Universal Orlando ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE Preview Center 1997

Before Universal Orlando's ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE theme park opened in 1999, a walk-through Preview Center experience was set up next door at Universal Studios Florida, to give park guests an exciting sneak peak at the upcoming addition.
Bonus footage at the end of the video includes the TWISTER store (before the attraction opened in 1998) and some nice views of IOA under construction from the CityWalk bridge outside the park.
I shot this footage myself in November of 1997 with a JVC GR-DVM1 Mini DV Camcorder.

[@Coastersguy]

Wow this is so cool! Hope they do something similar to Epic Universe

[@kylecormier2862]

same

[@wildethang93]

I was just about to say. I hope so too.

[@zacharywiebe5820]

@@wildethang93 yup I was about to say your reply to this comment

[@georgeascunce3142]

Me too this brought back so many memories

[@fanta104]

they are doing this for EU

[@Drebe73]

This is what started my obsession with the build progress of IOA. I followed it religiously. Excited for a possible Epic Universe preview center.

[@CarloisBuriedAlive]

It’s happening!

[@drewchaboo719]

And it’s open not yet but it’s on KZbin now

[@reecelogan8266]

Wow seeing the construction site of ioa is surreal. Especially the inner workings of the lighthouse. I was born in 2001 and grew up going to Universal, it’s never been a thing that didn’t exist to me so it’s odd to see.

[@boredmillionaire9914]

Watching in 2024 and how cool is this video!? Came here b/c now the Epic Universe preview center is open. P.S.- Loving the '90s jeans ha

[@gabozombies]

I love how this feels like a time traveler recorded all of this, awesome recording

[@therealventures]

They went all out! It looks incredible!

[@ggamemaster1689]

The Super Hero Island area of the preview showcase for the Islands of Adventure opening back then looked so cool!! It really captured your attention with the eye-popping colors and the grandiose atmosphere of superheroes and looked like you was stepping into a comic book. Also, Spider Man leading the charge in introducing the rides in the land. They do not do this kind of stuff anymore, which they should do these again.

[@jenclink3408]

I vividly remember walking through this with my dad when I was a kid. So cool!

[@JamieGAdaire]

Same!

[@mattn99]

Thank you!! It used to be super rare to find footage of this. Thanks for all your work around the parks!

[@laurendaley2503]

its so weird watching this, knowing I have been here tons of times

[@Drebe73]

This is a far better preview center than Epic’s.

[@universalbeetlejuice5617]

This video is a part of the history of Universal ! Never delete it!

[@chelo23972]

I want the preview center of Epic Universe in order to see what it will look like in 2023! (I don't mean you Dave, only Universal)

[@F_ck604]

I would love that!

[@GoogalyB]

And maybe their preview meet & greet could be Mario, like how Cat in the Hat was the preview meet & greet for this.

[@wildethang93]

It's actually now gonna be in 2025, but yes I agree.

[@jackwilson7694]

Definitely a trip down memory lane. I still have my passport that you would get stamped.

[@planetpihl660]

i like theme parks and preview centers indeed!

[@aegisofhonor]

the weird thing is, is just how little has changed in VERY LARGE sections of Islands of Adventure, this could have opened a year ago, and you'd barely notice with half the park because other then that section of The Lost Continent that was converted into Harry Potter and the new coaster at JP, almost EVERYTHING ELSE has remained exactly as it did in 1999 with maybe some updates to concessions and gift shops and stuff like that.

[@InvisiblePlumber]

Islands of Adventure was perfect from the start, that’s why

[@graffiti.777]

Skull island was also added too

[@hogbackmtn]

This is some really amazing and informative footage, thank you for sharing!

[@j.r.1210]

I toured this preview center in late 1997 and still have the pre-opening IOA shirt that I bought there. However, I didn't remember how large and elaborate it was compared to today's rather skimpy Epic Universe preview center, which I visited recently. The IOA preview center tried to create the experience of actually walking through the finished park, and Citywalk too. The Epic center is more like a simple map room with merchandise. There's also much less lead time before the park opening. I suppose the greater availability of public information today accounts for a lot of the downscaling. You can find an endless supply of Epic construction photos and preview videos online if desired. A physical place to hold introductory info to help market the park just isn't as important in 2024.

