To celebrate WDW's 20th anniversary, a special water and air show was developed for Epcot's World Showcase called "Surprise in the Skies which debuted on October 1, 1991.

This unique, daytime show featured 6 boats in the World Showcase lagoon which circled to form the "Carousel of Color, choreographed hang gliders, jet skis, and paraplanes piloted by Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Goofy, Chip, Dale, Pooh and Tigger. There were also "Aqua Kites", each of which was connected to dozens of smaller kites, forming a gigantic kite line.

Additionally, giant "jack-in-the-boxes" in front of the nations' pavilions which opened to reveal giant balloons shaped like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Pluto, Goofy, Pooh, Robin Hood, Pinocchio, Chip, Dale, and Tigger.
Each balloon was themed to the nation it represented. For example, Goofy's giant character balloon was placed in front of the Norway pavilion and resembled a Viking.

The show closed with a spectacular fireworks display, which at the time, was the world's largest.

Although the show is long-gone, music from the "Air Battle" sequence of the performance can be heard intermittently at the Innoventions fountain in Future World. This score was composed by John Debney (who worked on Phantom manor for DLP, SpectroMagic for WDW, Horizons and the Epcot Entrance Medley).