This site features the sights, sound and flash animation of Disney's much missed attraction in Disneyland California's Tomorrowland (now replaced with Star Tours). I have created this site from my own collection of media from auctions on ebay to my own personal ATIS material. Adventure Thru Inner Space web site was in the making for over the span of 8 years. My goal is to share with others who also miss the attraction or have never encountered one of the most interesting, creative and odd rides ever created. If you have any additional information on this attraction and would like to share it on this site (and you will be given credit) please e-mail me steve@themightymicroscope.com

Please feel free to look around the site. There are many interesting tid-bits of information about ATIS.

It's my one year anniversary for
The Adventure Thru Inner Space Virtual Ride-thru DVD! YAY!

In celebration of my one year anniversary of The Adventure Thru Inner Space Virtual Ride-thru DVD I am running a special for $16.99 each or get 2 DVD's for a special low price of $29.99! (Ten dollar savings)
(+$5.00 shipping and handling US mail)

Remember this is a limited time only for both offers so get yours while supplies last.

It's the perfect gift that is truly unique for any Disneyland fan!

Taking orders for the ATIS Virtual Ride-thru NOW SHIPPING (Expect 5-15 business days for USPO delivery)

Sorry US orders only please. Contact me via email if you would like to send payment by a money order instead of a PayPal payment.

If you live outside the US and are interested in the DVD, please send me your address and number of copies and I can quote you a price for shipping.

Sorry everyone that I have been away for so long. I have been real busy at my new job working hard on my many projects that come up. I have some updates and info so here it goes...

I had a GREAT time meeting everyone a few months back at the NFFC show. Nice to finally put many faces with emails and names that I chat with online. I got to meet my fellow ATIS fan and partner Paul Barrie and his son who were really fun to sit with at our booth. Everyone was so nice and I so was flattered by the kind comments that were expressed at the show. I couldn't believe that some people wanted my autograph on the DVD as well. Flattering to have that 15 minutes of fame. The highlight of the day was when Tony Baxter of Head of Disney Imagineering came to my table to meet me. He expressed how much he enjoyed the DVD and he even signed a copy for me to take home. I also had the awesome pleasure in meeting and chatting with Doug Hartwell of Walt Disney Imagineering fame and the famous Dave Smith (Main Director and founder of Disney Archives and Author of the book "Disney A to Z". What a great day! I will have to try to go to another one the next time it comes around.

Ricky Brigante from Inside the magic gave a great review to my DVD on his fun and very popular Disney Podcast show this week. If you like Disney movie reviews and are a Disneyland or Disney World fan, check out his website and informative and interesting show here: http://www.distantcreations.com/insidethemagic
Sometimes the website has reached it's 10GB download limit so keep trying each day if it is down.

My friend Paul Barrie of window to the magic and Country Bears fame also has a Disney podcast that has some great audio ride-thoughs and Disney info.

Get podcast subscription here: http://pbarrie.libsyn.com/rss
Get direct MP3 download here: http://pbarrie.libsyn.com/

I have some updates to the IMAGE GALLERY (page 3). Nice images that I haven't seem before. Some fans (that must have been Disneyland Employees at the time) have been nice to send some personal photos of inside the ATIS attraction (some with the lights on) and I am glad to see that many of them are real close to my 3D models. Good stuff! See it here

Just received the DVD. You did a brilliant job. I have a p-rojection set up in my basement. My screen is about 8' x 10' so when you project your movie it looks life sized. I was never able to ride the original ATIS so seeing this really was alot of fun. It truly felt like I was riding in the attraction. I loved the sound recording split in the 5.1 surround sound. Overall this was an excellent job, bravo!

John Brice

Great video! It brought back lots of memories. I remember the
first time I rode on it when I was in grade school. I was scared out
of my wits when I saw the miniaturized people going through the Mighty
Microscope. After that, it was one of my favorite rides.

You put a lot of hard work into the project and produced a great product.

Steven

Hello Steve!
Received the first of my two DVDs today! The second one is for my friend Marianne (who misses the attraction terribly) when it arrives. What an amazing achievement!!! You have pioneered a whole-new genre with this effort. Liked also hearing your comments during the ride-thru. I had a kind of eerie sensation I can't explain while watching, but in a good way!!!

