“Luminous the Symphony of Us” Debuts at EPCOT – Our Thoughts and What You Need to Know

EPCOT has always been a park about people and the commonalities that bring them together. A brand-new nighttime spectacular, “Luminous the Symphony of Us,” brings guests together around World Showcase Lagoon and shines a light on the shared experiences that connect people across the globe. With a dazzling display of fireworks, fountains, lights and music, the new show is the perfect finale to a memorable day at EPCOT. I was there opening night to catch the new show. Learn more about the new show below.

1 – Nighttime Spectaculars at EPCOT

Fan-favorite and beloved “Illuminations: Reflections of Earth” ended its twenty-year run on September 30, 2019. The show began as part of the Millennium Celebration in October 1999 and was the perfect show for World Showcase, celebrating the cultures and how we are one global community. The show included torches, fire, fireworks, pyrotechnics, images, water, and much more. I was sad to see it end.

On October 1, 2019, a new temporary show, “EPCOT Forever,” debuted. “Epcot Forever” featured soaring fireworks, inspiring music, lasers, and colorful glowing kites flying (they were eventually removed) above World Showcase Lagoon. The show took guests on an emotional journey set to stirring renditions of Epcot music. It stoked fond memories from the park’s history and spurred excitement for the bright future of Epcot. This show would run until a new show, “Harmonious,” debuted on October 1, 2021, Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary.

On October 1, 2021, “Harmonious” debuted at EPCOT. During its run, reactions from guests were largely negative. Unlike Illuminations, which had a clear storyline and inspiring message that fit with the theme and purpose of EPCOT, Harmonious felt more like a contest of how many characters and songs could fit into a twenty-minute show. Guest also really disliked what the permanent installation of the barges, which are featured in the show, did to the look of Showcase Lagoon. This show was originally supposed to stick around for years, but ultimately, Disney decided to end its run coinciding with the end of the 50th anniversary celebration on April 2, 2023. “EPCOT Forever” ran after that until “Luminous the Symphony of Us” debuted on December 5, 2023.

On December 5, 2023, Walt Disney’s birthday, the new show “Luminous the Symphony of Us” debuted. The show is supposed to combine the best of “Illuminations” and “Harmonious.” I believe the show does exactly that. There is a story that guides the fireworks show and leaves us with the message that we all have a part in this big, wide world, and what we have in common is more than our differences.

2 – Music is the Core of the New Show

Much like a beautiful piece of music, “Luminous the Symphony of Us” is made up of a series of movements representing common themes of the human experience. Guests can expect to hear new arrangements of iconic Disney hits that enliven the story, including:

• Stirring, multilingual arrangements of “You’ll Be in My Heart” and “Proud Corazón.”
• Classic songs like “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and “Friend Like Me”
• A sweeping arrangement of “So Close,” from Disney’s “Enchanted.”
• Heartfelt renditions of “When She Loved Me,” “Remember Me,” and “Into the Unknown.”
• A crescendo of music featuring “I See the Light” from “Tangled,” which launches into the finale, sung by Katharine McPhee Foster.

Enveloping these movements are two new, original songs written exclusively for the show: “Heartbeat Symphony” and “Beating of Our Hearts.”

I love the music! The two new songs are amazing, and I enjoyed the new arrangements of classic Disney songs. Some of my favorite Disney songs are included in the show, so I thought the music was fantastic.

3 – Human Connection & Story

We heard from some of the Disney Cast Members from Walt Disney Imagineering and Disney Live Entertainment who worked to bring this show to life. They spoke of the goal to have a show that would emotionally connect to the audience, where guests would feel a part of the story and bring everyone together as they stand around the lagoon. Interestingly, there are no visuals during the show, allowing people to interpret the show in different ways. Scott Mallwitz, Executive Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, mentioned how they “purposely didn’t put visuals in [the show]. And that’s because we wanted you, the audience, to basically look into it.” They spoke of telling a story in the sky and allowing guests to connect to the show in a different and unique way.

4 – Thoughts on the New Show

I thought the new show was delightful. I thoroughly enjoyed it. My favorite nighttime show is still “Happily Ever After,” but this show is a close second. The fireworks and pyrotechnics, specifically when the water sprayed out, and the color were amazing. Even the small details of the show were well thought-out. Some guests may feel that the show is more reflective and emotional versus more energetic, but I believe that is a reflection of Epcot and the type of park it is.

5 – EPCOT Transformation Almost Complete

Disney continues to invest in creating memorable guest experiences through incredible storytelling and dazzling new offerings, including the debut of “Luminous the Symphony of Us” and the opening of World Celebration Gardens. Marking another major milestone in the multi-year transformation of EPCOT, the new area includes Dreamers Point, where guests can draw inspiration from the new “Walt the Dreamer” statue, which shows Walt later in his life when he was dreaming up the initial concepts for the park and the overall Florida Project. His relaxed and reflective demeanor was important to the design of this statue, a nod to the pure optimism he felt for the future and the magic of possibility that was the basis for the dream he never saw come to life.

The beautiful greenspaces throughout the World Celebration Gardens will feature ample seating and shade, as well as a central planter based on the five-rings of the iconic EPCOT logo. Guests can connect with one another and the nature around them in this lush new area. Each of the garden spaces will have its own identity and change with the EPCOT festivals throughout the year. CommuniCore Hall and CommuniCore Plaza will make their debut in 2024.