Crazy how we have actual youtube channels dedicated to documenting weekly updates with Epic universe, and here we get a one in maybe dozens of insider archival footage of IoA development. Just different times man

Oh wow. This is monumental footage, i feel lucky to have it recommended the day you uploaded. Here before millions of views gang!

Wow and 25 years later EPIC here we go again

It's too bad that nighttime spectacular never came to pass. The commentary from everyone is also fascinating, knowing that Islands of Adventure was not only a huge step up from the Studios but also for the industry.

I instantly clicked. Whoa. This is such crisp footage! Amazing stuff here. Thank you.

I can't believe this was only 6 months before opening, still looks like there was so much to do! This was such an incredible treasure trove of insight for a theme park nerd like me. Thanks Dave!

IT WAS SO AMAZING TO SEE A WALK-THROUGH OF THE CAT IN THE HAT RIDE!!!!!

A fond memory is staying at a hotel on International Drive (Rodeway Inn?) and sitting out on the balcony area watching a storm rip through (including tornadoes), with the outline of the part-built Hulk coaster silhouetted with lightning.

Wow. You have always had the coolest of jobs, dude. I’ve always envied you, but it’s views like this that really remind me how lucky you have been, sir. Big love!!!

I remember those days! Was on opening crew and my supervisor would take us out in IOA to see the park before it opened.

how convenient that this was uploaded the day the park opened. now i can see what islands of adventure looked like way before i existed.

I was an attendant at Doctor Doom's Fearfall from 2010 to 2012 so I could immediately recognize the sounds that ride makes all throughout the video. That ride is really loud.

Thanks for sharing this with us, Dave! Amazing to see the birth of IOA.

2:22 probably one of the first times the word “confiscos” has been said on camera 🤣🤣

Wow, what a gift this is! Thank you so so much for digging out and uploading such a treat for us all to enjoy! I was there the year after it opened, cant believe its been 25 years. Happy bday IOA!

What an awesome experience this was to watch! Thanks so much for sharing it :)

Thanks so much for sharing this video. It's Just incredible footage.

This is amazing!!!

Thank you so much for this, it's sick. And to know this is what people are experiencing at Epic gives me chills.

Incredible stuff Dave, WOW!! Thank you for the upload!

Bummer we never got the nighttime spec or the transportation boats, but everything else looks JUST like what we got - amazing stuff from Universal Creative & team

Thank you for sharing Dave - this is AMAZING!

WOW. Seriously incredible stuff!

This is amazing footage! Was there on the 25th anniversary a few days ago, it’s pretty cool to see ripsaw falls under construction, and a full walkthrough of the cat in the hat. Wish they would take more care of that ride, especially the animatronics, some of them have stains on them, just about all of the Cat animatronics do not move as good as they used to, got some pics too. The fish animatronics seem to be working fine. As for Ripsaw and Popeyes, seems they have been fixing a lot of the effects and animatronics back into decent working order, some of the ones that weren’t working last time I went back in March are now working very good. Other than that much of the park looks the same as it did on opening day. Thanks so much for sharing this!

This is absolutely incredible footage. Thank you so much for sharing this!!

just stumbled upon this video and im hooked. This is sooo cool , I haven't been to islands of adventure since 2000. I think it may be time to pay a visit.

Outstanding, such a cool look at my favorite park under construction

18:05 seeing this part it’s like the scene of the year 2017 when the ride will end 😢

This is incredible! What an honor to work on MIB and to get a tour of Islands!!!

Something like this has to be done with Epic Universe!!!

being someone that currently works in this park this is amazing

Dude this is amazing! Love it! Thanks for sharing 😮🤩

This is amazing. Thank you for sharing 😊

This footage is incredible! Congrats on finding this rare piece of theme park history!

LOVE this footage - thanks so much for sharing. IoA is on the short list of my favorite places on planet Earth.

Wow, this is so awesome. Amazing footage to share on IOA's 25th anniversary - thank you!

Six months from opening, IOA did seem quite far off from opening. And look how they pulled it through. Epic now looks pretty much where IOA was when this was filmed. What a fascinating piece! Thanks for sharing!

Wow this is incredible! Thank you for posting this!!

Oh wow, thank you so much for this!!!

Thank you so much for this! Amazing!

Oh Wowsers!!!!!!

Thank you for this!

@MagicCityMayhem

2 ай бұрын

2:30 I’m less than 3 minutes in and this is incredible

38:20 they use to spin the hell out that car on this part 😂😂😂

_this is insane!_

amazing stuff

I can smell this video

YOOOOOO THIS IS GOLD.

Incredible

This is AMAZING!

Wow, quite awhile ago, eh?

“Moose juice, goose juice, its a healthy drink stand” lol oh the 90’s

@DaveCobbIdeaguy

2 ай бұрын

I think he rolled his eyes when he said it LOL

@k.m.6265

2 ай бұрын

@@DaveCobbIdeaguy perfect XD but it WAS the era of not looking at the nutrition label haha

21:22 man I almost cried they really erased a good ass ride 😢

Hey :3 I released the MIB Alien Attack Soundtrack

So many questions 1) what ride was the. airborne autopia? Seus Trolley? 2) how were you allowed to take this footage? 3) do you expect this to stay up in KZread? 4) why didn’t I know this was a job 25 years ago when I was the right age? Seriously, thank you. This is awesome.

25 years later I proposed to my now fiance on the Bench at the entrance of IOA

@alexalolz689

2 ай бұрын

congratulations!!!!

Dave cobb what’s up!

Do you remember the camera you were using?

@ducktails1695

2 ай бұрын

iPhone 15 Pro

@DaveCobbIdeaguy

2 ай бұрын

It was a JVC or Sony MiniDV, but I’m not sure which.

Seeing Cat in the Hat in it's prime was amazing. Truly a solid ride ruined by the unfunny hellhole of TikTok and poor maintainence

This has to be in 1997'. No way was this 6 months out. Impossible.

@DaveCobbIdeaguy

2 ай бұрын

It was. I guarantee it. I wasn’t hired until Feb 1998 and didn’t move to Orlando until Oct 1998. The tape it was on has digital date ID.

@jonnylewis2210

2 ай бұрын

Wow! Thank you for your reply. It's incredible they got it done in 6 months! I started at Jurassic Park photo op on May 20th 99'. Incredible video by the way! Thank you.