Magic Behind the Music: Epcot – Parades & Shows – IllumiNations ~ Reflections of Earth ~ An Evening at Epcot

Disney Music 4

Gather around the fire, or the D-COT Jukebox, to listen to the story of IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth as part of an evening at Epcot.

Illuminations!

On October 1, 1999, the show we now know as IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth made its debut at Epcot in Walt Disney World. A hit and a technological marvel from the beginning, the show continues its run (although nearing the end of it) to this day! Shortly after the show celebrated its 10th Anniversary, its soundtrack, including the prelude and postlude music, were added to the D-COT Jukebox in this, our feature track. It was added on November 18, 2009 and since then has been played 253,617 times and counting! This gives it the #4 spot on our Top 25 Played Overall playlist.

The prelude music contains some modern instrumental songs from various nations represented around World Showcase and plays as 19 large torches blaze against the night sky representing the first 19 centuries A.D. Jim Cummings (notable Disney voice actor for Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, Darkwing Duck, and many others) lends his voice to introduce the show officially and then seems to blow out the torches, leaving the World Showcase Lagoon in pitch black. It kicks off immediately with air-launched fireworks (to precisely control their elevation in the sky) and a great barge uses 400 gallons of fuel to spout fire in the center of the lagoon, all representing the creation of the earth. It all simmers down into colored water effects and laser lights as the earth takes center stage – a barge with a large earth globe wrapped in LED displays showcasing people and scenes from around the world. The show closes with celebratory fireworks and the 20th torch emerging from the opening Earth globe. The postlude follows with music from the former Tapestry of Nations Parade.

Sadly, after exactly 20 years of running almost every night at Epcot, IllumiNations is ending its run on September 30, 2019 to make way for a new nighttime spectacular called Epcot Forever. It will have to be an impressive show that replaces IllumiNations to please Disney fans and hopefully it will be. Fortunately, we go on with the music of IllumiNations on the Jukebox where it continues to be played multiple times weekly. It has been played 18 times so far this week, giving it the #2 spot on the Top 25 Played Week playlist. 846 D-COT members have added the soundtrack to their Favorites and Supporters have added it to 86 Custom Playlists. It holds the #5 spot on the Top 25 Rated playlist with a rating of 4.8/5 averaged across 294 votes. IllumiNations is ending, but its story is still being written, and here on the Jukebox we’ll continue to gather around its sounds and music even as new adventures at Epcot emerge.

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By RocketEAR99
RocketEAR99 is one of our contributors that specializes in Disney music in the series we call "Magic Behind the Music". You will find some fun and exciting information about the music you can listen to in the jukebox.

4 Comments

  1. IllumiNations by far will be in my top list of absolute favorite Disney memories. From the minute the torches are blown out to the last note I have tears in my eyes. The message is universal and I think about all the family moments as we gathered on so many trips to witness it.
    The new show will have big shoes to fill but Disney never disappoints and I’m sure it will start new memories as well!
    Great Article RocketEAR99! :minnie: :heart:

  2. This is on my favorites and plays every afternoon for me while I’m working. I just love the Illuminations track. I know the next time I go it will be completely different and I look forward to seeing how Disney tops Illuminations – Reflections of Earth!

    • I’m looking forward to seeing what they do with Epcot Forever. Hopefully it turns out as well as Happily Ever After replacing Wishes :)

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