![]() ![]() Disney likes to boast about its successes, so silence can be telling.) ![]() I have a suspicion that it was not substantially superior, as I think that’s the type of thing I would’ve heard. I’m not sure how Harmonious compared to IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth. Despite trying to cater to both EPCOT purists and regular guests, that show didn’t do a good job of connecting with anyone–it scored well below both IllumiNations and Harmonious. What little I’ve heard about its reception among regular guests is that it’s better-received than EPCOT Forever. It’s been an open secret that the Magic Kingdom 50th Anniversary fireworks show is underperforming and not meeting expectations. With that said, I never heard of Harmonious having the same guest satisfaction score shortcomings as Disney Enchantment. It succeeds more than Magic Kingdom’s new fireworks show (and fails less), but given what Disney invested in Harmonious and its higher stakes, that’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. It’s hard to envision this being a homerun or beloved nighttime spectacular for many guests, but it also shouldn’t be a complete flop for many guests. Like its predecessor, Harmonious feels destined to alienate some guests and partially satisfy others. Harmonious stumbles in some of the exact same ways as IllumiNations. That’s a problem for a show that’s elaborate and heavy-handed with its presentation. Once you look beyond the pyro and other effects–features that would’ve been part of any new nighttime spectacular–Harmonious is not really accomplishing anything unique or impressive. I also point out that Harmonious doesn’t actually address the core complaints regular guests had with IllumiNations. (Read our Harmonious Review for much more.) In that, I acknowledge that EPCOT Center purists are a hard audience to satisfy, and that this never could’ve lived up to IllumiNations for me. Like Disney Enchantment, Harmonious has garnered mixed reviews among Walt Disney World fans, us included. That’s because the underlying rationale is undoubtedly similar. ![]() Most of our potential explanations as to why Harmonious is being replaced mirror those discussed in our (expanded) commentary to Happily Ever After is Returning to Magic Kingdom. It would long outlast Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, having an extended run just like Fantasmic or other purpose-built evening entertainment. Harmonious was intended to be EPCOT’s answer to World of Color. One explanation we can eliminate right off the bat was that this was the plan all along. With that said, I think there are a few potential explanations. I haven’t heard any rumors of this, so it caught me entirely by surprise. I’ll be honest with you: Disney announcing a replacement for Harmonious was not on my D23 Expo bingo card or my radar. Disney Parks, Experiences and Products Chairman Josh D’Amaro offered a sneak peek at concept art for the future in addition and teased what was to come in a few years. The news of a replacement for Harmonious was revealed during the “A Boundless Future: Disney Parks, Experiences and Products” presentation at D23 Expo 2022. In this post, we’ll share details and extensive commentary on why Harmonious is being scrapped so soon after it debuted. This new show will debut in late 2023 on World Showcase Lagoon. Walt Disney World has announced an all-new nighttime spectacular at EPCOT during Disney’s 100th anniversary celebration. ![]()
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