The closing dates for Harmonious at EPCOT and Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom have been announced. Both shows will be ending their run on April 2, 2023. This will be just days after the end of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration ends on March 31, 2023. Along with the ending of these two shows, it was announced that the barges that are currently utilized for Harmonious will also be removed once the show ends. This will be done in a phased manner so don’t expect things to disappear right away.
In place of Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom, Happily Ever After will be returning. This was announced last year at the D23 Expo. This fan-favorite show will be returning to the skies over the Magic Kingdom starting on April 3. When it returns, Happily Ever After will feature brand new projections along Main Street, USA. Happily Ever After originally ran at the Magic Kingdom from May 12, 2017 through September 29, 2021.
At EPCOT, EPCOT Forever will be returning to replace Harmonious for the short term. It will begin performances on April 3, 2023. This will be a limited run. As announced at D23 Expo last year, a new nighttime spectacular is being developed for EPCOT and will debut later this year. EPCOT Forever is a lovely collection of classic tunes from EPCOT along with a look towards “a whole new world” in the future. It was presented at EPCOT starting in 2019 when it replaced Illuminations: Reflections of Earth. The show would run until replaced by Harmonious in 2021.
Disney Enchantment and Harmonious both debuted as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of Walt Disney World Resort. Harmonious officially opened on October 1, 2021. It did have soft opening presentations starting on September 29, 2021. Harmonious is all about bringing different people together through different music. In its description it says, “Disney music and stories have the power to inspire and unite us all, overcoming any language or border.” The nighttime spectacular includes moments from Moana, Aladdin, Coco, Brave, The Lion King, Mulan, The Princess and the Frog and other classic stories. The music heard in Harmonious was created with over 240 artists from around the world.
Disney Enchantment also officially opened on October 1, 2021. It had a soft opening on September 30, 2021. Disney Enchantment is “a celebration of magic, imagination, joy and hope for all who carry dreams in their hearts.” During this nighttime spectacular there are Disney and Pixar characters new and old seen, including Raya, Moana and Joe Gardner from Soul. The show includes moments that show a world of friendship, love and fun. It shows that when darkness takes hold, look within to find the “power to believe and make your dreams come true. The magic has been inside you all along!” Disney Enchantment was updated in April 2022 with a new opening that included Walt Disney, Roy Disney, and Mickey Mouse. This magical moment reminded guests that the magic is in them even more than the original iteration of the show.
As Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary celebration comes to a close, its two main nighttime spectaculars will also be saying goodbye. Two familiar shows, one of them temporarily, will be returning to The Most Magical Place on Earth. Are excited about the return of Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever? What do you think about the barges departing from the World Showcase Lagoon at EPCOT? Are you excited about the new nighttime spectacular coming to EPCOT? What are you most looking forward to moving forward? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
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