This is What Universal Studios Florida Looked Like in 1997: Restored VHS Home Video (HD 60FPS)

[@Kattatomic]

I cant even tell you how much I appreciate the work you're doing with these old family vacation tapes!!! You've uploaded archival footage of my fav place on earth that wouldve been lost to a dump somewhere if you didnt find and restore these. Keep up the amazing work, its very much appreciated!!

[@DisneyDave]

Your welcome, Great to hear your enjoying this old VHS tapes Katt ❤️

[@Sparty-pi3jq]

It's so nice to go back, to a much simpler time (for alot of us kids and teens of the time) Thank you for this!

[@DisneyDave]

Your welcome

[@angelgregio]

​@@DisneyDave Was around 10 in those times and we used to go atleast once a year. Great times.

[@DisneyDave]

@@angelgregio 💯Great times 👍

[@johnwarden3880]

This was my favorite time of my life. Times were perfect. I was still naive to the world... dang, man. This hit hard.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

I was 12 in 97 so was just starting to lose that naiveté myself.

[@victoryatallcost]

I loved Universal Studios Florida in the 90's! Back to the future was one of the greatest attractions along with Jaws, King Kong, Ghostbusters live show and others

[@DisneyDave]

Couldn't agree more! all classic very sadly missed

[@adammilks5590]

I love seeing your Universal VHS videos! Not only do I get the nostalgic feel of the attractions, but I also get to see the construction of the garages and Islands. As a Team Member myself, I want to say thank you!

[@DisneyDave]

Adam, Your welcome, Great to hear your a team member at Universal Orlando, that must be a great job 👍

[@apexwaggish1341]

The first time I went Universal Studios was around this time, I remember the all those rides, my favorite of them as T2 and Back to the future. I also remember a Sign in the near the entrance/ parking lot that said a New Adventure is coming. Mel's diner was cool too.

[@TheRealRoman11]

Visited in 96’ when I was 11. We were vacationing from Germany. This was the best vacation I ever had.

[@RIP2UALL]

Wow. it sure is something magical.

[@DisneyDave]

💯 the best! 👍

[@ofclshn]

Love seeing the CityWalk/Islands construction. Very rare

[@healeydave]

Wow, nostalgic, I first visited Florida in 1987 which was supposed to a one off trip of a lifetime. Of-course we were not prepared for how incredible an experience it was even back then and consequently saved hard to return in 1989 and then proceeded to regularly visit as I just found it hard to justify going anywhere else with everything Florida has to offer. Shame it's got so expensive now. I remember (before the multi-storey car park) when you used to used to park on one level at Universal and got a tram to the gate (like at Disney). I think those huge car parks were where City Walk and Islands of Adventure were eventually built.

[@terranique7844]

😍oh my heart! SO many memories. I love seeing EVERYONE being in the moment, fully immersed and taking it all in as there were NO CELLPHONES as a distraction. Such a simpler time. Thank you SO much for sharing this treasure 😍 while I can appreciate what UO is now, I truly miss the way that it was 💙

[@Jim222001]

Definitely never saw that Wild West show or even knew about it.

[@DisneyDave]

It was a great show, It got replaced with Fear Factor Live in 2003

[@BrennanBarrier]

The nostalgia hits HARD with this one. This was the year I went with my family. I was 6 going on 7. The only worries I had were who was the villain going to be on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that day, how to get more stars in Super Mario 64, and what time the sun went down so I knew how long I could play outside. Mom and dad were still together, 2nd grade was going great, this era was the happiest time of my life. Sorry to get so deep but this video really brought me back.

[@cknorris3644]

Mystery and and seeing things for the first time was a big part of what made life so exciting then. Today there is no mystery anymore.

[@TSquadRVing]

Wow!!!! Bring all this back! So many memories.

[@realduox]

Epic Universe should have had a a classic land with a bunch of these old rides.

