Disney ending fireworks favorite

Epcot’s IllumiNations — the longtime fireworks show has entertained millions of visitors since 1999 — will end in the second half of 2019, Disney announced last week.

The laser and fireworks show featuring a 350,000-pound Earth Globe and torches will be replaced by a new fireworks show, although Disney did not offer many details about what the replacement will be.

“During the coming year, we’ll be celebrating this classic show, so you still have plenty of time to experience it again and again, as excitement builds for what’s next,” the Disney parks blog said as IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth is scheduled to run until the end of summer of 2019.

Disney made the official announcement Monday on its park blog. But the news was not unexpected.

There has been speculation that IllumiNations was going to be phased out among theme park followers.

The lagoon at Epcot where Disney World shoots off fireworks for its nightly IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth show is getting electrical work worth more than $2 million, which seemed to signal changes were happening although Disney had declined to comment.

The new fireworks show is part of an upgrade happening at Epcot.

“... We’ve got big plans for our multi-year transformation of Epcot, with new experiences that will ‘Wow!’ guests while keeping true to the original vision of the park,” the Disney parks blog said. Monday. “And the all-new nighttime fireworks spectacular coming to Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon will be part of the park’s exciting evolution.”

Disney is building a ‘Ratatouille’ ride behind the France pavilion that’s expected to open in 2021. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy,’ billed as by Disney as one of the world’s longest enclosed roller coasters, will replace the former Ellen’s Energy Adventure ride when it opens sometime in 2021.

Visitors will also get a new way to travel to Epcot. The Disney Skyliner, gondolas that connect to Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and several resorts, are under construction too.