Blog, Brian's Corner

Fly With “Airship Shamu” Blimp In 1992

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A while back we acquired this set of slides taken by a crew member or passenger aboard Sea World’s promotional blimp the Airship Shamu. Included with the set was a December 30, 1993 article from the Orlando Sentinel about the omnipresence of blimps in the Orlando area. The slides are from a specific flight in March 1992. Airship Shamu soared over EPCOT, Disney-MGM Studios, Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, and other local sites including Interstate 4 looking...Read More...

Videos

A video visit to CommuniCore

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No visit to EPCOT Center was complete without a visit to the exhibits in CommuniCore! Among the other futuristic technologies, computers with touch screens were used in exhibits in CommuniCore – these were not at all common place at the time. To make computers seem more approachable and friendly, there were a number of simple, touch based games throughout. The Manufactory was one such game to illustrate how computers could be used to control the manufacture...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 70: Monster Sound Show

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This month, we take you back to the early days of the Disney-MGM Studios. When the park first opened, it was mostly shows and attraction-based with less emphasis on rides. You may have noticed before we got to the main topic here, but this episode sounds a little bit different. We are recording in and this adds an amazingly fun layer to this episode, which is all about sound. Todd starts us off with our old…Read More...

Videos

Films from the Living Seas

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Many people remember the Living Seas for the hydrolators and the preshow film “The Seas”. However, the pavilion featured a few other films throughout Seabase Alpha. An Animated Atlas of the World educated guests on the effect of weather on the ocean, as well as the geology of Earth’s oceans. Jason of the Deep was a series of video clips about the Jason ROV, which was under development at the time to allow exploration of the...Read More...

Videos

Restored Videos: The Walt Disney World Monorail System

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The “highway in the sky”, Walt Disney World’s monorail system, spans 3 separate lines and nearly 15 miles of track. Until the late 2000’s, guests could sit with the pilot in the front cab for a unique view around the resort. First up is a ride around the express beam, starting at the Magic Kingdom, passing by the Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resorts before arriving at Transportation & Ticket Center.   Next, a longer ride, again...Read More...

Videos

Restored videos: A Look Back at Nighttime Entertainment

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After the sun goes down, Walt Disney World has a long history of night time entertainment. Our first video this week is a press reel about the preparations for bicentennial fireworks displays with Bob Jani, VP of Entertainment for Walt Disney Productions. Of course, aside from fireworks, Walt Disney World is well known for its parades. The Main Street Electrical Parade has had more final performances than most others, but here it is before closing in...Read More...

Videos

Videos from Pleasure Island

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To go along with our recent series of podcasts about Pleasure Island, here are several home videos from our collection. The first, from Christmas Eve 1992, features a look at some of the outdoor entertainment and activities including a velcro wall and a human gyroscope. There is also footage of a number of dance performances and a Billy Joel cover band. Also shot the same evening is this tour of Mannequins Dance Palace. And finally, a...Read More...

Podcast

Podcast Episode 69: Pleasure Island Part III

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Welcome back to Pleasure Island! This is part three of our trilogy, which could possibly have a part four in the near future. We have been all over for our first two episodes, Part I & Part II. For this episode though, we are going to dig into two of the more famous Pleasure Island venues, The Comedy Warehouse & The Adventurer's Club.Read More...

Videos

EPCOT Film Tour

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Many EPCOT Center attractions featured original films. This week, we are pleased to share a few of these from around the park! The main attraction in the Canadian World Showcase Pavilion is the Circle-Vision theater. The film “O Canada” was a 360 degree tour of Canada and its history. Our recording is of the “front” screen as seen in 1992.   Headed back into Future World, a film called “Symbiosis” played in the Harvest Theater. This...Read More...

Videos

Restored Home Movies: Yacht & Beach Club

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Today we are pleased to share several videos from 1993 and 1994 at the Yacht & Beach Club resorts. First up is this tour of the Beach Club, starting with some shots of Epcot followed by inside a guest room and the lobby of the resort. Keep an eye out for the Murphy Bed demonstration! Next, also from 1993, is this walk around video of a very empty Stormalong Bay and outside walkways around the Yacht...Read More...