[@DisneyDave]

Absolutely! 💯

[@ChantzKacey]

Omg this brings back memories I never thought I'd see again. I was there in 1997, my mom took me and my 3 brothers and it's still a fond memory to this day. I was 14 at the time and 40 now and haven't been back since, but taking my wife and kids this summer since we just relocated to Georgia from PA and will be driving down to Florida for vacation. I'll never forget the "Terminator 2" theater and the "Back to the future" ride. What a time to be alive. 🙂

[@HisRoyalTrades]

brings back so many memories from my childhood and family vacations... ty

[@DisneyDave]

Kris, great to hear this brought back so many memories for you

[@561jeffkelly]

Excellent Vlog. Am from Liverpool UK and went to Orlando in 1995 aged 23 with my wife and been back 14 times since last time 2017 and have found Dubai to be mine and the wife’s new destination now. Universal has always been my favourite. Not a Vlogger but have my recordings from all the times I have been and transferred them to different formats over the years. I remember the Islands of Adventure preview walk around show in the building next to Kong or the mummy now. The Guy that played Doc Brown in them days was from Liverpool as soon as he heard our voices he was over like a shot and to prove was naming lots of places in Liverpool only a scouser would know. Was never a Disney person found something creepy about the guys that wore the Disney ears and would push to the front of the rope drops. Excellent work and keep it up 👍

[@DisneyDave]

Hey Jeff, Great to hear your from Liverpool, I'm up the road from you in Blackpool 👍 So cool that the Doc Brown actor was from Liverpool, p.s Dubai looks pretty amazing

[@shannons9582]

Wow the nostalgia! Thank you for uploading these videos, can't wait to make my way through them all!

[@DisneyDave]

Your welcome, Please enjoy them

[@doc2w534]

During our 1993 visit we were told that they would be building an east coast “Universal City.” Nope! Never gonna happen! Not enough space! I am amazed at just how much they crammed into the original property and how into entrances, parking, and roads have changed over the decades. The parking tram used to drop you off right at the orignal USF arches.

[@vlgj]

I loved that time that make you fe el you are in a movie. Not all the time roller coasters. And movies simula tino that you are in a roller coaster. I miss that time.

[@tangym2]

Sighs.....As a born and raised Floridian, these were the good ol days with a lot less traffic and people. The Orlando area will never be like this again with a migration of people moving here from everywhere.We are already full!

[@andyw0903]

I wish I was alive during this time. I love Universal it’s so different today. There’s always so many people at the parks.

[@danielvolpe8855]

I moved to Florida in 1997 (I was 12) and wow this brought back a lot of memories.

[@DisneyDave]

Being 12 & moving to Florida must have been awesome 🎉

[@marissamoore3577]

The acting on Kongfrontation was top tier cheesey. 🤣🤣🤣

[@DisneyDave]

A few people have mentioned this is the comments! 🤣🤣🤣

[@MicaMakes]

So awesome watching this. Went for the first time in 2000 and they still had the Waterworld boat there and the Jaws ride. No all they have a thrill rides. Bring back the ones that imerse you into the movie magic

[@DisneyDave]

💯 definitely! There's so much love for the original ride and attractions, It would be great to see them come back

[@manofsteelix]

This park will be remade in some form one day. We value nostalgia so much lol.

[@WilliamTeller]

An amazing time capsule!

[@DisneyDave]

Thank You ❤️

[@beanerama9]

Universal, probably, at its peak.

[@DisneyDave]

💯👌

[@kristahackleylmt2064]

Thank you for all your great archives and inspiring me to do the same!

[@DisneyDave]

Your welcome, If you upload them to KZbin you will have to let me know 👍

[@alexgeorge501]

Another great memory unlock from the theme park past! Can't wait to see what treasured memories the next home video will bring us, thanks!

[@DisneyDave]

Alex, Thanks for watching and commenting 👍

[@alexgeorge501]

@@DisneyDave you're very welcome!

[@destinationdero]

That is a pretty cool flashback

[@DisneyDave]

Thank you

[@JV801097253]

Tears 😭

[@dakotahuggins9265]

I first went to universal in 2005, this is absolutely wild what it used to look like!

[@john12345678ism]

This was the first year I ever visited Florida.

