iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

Do these sleek Scandinavian bent wood modern benches look familiar? Perhaps you rushed past them as the theater doors closed. Were you team “Watch the Spirit of Norway” or team “Get the hell out of my way!”? We may judge you.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

In 1986, Disney launched The Living Seas with a TV show hosted by famed marine biologist and submariner John Ritter. This clip captures the genuine sense of wonder the pavilion used to inspire. Was anyone legitimately fooled by the Hydrolaters? What a simple but amazing effect!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As kids, we were always fascinated with all the forms of transportation one would use to get around Walt Disney World. Where else can you fly in, then take boats, buses, monorails, and now even skyways in one day? It’s kind of normal now, but decades ago it felt insane.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

What you call the rotating restaurant at EPCOT's Land pavilion (home of the famous LAND SALAD) says a lot about you. Is it "The Good Turn Restaurant,” “The Land Grille Room,” “Garden Grill,” or "I don't know what the hell you're talking about"? Very few ate at all of them.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

In the early days of EPCOT Center, Disney was crazy proud of growing vegetables at The Land pavilion and serving them on site. Have you ever seen two dudes more excited about eating a freaking salad? Now enjoy the awkwardness.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

This view of Expedition Everest is even more rare than the one we posted yesterday. Did you know an entire mountain range was painted back there? And look at the peak; that hole is where the elusive “bird on a stick” lives, when it actually works, that is!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

You’ve seen the front of Expedition Everest; there’s a good chance that you’ve seen the back in a far-away or aerial photo. But have you seen it from ground level up close? The painted building effect oddly may work better from this perspective!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

The round pool at the Contemporary Resort used to jut right into Bay Lake, with water all around it. Now the shoreline has been filled in, so just two sides are exposed. It’s a miracle it’s still here at all! Have you checked out this old-school throwback from Disney’s past?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

We all know that Disney mints money, but at some point they’ve become an actual mint. There are a crazy number of “collectors’ coins” offered in every style and price imaginable. What the hell is a “preview” coin, and what does one do with it exactly?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

It’s impossible to believe that it’s been 33 years since “Listen to the Land” became “Living With the Land”. THIRTY THREE YEARS! While the rides are substantially similar, there is one key difference: the song! Remember? “Just make believe, you’re a tiny little seed…”

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

You may not have been expecting an Al Pacino foam-head character encounter while visiting Disney-MGM Studios in 1989, but you got one. Dick Tracy wasn’t the smash hit Disney had hoped for, but for one brief moment it ruled the park. Does anyone even remember Dick Tracy today?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

If you remember the maps of Walt Disney World that hung in the original resort hotel rooms, then you are officially old. However, you also got to experience peak OG Disney! Are these the coolest resort maps ever created? We still dream of those unbuilt but depicted resorts!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Walt Disney World’s original hotels drew inspiration straight from the park. The Contemporary mimics Tomorrowland, and the Polynesian echoes Adventureland. Later, the Wilderness Lodge drew notes from Frontierland. Is it pushing it to say the Grand Floridian is Fantasyland?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

Designed by Frank Gehry, Festival Disney (Disney Village) at Disneyland Paris has lost its identity, becoming yet another “premium” strip mall. This “progress” feels so odd. Don’t most guests already have stuff like this near their homes? Where’s the fun, the charm, the whimsy?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

No screen. No apps. Lots of cords. You don’t have to be Gen-X or even a Disney nut to know this is THE GREATEST PHONE EVER CREATED! Did anyone actually obtain one as a kid?!? Dreams do come true!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

We find this oddly satisfying. Disney proposed a Mt. Fuji attraction for EPCOT, yet never built it. However, years later, a different volcano, shaped like Fuji, was built where else but in Japan? Coincidence? Maybe, but we know that Imagineering never forgets!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Aquatopia has closed, and now empty zombie cars silently rumble over a dry lagoon. There’s something just sad about it. Why do they leave them running like this?!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Guests used to flock to an unimaginably vast arcade at the Contemporary Resort, the famous Fiesta Fun Center! It had video games but also a shooting arcade, movie theater, and even artists drawing caricatures! These were park staples back then. Too bad almost no one saved theirs!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Aquatopia at Tokyo DisneySea has officially closed forever. Did you ever get to ride it? We know it’s thousands of miles away, but we will kind of miss it. Still, that area is the weakest part of the park, and a big attraction should be a great upgrade. Now tell us what’s coming!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The newest version of Space Mountain is inching closer. Have you seen the nighttime lighting effects they’ve been testing? Pretty dramatic, and we bet that they remain working long-term!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Former Disney CEO Michael Eisner was a showman; just look at him riding the Nautilus while introducing 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea! But keep watching, the third guy on the back is half of Parkeology! Disney was a very different place back then!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

You’ve likely seen Animal Kingdom’s African “hidden” Mickey; he’s not really hidden at all. But have you ever seen his actually hidden Donald counterpart? Same style, same building, yet virtually no one knows he’s there! The first hidden Donald?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Villains Land is coming, and with it an incredible new boat ride! Or is Disney just being a bit sneaky? The art and description make it seem like a boat, but we are betting it uses the same ride system as Tokyo DisneySea’s Peter Pan ride. The vehicles look exactly the same.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

You may remember when Disney Hollywood Studios was a working studio, but do you remember when Star Tours was a movie set? Guests used to enter "Stage 12", walk past directors’ chairs and lights, and onto a "Hot Set”. It’s a small detail lost on most but cherished by a few.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Joe Rohde’s new book has been eagerly anticipated by many Disney fans. We got our copy yesterday. Has anyone read it yet, or are you planning to? Let us know your thoughts. Is there a chapter devoted to earlobe augmentation?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

It’s hard for modern fans to understand, but when Walt Disney World opened, many guests spent as much time or more away from the park (there was only one back then) as they did in it. Boating, golf, tennis, horseback riding, and more. Just look at how crowded the beach is!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

VillainsLand is coming, and yet Tokyo Disneyland already had a magnificent villains-themed attraction. The Castle Mystery Tour closed twenty years ago. As with many things, Japan did it first, but did it do it better?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

It’s the type of thing that you’ll tell your grandkids one day: “In my time, Disney GAVE ya the Magic Bands, and they even shipped them to ya for free!” Can you believe it’s been half a decade since that ended? “Now sit down, son, and I’ll tell ya about the free airport bus!”

