I got a call from Brian Ramsey of Mouse Surplus the other day. Who insisted that — the very next time that I was down at Walt Disney World — that I had to come by his new 1500 Tradeport Drive location and check out MS’s new super-sized set-up.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And that was the plan, anyway. That — as soon as I arrived at Orlando International Airport — I’d first pick up my rental car and then make the five minute drive over to Mouse Surplus’ new home. So that I could finally see this enormous warehouse that Brian keeps talking about.
But — as soon as I walked in the door — Mr. Ramsey had something really special to show me. It was a box full of film strips & old acetates that he had harvested from of Epcot’s “Horizons” as that old Future World pavilion was being torn down to make way for “Mission: Space.”
Photo by Robert Bish
And as I held these thin pieces of plastic up to the light, some very familiar images from this long-gone Epcot icon once again appeared. How many of you recall …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… this image from Jules Verne‘s “From the Earth to the Moon“? Which used to be projected along the side of the ride track inside of this Future World attraction?
Photo by Jeff Lange
Or — better yet — that enormous, round space station that you used to see spinning in space? This is an actual piece of the film that was used to achieve that particular effect inside of “Horizons.”
Photo by Jeff Lange
Looking at this next series of acetates (Which were used in “Horizons” pre-show area. So that WDW guests could then get a sense of the sorts of things that they’d soon be seeing as they made their way through the queue of this Future World attraction), I’m reminded of how hopeful “Horizons” used to be. The bright new future that was supposedly waiting for all of us. Whether we chose to continue to live on Earth …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… or journey far off into space …
Photo by Jeff Lange
… or make our home at the bottom of the sea. Looking at this stuff today really made me appreciate all of the artistry that the Imagineers put into the creation of this now-defunct Future World pavilion. Oh, how I wish we hadn’t lost “Horizons.”
But — then again — that’s the beauty of Mouse Surplus. All of these great old Disney rides, shows and attractions that you thought were long gone? Thanks to Brian Ramsey, they live on … in one form or another. And the best part is … You can actually get the chance to take these rare pieces of Disney theme park history home with you.
Photo by Jeff Lange
I’ll say this much. Brian was right about Mouse Surplus’ new Tradeport Drive location. This place really is huge. To give you a proper sense of scale here: In the photo above, do you notice something looming in the distance? Just beyond those racks of clothes? That’s a full-sized Monorail car, folks. Parked right inside this warehouse.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Speaking of parked … Check out all of these old “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” cars and “Snow White’s Scary Adventures” ride vehicles that are parked against the wall. Waiting for some diehard Disneyana fan with a very fat wallet to come along and give them a good home.
Photo by Jeff Lange
Everywhere you look at Mouse Surplus, there’s something new & bizarre to discover. Take — for example — this pile of light fixtures from WDW’s All Star Music Resort. Which had recently been removed from that hotel so that Disney could then turn one wing of that resort into an all-suites hotel.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And — speaking of stars — as you’re touring Mouse Surplus’ new digs, be sure and check out Brian’s autograph wall. Over the past 10 years, Ramsey has collected photos & signatures from some of the biggest talents to ever appear in Disney TV shows & motion pictures.
Photo by Jeff Lange
And then there are those things that you see and say: “I want that. I really, really want that. But how the hell would I ever get it home?” That’s what I said as soon as I saw this Fort Wilderness sign. Some of the happiest times that I ever spent with my family were those trips where we drove down to Walt Disney World and then stayed at the Fort Wilderness Campground.
Which is why I’d dearly love to add this particular sign to my Disneyana collection. Except for the fact that I have absolutely no idea how I’d go about getting that enormous thing back to Connecticut. More to the point, my wife would divorce me if I ever spent over a thousand dollars for an old WDW sign.
Mind you, not everything at Mouse Surplus is as pricey as this old Fort Wilderness sign. In fact, there’s a lot of truly affordable one-of-a-time items to be be found here. You just have to know where to look.
Speaking of which .. If you’re looking for Mouse Surplus these days, please remember that Brian has shut down the old Spruce Avenue office and has moved the whole operation over to 1500 Tradeport Drive.
For further information on Mouse Surplus, its constantly changing inventory as well as the new warehouse’s operating hours, I suggest that you call 407-854-5391 and/or click on this link to visit the MouseSurplus.com website.
FYI: In addition to being JHM’s official photographer & archvist, Jeff Lange also produces a best-selling series of Disney theme park DVDs. Among his more recent titles are “Jeff Lange Remembers … Disneyland’s 40th Birthday” and “Jeff Lange Remembers … Disneyland’s 40th Anniversary.” For further information on these DVDs as well as all of the other titles in Jeff’s catalog, please follow this link.