It was originally scheduled to open in Spring 2020, but it was delayed to October 1, 2021 as part of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration, since the opening was postponed indefinitely following the closure of the park, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4] However, on November 19, 2020, EPCOT announced that new barges would be permanently installed on the World Showcase Lagoon, offering an ambient feel during the day. [5]
This new show celebrates how Disney music (in multiple languages) inspires people around the world, featuring massive floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics and lasers.
An official soundtrack release, Harmonious: Globally Inspired Music from the Epcot Nighttime Spectacular was released online on October 29, 2021.
Harmonious Live!, a live concert presentation hosted by Idina Menzel and narrated by Auli'i Cravalho, was presented as a livestream on Disney+ on June 21, 2022.
On September 11, 2022 at D23 2022, it was announced that Harmonious would be replaced with another nighttime spectacular in 2023 during Disney's 100th anniversary.[6] However, Disney later confirmed on January 10, 2023 that Harmonious will retire on April 2, 2023, two days after the end of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration, and Epcot Forever taking back its place the night after. Harmonious played its final performance on April 2, 2023, two days after the culmination of Walt Disney World's 50th anniversary celebration, with Epcot Forever returning in its place the following night.
Harmonious is one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park. The show is a beautifully crafted dreamscape of Disney music and images, reimagined by diverse cultural musicians and artists from around the world.
It is a transformative experience where we can discover how Disney music has the power to inspire and unite us all with the magic of possibility.
In December 31, 2021 and 2022, a special New Year's Eve countdown show occurred normally beginning at 11:54pm after Harmonious started at 6:30pm. It was returned to Walt Disney World in 2021 after they cancelled New Year’s Eve fireworks in December 31, 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It began with the new show production called “Cheers to the New Year: A Sparkling Celebration” tag and was then immediately followed by a special countdown show. Highlights of New Years with female announcer celebrated different like in IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth in individual countries began the show; the Asian pavilions (Japan and China) go first, followed by those in Europe (Italy, Norway, France, and Germany), after that, the countries of those in the GMT time zone (Morocco and the United Kingdom). During the show, the Harmonious barges displayed beautiful imagery with text, logos, New Year’s Eve celebration landmarks and people of the countries represented at the World Showcase while the fireworks shot from the back of each pavilion accompanied by custom celebration music from each country. The countdown began at 10 seconds prior to midnight with the North American nations: United States, Canada, Mexico. It started with a dong (which originates from the American Adventure Pavilion while Japan, China, Italy, Norway, France, Germany, Morocco and the United Kingdom light up as well together) and lead to the massive celebratory firework display at midnight including a 360-degree launch of fireworks around the World Showcase lagoon. "Auld Lang Syne" played as spectators cheered and watched the massive firework display. This tag used different the number of fireworks that were launched in Harmonious. Also, they used the same and similar show materials pyro fireworks to the New Year's Eve 2020 countdown edition after Epcot Forever.[2] A male announcer concluded the show wishing the guests a Happy New Year and reminded them of extended park hours for the New Year's Eve celebration.
Fourth of July[]
The Heartbeat of Freedom tag was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was returned in 2022. The Fourth of July tag is shown around 9:20pm immediately after Harmonious ended, America the Beautiful was played beginning The Heartbeat of Freedom tag and then fireworks shot up from the roof and back of the American Adventure Pavilion, accompanying by the music of Liberty Fanfare. In the beginning, a male narrator says, "Lift every voice and sing." A female narrator says, "Till earth and heaven ring. Ring with The Harmonies of Liberty." The music continued with an uninterrupted in the middle of firework display with a loud explosion of fireworks. More fireworks in the lagoon were synchronized as if fireworks were marching along with the drumbeat. Then various and selected soundtracks of American patriotism such as Cakewalk: Grand Walkaround and Hoe-down was played. The Harmonious barges displayed images of United States of America independence map quilt patterns in each state, patriotic symbolism and people shown in the United States flag during a flute solo. At the end, "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was played, followed by male and female narrators reciting the first draft of the U.S. Constitution,
We hold these truths to be self-evident,
that all men are created equal,
that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights,
that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
As the song continued, the American Adventure Pavilion lit up as fireworks shot up from the behind it. Just before the end of the tag, hundreds of fireworks shot up in the lagoon as the show ended. Just as the crowds' exit, Appalachian Morning and Rhapsody In Blue was played, and the Harmonious barges displayed the United States flag. More than 2000 shells were launched from 14 barges for this latest version of the tag.