I will say that Harmonious plays much better in person than it does on video. Multiple sequences feature rudimentary animation, and this becomes a problem when the music slows down and those screens could be better leveraged to sustain the show.

The use of screens leaves something to be desired. If you have a direct view of the Stargate, you’ll likely leave impressed. The fountains, lasers, lights, and other effects are eye-catching and engaging. Disney created the lovely Epcot Anthem–perhaps reinterpretations or musical cues from that could be used to transition between scenes?Īs a whole, the visuals of Harmonious are pretty. It doesn’t need to tell a story, per se, but it shouldn’t feel so disjointed. It also would’ve been nice if Harmonious were presented as a cohesive production.

If anything, I would’ve liked to see this taken further, but I can understand there might be trepidations about that. Presenting songs in different global languages was a clever idea both to distinguish this nighttime spectacular from one in Magic Kingdom and for Harmonious to fit Epcot’s World Showcase. Stylistically, Harmonious is also a mixed bag. The same can’t be said for “Someday,” which is probably not how I would’ve culminated a show meant to uplift and inspire.

Coco moves nicely to Princess and the Frog, which is also mostly strong. For families, it’ll likely be even more impressive and enjoyable. This brings the lagoon alive in a way that, for me, comes pretty close to IllumiNations. It’s high energy and vibrant–a total showstopper. The latter two feel more adult, with a certain elegance that is appreciated for something on World Showcase Lagoon. Individually, I love several segments, including those from Moana, Lion King, and Mulan. Harmonious is at its best when judging and viewing each scene on its own. On the plus side, this should allow for segments to be swapped out in the future. Given its presentation, that probably could’ve been accomplished relatively easily by dragging and dropping scenes on a computer. This might seem hyperbolic, but there are credible reports that Harmonious was rearranged weeks before its debut. This actually makes sense given the substance and tone of each, which would otherwise be discordant if actually weaved together into one seamless production. Harmonious comes across as a series of disconnected scenes transitions are few and far between, with a lot of fading in and out instead. For a production intending to evoke a sense of global unity, the choppiness is a problem. I’m not sure culture, on its own, is a particularly strong unifying element for this nighttime spectacular. In this case, that commonality is “culture.” Which is to say that it features visuals and songs from a variety of movies, and loosely ties them together with a through-line. Let’s start by taking a look at Harmonious in isolation, discussing whether it works and sharing photos from the new nighttime spectacular…Īlthough presented in a different form, Harmonious is very similar to a montage nighttime spectacular you’d see in one of the castle parks. This Harmonious review will attempt to answer several questions: does this all work? Is Harmonious a worthy replacement to IllumiNations? Do the ‘extras’ help Epcot’s nighttime spectacular surpass World of Color? Does the quality of Harmonious justify the daytime blight of its huge barges? There are custom-built LED panels, fireworks, and other dynamic visuals on World Showcase Lagoon. The difference is that Harmonious dials it up a notch, adding more moving parts–literally. Both feature a variety of show effects, including choreographed fountains, colorful lights, and lasers. World of Color is also the most logical comparison for Harmonious. Walt Disney World has routinely touted it as “one of the largest nighttime spectaculars in Disney theme park history.” To our knowledge, there’s no commonly accepted method of measurement for nighttime spectaculars, but World of Color at Disney California Adventure is probably the largest. This fireworks review shares photos of the show, plus how it compares to its predecessor, other blockbuster nighttime spectaculars, and whether Harmonious is worth its blockbuster budget and daytime visual blight.īefore we get started, some basics about Harmonious. Harmonious is the new nighttime spectacular at Epcot for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, and the long-term replacement for IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth.

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