PHILO H. BARNHART (Animator, Product designer and artist)

And for the Disney Geek in your life...

WWW.ATOMMOBILES.COM - Some folks have posters of their favourite Disneyland attractions, this guy spent two years of his life, countless thousands of dollars and went ahead and did a CGI version of this long missed attraction. This is a recreation of the beloved “Adventures Thru Innerspace” that was removed 20 year ago to make room for Star Tours and another nail in Tomorrowland’s coffin. At $20.00, you are not only giving validation to the coolest tribute to the coolest ride ever to be seen at Disneyland, you are saying “Good Job” to a labour of love for the entire world can now enjoy in 5.1 surround…

Joe Mishica
www.metrog.com

Just received and watched the DVD. Thank you for a great product. I really enjoyed it.

Kelly De Witt

Craig Spurlock

In 1967, Disneyland's New Tomorrowland opened, arguably the single greatest themed attraction project ever achieved. The project included a whopping six major new attractions: the Peoplemover, Carousel of Progress, Rocket Jets, Circle Vision, Flight to the Moon, and Adventure Thru Inner Space.

Steve Wesson's computer generated "Ride-thru" DVD recreates what I consider one of the best and certainly one the most ground breaking rides to ever come out, New Tomorrowland's Adventure Thru Inner Space. And, what an amazing DVD this is!

The DVD contains all three elements of the now extinct attraction and a host of bonus material. The new 1967 New Tomorrowland rides (along with Pirates of the Caribbean) were the first to incorporate integrated and well developed pre and post show elements. The ride-thru is true to form. The perspective is first person and it begins as anyone would have walked into the entry lobby of the attraction 35 years ago.

I remember walking into that same lobby almost 35 years ago as a kid and being scared to death. The DVD does a great job recapturing the atmosphere. The focus is on an enormous machine called the Mighty Microscope which is apparently swallowing people and shrinking them down to the size of an atom. The attention to detail and faithfulness to the real ride is amazing.

You board the ride vehicle (Disney's first use of the very successful omnimover system) and enter the Mighty Microscope. And once again, the attention to detail on the DVD is great. I continue to be in awe of two things. First, how well and how creative the Disney imagnieers were to provide a truly immersive experience given 1967 technology. Second, how well the DVD reproduces the experience with all its quirks.

Needless to say, you shrink all the way down until you come face to face with nucleus of an oxygen atom, which beats and throbs like a heart. At this point, the shrinking reverses and the ride narrator informs that there is no cause for alarm because we are back on visual. A huge eyeball appears gazing back through a microscope.

I should attest as well to the quality and faithfulness of the audio. The ride designers spent a lot of time scripting the narration, the music, and the sound effects and Steve's DVD is right on the spot in every respect.

The ride ends and we are ushered out into the exit lobby, complete with Monsanto propaganda (the ride sponsor), a beautiful floor-to-ceiling hourglass shaped oil lamp, and a fairly faithful view of the rest of Tomorrowland.

Final comment: The amount of research, the level of detail, and the execution are way beyond my expectations of a fan who worked as a hobby in his spare time over the course of a couple years. But the DVD truly speaks for itself, a must for the Disney nostalgia buff.

David Vaughnn

Hey steve…..

man-O-man! your butt is probably the cleanest thing on the planet right now! as everyone else has commented, that dvd is AWESOME! in the over 20 years I’ve been collecting Disneyland stuff, I’ve never run across something so immersing as your ride through! As you know, I have some rare ATIS stuff, but having your ride thru really tops it out. my microscope Atommobile whimpered for home when I played your disc for the first time (the Atommobile is next to the tv!).

Merry Monsanto X-mas!

Jordan Reichek

Steve -

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE!
You are a miracle worker. I don't know how you did it, but this virtual ride-through is a glory to behold.

Thanks so much doing such a tremendous service.

Best,
William

Steve,

Wow, that brought back memories! I had forgotten many details of the ride. What a great simulation! And the sound was especially great.

Thanks again!


John J.

