MIB First Ride Through 12.14.99
I recently found an old DV tape of the Universal Creative team's very first ride aboard MEN IN BLACK: ALIEN ATTACK at Universal Orlando, on December 14th 1999, while the ride was still under construction and programming, exactly four months before the April 14th 2000 opening.
Please forgive the digital garbage on the right side of frame; it's unfortunately baked into the original source material and can't be fixed, as 20yr-old tapes often degrade after time.
It's interesting to note not only the unfinished scenery and targets under full worklights, but also note that the vehicle's rotational positioning and spinning had yet to be programmed.
The on-board audio track you hear is also the temp track, as we had not yet completed the full mix with Rip Torn or Will Smith (fun fact: the temp track was done by done by local Orlando VO Chris Edgerly, who was also the voices of Spider-Man, Peter Parker, and J.J. Jameson for The Adventures of Spider-Man attraction next door). You'll also notice that the timing of that temp track still needed a lot of adjustment, as this was the first time we were testing out the audio triggers on the actual linear speed of the ride vehicles.
Also note the ops tower in the load station -- it was originally just the single-post center structure you see in this video, but was eventually extended with another set of stairs that lead to the inside track, for ease of operational access. Next time you're in the attraction, you'll see the supports for those stairs visible underneath them, rather than included into the engineering of the right-hand wall, as it was a last-minute operational addition long after the building engineering had been completed.
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As a filmmaker, it’s such a gift to see behind the scenes of ride production. You’re beyond awesome for sharing! (PS, MIB and BTTF the ride are my all time favorites)
So awesome to see how this changed and adapted to the final version
Your channel is amazing!! Thank you so much for all the work you've done to make amazing experiences like this. I remember coming to USF with a friend in middle school and riding MIB over and over for hours because it was a slow day and the line was short. I know its always exciting to see new rides or parks open but i wish more effort was put into keeping older rides in the best possible condition. If MIB got a really nice refurbishment I'd be so happy. Even as it is its one of my must-dos whenever I visit. Anyways, thank you again. 😭
When I first rode this dark ride in 2001, I was really blown away by the size of the street sets and the speed of the spinning ride vehicles! 😮
The giant eyeball with tentacles is 10x more terrifying with the lights on!
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
👀
this is the COOLEST!! thank you so much for sharing :)
You guys did the thing! You shot your own Fusion Exhaust port! 😆
This is amazing BTS footage! Thank you, Dave, for all you do for the industry.
Thanks so much for this peek behind the scenes of an attraction under construction. Just amazing to see it as a work in progress!
@guytimmis8627
3 жыл бұрын
It’s also hard to believe how much was done in the last four months - the shell of the attraction is there but so much is missing. Just incredible.
This absolutely amazing footage!!! One of my favorite attractions of all time. Thanks so much for the post!
This is cool! You'll rarely find videos as this one before an attraction is opening!
A few things! 1. This is awesome! Thanks for sharing! 2. At the beginning, there’s a differently colored section of floor with seams on it, with a room to the side. Is that how they move the vehicles into the maintenance area? I’d never noticed it before. 3. Right before the photo op, there’s a voice line that mentions something about the weapons overheating. I don’t remember this line. Was that just part of the temp track? Was it a feature of the ride that got scrapped? Is it just something I’m not remembering? It seems like a cue for the ambush scene. 4. It’s hard to believe that it went from this to the finished ride in only 4 months! I wonder if the indoor sections of the Velocicoaster (I guess mainly the queue) still look like this. 5. Cool to see the other kind of guns!
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
Yes, that's the maintenance bay. It's to your left as you're in the training room. The floor change there is a giant track switch. All the audio you're hearing is the temp track. I believe "weapons overheating" simply became "weapons overload" -- it wasn't a feature that was cut, it was just a changed line. I believe it give us a quick pause in the game before the ambush scene? I don't recall. But it wasn't something any different than a dialogue change in the final version. Yes, the last four months were brutal LOL
@magmorix3883
3 жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguy thanks so much for the reply!
