We’ve been keeping a close eye on progress with EPCOT fireworks, especially since the park closures delayed a brand new show!

Harmonious

Harmonious was meant to debut earlier this year but, due to the global health crisis, has been indefinitely postponed. Progress is underway though as testing might have begun and barge work has been ongoing. Now, Walt Disney Imagineering has filed a new permit for work on the EPCOT fireworks barges — and the end date might surprise you.

This morning, Disney filed a permit with a few contractors for the “installation of anchors to provide additional mooring for center barge.” This barge is the main one located in the center of World Showcase Lagoon.

Permit Screenshot

The addition of anchors itself isn’t that interesting. What IS interesting is the expiration date noted for this work — December 21st, 2021. That means that this additional mooring has an expected end date of over a year from now.

Permit Screenshot

If this work is a prerequisite for fireworks to return to EPCOT or for Harmonious to debut, then we could be in for a long wait. On the other hand, that would constitute a MUCH longer delay than we were expecting due to the park closures. It’s also possible that this work will be ongoing once fireworks are launching above World Showcase Lagoon again. And remember, that this is just the expiration date, so the work could be completed sooner.

Epcot Concept Art ©Disney

This date certainly was a surprise to us but it could ultimately just be a maintenance project that doesn’t have any effect on the fireworks shows. We’ll be keeping a close eye on permits in World Showcase Lagoon and for news from Disney about Harmonious, so stay tuned!

Click here to learn more about the work on EPCOT fireworks!

What do you think of the latest permit? Tell us in the comments.