[@DisneyDave]

John, Great year to visit 👍

[@SintaxBSD]

Great video thank you for sharing! Out of curiosity did you try to upscale this with A.I. ?

[@DisneyDave]

Topaz Video AI Software was used to upscale this

[@js384575]

I’d love to see side by sides of both parks through out the years up until now. I could spend hours looking at that

[@sylsyd88]

The memories ❤

[@kerpal321]

80s and 90s forever

[@bluepandaman]

lol this highlights how the attraction I worked at during this timeframe (Hanna Barbera) was one of the red-headed-stepchildren of the park. It had a great location by the parks entrance, but wasn't talked about very often.

[@DisneyDave]

@bluepandaman that's very true and a shame, It was a great attraction, I would have loved to film the ride but knew I would get in trouble if I did

[@QuesoGr7]

The acting from that Kongfrontation staff member 😂

[@jimmbo28]

I travelled from the UK in 1997 to Orlando and did all the Theme Parks, Universal, Disney, Busch, I have got the same sort of footage on VHS tape.

[@DisneyDave]

@jimmbo28 Have you ever considered sharing the footage on KZbin? it would be great to see

[@skorpyo331]

Imagine randomly seein your younger self in this vid....i pray lol

[@vinnyvigorito7499]

I remember as a kid , asking my dad why is the earthquake queue so damn long, and he would say cause it takes a while for them to put everything back in place for the next set of riders. Like damm no wonder they closed all these rides, it prob cost a fortune daily to run them. I do miss the days of nothing but amazing practical effects

[@DisneyDave]

They were the best

[@vinnyvigorito7499]

@@DisneyDave love you're videos. Very nostalgic. Keep em coming 👍

[@prentisroberson2305]

Looks like Universal got that Waterworld prop back then despite being the only Universal park area to lack a Waterworld show, unlike Hollywood, Japan, Singapore, and Bejing.

[@MichaelKramer-z6j]

Ja, das waren noch Zeiten :) Ich war immer gerne da in den 90iger !! :) Ups Sorry, Greatings from Berlin., Ger

[@DisneyDave]

Schön zu hören, dass Sie die Universal Studios Florida in den 90ern erleben konnten

[@MichaelKramer-z6j]

Yes , like good old times !! I still have all of those VHS tapes from this time @@DisneyDave

[@DisneyDave]

@@MichaelKramer-z6j Michael you should get them uploaded to KZbin, it would be great to see them 🙏👍

[@MichaelKramer-z6j]

I do it with pleasure. But I still have to convert it. Oh, these are the tapes with John Forsythe as host

[@DisneyDave]

@@MichaelKramer-z6j Ive got a couple of these John Forsythe ones from different years, Ive just converted one & it looks pretty amazing with a HD upscale

[@JoJo603060]

so even in 97 everyone is just standing around on the moving walkway, also... I really miss these old attractions. can we please get twister and earthquake back?

[@DisneyDave]

💯👍

[@tonyoliver2330]

The video from the T2 ride is scary because all of it currently exists

[@DisneyDave]

Tony, That was my thoughts as well!

[@patricklemmens]

Wow I really mis Jaws and Earthquake!

[@DisneyDave]

both my favourites and sadly missed

[@ridetrackx]

Wow, I never saw that Islands preview center in person, as I was not there in 97. However, in the previous year I was able to attend the press event for the announcement of the park. I was working as a p.a. for the event, shadowing one of the directors of public relations for the park, Jim Hampton, who sadly passed away. He was a mentor and one of the nicest execs you could ever meet. He would take me to all these press events and behind the scenes for the park. The event had the most 90s people ever to show up. I was walking around bumping into people like Downtown Julie Brown, Shaq and others. It was an eye opener to see them perform their "excitement" and have to keep it up during the event 😄. It was held in one of the soundstages (maybe the very same one here but this wasn't the setup), it was all decked out with lights, set décor and concept imagery of Islands. With all the press setup facing the stage, the platform began to rotate revealing all the celebs dancing /celebrating in front of a Islands themed backdrop. Then some exec went through their presentation of coming attractions. It was all very energetic and flashy.

