by Brian Vasil

Tomorrowland Interplanetary Convention Center Officially Opens:  June 20, 1995

X-S Files for Chapter 11:  October 12, 2003

Famous Quote:

“If something can’t be done with X-S, then it shouldn’t be done at all!” – LC Clench

“Stitch’s Great Escape was NOT done with X-S” – B Vasil

Favorite Memories:

I’m never lucky at Walt Disney World.  If there’s a giveaway… I am there the day after it.  Soft opening?  I’m there a week early… Celebrity visiting Hollywood Studios?  I’m in Animal Kingdom.  But that would all change in 1994.

My wife and I were walking by the ominous windows of what would become Alien Encounter, when an Imagineer with a clipboard asked us to come inside and try out the new ride.  We were ecstatic!  I remember it was a slightly different show than what it would eventually become.  Sure, the harnesses came down and the Alien breathed on our necks… but the show seemed tame and uneventful.  As we exited the ride, the same Imagineer asked our detailed opinion of everything from the atmosphere, to the fit of the restraints, to the way we felt at the end.  I remembered giving it a resounding “meh” and we thanked him for the ride.

Oh boy did it change.

Apparently, we weren’t the only ones who felt this way.  When the ride officially opened in June of 1995, it was scarier, more intense, darker, and oh so much better!  I really liked this ride… and rather than give a run down of every detail that made it special to me… here’s a quick bullet point list of what I thought made this experience unique and amazing:

-   Pre-Show:  Phil Hartman and Tim Curry involved in the same attraction?  I’m in.

-   Pre-Show:  Anytime I hear the phrase “practically painless” I think of Skippy.  Poor, poor Skippy…

-   Main Show:  One of the scariest parts was waiting for the restraints to come down.  I always hoped my head was properly lined up with each side.  I know… I worry too much.

-   Main Show:  The special effects… blood splatter (ok…Alien saliva…but I always thought it was the bi-product of the cast member with the flashlight above).  Breathing on my neck?  Freaked me out.  The “mother-in-law” joke in binaural audio… the flashes of light… the empty tube…  All of the chaos happening in pitch black darkness while I’m held down to my seat by my speaker/harness.

Good times.

I was sad to see it go.  It was unlike anything else in Tomorrowland… and arguably the entire Magic Kingdom.   Sure, I can still see Skippy in the pre-show of Stitch’s Great Escape… and it’s great to visit my old friend from time to time.  However, it’s my hope that somewhere X-S is perfecting the teleportation technology and will beam out the great Skippy… Sparing him from the current underwhelming experience that stand’s in AE’s place.

What are your memories of Alien Encounter?  What was your favorite special effect?  Let me know in the comments below!  Until next time Mouseketeers!

Brian Vasil has been Disney-obsessed since his first visit to WDW in 1971 (he was only 3 months old…and has visited 100+ times since then). He’s been known for leaving hidden Mickeys in the place settings at his wedding, always choosing the “Desert” ending at Horizons, and weeping at the end of “Wishes” (it gets dusty…). He lives in Ft. Lauderdale with his wife Mindy and daughter Brianna.

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by Brian Vasil

Opened: October 1, 1971

Closed:  March 19, 1995 (sniff…sniff)

Favorite Memory:  It was the store I begged to go into at the end of every trip.  It was what made me behave in stifling heat waiting for a parade that was 45 minutes away.  I didn’t want a Mickey bar or even a balloon in the shape of my favorite mouse.

I wanted to stop at the House of Magic.

So much so that I’d give up getting anything else in the park.

Those two enticing words on the front “Tricks” and “Puzzles” lured me in.  What would they be doing in there?  Would the cast member show me another prank to use against my brother?  I couldn’t wait to get in there and it took a very strong person (or my mom’s glare) to get me to leave.  Cast members would demonstrate amazing illusions, card tricks, and the like… and I tried my hardest to memorize the techniques so I could fool my parents during the 200 mile drive back home.

It was nirvana to the mischievous child…  fake vomit, monster masks, card tricks, snapping gum, and lava candy.  To my young mind it was Willy Wonka meets Harry Houdini, and I couldn’t get enough.  In the most amazing place on earth… this was the epicenter… the wellspring of illusions and the fountainhead of all things magical.

I truly miss it.

Scariest Memory:  Looking up at the masks that loomed above.  Not sure why these were so frightening… but then again… I got scared on the SkyWay…

What memories do you have of the House of Magic at Walt Disney World?  Please take a moment and share them in the comment section below… Until next time my friends!

Brian Vasil has been Disney-obsessed since his first visit to WDW in 1971 (he was only 3 months old and has visited 100+ times since then). He’s been known for leaving hidden Mickeys in the place settings at his wedding, always choosing the “Desert” ending at Horizons, and weeping at the end of Wishes (it gets dusty!). He lives in Ft. Lauderdale with his wife Mindy and daughter Brianna.

The post EXTINCT ATTRACTIONS: Main Street USA’s House of Magic appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #280 for the week of June 24, 2012.