[@Jimmietruck28]

*_that old IOA logo goes hard_*

[@mikegruber172]

Yes I remember this, I also remember a Count Down Clock on the walkway to the new Garages

[@400collector]

Oh god I remember this place, I love watching these videos of the parks in the 90’s. The excitement IOA brought is unmatched (sorry, not sorry, animal kingdom) and I believe only Universal will do it again with Epic Universe. I still remember my first visit to Islands, in July of 1999. I was 13, what a great memory. Idk if it is because I was a kid/teenager, but people in the 90’s, seemed so much happier 😂😂

[@nicksorenson940]

The one and only time I got to visit Universal Orlando with my Mom was this year in 1997: that sort of awkward in-between time when it was too late to see the Ghostbusters stage show anymore (which sadly closed down the previous year) and too early for Islands of Adventure. But we did walk around this preview center while it was there and took some pictures, so I do remember this all too well. We were mainly staying at Walt Disney World at the time, but knowing now that so many of these original Universal attractions were soon going to become a thing of the past I kind of regret that we didn't get the most out of our visit while they were still there. At least I can say that I've been to Nickelodeon Studios.

[@TheBigboy1138]

Thank you for uploading this. I forgot this existed! I remember as a child walking through this with my family and getting my passport completely stamped!

[@AlwaysWillSmile]

This video was awesome! Never got to see footage like this before!!!

[@mikechick221]

hope they do this for the new park there building know

[@drdremd]

Man I was so excited when I saw this, I didn’t make it back for 15 years though.

[@Braves246x]

I love theme park history, this is so cool!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@allenhuffman]

Thanks for posting this. My 1996 digital camera couldn’t take very many pictures so I only have a handful from this. Only a food items stood out, so it was nice getting a refresher on all the other exhibits.

[@robscoggins6524]

Now we are getting Epic Universe!!!

[@robscoggins6524]

Totally looking forward to that!!

[@skubersky]

Thanks so much for posting this, brings back memories!!!

[@katef96]

Fascinating! I never knew they did this.

[@krystallamb514]

This is incredible footage you got!

[@darkridearts]

Never got to see this back in the day. Thanks for uploading it!

[@WheezyLiam]

2:24 check out that compass rose sculpture that was originally planned as a compliment/mirror to universals globe!

[@Thoralmir]

I first discovered this during Halloween Horror Nights 7, which was my very first HHN.

[@PrimeStone]

Very high quality

[@kevin.21c]

Absolutely epic!!! I really enjoyed this video =D

[@ilovelegos2000]

While I do love universal I have to admit I did not visit it a lot growing up due to going to disney so much as my parents thought I was too young to appreciate it

[@2004hiperjavier]

Thanks, Dave!😘 And of course, I can't wait to be the first to see the preview center of "Universal's Epic Universe" as the future site of Universal Orlando resort! And I heard a message said: "From the Dream Makers at Universal. And exciting new hotel and theme parks is coming to Southern Orlando, Located right next door to Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal's Volcano Bay! Celebrating all the fun and adventure of Orlando! Introducing "Universal's Epic Universe", a brand new Universal parks! Coming in 2024 to Universal Orlando Resort" And I, also, can't wait to be the first to see the preview center of the transformation of Epcot as "The EPCOT Experience Center" in order to see what it looks like in next year, because "Future World" and "World Showcase" will become the new World Neighborhood: "World Celebration", "World Discovery", "World Nature" and "World Showcase"! So, I know everything about that! Okay?

[@bigboy8998]

This is so cool

[@icandrawem2]

This is amazing Dave, thanks for posting this!

[@Emike-nc9ew]

Aw god,how did i didnt saw before this is awesome,i hope they do the same for epic universe,it would be coom to see the theme lands and new places they are building. And better yet DO ANOTHER HNN YEAR THAT IS THEME TO EACH LAND....

[@actionfigurescollectionssu7854]

I been there so many times it’s my true home

[@JamieGAdaire]

Low key hoping since next summer is a year from opening Epic Universe that'll mean an Epic Preview Center at Universal!

[@JamieGAdaire]

PS. I kinda wonder what that sign under wolverine at 13:18 said. "Alterniv..."?

[@UndeadNerdT800]

4:00 looks like we just saw some lost media.

