| The Story Behind IllumiNations 1988-1996 |
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IllumiNations was the fourth generation of night-time spectaculars at Epcot. The first was Carnival de Lumiere, a presentation using rear projection screens on barges floating on the World Showcase Lagoon. Between the projection barges were fountain/fireworks barges controlled by Apple Computers. The show could be viewed only from points between Mexico and Canada.
The first summer of Epcot brought A New World Fantasy. It had the same equipment configuration as Carnival de Lumiere, but had a new story line. It also introduced the Pichel lights and began the process of automating the movement of the Pichel lights.
Laserphonic Fantasy opened in the summer of 1984 and brought a new dimension to Epcot. The show could be viewed from all around the lagoon and featured synthesized music. The projection barges were abandoned and the fountain and fireworks barges were arranged around a central barge containing lighting effects, fog effects, and lasers. Laser projection booths were installed at Canada, Mexico, and American Adventure. The automation of the Pichel lights was completed and added to the show. Later, small fireworks barges and seawall fireworks were added to expand the show.
IllumiNations expanded the scope of the show and opened in January of 1988. It added lighting effects to the pavilions of World Showcase and the music was re-arranged and re-recorded using members of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. The fountains, fireworks, and lasers were re-cued, and new pyro product was added along with the pavilion lighting. The computer systems were revamped to handle the information necessary to operate IllumiNations.
The final upgrade to IllumiNations came in 1994-96 when new laser computer systems were added to the all the laser booths, the Laser Barge lasers were replaced with new white light lasers and the 2K Pichel lights were replaced by 7K Syncrolites. These enhancements were in preparation for Holiday IllumiNations in 1994 and finally IllumiNations25 in 1996.
Today IllumiNations25 is comprised of the same components as IllumiNations but adds four more fireworks barges, a new story line, new music, and all new programming. IllumiNations continues to grow and changes in the future will help to keep it the ultimate night-time spectacular that it has come to be known as.