Sooo. . . back to Epic expansion spec lol.
I would like to see Celestial Gardens expand with a Cirque style show. I know, I know, shows are not Universal but I feel this could revive the show aspect of Universal. If they can pull off something like "O", a smaller version of course, then I am sure it would be a hit!
I think a high-concept show would work REALLY well. Drones could represent the constellations coming to life, with live performers around the base of the fountain or parading from the different lands to create a festival gathering in the center of the park - like Tapestry of Nations or Rivers of Light. The great thing is the representational nature of the zodiac and the way the drones can be “explained” in a highly-immersive land (and in a way that frankly is unnecessary but would be spectacular world-building).
BraviSEAmo energy, but avoiding the pitfalls of those shows by infusing the high-concept story of Celestial Park and artistic original segments with segments based on each land.
The show stars with some original characters based on the lore of the land, the ones that create the Chronos and invite explorers to new universes, inviting the stars to celebrate the spirit of discovery and the unity of our universes. Partway through the first act of the show the Chronos lights up, along with all of the spires around the land, and lighting effects pulse through Celestial Park to make it appear that the Chronos is “spinning”. Drones masquerading as stars blink on and begin to swirl into a vortex as the descend to greet us and the central fountain goes crazy. The astrological signs present themselves and soon the stars move into the shape of… a giant mushroom!
Imagine a show that is framed by star signs (Dragons - Air Sign, Monsters - Fire Sign, Mario - Earth Sign, Wizards - Water Sign). Cue sequences based on each land, with the potential integration of daytime drones (dragons? Flying question mark boxes?) to tell the stories. Big emotional finale comes from Dragons or Potter, and a finale ensues featuring the zodiac again as the stars migrate back to the sky, but not before the trees get doused in a “stardust” effect, and you leave the park surrounded by laser-points on the trees creating an enchanting exit pathway for you.
I think that the old Epcot and Cirque sensibilities are VERY strong at Epic and can do a lot to create a sense of wonder that most modern parks are afraid to commit to.
