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During the mid-eighties, construction began on many Walt Disney World projects to benefit not only Guest experience, but serve the resort and its mission of EPCOT itself. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Michael Eisner, guided the growth by planning additional resorts so more Guests could stay on property and projects that would surpass the Walt Disney World reputation for outstanding entertainment.
The first luxury resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort,d in 1988. Its elegant wood siding and details, ornate balconies, and Victorian windows take Guests back to turn-of-the-century Florida. The first moderately priced resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, debuted later in 1988. Each series of buildings is named after different islands of the Caribbean.
EPCOT Center hosted several entertainment extravaganzas throughout its history. Previous shows included the EPCOT Intergalactic Daredevil Circus Spectacular (in the CommuniCore area); Skyleidoscope (dragon boats); New World Fantasy (picture barges); and the "Laserphonic Fantasy" (fireworks and lasers) in the World Showcase Lagoon. On January 30, 1988, the theme park debuted "IllumiNations."
This epic show began with an international festival from nine of the nations around World Showcase. Spotlights, special-effects projectors, themed music, and lights illuminated each showcase with color and sound. The second part of the show ignited the sky with fireworks and classical music. Several barges which contain water jets and fireworks were towed into the lagoon every evening. Epcot Computer Central kept the entire program in sync. Along with the musical score, it simultaneously controlled thirteen projectors, six lasers, eight searchlights, 108 water nozzles on the barges, more than 700 pieces of fireworks, and 50,000 bulbs lining every showcase. During the Christmas season of 1994, the show was transformed into a festive program called "Holiday IllumiNations" and has continued since during Christmas seasons.
October 3, 1996, saw the premiere of the all-new "IllumiNations 25," a nightly celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Walt Disney World Resort. This new show uses much of the original equipment and special effects (no longer using the projectors), and has an additional four barges that launch many rapidly exploding fireworks.
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