IllumiNations was a series of nightly fireworks shows at Epcot before IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth was created in 1999 for the Walt Disney World Millennium Celebration.[1]
| Le Carnaval de Lumière | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | October 23, 1982 (1982-10-23) |
| Closing date | June 1983 (June 1983) |
| Replaced by | A New World Fantasy |
| Ride statistics | |
| Designer | WED Enterprises |
| Music | "The Festival of Festivals" by Don Dorsey |
The first evening presentation, Le Carnaval de Lumière (lit., 'Light Carnival'), premiered on October 23, 1982. It celebrated world festivals with fountains, film, music, and other effects. The show used 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 the Mexican and Canadian pavilions.
| A New World Fantasy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | June 1983 (June 1983) |
| Closing date | 1984 (1984) |
| Replaced | Le Carnaval de Lumière |
| Replaced by | Laserphonic Fantasy |
| Ride statistics | |
| Designer | WED Enterprises |
| Music | "The Festival of Festivals" by Don Dorsey |
A New World Fantasy was the 2nd version of a fireworks show at Epcot and was set to classical music played on synthesizer. It opened in June 1983 and used floating barges that had rear projection screens on them. The barges were the same as the first show at Epcot, Carnival de Lumiere. The show also added 'Pichel lights' that moved automatically.[2]
Most of the soundtrack can be found on Don Dorsey's album "Busted", but the "Great Parades and Pageants" segment was removed. The complete soundtrack can be found on a promotional Don Dorsey album.
1. "Fanfare" from La Péri
2. Symphony No. 5, First Movement
3. "Flight Of The Bumblebee" from The Tale of the Tsar Sultan
4. Zampa Overture
5. Piano Concerto No. 1, Third Movement
7. "Dance Of The Comedians" from The Bartered Bride
8.『Bourrée』from the Water Music Suite
9. Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, First Movement
10. Orpheus In Hades, Galop
11. Trisch-Trasch Polka
12. Italian Concerto, Third Movement
14. "Procession of The Nobles" from Mlada
15. "March" from Love For Three Oranges
16. "Farandole" from L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2
17. March Militaire
18. "March of The Toreadors" from Carmen
19. The Marriage of Figaro, Aria
21. Radetsky March
22. "Procession of The Nobles" from Mlada
23. March Hongroise
24. "Anvil Chorus" from Il Trovatore
27. "Overture" from Carmen
28. "Alla Hornpipe" from the Water Music Suite
29. Symphony No. 1 in D, "Titan"; First Movement
30. Symphony No. 9, "Choral"; Fourth Movement
31. "Lohengrin"; Prelude to Act 3
32. Firebird Suite, Finale
33. "Great Gate of Kiev" from Pictures at an Exhibition
34. "Promenade (Reprise)" from Pictures at an Exhibition
35. "1812 Festival Overture"
| Laserphonic Fantasy | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | June 9, 1984 |
| Closing date | January 24, 1988 |
| Replaced | A New World Fantasy |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations |
| Ride statistics | |
| Music | "The Festival of Festivals" by Don Dorsey |
This show has the same soundtrack as A New World Fantasy. It featured lasers emitted from barges and from around the lagoon. The "Skater" segment featured the first use of non-continuous lines in a laser animation and was the first use of laser graphics on a water-droplet screen.
| IllumiNations | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | January 30, 1988 |
| Closing date | September 21, 1996 |
| Replaced | Laserphonic Fantasy |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations 25 (A) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Music | "The Festival of Festivals" by Don Dorsey |
| Duration | 14:00 |
| Sponsor | General Electric |
This show used most of the arrangements for "A New World Fantasy" and "Laserphonic Fantasy," but instead of being arranged solely with synthesizers, the resulting arrangements were rescored for full orchestra, mostly using the original orchestration by the composers. New music was created for the show's theme by Don Dorsey and Bruce Healey. The "Great Parades and Pageants" section used in the previous installments was omitted and replaced with a celebration of all the individual countries of World Showcase (except Norway, which had just opened by the show's premiere). This installment of IllumiNations began a radical new use for effects in fireworks shows. To add to the Pichel lights, fountains, laser barges, and laser graphics projected behind the fountains, the directors made the lights representing the different interact with the music and the rest of the show. In another strange turn of events, they decided not to use fireworks until the very end of the second act, and then the third act would show the fireworks off at their best.
Good evening, and welcome to World Showcase. Tonight we are pleased to present a visual journey, an international fantasy of music and light. We're about to embark on a sparkling abstract expedition around World Showcase. With the music as your passport, we'll discover sights and sounds from colorful ports of call. And to celebrate our journey, the countries will be united by the festive elements of water, fire, and light. And now, let your imagination be your guide, as EPCOT Center proudly presents IllumiNations.
— quotation
1. Symphony #5 Movement #1
2. "Flight of the Bumblebee" from Tale Of The Tsar Sultan
3. Zampa Overture first theme
4. Italian Concerto Movement # 3, first theme
5. William Tell Overture second theme
6. Scheherezade
7. Orphée aux Enfers, Galop Infernal (France)
8. Days of Emancipation (China)
9. Rule Britannia (United Kingdom)
10. Tales of the Vienna Woods (Germany)
11. Sakura (Japan)
12. España Cani (Mexico)
13. French Canadian Jig Traditional (Canada)
14. Funiculì, Funiculà (Italy)
15. Rhapsody in Blue (United States)
16. Carnival Overture Opus 92, first theme
17. "March of the Toreadors" from Carmen, Prelude to Act 1
18. Alla Hornpipe from Water Music Suite, Movement #13
19. Titan Symphony Symphony #1 in D Major, Movement #1
20. "Ode to Joy" Symphony #9 in D Minor (Choral), Movement #4
21. Prelude to Act III "Lohengrin"
22. Firebird Suite Finale
23. "Great Gate of Kiev" from Pictures at an Exhibition
24. "Promenade" from Pictures at an Exhibition
25. 1812 Festival Overture second theme
Music produced by Don Dorsey
Versions of "It's a Small World" and General Electric's theme were played.