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

Small-scale, charming pockets of old-school Disney still exist tucked in corners of the parks. You need to look for them; most guests willingly skip them. But how about you? Is there still room for this?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 04/09/2026

Disney says it’s (eventually) fixing the Yeti. We’ll see. Maybe they can fix the infamous bird as well. Have you ever spotted the bright red fire alarm (or something) stuck to the side of the mountain up there, or are you too busy randomly throwing hair ties to notice?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Mickey surfing on a whale’s spout! Now there is something you don’t see every day. But the question really is: have you EVER seen it?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

The canoes in Tokyo Disneyland may have a different name, Beaver Brothers’ Explorer Canoes, but just like ours in Disneyland, there’s always a guest, or 8, who refuse to paddle! Come one! Have you ever been THAT person? Be honest.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Modern Disney is all about maximization, be it profit, space, or general efficiency. So how, in the age of AI, has this survived? There’s no intellectual property, no one talks about it, and it just can’t make much money. It’s a throwback to a bygone era that few remember.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

If Disney can have Halloween in August (which is crazy), then we can post about Christmas! Our old-school monorail from the 90s is still running well. No characters, nothing cutesy, just a perfect replica with an admonishment not to smoke. Does anyone else run one under the tree?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

You likely understand this sign’s pun, but can you guess where it’s located? We love when Disney drops inside jokes, but due to this one’s location, we bet few guests understand it.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Before streaming, quality Disney content (other than movies) was surprisingly rare. Enter: Walt Disney Treasures! These suckers were two-disc sets in tin boxes complete with Leonard Maltin introductions and packed with rare bonus features. Why not include them on Disney+ today?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion used to feature ghoulish portraits with eyes that followed the DoomBuggies. In 2007, Disney replaced them with the changing portraits guests walk past in Disneyland. Was having a unique version on each coast better? Which style do you prefer?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

With Joe Rohde’s book just around the corner, we are curious about his time after WDI. He joined Virgin Galactic as the “Experience Architect”. We looked forward to seeing what he would do there, but it’s five years later, and we’ve heard nothing. Is Joe still there?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

When Star Tours first opened, it was prominently sponsored by M&Ms of all things. The Disney-MGM Studios version even had a “behind the scenes” vending machine for the “film crew” packed with 100% M&Ms, remeber? But what does that flying saucer have to do with Star Wars?!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Big Thunder Mountain used to be so slow! Well, sort of. Today’s guests may not realize that Disneyland’s old “Mine Train Through Nature's Wonderland” was in essence a slow-moving (flat) version of Big Thunder. Some long-time fans have ridden both; have you (or your parents)?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

For more than thirty years, cheap Halloween rubber bats rotated on strings in the attic of Magic Kingdom’s Haunted Mansion. They’re gone now, but did you notice? Those red eyes are forever etched in our memory!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

We have to admit, there is a lot to love about the new models for the Animal Kingdom Indy ride, especially the detail in Tsukan, the serpent. Did you notice how his scales actually form Mayan designs not unlike the pyramids? It feels like this could be something special.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Remember Lights, Motors, Action!? This show was hot, loud, and never quite fit in Hollywood Studios. It's understandable, considering it was created specifically for Disney Studios Paris, where it was one of that park's better attractions. We wonder if anyone actually misses it?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Have you ever seen an elusive Funnylookus Tittertwillus (Tri-Crested Tittertwill) bird? Probably not, but he's part of canon and featured as an animatronic in a Disney park to boot! It takes some work to spot him, but it's worth it. This is the type of extra detail we love!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Whose on your Mount Rushmore of Imagineers? It’s an impossible question. John Hench has to be there, right? Marc Davis, Tony Baxter, and Joe Rohde make our list, each defining a generation or style. But how about Herb Ryman, Mary Blair, Rolly Crump, Claude Coats, and Bob Gurr?!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

In recent years, Disney leadership pushed well-known Imagineers out of the limelight (*cough* Chapek). Yet during D23, several “legends” were publicly recognized. Does this regime now celebrate individuals without fearing that they will gain too much attention? We truly hope so!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

We know you now hear the song in your head, but do you also have a plush hidden in your closet?

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Have you noticed that the "lazy river" at the Yacht & Beach Club is weirdly small and insanely deep? That's because it originally was a fish-filled snorkeling lagoon! Disney couldn't keep the fish alive and was forced to change it. Should the fish come back? Keep dreaming.

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Amidst a fascinating array of aging musicians from the 70s to 90s, Disney shared a lot at D-23. We are most excited about one of the smaller announcements: the original Space Mountain is returning to Disneyland Paris! Did you get to ride the OG version? It’s by far the best!

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parkeology.bsky.social @parkeology.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

We just re-discovered this! Who knows what vintage gems lie within? Now we just need to round up an 8mm projector. Does anyone else have similar treasures waiting to be found?

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