Disney has announced that the Happily Ever After and Epcot Forever nighttime spectaculars will end later this year. The official statement says that both shows will “sparkle into Disney history” ahead of the new entertainment that will debut for Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary.
Epcot Forever’s final show will take place on September 28, 2021 while Happily Ever After will surprisingly wrap up on September 29, 2021.
We also recently announced that all-new nighttime spectaculars “Disney Enchantment” and “Harmonious” would be debuting October 1 as part of The World’s Most Magical Celebration. That means this summer is also your last chance to come out and catch the current fireworks shows before they sparkle into Disney history. “EPCOT Forever” will conclude its limited-time run on September 28, and you have until September 29 to take in the spectacle of “Happily Ever After” at Magic Kingdom Park.
Disney quickly updated the My Disney Experience app to inform guests of the change. The new language reminds guests that there’s a limited time to view both shows.
Epcot Forever was always billed as an interim show that would bridge the gap between Illuminations: Reflections of Earth and Harmonious. It has some fun nods to Epcot’s past, but it was never meant to last for years.
However, Happily Ever After debuted in May 2017 and it was believed it’d stick around for a long time after receiving glowing reviews. Its run is remarkably short compared to its predecessor at Magic Kingdom, Wishes, that ran for almost 14 years.
We assume Disney wants to use some of the new technology for Disney Enchantment, the 50th anniversary show at Magic Kingdom, in whatever comes next. They could use the new projections on Main Street USA and incorporate them into Happily Ever After, but it may make more sense to create something new.
What do you think about the decision to permanently end these two shows?