For the New Year's Eve finale in 1992–1993, a version of "We've Just Begun To Dream" was played during the countdown, then a version of "Auld Lang Syne" followed by a short reprise of "We've Just Begun To Dream". Finally, a selection from Around the World with Mickey Mouse, that in the future would be played at the Fountain of Nations, was played.
| Holiday IllumiNations | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | 1994 |
| Closing date | 1998 |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth with Holiday Tag |
| Ride statistics | |
| Sponsor | General Electric |
Holiday IllumiNations played during the holiday season instead of the regular show. Starting in 2004, the "Let There Be Peace on Earth" segment of Holiday IllumiNations is played after IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth during the holiday season.
Good evening, this is Walter Cronkite. Tonight we welcome you to a joyous celebration of the season. Welcome, to Holiday IllumiNations.
During this glorious time of year, there is one message that rings out around the world in every language. "Peace on earth, good will to men" is a wish to hold in our hearts throughout each passing year. A gift of immeasurable value, a treasure being handed down with care, from generation to generation. And so our holiday wish is that everyone, everywhere, share in the spirit of the season, peace on earth, good will to men.
— quotation
Thank you for joining us for this evening's performance of Holiday IllumiNations. On behalf of the Czech Symphonic Orchestra, The Boys Choir of Harlem, The Ramaz School Children's Choir, Mrs. Sandi Patti, and everyone at Walt Disney World, this is Walter Cronkite wishing you happy holidays, goodnight.
Narration
All Instrumentals
All Chorus Parts
O Holy Night
Let There Be Peace on Earth
| IllumiNations 25 (A) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | September 21, 1996 |
| Closing date | May 18, 1997 |
| Replaced | IllumiNations |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations 25 (B) |
| Ride statistics | |
| Sponsor | General Electric |
Created for the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to IllumiNations 25, a celebration of the magic that you, our 25th anniversary guests of honor have brought to Walt Disney World for 25 magical years. Join us now as the countries of World Showcase welcome all of you to our world wide family.
— quotation
1. "Remember The Magic" - World Showcase Salute
2. "A Worldwide Celebration" (by Gregory Rians Smith) [3]
3. Mascleta
4. "International Fantasy"
5. Mascleta
6. "Discovery Suite"
7. "Circle of Life"
The Epcot family and GE hope all of you from around the world have enjoyed IllumiNations 25. GE, we bring good things to life. Thank you, and good night.
— quotation
Versions of "A Worldwide Celebration" and General Electric's theme were played.
| IllumiNations 25 (B) | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | May 19, 1997 |
| Closing date | January 31, 1998 |
| Replaced | IllumiNations 25 (A) |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations 98 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Sponsor | General Electric |
Still celebrating the 25th anniversary of Walt Disney World Resort, but the classical music returns.
1. "Remember The Magic" - World Showcase Salute (Based on the Walt Disney World 25th Anniversary tune) [1996]
2. "IllumiNations Fanfare" [1997]
3. Russian Dance - "Trepak" from The Nutcracker Ballet [1892]
4. "Die Meistersinger Overture" from Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg [1862-67]
5. "Laideronette, Empress of the Pagodas" from『Ma Mére l'Oye』(Mother Goose Suite) [1910]
6. "Barber of Seville Overture" from Il barbiere de Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) [1816]
7. "Overture" to Suite No. 2 from Daphnis et Chloé Ballet [1912]
8. "Seventeen Come Sunday" March from English Folk Song Suite [1924]
9. "El Salòn México" [1936]
10. "Hoedown" from Rodeo Ballet [1942]
11. "Pini della Villa Borghese" from The Pines of Rome Symphonic Poem [1919]
12. "The Aquarium" from Le Carnival des Animaux (The Carnival of the Animals) [1907]
13. "Hornpipe" from Water Music Suite [1717]
14. "A Night on Bald Mountain" [1886]
15. "Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity" from The Planets Suite [1914–1916]
16. "El Sombrero de Tres Picos" from The Three-Cornered Hat Ballet [1917]
17. "Ode To Joy" Symphony No. 9 in D minor (Choral), Fourth Movement [1824]
"A Worldwide Celebration" [1996]
| IllumiNations '98 | |
|---|---|
| Epcot | |
| Area | World Showcase (World Showcase Lagoon) |
| Status | Removed |
| Opening date | February 1, 1998 |
| Closing date | September 21, 1999 |
| Replaced | IllumiNations 25 (B) |
| Replaced by | IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth |
| Ride statistics | |
| Music | Disneyland/Walt Disney World: The Official Album (1997 CD) |
| Duration | 13:00 |
| Sponsor | General Electric |
Same soundtrack as IllumiNations 25 (B) but without the 25th anniversary announcement.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to IllumiNations. Join us now as the countries of World Showcase welcome all of you to our world wide family.
— quotation
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