Disneyrewind - June 9, 1984 Laserphonic Fantasy show debuts on World Showcase Lagoon EPCOT Center

Disneyrewind - June 9, 1984 "Laserphonic Fantasy" show debuts on World Showcase Lagoon EPCOT Center

"Laserphonic Fantasy", the first night-time EPCOT Center show that was viewable from anywhere around the World Showcase Lagoon, brought several firsts in the theatrical lighting and laser light show worlds. replacing "A New World Fantasy", which was only viewable from the Future World end of The World Showcase Lagoon from the Mexico to the Canada Pavilions.


Laserphonic Fantasy from Martins Videos on Vimeo.

Laserphonic Fantasy was scored by Don Dorsey, whom you may remember from scoring The Main Street Electrical Parade.  Of interesting note, most of Laserphonic Fantasy's music is still in print on Don Dorsey's album, Busted

Some of the firsts include:

Full automation of Pichel search lights to synchronize with the music rather than just going through a standard pattern.  I know, I know you're saying, "Big woop!".  Well, this was the first time this had been done. The shows were becoming more music centric and everything needed to time just right.  We take all this elaborate timing for granted these days.

This one was pretty dramatic: There was an animated skater projected on a water droplet screen out in the lagoon, which actually was two firsts.  This was the first projection of laser animation onto a water droplet screen and it was the first to use non-continuous lines in laser animation.

"Laserphonic Fantasy" was replaced by "IllumiNations" in January of 1988.  EPCOT sure has come a long way since it opened in 1982! "Laserphonic Fantasy" certainly was one to remember.