movements ,” Williams said . “ Those fire effects combined with the dancing fountains , lighting , and music all come together to create an emotional impact that shifts and changes throughout the show .”
AN EMOTIONAL JOURNEY Between the original opening and finale songs , Disney hits provide the soundtrack for the show ’ s emotional journey through life ’ s stages , with poignant narration framing each segment . The early stages are heartwarming , tenderly capturing birth , childhood , and parenthood in “ You ’ ll Be in My Heart .”
“ When we are born , we come into this world a raw noise , cradled in tenderness ,” the narrator says . “ We tune ourselves to the world around us .”
The show next celebrates family bonds and cultural pride in a joyful rendition of “ Proud Corazon .”
“ We begin to understand what our instrument can do . We find our voice , and add it to the ensemble of our ancestors , our family , nuestra familia .”
Friendship follows in the lightest , most playful segment , featuring “ You ’ ve Got a Friend in Me ,” from Toy Story and “ Friend Like Me ,” from Aladdin .
“ We begin to recognize the music in others , trading notes and improvising . Music becomes play !”
Next , the show introduces romantic love with one line of “ Can You Feel the Love Tonight ?” from The Lion King , moving into “ So Close ” from Enchanted .
“ Sometimes , we find another , and our melodies blend . And suddenly , with the hum of our heartstrings , our world becomes a duet .”
Taking a surprisingly somber turn , the show addresses loss and loneliness with “ When She Loved Me ” from Toy Story 2 and “ Remember Me ” from Coco .
“ Inevitably in life , the accompaniment drops out , and we experience great loss . We find that the melodies we cherish are gone , and for a moment , we are playing alone .”
This dark moment passes quickly as the narrator reassures us that “ we are never truly alone .”
The music swells , taking a more confident , then wondrous tone during the penultimate segment featuring “ Into the Unknown ” from Frozen 2 and “ I See the Light ” from Tangled , sung by Katharine McPhee .
“ How miraculous that we exist on this planet at the same time ,” the narrator says , a line that feels like it could become a core memory for the next generation of EPCOT kids . “ And yet , it ’ s the human connection that unifies us .”
A FIERY FAREWELL The show ’ s explosive finale , accompanied by the second original song , “ Beating of Our Hearts ,” is one of the most visually impressive fireworks finales in recent memory — and for good reason .
“ In the finale , we use a pyrotechnic effect never before seen at EPCOT ,” Williams said .
A tower rises from the center of the barges , unleashing a series of massive , celebratory pyro bursts during the culmination of the final song , and it ’ s truly wondrous to behold .
“ It ' s a dramatic effect and a great surprise we save for the end of the show ,” Williams said . “ It emanates from the center of the show representing all of us coming together and letting our light shine out in unity for all the world to see — a symbol that is at the heart of the EPCOT .”
Luminous includes never-before-seen effects . PHOTO BY DANNY SHUSTER