[@DisneyDave]

so cool ❤️

[@claudiodigiuni2525]

This is amazing

[@mkaplan1383]

27:42 Gone, but never forgotten. I was grateful that my family and I back in 2018 had a chance to say goodbye to it at Rock The Universe.

[@mkaplan1383]

53:13 Oh look, she survived! 🎵 Dum Ta da!🎵 My hero! 😂😅

[@dragondaveltd1992]

Have you any videos in November/December 2001 for Disney World and Universal Orlando Florida?

[@DisneyDave]

Sorry no, we visited the parks around the beginning of October that year

[@DeutschlandBaller]

What road did you take to get to the interstate with the highway sign saying "Universal Studios LEFT LANE" Or could you tell me the Google Maps coordinates to the "Universal Studios LEFT LANE" Highway sign?

[@DisneyDave]

I'm sorry I cannot remember now

[@DeutschlandBaller]

@@DisneyDave Oh, ok

[@dennissmith5807]

good stuff.

[@DisneyDave]

Thank you

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

Sorry for all the comments, but who else misses rides like Jaws and the Great movie Ride, that hinged on actual people acting?

[@DisneyDave]

Hey don't Apologise! comment as much as you want, I don't mind 👍

[@bootsie1212]

Do you have one for Orlando

[@DisneyDave]

This video is from the Orlando park 👍

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

I wish my dad took videos this still out of a car. He was horrible at taking home movies. I have Disney videos from 1991 through 98 (including one of discovery island) that I want to show but the video will give you motion sickness. Is there any way to fix all the movement? I’m guessing not considering it’s just how it was filmed.

[@DisneyDave]

Ive stabilised these videos and upscaled them with software, I use Topaz Video AI, the software is $300 to buy but I think it is well worth it 👍It would be great to see your videos especially the Discovery Island one

[@Jay-us8ko]

This is what three d is supposed to look like on terminator a lot of movies today say three d but it doesn't even come out of the screen

[@DEADPEDAL]

Love the old footage, but I think it'd be better if it weren't run through whatever AI/restoration program was used. Keep the 90's fuzz, man.

[@facepalmmedia]

Everything with the exception of ET is gone now, kinda crazy.

[@DisneyDave]

I agree, Its crazy all the original's have been replaced!

[@Petey17564]

@@DisneyDave what they replace it all with? I went around this exact time so this video just brings chills to me loved this time

[@bigalsretroroom]

I was in Universal Florida a couple of weeks ago and I'm so bummed i couldn't ride the majority of the original rides anymore. Side note, the guide on Kongfrontation is terrible haha.

[@DisneyDave]

@bigalsretroroom the only original ride now is ET 😔

[@WheeledHamster]

Zero idiots on cellphones. Holy crap what a time it is.

[@DisneyDave]

No people on cell phones = people enjoying themselves 👍

[@Jim222001]

Had no idea the Ghostbusters car went around. Or I don’t remember that. Definitely was better back then. I miss the Bate’s Motel and the Hitchcock show.

[@DisneyDave]

the Hitchcock show was a cool experience 👍

[@Petey17564]

Are any of these attractions still available! Like the rides and animal attractions or have they all been banned and redone for “modern” audiences?

[@BrennanBarrier]

The only thing still there is ET Adventure. Now if you’re not a Harry Potter fan there really isn’t much for you.

[@mkaplan1383]

29:58 I think the pilot act had Kimberly Duncan (the lady director in the video) act like she was stabbed in the heart by T-1000. But when I watch it again T-1000 throttled her with one hand and snapped her neck before throwing her off. In a behind the scenes video that maybe floating around on KZbin, we see the small padded pit where Kimberly falls into and T-1000 actor falls down in there with her a few moments later. The platform retracts after the scenes ends and lower them both to backstage where they reset again for the next show.

