores from Horizons, World of Motion, Universe of Energy, the Dreamfinder and Figment, Cranium Command, Spaceship Earth, Kitchen Cabaret (Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit), even the computer control room show with IO, capped with the old theme song Remember the Magic from WDW 25th Anniversary.

exactly! And seriously, a 50th anniversary show that’s supposed to celebrate unity and they didn’t put a section in from Tapestry of Nations? That would have been perfect for the supposed message of this new show IMO.

 

[OSUZorba]

I agree with the point that seeing it in person will be a different experience than the live stream. But at the same time, after the live stream of EPCOT Forever, I was excited to see it live, even though I never had the opportunity to do so, and knew it wasn't the best Disney could do. I was excited for the memories, the nostalgia, remembering the park as it was when I would travel with my Mom...Harmonious live stream did not leave me excited about seeing it. And to compare, I liked Wishes, Illuminations, and Happily Ever After. I even liked Rivers of Light. I'm hopeful tonight's stream of Disney Enchantment will leave me excited.

Yeah, I've lived streamed all the previous shows and never had the "urg, what is this" feeling about them before.

I'm sure I could at least watch the whole thing in person, which is more than I can say for the live stream, where I had to skip to the end.

Part of it is I'm sick of hearing the same handful of songs in every show. To me the original and beautiful score of Illuminations was true Disney, not a mix tape of the top 10 Disney songs on Pandora.

 

[disneydreamer781]

I still want the original Illuminations back! I always loved how each country got its time to shine (literally).

Just watched Craig's video as well, and Disney should just contract fireworks streams and recordings out to him. His video is so much better than what they showed last night.

That show was my absolute favorite at Epcot and I've seen them all!

 

[Kms943]

I still want the original Illuminations back! I always loved how each country got its time to shine (literally).

Just watched Craig's video as well, and Disney should just contract fireworks streams and recordings out to him. His video is so much better than what they showed last night.

And did anybody else notice that during Craig’s video, people really only seemed to have a reaction when fireworks were involved. It didn’t seem like anyone was reacting to the music or videos.

 

[MissSha]

You mentioning Rivers of Light reminded me of how I felt when we saw it. I kept thinking "This is pretty, but what is going on here?" Hoping Disney will take a hint from the lack of enthusiasm, and add a story line.

And....look what happened with Rivers of Light......

 

[jknc]

Is now the time to remind everyone that Ellen’s Energy closed 49 months ago?

 

[Lisann]

I gotta say, I wasn't feelin' it last night. And that kind of disappoints me.

I was looking forward to it because of the focus on music, but some of those singers were terrible piercing. I just thought I was watching clips of Disney songs and some special effects thrown in. I pretty much enjoy the fireworks and nighttime shows, and this is the first time that I honestly have no driving desire to really see this show again.

Also, the ending was bizarre. I much more prefer that beautiful Epcot song "Promise" being sung as everyone exits the park.

 

[Chuck S]

exactly! And seriously, a 50th anniversary show that’s supposed to celebrate unity and they didn’t put a section in from Tapestry of Nations? That would have been perfect for the supposed message of this new show IMO.

Harmonious is also missing a grand starting fanfare score. Just think of the opening fanfare to Tapestry of Nations. Harmonious somehow lacks continuity and for lack of a better term "joy." Just think of the Tapestry of Nations and Great Millennium Walk score. It was hopeful and joyous.

 

[Dis Dragon]

A revamped EPCOT FOREVER would be a better celebration for the 50th, with the projection screens showing ride scenes and scores from Horizons, World of Motion, Universe of Energy, the Dreamfinder and Figment, Cranium Command, Spaceship Earth, Kitchen Cabaret (Veggie Veggie Fruit Fruit), even the computer control room show with IO, capped with the old theme song Remember the Magic from WDW 25th Anniversary.

Strangely enough they're not interested in the past on a 50th anniversary, they're only looking to the future and what they're going to morph Epcot into.

