As Disney World continues to prepare for the upcoming nighttime fireworks show Luminous: The Symphony of Us at EPCOT, guests are getting an early look at how the barges and satellite platforms will be configured for the show. While visiting EPCOT recently, we saw crews testing the configuration of not only one of the six central barges that will power the majority of the show but also the satellite lagoon platforms that will expand the show beyond just the central ring of barges.

Before we jump into the in-park photos, here’s a (very) rough example of what we believe the final Luminous show configuration could be. We have seen exactly zero internal plans for the show, so this is based purely on deduction from the limited testing that we’ve seen in World Showcase Lagoon.

There will be six show barges that will be movable in an effort to preserve daytime views of the Lagoon but docked to a central ring that will allow for them to be stationary during the show and connect to the needed infrastructure to operate the show. Each of the six U-shaped barges will have four satellite platforms tucked in the middle of the barge for storage and movement. When it is time to get the Lagoon ready for the show, the U-shaped barges will be piloted out to the Lagoon from a backstage marina. When the U-shaped barge (blue) is secured, crews will deploy a string of three satellite platforms (red) in a straight line from the barge, and a fourth platform (green) will be placed between the string of satellite platforms. The satellite platforms will have the job of extending the show envelope from just the main barges to a wider circumference on the Lagoon.

Ok, with that speculative background out of the way, let’s take a look at the work we observed that attempts to support the theory above. First, here’s a wide view of 1/6th of the anticipated configuration. Working right to left in the image below, we can see the main show barge docked in the middle of the lagoon, three satellite platforms configured straight out from the show barge, and then a fourth platform in the relative foreground.

Here’s a slightly different angle to show the fourth platform attached to a buoy and off-center from the main barge. In the photo below, crews are starting to deploy the string of three satellite platforms in the direction of the two black pilings that were installed earlier this summer.

The process of deploying the satellite platforms includes crews pulling the platforms from their storage within the U-shaped barge and reversing the boat toward the docking point at the pilings.

In the photo below, we can see the fully deployed configuration of the U-shaped barge and three satellite platforms with the furthest platform attached to the pilings so that they don’t move too much during the show. We noticed that there was certainly some movement based on wind and water direction, but they should remain relatively aligned.

The anchor platform simply has ropes that crews lasso around the pilings, as seen below.

The three satellite platforms have a green rope running between them as well as what appears to be a thick data cable to synchronize the show.

Here’s a closer look at the fourth satellite platform, anchored to a buoy and containing lighting, pyrotechnics, and possibly even a water jet element.

Here’s a look at crews working with the data cable that connects the satellite platforms.

Luminous The Sumphony of Us will debut December 5th at EPCOT, and feature fireworks, fountains, lasers, lighting effects, and music to continue Disney’s long tradition of amazing nighttime entertainment at the park.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com as we continue to bring you the latest news, photos, and info from around the Disney Parks!