[@dianawettstein7420]

The Shark actually worked..😂

[@kerpal321]

1997 was the peak of american and western civilization

[@k.m.6265]

lol the guide on kongfrontation had such cheesy line delivery

[@Jim222001]

Only canceled shows I have seen there are Fear Factor and the Sinbad stunt show.

[@DisneyDave]

They were both great shows

[@DanielS2001]

It was way better then. :*(

[@TyrellDunn]

This video has brought so much memories and nostalgia. These were the great years of Universal Studios Florida. That cast member on Kongfrontation though was 🗑️ 😂. Terrible acting

[@DisneyDave]

Tyrell, Great to hear this video brought so much memories and nostalgia for you, Thanks for watching 👍

[@koongfu00]

Alien was the best, so scary

[@kokikoda8203]

>insert vince McMann gif

[@austinburras2993]

no nick

[@DisneyDave]

Sorry Austin, not this year, I visited in my earlier trips but being a Brit and not having cable in the 90's I didn't really know much about Nickelodeon Studios, Looking back now I'm kicking myself for not visiting that section more! Its also quiet ironic now as well, because where I live in the UK, we have a large theme park in my hometown and this park has a section called "Nickelodeon Land" obviously its not the same as the one they had in Universal Studios Florida, but they have ride and attractions based on Nickelodeon characters and shows

[@austinburras2993]

@@DisneyDave i dont remenber the year i went when i was a kid but i know it was doing the fliming of crissa explains it all cuz i saw the set for the show on the tour so ut had to be sometime around 91 to 94

[@DisneyDave]

@@austinburras2993 awesome 😎

[@ambarc.ortega8440]

Hey! I Know I Thinking About Grand Opening Of New Fantasmic! Debut At Disney MGM Studios Theme Park October, 15, 1998 60fps

[@mkaplan1383]

47:32 Looks, it's the Googans from Disney's Pete's Dragon.

[@mkaplan1383]

31:18 You wanna know what's funny and ironic? The Playstation 1 video game by CAPCOM called Dino Crisis 2 was released on that same year of 1997. So when T-1000000 showed up here, I couldn't help hear the soundtrack from Dino Crisis 2 "Anti- Satellite Attack" track in my head. But you don't have to take my word for it. Here's the link. My brother makes videos ruining movie scenes in a comical way, but I hope we could collaborate on constructing collected POV of this scene in Battle Across Time using this soundtrack from Dino Crisis 2. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5WkqZuAjd-bhKssi=63t2PT90dLwuZEPP

[@negasonic1344]

Kong actor was ...ummmm something....

[@DisneyDave]

😂 but it was a different time back then

[@Q80vaper]

Minions ruined everything

[@dianawettstein7420]

I worked at Jaws when it was first open,…Trust me it was NOT, Fun…

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

I’ll add T23D as one of the reasons Disney/universal is not as great as when I was a kid.

[@FilmThePoliceFTP]

That yogi bear ride was pretty good too

[@DisneyDave]

💯 agreed, The rides and attraction back in the day were so much more superior 👍

[@DisneyDave]

The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera was the best!

[@mkaplan1383]

58:06 A lot Orlando Magic fans booed at this scene because Shaquille O'Neal left the Magic for the Lakers.

[@DisneyDave]

I remember that happening

[@mkaplan1383]

Oh God, the performers on both Jaws and Kong on the first go of this video sounded annoying instead of in character.

[@Kattatomic]

Hahaha the kong one was particularly hard to listen to. Bless that restored audio 😂

[@mkaplan1383]

28:58 I thought the lady director of the demonstration and the creator of the Cyberdyne Pre-Show video was all legs the first time. I'm a guy so naturally I always thought she at least had shapely legs despite her narcissism. But then the character switch to trousers. But hey, each to their own. Then again, it add to her character.

[@pexxarts5629]

Anyone else find the lady speaking in Kongfrontation a little irritating? The way she speaks kills the immersion. Like horrible acting.

[@8675309858]

The timing of when the parking garages opened vs before the parking lot at studios I’m curious when the change fully happened

[@DisneyDave]

I cant remember the dates but so remember turning up this year & boy it had changed so much!