Uploaded July 2017 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a nighttime show performed nightly at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. The show utilizes fireworks, pyrotechnics, water fountains, fire effects, lasers, and searchlights to create a visual production on the park's World Showcase Lagoon. It premiered on October 1, 1999 as IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth as part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration; it was so successful that after the celebration ended the 2000 was dropped from the name and the show was continued.
The show is currently sponsored by Siemens, and has received several awards throughout the years including 11 straight Best Outdoor Night Production Show Golden Ticket Awards (2005–2015)
***SHOW ORDER***
***Introduction***
Torches are lit around the lagoon. The beginning of the show is narrated by Jim Cummings:
Good evening. On behalf of Walt Disney World, the place where dreams come true, we welcome all of you to Epcot and World Showcase. We're gathered here tonight around the fire as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands of years before us... to share the light... and to share a story. An amazing story as old as time itself, but still being written. And though each of us has our own individual stories to tell, a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one. We hope you enjoy our story tonight: Reflections of Earth.
Immediately after, there is the sound of a flame being gently blown out, the lighting is immediately dimmed throughout the park, and the show begins.
***Act I: Chaos***
Chaos represents the creation of the planet Earth. The show begins with explosive fireworks from the center of the lagoon and hot flames from the Inferno Barge.
***Act II: Order***
Firework launch during Act II
The spouting flames from the Flame Barge are reduced to a low sputter, and the Earth Globe appears and moves towards the center of the lagoon accompanied with water effects emanating from the fountain barges. As the Earth cools, it changes from hot white to red to blue. Images appear on the Globe of countries, famous landmarks, objects, and people. The exterior buildings of the countries around the lagoon are illuminated followed by laser lights, spot lights, and more fireworks in the center lagoon. Since the buildings of the Morocco Pavilion are replicas of buildings that have great religious significance, the lights on the pavilion do not light up during IllumiNations. In order to keep symmetry, the Norway Pavilion does not light up either. The scene includes high-launch fireworks.
***Act III: Meaning***
Globe Opens revealing final unity torch during Act III
As the song "We Go On" is played, the torches around the lagoon are re-lit and the Earth Globe opens revealing a final unity torch with emanating fireworks followed by a launch of 1,000 white fireworks brightly illuminating the lagoon. The scene concludes with a final launch of fireworks and a set of bright white flashes that end with a loud crackle. The finale crackle emanating from the final launch set of fireworks can often be heard within several miles outside of the park.
***Post Show***
The show ends with a post-show announcement:
Ladies and gentlemen, the entire Epcot family thanks you for having been with us for 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth', presented by Siemens. We hope that your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort has been a truly magical experience for you and yours. We wish you a pleasant evening and a safe journey home. Thank you and goodnight.
The song "Promise" plays directly after this, which is then followed by the Tapestry of Nations parade sound track. As the music plays, the continents are laser-projected onto Spaceship Earth, making it appear as a spinning globe.
IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is a nighttime show performed nightly at Epcot at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. The show utilizes fireworks, pyrotechnics, water fountains, fire effects, lasers, and searchlights to create a visual production on the park's World Showcase Lagoon. It premiered on October 1, 1999 as IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth as part of the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration; it was so successful that after the celebration ended the 2000 was dropped from the name and the show was continued.
The show is currently sponsored by Siemens, and has received several awards throughout the years including 11 straight Best Outdoor Night Production Show Golden Ticket Awards (2005–2015)
***SHOW ORDER***
***Introduction***
Torches are lit around the lagoon. The beginning of the show is narrated by Jim Cummings:
Good evening. On behalf of Walt Disney World, the place where dreams come true, we welcome all of you to Epcot and World Showcase. We're gathered here tonight around the fire as people of all lands have gathered for thousands and thousands of years before us... to share the light... and to share a story. An amazing story as old as time itself, but still being written. And though each of us has our own individual stories to tell, a true adventure emerges when we bring them all together as one. We hope you enjoy our story tonight: Reflections of Earth.
Immediately after, there is the sound of a flame being gently blown out, the lighting is immediately dimmed throughout the park, and the show begins.
***Act I: Chaos***
Chaos represents the creation of the planet Earth. The show begins with explosive fireworks from the center of the lagoon and hot flames from the Inferno Barge.
***Act II: Order***
Firework launch during Act II
The spouting flames from the Flame Barge are reduced to a low sputter, and the Earth Globe appears and moves towards the center of the lagoon accompanied with water effects emanating from the fountain barges. As the Earth cools, it changes from hot white to red to blue. Images appear on the Globe of countries, famous landmarks, objects, and people. The exterior buildings of the countries around the lagoon are illuminated followed by laser lights, spot lights, and more fireworks in the center lagoon. Since the buildings of the Morocco Pavilion are replicas of buildings that have great religious significance, the lights on the pavilion do not light up during IllumiNations. In order to keep symmetry, the Norway Pavilion does not light up either. The scene includes high-launch fireworks.
***Act III: Meaning***
Globe Opens revealing final unity torch during Act III
As the song "We Go On" is played, the torches around the lagoon are re-lit and the Earth Globe opens revealing a final unity torch with emanating fireworks followed by a launch of 1,000 white fireworks brightly illuminating the lagoon. The scene concludes with a final launch of fireworks and a set of bright white flashes that end with a loud crackle. The finale crackle emanating from the final launch set of fireworks can often be heard within several miles outside of the park.
***Post Show***
The show ends with a post-show announcement:
Ladies and gentlemen, the entire Epcot family thanks you for having been with us for 'Illuminations: Reflections of Earth', presented by Siemens. We hope that your visit to the Walt Disney World Resort has been a truly magical experience for you and yours. We wish you a pleasant evening and a safe journey home. Thank you and goodnight.
The song "Promise" plays directly after this, which is then followed by the Tapestry of Nations parade sound track. As the music plays, the continents are laser-projected onto Spaceship Earth, making it appear as a spinning globe.
