illuminations preshow music was gone at last trip

Torylovesdisney · Post by **Torylovesdisney** » Aug Mon 10, 2009 8:12 am

Greetings,

We visited in June and as always we secured our spot for illuminations about an hour prior to the show. Generally we sit on the UK side but this time we tried something different and sat on the Japan side. Usually about a half hour prior to the show the announcements would start "in just 20 minutes ...etc" and the torches would light and some really cool music would play for 30 minutes. However, this time the torches did not light until 5 minutes before the show and preshow music did NOT play. What a bummer, it was like I missed half the show. Has this been discontinued? Please tell me I was just there during an off night.

thanks -- tory

MadEye · Post by **MadEye** » Aug Mon 10, 2009 8:38 am

I was there in Japan 2 weeks ago and the music was playing 30 minutes before, but the torches didn't light until 5 minutes til the show started. I think the stuff they use to keep the torches lit for so long is expensive, so to cut costs

they cut it to 5 minutes before and the little portion during the show.

Post by **Len90** » Aug Mon 10, 2009 10:07 am

MadEye wrote:I was there in Japan 2 weeks ago and the music was playing 30 minutes before, but the torches didn't light until 5 minutes til the show started. I think the stuff they use to keep the torches lit for so long is expensive, so to cut costs they cut it to 5 minutes before and the little portion during the show.

This is exactly what I experienced when I was there this past July. I tried timing the torches, but they went on extremely late. It was in a way a good thing for me since we ended up standing right in front of one and it gets really hot around them.

Torylovesdisney · Post by **Torylovesdisney** » Aug Mon 10, 2009 10:43 am

This is good to hear, I guess I was there on an "off" day

Thanks you guys made my day

spodie · Post by **spodie** » Aug Mon 10, 2009 12:38 pm

I was just there a few days ago and didn't notice anything weird aout the torches, but then again I wasn't really looking for them. They also didn't have any torches around where we were sitting either (UK by the Fish and Chips stand). I wonder if they did turn them off until 5 minutes before the show because of budget or because they just make everything so darn hot?

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Aug Tue 11, 2009 3:19 pm

I was just watched it on Sunday evening and the preshow music was there.

Soarin08 · Post by **Soarin08** » Aug Wed 12, 2009 9:10 pm

Just watched it last Thursday and everything was on track.... 30 minutes prior heard the music and then saw the torches light up.... Sigh. Best nightime show at WDW.

Post by **Len90** » Aug Wed 12, 2009 10:34 pm

Soarin08 wrote:Just watched it last Thursday and everything was on track.... 30 minutes prior heard the music and then saw the torches light up.... Sigh. Best nightime show at WDW.

Interesting that you noted the torches going on 30 minutes in advance. We only saw them go on about 5 minutes prior. I wonder what the reason for this is. Anyone have any ideas?

MadEye · Post by **MadEye** » Aug Thu 13, 2009 7:42 am

Len90 wrote:Interesting that you noted the torches going on 30 minutes in advance. We only saw them go on about 5 minutes prior. I wonder what the reason for this is. Anyone have any ideas?

Different nights, different managers, different decisions? Unless it is up to the VP of the park or something then I don't know. I do remember the last two times I've seen it, two - three weeks ago and in mid-June, that the music played the whole time I was waiting for the show (it's one of my favorite bits of music on property so I always listen for it) but the torches were only lit for 5 minutes before the show started. I might be going tonight to see it again (emphasis on the might) so we'll see.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Aug Thu 13, 2009 12:51 pm

It might depend on the weather too whether or not the torches will be lit 30 minutes or 5 minutes prior to Illuminations.

Joe90 · Post by **Joe90** » Aug Thu 13, 2009 5:06 pm

When we were there in Jan the torches were lit way in advance but the music wasn't the usual "Evening At Epcot" we heard in previous years.
It was much harder to dance to

Post by **Len90** » Aug Thu 13, 2009 11:29 pm

The weather reason makes a lot of sense. It was a bit windy when we were there so that might have been why.

Soarin08 · Post by **Soarin08** » Aug Fri 14, 2009 1:27 am

Len90 wrote:
Soarin08 wrote:Just watched it last Thursday and everything was on track.... 30 minutes prior heard the music and then saw the torches light up.... Sigh. Best nightime show at WDW.
Interesting that you noted the torches going on 30 minutes in advance. We only saw them go on about 5 minutes prior. I wonder what the reason for this is. Anyone have any ideas?

It was very calm that night. Maybe that's why?? A prior time I watched, during wind and misting rain, the torches lit after nine and the fireworks were delayed til 9:15.

packwingfn · Post by **packwingfn** » Aug Fri 14, 2009 12:23 pm

Yeah some of those torches are near trees so if it's windy, it's probably not a good thing to have be on for 30 minutes before the show.