[@DudleyDoRightsRipsawFallsFan]

2 Years Later a full theme park with cool rides almost a decade later dragon challenge closes and gets replaced by what is my favorite ride Hagrids Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure!!!! And Epic Universe is in construction.

[@DudleyDoRightsRipsawFallsFan]

a decade and a half later*

[@testtrack321]

Appreciated the concept art of Spider-man was of the omni-mover version of the ride.

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Yup! That was an early concept done by Landmark - while there, I worked on a *second* early concept that was a roving motion base (but no 3D). The brilliance of the final ride is how the Universal folks saw the potential of combining the two early concepts and innovating the 3D “squinching” technique!

[@thebestofthebest5724]

@@DaveCobbIdeaguy I have a question. Why did Universal switch voice actors? It sounds like CDB was set to be the voice of Spider-Man but ultimately was changed. Why was that?

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

@@thebestofthebest5724 No idea.

[@thebestofthebest5724]

@@DaveCobbIdeaguy Ah okay. Thank you for responding though

[@Wonderfilled]

Super neat. Looks great! Must be HDV. Thanks for sharing.

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Shot with a JVC GR-DVM1 Mini DV Camcorder -- standard def, but one of the first consumer DV units.

[@Wonderfilled]

@@DaveCobbIdeaguy surprised, looks great!

[@OddOneOut665]

Something about the concept logo they used for IOA looks more thrilling than the one they went for now...

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

It was pretty hated, FWIW -- from an illustration perspective, it has two different 3D vanishing points, which means that it would look REALLY terrible as a fully-dimensional sign (I believe they did one as a test and it looked 90s-Mall-Cheap).

[@leov8127]

Cool vision

[@crabsaw213]

this is the coolest thing

[@morethanthrills1616]

Definitely need more content like this. Dave, I assume you were working for Universal Creative at this time? 👍🏻

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Actually no! I shot this during IAAPA in November 1997 and was working for Landmark at the time. I didn’t start working for Universal Creative (back in LA) until February 1998.

[@morethanthrills1616]

Dave Cobb Wow, interesting. Thank you for responding. 👍🏻

[@GoogalyB]

Dave Cobb Do you know if they are doing something similar to this for Epic Universe? (Their brand new theme park)

[@CJODell12]

Towards the end, you can see Nickelodeon Studios in a few shots.

[@supermariologic2983]

There is a cat in the hat meet and greet next to the preview Center

[@joshuaryanfideilbus4363]

Spiderman voice sounds like from the animated series.

[@2004hiperjavier]

So, in "Universal Studios Florida" and "Universal's Islands of Adventure", was that in the Entrance into what "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter: Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley" is?

[@Tarachef11]

Diagon Alley is where Jaws was. Hogsmeade was part of Lost Continent

[@thebestofthebest5724]

It's interesting how CDB was changed from voicing Spider-Man. That kinda sucks tbh

[@maui3551]

I hope they turn Lost Contents into a Zelda land

[@keionaguilar7132]

11:46

[@johngosbee5574]

Fantastic! Do you know if Universal ever did formal debriefings and lessons learned meetings/internal publications? If so, I am guessing they're confidential. I have read just one "history" book on early days Universal, but it never referred to anything systematic that was done. I worked at NASA in early 1990s and many of us used meeting minutes from Apollo and Skylab to inform the work for (International) Space Station

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Most of the industry does post-mortem meetings after large projects, yes -- and yes, they're always confidential. LOL

[@logini18]

around where was this located? where the NY tribute store is?

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Yup!

[@mz610]

batman logo @14:37????

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

It's just the teeth on the pumpkin bomb

[@ColdSoldier02]

Definitely intentional, nice spot i saw it too i did a what the ? To myself lol

[@anthonyzentefis6150]

Was this in the entrance into now what the revenge of the mummy is?

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

Yes! And before this it was the ScreenTest attraction.

[@DaveCobbIdeaguy]

(This is where the *lockers* for the Mummy are, FYI, just next to the ride entrance)

[@WDI2008]

At the time it was Kongfrontation

[@greatone33j]

It's a shame what has happened to the Lost Continent 😞

[@8675309858]

Is there any footage of when the parking garages were being built and the phase out of the original parking lot for Universal Studios?