Epcot Forever Explained

Epcot Forever
Location:	Epcot
Section:	World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon)
Status:	Removed
Opened:	October 1, 2019 (original) April 3, 2023 (updated)
Closed:	September 28, 2021 (original) December 4, 2023 (updated)
Previousattraction:	(original) Harmonious (updated)
Replacement:	Harmonious (original) (updated)
Type:	Fireworks show
Designer:	Disney Live Entertainment
Theme:	The past, present, and future of Epcot^[1]
Assistive Listening:	yes

Epcot Forever was a limited-time fireworks show that premiered on October 1, 2019, at Epcot. Epcot Forever served as an interim replacement for until its long-term replacement, Harmonious, premiered in 2021. It took the form of a celebration of Epcot's musical history. The show celebrated the park's 37-year history, featuring fireworks, music, lighting, lasers, and special effects kites set to new arrangements of music originating from some of the park's classic attractions, such as Journey Into Imagination, Spaceship Earth, Soarin', Tapestry of Nations and Universe of Energy. The show was also made to celebrate the past, present, and future of Epcot.^[2]

The show closed on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened on June 29, 2021, alongside the return of the Happily Ever After fireworks show.^[3] However, on January 10, 2023, Disney announced the show will temporarily return to Epcot beginning April 3, 2023 until December 4, 2023, as part of Disney's centennial celebration, replacing its successor, Harmonious, which then played its last show the night prior.^[4]

Show summary

Epcot Forever is structured around medley of Epcot music and the voices of children quoting different attractions, with some archival audio of Walt Disney from the EPCOT film also being incorporated into the opening and closing.

• Opening
  • "Legacy" (Epcot entrance plaza theme)
  • "One Little Spark" (from Journey into Imagination)
  • "We've Just Begun to Dream" (from EPCOT Center Grand Opening)
• Act I: Innovation ("Welcome to the future... or, should I say, your future!" – Spaceship Earth)
  • "New Horizons" (from Horizons)
  • "Universe of Energy" (from Universe of Energy)
  • "Listen to the Land" (from Listen to the Land)
  • "New Horizons" (reprise, from Horizons)
• Act II: Exploration ("Soarin' to tower, we are ready for takeoff!" – Soarin')
  • "Tomorrow's Child" (from Spaceship Earth)
  • "Soarin' Over California" (from Soarin')
  • "Magic Journeys" (from Magic Journeys)
  • "Tomorrow's Child" (reprise, from Spaceship Earth)
• Act III: Imagination ("And so, as you can plainly see, imagination works best when it's set free!" – Journey Into Imagination)
  • "One Little Spark" (reprise, from Journey into Imagination with Figment)
  • "Makin' Memories" (from Magic Journeys pre-show)
  • "Veggie, Veggie, Fruit, Fruit" (from Kitchen Kabaret)
  • "It's Fun to Be Free" (from World of Motion)
• Act IV: Celebration ("May peace go with you forever and ever as you celebrate the future hand in hand" – Tapestry of Nations)
  • "Tapestry of Nations" (from Tapestry of Nations)
  • "Golden Dream" (from The American Adventure)
  • "Celebrate the Future, Hand in Hand" (from the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration)
• Act V: Finale
  • "One Little Spark" (reprise with new lyrics, from Journey into Imagination with Figment)
  • "A Whole New World" (from Aladdin)

Special editions

New Year's Eve Countdown Edition

On December 31, 2019, this segment continued to be used after , which is the tag returned on New Year's Eve 2020.

Fourth of July

On July 4, 2023, the Independence Day tag as titled The Heartbeat of Freedom that was used from 2006 to 2019 for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth and 2022 for Harmonious was used once again after the show's regular performance, which is part of The Walt Disney Company's centennial celebration.

Further reading

• "After two decades and numerous awards, tonight is the final 'IllumiNations' show at Epcot ", Orlando Weekly (September 30, 2019)
• "Why Epcot Forever music is the "soul" of Disney's new show", Orlando Business Journal (September 29, 2019)
• "New "Epcot Forever" Fireworks Show Debuts at Disney World", Orlando News 13 (October 2, 2019)
• "Pictures: Disney's new 'Epcot Forever' fireworks show", Orlando Sentinel (October 1, 2019)
• "‘Epcot Forever’ nighttime spectacular debuts at Walt Disney World Resort", Attractions Magazine (October 3, 2019)
• "Epcot Forever debuts at Walt Disney World", Theme Park Insider (October 1, 2019)
• "Here's What We REALLY Thought About Epcot Forever, Epcot's New Nighttime Spectacular", Theme Park Tourist (October 2, 2019)
• "Five Surprising Elements in Epcot Forever", Touring Plans (October 5, 2019)
• "Epcot Forever Review: You Can’t Go Home Again", Disney Tourist Blog (October 12, 2019)
• "First Look: Scenes from Opening Night of Epcot Forever", AllEars.net (October 1, 2019)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Epcot's new fireworks show debuts tonight — and you can watch it live. Petrana. Radulovic. October 1, 2019. Polygon.
2. News: New Nighttime Spectaculars & 'Beauty & The Beast' Sing-Along Announced for Epcot.
3. News: Fireworks Spectaculars Are Back at Disney Parks This Summer.
4. Web site: Bevil. Dewayne. January 10, 2023. Disney sets dates for 'Happily Ever After' return, 'Harmonious' farewell. Orlando Sentinel. January 10, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230110203643/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/the-daily-disney/os-et-disney-magic-kingdom-happily-ever-after-epcot-today-2023-20230110-pqnp3rhwzzhdrapjy5bgntyo7u-story.html. January 10, 2023. subscription.