Dave! OMG this is great! I was working in there about 10 years later updating the gaming sub-system WiFi to more modern secure standards. Such a fun ride to work in and under those RV's. Help me with face recognition on this SD to HD converted vid... Next to you is JJ of course, In front right is Joel Kagen, doing the "cage dance" is Jeff Smith (rip - I miss him), next to JJ is... I'm drawing a blank but I know him, engineering manager or was. The woman in the front center looks familiar, can't remember a name. Not sure who is front left, hard to see his face. Programming console and making the departure announcement, Steve Alkoja? Anyway, so cool to see. I have lotsa stuff I'd like to post but, not sure I can... 😉
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
Next to JJ is Dave Winslow (TD), and in the front center is Desiree Soto (character AD) - I think front left might have been our coordinator Matt? Can’t tell for sure.
Thank you that’s amazing
DOHMYGOSH! How did you get this footage!?! I was 7 years old when this came out and I rode it that same year! This ride has an absolute special place in my heart. Same with BTTF and Jaws....mentioning that makes me worried for this ride's future, but I understand they have to make new memories for younger generations.
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
Жыл бұрын
I shot this footage, as I was the ride's creative director :)
@adriansteele7023
Жыл бұрын
@Dave Cobb oh wow! Well thank you so much for what you guys did there. It is really special, and I'm sure you made a lot of memories in a lot of children's lives! Congrats. It must be weird to have it come full circle like this, though.
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
Жыл бұрын
@@adriansteele7023 It's had a great run of over 20 years. I couldn't be happier that people have enjoyed it and embraced it as their own. :)
@jaysmoozie-_-4834
Жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguyquestion. first off thanks for everything you’ve done in the industry i strive to be like you. how did you get into this field and industry? being part of the creative team to build such immersive attractions like this is my dream. i’m very dedicated to it
you can see how quick it was made
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
It was a very fast timeline. We went from nothing on paper to opening day in 28 months.
@DudleyDoRightsRipsawFallsFan
3 жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguy wow and M.I.B is one of my favorite rides i wish i could work on animatronics
So cool!!!
Damn this is cool video.
Wow that looks great! I’m going next week to universal and I’m gonna ride mib any tips?!
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
I'm rusty after 20 years LOL -- check out a Facebook group called "MIB 900 Club", they're a group that has tons of tips and tricks on how to score over 900k (or even max out the ride at 999,999): facebook.com/groups/339450276616826
@bartplays3392
3 жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguy alright thx and OMG!!! I cant belive you actually replied a univeral creative! you just made my day!
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
@@bartplays3392 awww staaaaahp :) I'm a big ol fan nerd just like you guys, plus I haven't worked at Universal in 20+ years LOL
@bartplays3392
3 жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguy nice! and xd wait have you worked on any other rides besides mib at universal?
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
Earlier on I was a coordinator for the Hollywood version of Back to the Future, and I worked a little bit on early versions of T2/3D and Spider-Man but not the final product.
Hey Dave weird question but when was the 2nd part of the overhead bridge in the station constructed to where Team Members can stand on the opposite side of the right ride track? It's not seen in this video or the safety warnings video but is found there today. Thanks!
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
3 жыл бұрын
Yeah that was a later add - not sure when, maybe a year or two after opening? Originally ops didn’t think they needed direct access to the other side of the station, but in practical operation realized it was a necessity.
Lmfao so the first ride ended up being the latest rendition of the ride wtf?! You now have the same guns. Funny that the guns still didnt work back then
@DaveCobbIdeaguy
2 жыл бұрын
This was early testing, nothing worked yet LOL -- and it's not the same ride profile -- here, the vehicles are at a continuous speed just for testing, with no spins whatsoever. Also no final audio, no show lighting, no video, no fog effects, unfinished scenery -- it's hardly the same ride.
@samw2670
2 жыл бұрын
@@DaveCobbIdeaguy the ride today has the same guns and the joke is the guns dont work last time i was on this was in 2000