Tomorrow, Harmonious, EPCOT’s new fireworks show, will soft open, ahead of its big debut on October 1st.
Harmonious Barges
While many are surely excited to see the new show, quite a few people have complained about how these barges obstruct the view across World Showcase Lagoon. We’ve even called it “EPCOT’s ugliest transformation,” and we have a feeling some people out there might agree with that description. 😬 But today, as we walked past these barges, we got a peek at one thing that could make them look a bit better!
While the barges will be utilized for Harmonious at night, Disney had previously announced that the barges would serve as fountains during the day.
Harmonious Barges
Earlier today, as we were walking around World Showcase Lagoon, we spotted some of those water effects being tested on the barges!
Water Effects Being Tested
These effects seem to mirror what was shown in Disney’s concept art for the daytime fountains, at least partially. But, it is possible that these effects are being tested for the nighttime show.
Fountains Being Tested on the Harmonious Barges
It was interesting to see the fountains being tested. What do you think? If Disney does ultimately run fountains on these barges during the day, would the fountains make the barges less of an eyesore? Tell us in the comments!
Barges Testing
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates about these barges and any other news around Disney World. Be sure to check back with us for more updates.
Click here to listen to some of the music that will be featured in Harmonious!
Want MORE Details About EPCOT’s MASSIVE Transformation?
NEW Festival Areas, Gardens, a Meet-and-Greet Area, and More Are Coming to EPCOT
Learn All About Journey of Water -- Inspired by Moana
Has the Mary Poppins Project at Disney World Been Canceled?
What’s Been CUT From the EPCOT Transformation?
SNEAK PEEK at the NEW Fireworks Show Coming to EPCOT
Click HERE for All the News and Details about EPCOT’s Transformation!
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What do you think of the Harmonious barges? Tell us in the comments.
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I’m skeptical that they will run during the day as often as we’d all like. It may have been the plan at one time, but I can’t imagine moving as much water as they’d need to hide the barges all day is cheap. I hope I’m wrong but I think they will be used for a fountain show a few times a day in the daylight but will largely function only as eyesores through most of the day.
They are an eyesore.
I liked when they used to bring the ball out and open the bridge, every day. Perhaps they may have considered that.
Well… they certainly can’t make it any WORSE!
When I was there in May, I saw the arms moving. Maybe a little choreography, and some splashes of color, particularly flesh-tones….
You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
As Jared says, it’ll need a lot more water. I don’t think any fountain would cover it though a waterfall might just about hide the blackness.
But even then they would still break up the views of the far shoreline.
Whoever thought that blighting one of Epcot’s best features 24/7 for the sake of a short nighttime display was a great idea must have been high on something. Or maybe research showed that most people don’t care about seeing the view and think the lake is just in the way of where they want to go next. Sad either way.
These are the worst things that ever appear at EPCOT. I mean that 2000 mickey wand on Spaceship Earth was bad, but these are an abominations. They are barges, float them out at night for the show and drag them off after the park closes PLEASE.
No amount of water will hide these black monstrosities. It is not technically possible to use a transparent liquid to hide a solid black obstacle. Disney knows this.. Its all been Gaslighting. Trying to make us believe it will look nice. It will NOT.
I think the phrase that best describes the plan is “putting lipstick on a pig”
1. Thank you DFB for all that you do to keep your readers and viewers informed. I appreciate your requests for comments because maybe Disney will pay attention to what they so far can’t seem to understand.
2. Harmonious: The barges are hideous during the day. Certainly fountains during the day would help, particularly if they shine the colored lights on the water, like they do at night.
I watched the nighttime show on Monday, October 4, and I was not impressed. The “singing” sounded more like some hollering and some painful shrieking.
I was disappointed to only be able to see part of the show because the screened images are only slightly above the surface of the water. People who did not have a place right at the lakeside fence missed out on much of the show. I was standing at an elevated area near a stone wall in the Canada area, so that helped a little.
I live close enough to Disney World to visit the parks whenever I want to, but I empathize with the disappointed families who saved up all year and came from far-away states, only to miss out because the video screens are so low.
The fireworks were beautifully generous, as always, and high enough for everyone to enjoy.
Fireworks, fountains and music (no hollering), without the tacky Harmonious show would be Epcot World-Class and quite enough for everyone to enjoy.
Disney has the go away green for their scrims, maybe they need a blend in blue for the water to blend in the black of those screens.
Lipstick on a pig
An eyesore is still an eyesore no matter what you do to try to hide it.
They will still be an eyesore. Saw Harmonious last night for the first time and it was a let down. They needed original music for the show, not just mashups. My husband said he felt like he was just looking at screensavers the whole time haha! I have to agree. The ending was beautiful but it was because they added the original Epcot Entrance composition at the end with all the fireworks. But sadly it’s not worth watching again just for the ending. I will however enjoy the incredible music and lights at the front of the park again. I enjoyed the Spaceship Earth lights more than Harmonious! Disney has set such a high bar in the past, now it just feels mediocre.
The powers that be at Disney took a lovely view and turned it into an erector set eyesore. Should have just changed illuminations into something that didn’t require permanent structures. Especially now, with EPCOT Future World looking the way it does, all messed up.
such a mess, they should be fired whoever approved this junk. to make it worse the show itself is lousy too.
I find it hard to believe that a company as “forward thinking” as Disney would ruin a very inspiring view as the lagoon by placing these mechanical water bugs on the water. Couldn’t they have put them on a platform that can sink below the waves during the day? Let’s take a natural looking vista and drop these mechanical monstrosities out there to totally disrupt the view. Hideous.
Lipstick on a pig
Water is not going hide these huge barges so it’s not going to help.
It’ll still be an eyesore
I seriously doubt fountains will help…an eyesore is an eyesore and this one is the biggest eyesore. I have ever seen. The look across the lake tot the different countries was one of the key and unique features of the pond. Bring back the flaming ball, that was iconic and ground breaking 9n its debut and showed all of the different cultures that make up this big blue wonder we call earth. The Horendous show. Or humungus or what ever you call this eyesore can’t be fixed. Scrap it, a few fountains will not help. I love Epcot, but not any more. Bad show Disney management.
There are not enough fountains in the world to hide these hideous barges! They should not be there before the show! Ugh!! Not a fan!!
No qu stion that these Taco Barges are an eyesore but I have a suggestion.
Why can’t these barges be painted a so that they’ll match the area and blend it a bit more.
The addition of fountains is like putting lipstick on a pig. It’s still a pig.
I, too, was underwhelmed, almost bored, with the new show. Can’t help but wonder when they’ll update it to Harmonious II. Anything would be better.