Every 4th of July we have a gathering of family and friends at the house which concludes with a small display of consumer fireworks. A couple years ago we built a switch panel and ignited the fireworks (crudely synchronized to Illuminations ROE music) using model rocket igniters. Not all of them went off, but it was fun.
Since both my brother and I are Disney fanatics (particularily Epcot), we decided for this 4th of July to make the whole event an Epcot center theme with patriotic overtones. We are calling it "A day at Minicot"
Here is what we've got planned:
1. We will hide a few speakers and pipe in the various Entrance and Innoventions area music loops around the property.
2. Soarin - We are doing a small re-creation of the Soarin ride using a projector, 10x13 foot homemade screen slanted at an angle and a swinging chair that holds 2 people. We will have fans going and maybe even try to to use some Pine and Orange scents. There will be a conopy over the chair and sides so that the riders will only see the screen. We may even have someone slightly swing the chair at the right moments to simulate the ride....I'm sure it will be far from the real experience, but fun anyway.
To get a high quality projection, we decided to put together our own Soarin video using video clips from a bunch of different DVDs, here is a link to video we will use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vJZJoKphwc
3. Mexico - The deck will be decorated with Mexico theming playing El Rio del Tiempo music in a loop. We will serve Mexican food, churro's and such.
4. Club Cool - We will set up a section with a bunch of unique soda's for sampling and little dixie cups. Hopefully we can find some awful tasting soda like Beverly!
5. Fireworks show - Using (of course) Illuminations ROE music. For this I built a homemade 32 queue launcher that connects to the computer and can be pre-programmed to launch fireworks in sync with the music.
Since 32 fireworks isn't really that much, I'm supplementing the show with a light display using Light-o-rama computerized controllers connected to Mini-lights, flood lights, strobes, etc. that will also be sync'd to the music. During the earth-globe sequence, we will add the patriotic element. Maybe a recitation of the Declaration of Independance.
Once the show starts, we will kick back and watch. The computers will run everything (in the tradition of Epcot style automation).
That's about it, we will film the whole thing and post clips on youtube of the event.
Since both my brother and I are Disney fanatics (particularily Epcot), we decided for this 4th of July to make the whole event an Epcot center theme with patriotic overtones. We are calling it "A day at Minicot"
Here is what we've got planned:
1. We will hide a few speakers and pipe in the various Entrance and Innoventions area music loops around the property.
2. Soarin - We are doing a small re-creation of the Soarin ride using a projector, 10x13 foot homemade screen slanted at an angle and a swinging chair that holds 2 people. We will have fans going and maybe even try to to use some Pine and Orange scents. There will be a conopy over the chair and sides so that the riders will only see the screen. We may even have someone slightly swing the chair at the right moments to simulate the ride....I'm sure it will be far from the real experience, but fun anyway.
To get a high quality projection, we decided to put together our own Soarin video using video clips from a bunch of different DVDs, here is a link to video we will use:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vJZJoKphwc
3. Mexico - The deck will be decorated with Mexico theming playing El Rio del Tiempo music in a loop. We will serve Mexican food, churro's and such.
4. Club Cool - We will set up a section with a bunch of unique soda's for sampling and little dixie cups. Hopefully we can find some awful tasting soda like Beverly!
5. Fireworks show - Using (of course) Illuminations ROE music. For this I built a homemade 32 queue launcher that connects to the computer and can be pre-programmed to launch fireworks in sync with the music.
Since 32 fireworks isn't really that much, I'm supplementing the show with a light display using Light-o-rama computerized controllers connected to Mini-lights, flood lights, strobes, etc. that will also be sync'd to the music. During the earth-globe sequence, we will add the patriotic element. Maybe a recitation of the Declaration of Independance.
Once the show starts, we will kick back and watch. The computers will run everything (in the tradition of Epcot style automation).
That's about it, we will film the whole thing and post clips on youtube of the event.