We’re going to turn back the clock this week and visit Walt Disney World on opening day, October 1, 1971. With a recent, renewed sense of nostalgia in the Disney Parks and among Disney enthusiasts, we’re going to look at the Extinct Attractions We Wish Were Still in Walt Disney World. From some of your favorites to a few you may not remember, we’ll discuss some lost attractions, shows, shops, restaurants and entertainment on this Wayback Machine segment.

I’ll then have the answer and winner for last week’s Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new question for your chance to win a Disney prize package!

Be sure and stay for the announcements, including information about the next WDW Radio Meet of the Month in Walt Disney World, as well as some of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Information and Links from This Week’s Show:

Question for YOU: What extinct, opening day Walt Disney World attraction do you miss most? Leave your answer in the comments section below

Ryan Wilson’s Main Street Gazette

• Listen to this week’s episode for the Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week for a chance to win a Disney prize package!
• Private Tours of Walt Disney World with Lou Mongello
• Disney Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations on our Events page
• Watch & chat during our LIVE WDW NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET at WDWRadioLIVE.com
• WDW Radio on YouTube – Watch past episodes, subscribe to the show and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel
• Get Celebrations Magazine on your iPad/iPhone in iTunes App Store
  

For more videos, subscribe to our WDW Radio channel on YouTube or the show in iTunes

The post Show # 280 – June 24, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Yesterday marked a milestone in Walt Disney World history, as one of the original rides, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, greeted guests for the final time.

As we know after the closure of other rides, Disney Imagineers often pay homage to attractions gone by.  Whether it be placing a small memorial in the Haunted Mansion cemetery (Long Live Mr. Toad!) or hang props in other parts of the park (a la Dream Finder’s flying machine), these nods to our Disney memories help to keep the story alive in our minds, even if the attraction has long since closed its doors.

This week, our Imagineering challenge will not be driven by a picture but rather by this tradition of honoring attractions.  If YOU were a Disney Imagineer, how would you honor Snow White’s Scary Adventure?  Would you hide an apple in the new Princess Fairytale Hall?  How about painting a “hidden Dopey” in Beast’s castle?  Would you place a ride vehicle somewhere?

Tell us your ideas in the comments below.  Who knows?  Maybe one of us will inspire the REAL Imagineers in honoring this sentimental attraction.

The post Wanna Be Imagineers: Let’s Honor Snow White’s Scary Adventures! appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #266 for the week of March 18, 2012.

To help you plan for, and hopefully appreciate all of the stories, details and opportunities available on your next Walt Disney World vacation, I’m going to open up the inbox again this week and answer more of your emails. Topics include: An extinct themed restaurant in the parks, getting ready for a Disney Cruise, eating vegan in Disney, on-ride photos, rides for an infant, free resort campfire and movie nights, taking a toddler on a Disney Cruise and much more. We’ll also discuss our thoughts on the Best Buffet in Walt Disney World and ask you to share yours as well.

I’ll have the answer and winner for last week’s Walt Disney World Trivia Question of the Week, and pose a new one for your chance to win a Disney prize package.

I’ll have a few announcements and then play more of your voicemails at the end of the show. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Information and Links from This Week’s Show:

Question for YOU: What is your favorite buffet in Walt Disney World?

Send your Trivia Question of the Week answers to Contest@WDWRadio.com

Video Tour of Storybook Circus in Walt Disney World

• Lou Mongello’s Private Tours of Walt Disney World
• Disney Fan Meets and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World – Get dates and locations at DisneyMeets.com
• WDWNewsCast – Watch & chat during our LIVE NewsCast Wednesdays at 7:30pm ET – Be part of the broadcast & discuss live in the chat room at http://WDWNewsCast.com
• WDW Radio on YouTube – Watch past episodes, subscribe to the show and comment on the WDWRadio YouTube Channel

The post Show # 266 – March 18, 2012 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.

Hello and welcome to The WDW Radio Show – Your Walt Disney World Information Station. I am your host, Lou Mongello, and this is show #195 for the week of November 7, 2010.

I’ll open up the inbox again this week and answer more of your questions on topics including taking an infant to Walt Disney World; caricature artists in the parks; finding old props from Horizons, World of Motion and other extinct attractions; a trivia question about the very first guest to enter the Magic Kingdom; best places to stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort; how to show your appreciation for Cast Members and more!

I’ll announce the details for the next WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World, some other upcoming Disney Meets, a few other announcements and of course your voicemails. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s episode of the WDW Radio Show.

Thanks for listening! Be sure to tune in next week!

Information and Links From This Week’s Show

WDW Radio Cruise on the Disney Dream Logo Gear at Cafepress

DisneyMeets.com – Join us for Disney fan gatherings and WDW Radio Meets of the Month in Walt Disney World and other events around the country! Get dates and locations here!

Liberty Square AND Mickey’s Toontown Fair Available NOW as an instant download or on CD!

Order all 5 on CD and save!

Click Here to learn more or order!

The post Show # 195 – November 7, 2010 appeared first on WDW Radio - Your Walt Disney World Information Station by Lou Mongello.