90s Disney The Minotti Brothers

AJ, Mike, and Chris invite you to come along for some retail therapy as we talk about our favorite shops, stores, and caramel counters across Walt Disney World.


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AJ, Mike, and Chris travel back to 1994 when Professor Wayne Szalinski had to admit to his wife, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!" Join us as we explore the birth of the Imagination Institute and Eric Idle's portrait of Dr. Nigel Channing. We explore insights into the complex effects of this 4D film from its director, Radal Kleiser, and describe how each of the ground breaking in-theater effects were achieved. So grab your safety googles, pick your feet up off the ground, and watch out for Gigabyte!

Early History"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" released in 1989 to great success, followed by a moderately successful sequel, "Honey, I Blew Up the Kid" in 1992. "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: Movie Set Adventure" opened in 1990 at the then new MGM Studios park. A new attraction themed around "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" was announced in November 1993, originally named "Honey, I Shrunk the Theater" and later changed to "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience." Kodak sponsored the attraction.

ProductionThe film was directed by Randal Kleiser, known for "Grease" and "Flight of the Navigator," and written by Bill Prady and Steve Spiegel. Cinematography was handled by Dean Cundey, with effects by Kleiser-Walczak Construction Company. The score was composed by Bruce Boughton. The set was designed by Les Dilley, and the cast included Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri, Eric Idle, and others.

PreshowThe preshow included a presentation by Kodak and a segment featuring Dr. Nigel Channing on WNN-TV. In 2003, the preshow was changed to include a short film replacing "True Colors" and altered dialogues.

Technical Details and Run of the ShowThe film was presented as the stage of a live award show, with technical details ensuring the appearance of a live event. Ten significant 3D moments were incorporated into the show, each carefully choreographed to enhance audience immersion.

Other Parks ChangesThe attraction underwent changes in various Disney parks, including Tokyo Disneyland, Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.

Closure and LegacyAfter Michael Jackson's death, there was a resurgence of interest in "Captain EO." As a result, "Honey, I Shrunk the Audience" was temporarily closed in several parks for the "Captain EO Tribute" but never reopened. The attraction left a lasting legacy, with elements incorporated into other Disney experiences.

Our MemoriesPersonal reflections on the attraction.

OutroSend questions and comments to 90sdisneypodcast@gmail.com

Links


Allears.net - Extinct Epcot: The Big History of Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Disney Fandom - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
Wikipedia - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience!
YouTube - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Promo
YouTube - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Ride-Through
YouTube - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience Full Show
YouTube - True Colors Preshow
Magic and Imagination Archive - Honey, I Shrunk the Audience


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AJ, Mike, and Chris create the definitive ranking of (almost) every attraction at Universal Studios Orland and Universal Islands of Adventure. We even brought back some of the attractions that aren't there anymore. Where did your favorite attraction land? What's our favorite? And more importantly, which attraction is the worst?


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AJ, Mike, Chris, and special guest Dad invite you to join us to recap our recent trip to Universal Orland. We crammed a lot into a fun-filled weekend of rides, food, and some pretty fun experiences. We talk about the over the top Mardi Gras celebration at the Studios park, AJ finally gets to experience Hagrid's and Velocicoaster, and we of course had to make a small visit to Disney as well.

Want to reach out? Email us at ⁠90sDisneyPodcast@gmail.com⁠!


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AJ, Mike, and Chris take a journey on some of our favorite dark rides. From mild to (Mr. Toad’s) wild, we explore some

of our favorite experiences across Disney, Universal, and beyond!


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Join AJ, Mike, and Chris as they delve into the intriguing relationship between Disney and McDonald's in the 90s.
Early History
The connection between Disney and McDonald's traces back to WW1 in 1918 when Walt Disney and Ray Kroc, both lying about their ages, joined the American Ambulance Corps.
Ray Kroc, later the innovator behind McDonald's franchises, and Walt Disney crossed paths during their training.
First Partnerships
In the late 80s, the first Disney-McDonald's promotion was launched for the 50th anniversary of Snow White.
Subsequent collaborations included Happy Meal toys like The Disney Favorites Activity Books and Cinderella Plush ornaments.
Splash Mountain and Setbacks
A promotional agreement for Splash Mountain soured due to ride delays, leading to a rift between McDonald's and Disney.
The underperformance of Dick Tracy further strained their relationship, with Burger King eventually overtaking McDonald's in Disney promotions.
The 10 Year Deal
McDonald's launched the Disney Video Masterpiece Collection Trivia Challenge in April 1996, initiating a 10-year partnership as the exclusive sponsor for Disney films.
This deal saw tie-ins with movies like 101 Dalmatians, Hercules, Animal Kingdom, and Mulan.
End of the 10 Year Deal
The partnership ended in 2006, with Disney choosing not to renew due to McDonald's negative public image and concerns about associations with obesity.
Disney allowed McDonald's to package toys in Happy Meals again in 2018, marking a renewed partnership.
McDonald's in the Parks
McDonald's had a significant presence in Disney parks, with locations offering themed dining experiences and tie-ins with park attractions.
The Future is Back Proposal
A discovery of original letter correspondence between Disney and McDonald’s led to the revelation of a proposal for a replica McDonald's in Disneyland as part of a "Future is Back" ad campaign.
Share your memories of McDonald's and Disney collaborations!
Get in touch! Send questions and comments to ⁠⁠⁠90sdisneypodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠.
Links

Pop Culture Wonders - 1980s Disney McDonald's Toys
Kids Meal Wiki - Mickey’s Birthdayland (McDonald’s, 1989)
Yesterland - McDonald's at Walt Disney World
Mashed - McDonald's at Walt Disney World
Mouse Planet - Disney and McDonald's
The Daily Meal - History Between McDonald's and Disney
Field Museum - Sue the T-Rex
Twitter - Original Letter Correspondence
Smithsonian Mag - When Famous Architects Design McDonald's
Disney Docs - McDonald's Proposal


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