 

[Duck143]

We watched a live stream of Harmonious last night following the final HEA. I was surprised (not in a good way) to hear many of the songs that just played in the now discontinued show, HEA. It was like whomever designed this show had very little originality and relied on those huge monstrosities that are floating in the water, which those failed to be impressive too. The spraying fountains could be interesting, but the spray wasn't large enough to be anything other than disappointing. Also, where were the fireworks? My DH actually said that some executive figured that spraying lighted water is a cheaper alternative to fireworks. I think it's really sad that we instinctively think that Disney is trying to pass off something cheaper and hoping we love it. I feel like this is another disappointment and I see more and more posts about being disappointed and lots of negativity.

 

[jknc]

What happens first:

1. Harmonius gets rewritten
2. The Brazil pavilion opens

 

[mamamia2005]

Sorry if this has already been asked!
Did I imagine it, or was there going to be a Harmonious dessert party?

 

[disneydreamer781]

Sorry if this has already been asked!
Did I imagine it, or was there going to be a Harmonious dessert party?

Yeah, that is also something I've been waiting on myself but I haven't heard a thing. It may be the only way I will even attempt to see the show because of the potential viewing issues.

 

[VandVsmama]

Ok, I really can't stand the Figment ride, but for as many years now that Figment's been in Epcot, they couldn't throw in a little bit of Figment here and there during that 30 min long animation sequence set to Disney princess tunes? At every Epcot festival, they're selling Figment stuff.

The problem with the new show is that the theme/message is just totally lost. It had the potential to be so much better.

 

[Dis Dragon]

What happens first:

1. Harmonius gets rewritten
2. The Brazil pavilion opens

Apparently there will be an India pavilion before Brazil... Brazil didn't even get any representation.

 

[ofcabbagesandkings]

The IP tie-ins might have made sense if they went around World Showcase like the old Illuminations did and reflected each country. Coco for Mexico, Frozen for Norway, Mary Poppins for the UK, etc. But this mishmash just seems like they're trying to sell more Disney+ accounts or something. Grateful I got to see the original Illuminations with the holiday tag back in December 2015. That was genuinely moving.

 

[Chuck S]

Ok, I really can't stand the Figment ride, but for as many years now that Figment's been in Epcot, they couldn't throw in a little bit of Figment here and there during that 30 min long animation sequence set to Disney princess tunes? At every Epcot festival, they're selling Figment stuff.

The problem with the new show is that the theme/message is just totally lost. It had the potential to be so much better.

Did you see the original Figment ride with Dreamfinder? I was very well done. The last two versions, not so much. The second version was the worst, to fix it, they slapped in a few more figments, (which is the current 3rd version) and even just doing that helped a lot, so you can imagine how awful the 2nd version was.
.

 

[rpfennig]

The ending was just not good. A clipped 'goodbye' that sounds like a 'get out'.

Part of me was watching the last bit of the footage waiting for Matthew Broderick as Ferris Bueller to come on over the speakers... "You're still here? It's over. Go home."

 

[VandVsmama]

Did you see the original Figment ride with Dreamfinder? I was very well done. The last two versions, not so much. The second version was the worst, to fix it, they slapped in a few more figments, (which is the current 3rd version) and even just doing that helped a lot, so you can imagine how awful the 2nd version was.
.

First time I went on Figment was 3 yr ago, which was our first time at Epcot ever. Prior to that, the last time I’d been to WDW was in the late 70s one time before Epcot existed and WDW was just MK!

 

[BradW]

wow.
The amount of entitled and spoiled WDW "fans" never ceases to amaze me.

I think the livestream last night was a not particularly well produced. In other videos I've watched today, I have seen a remarkable and at times even sublime, MASSIVE spectacle thematically unifying the human race using IP music that identifies with a country or region that has been re-recorded with multiple languages and musical expressions.
The fireworks were overwhelming, the water and projections were ground breaking, and the entire production was a marvel.
My only complaint is the ending may need some clarity.

This is not Illuminations, nor was it meant to be.

I like it.
Your opinion may vary.