Fountain of Nations

A remarkable musical fountain at Epcot in the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, the Fountain of Nations was designed by Mark Fuller and his team from WET. In 1982, the original fountain was built along with the rest of the park in a dedication ceremony attended by 22 representatives from 22 nations. The representatives poured water from their countries into the fountain. The Fountain of Nations was then refurbished in 1993 to perform water shows synchronizing to a handful of pieces of music. The fountain is most beautiful at night where it illuminates 1,068 different colored lights. The fountain even dances to Christmas music as manifested during the Epcot’s Holidays Around the World celebration.

The fountain contains about 200,000 gallons of water. An interesting feature of the fountain is that it has multiple nozzles. It has about 300 nozzles that can shoot water between 30 and 150 pounds per square inch to over 150 feet high. The water fountain contains 212 "micro shooters". The micro shooters can shoot water up to 80 feet into the air. The fountain also has 40 "mini shooters" that shoot water at a 70-degree angle 100 feet into the air. And lastly, it has 12 "super shooters" which can shoot water 150 feet into the air. The super shooters have a distinct popping noise due to their use of air pressure for a launching system. There are also 60 spray nozzles. Since the fountain shoots water up to 150 feet into the air, crosswinds often blow mist onto people nearby all the more delighting many visitors and tourists to check out the famous large water fountain.

Another interesting of the fountain is that is plays a variety of music. Some of the music comes from old Epcot and Walt Disney World attractions. This attractive display and music playing happens every quarter hour. And what so remarkable is that this performance is automated. The fountain also dances to this music until the park is fully cleared out so people can watch it after the IllumiNations firework show. For safety purposes and so as not interfere with the fireworks, the fountain is shut off during the show. The Lights of Winter Archway lights up and starts to play holiday music from November to the end of December. The regular music is played until around 6:00 pm.

Interesting trivia about the fountain was that it was used in the dedication ceremony for the Mickey wand being installed over Spaceship Earth on October 1, 2000. The show Splashtacular debuted in front of the fountain in 1994, but it was unfortunate that it got cancelled after its debut. In the Epcot's 25th-anniversary re-dedication ceremony on October 1, 2007, the Fountain of Nations was also used and been part of the ceremony and the "Pouring of the Waters" ceremony from the park's opening was reprised.