Hi Steve,

I really don't know where to begin, except to say thank you, thank you, thank you (as well as thanks to your family that was patient as you worked on this). First off, I really didn't expect to receive this before Christmas, as late as I ordered. That was remarkable in itself. But then when I sat down to watch it.... WOW! I stumbled upon your site about a year or so ago, and was impressed then. I remember reading what you planned to do, were working on, etc... and then I just kind of got distracted, forgetful, something like that.

Then I saw Kevin's review in MiceAge and right then and there, and based on what he said, and what I had previously seen, I knew I HAD to have this piece of Disneyland history.

So, again, thank you for what was obviously a labor of love, and then for sharing it with us DIsney fanatics. It is once again, just remarkable beyond words.

Merry Christmas to you and yours,

Howard Glosser

Hi Steve,

After hearing about your DVD from a friend of mine (Whimsical Will), I ordered two of your DVD’s

Absolutely AWESOME DVD of my all-time favorite extinct attraction – a dream come true for me ;-)

Randy Peck

Hi Steve!

I did receive it-- saw it last night for the first time-- and I have to say, it was INCREDIBLE! Absolutely stupendous!

You've given those of us who never experienced the ride in person a great impression of what it was like; and you've also set the standard in our new genre. No matter what follows, Steve Wesson will always be the "founding father" of the virtual theme park ride-through.

I was captivated by the motion of the Omnimover vehicles and the amazing number of projections you were able to realistically recreate. The Disney design influence of that era was also clearly visible. It's easy to understand why Disneylanders remember ATIS so fondly, much in the same way Floridians have a fond affinity for "if you had wings."

I especially liked the alternate-view sequence, with the camera moves outside the vehicles. For some reason, that's my favorite perspective. Perhaps because I got a better look at how you put the whole thing together.

And I can't thank you enough for the generous mention in the credits! You've been way too kind. I'll continue to promote your DVD on my site, and I promise, I'll do everything I can to keep pushing "Virtual Toad" toward completion.

I know you must be relieved that it's finished, but in a way, it's kind of bittersweet, because we won't be able to see your work as it evolves anymore. Unless you're planning on tackling another Disney project.... !?

Best wishes and Happy Holidays,

Spencer
http://virtual-toad.com

My dad's side of the family has a tradition of loving Disneyland that goes all the way back to Opening Day in 1955. And my dad and uncle in particular loved ATIS. So when we all got together for Christmas, I brought the DVD to show everyone. It was a huge hit!

I had been a little afraid that they would think both of us unconscionable geeks--you for making the film, and me for spending $20 on it. But they were extremely impressed and thanked me for bringing it. Some grand old memories were re-lived on that day.

So thank you once again for this creation. My whole family appreciates it.

Kellee

Adventure Thru Inner Space DVD Now Shipping!


See DVD content details below

Read what people are saying about the ATIS Virtual Ride-thru Tribute DVD.

ATIS Virtual Ride-thru Tribute DVD Reviews:

A really nice review from Kevin Yee at miceage.com

But first, an incredible gift idea you just can’t pass up. I know it’s late in the Christmas game, and I can’t promise you’ll get your order in time for Christmas, but forget all that. I have a product to recommend to you which will make you forget the present didn’t arrive until January. You’ll forget the world around you. You’ll be lucky if you don’t temporarily forget your own name, it’s so good. It’s the DVD of a computer-generated ride-through of the old Disneyland attraction, Adventure Thru Inner Space.

Run, do not walk, to www.atommobiles.com. There you will find a DVD on sale for $19.99 that defies imagination and description. Here’s what creator Steve Wesson says is on the DVD:

• Full CGI Ride Thru of Adventure Thru Inner Space in Full 5.1 Surround Sound (audio rebuilt from the ground up by Paul Barrie)
• Vector line ride thru of attraction
• Animation tests
• Render Mistakes
• Alternate camera fly though
• 360 Chair model test
• Image Slide Show (over 80 images and close up shots)
• Images of all 8 display boxes in Lobby scene
• Alternate "Back on visual Eye" scene
• Animation Composite Example
• Commentary of Problems and Issues with ride-thru (optional) by Steve Wesson
  

And yet, words are too cold to fully capture the magic on this DVD. The ride-through was a transcendent experience for me. I found myself exclaiming “Ohmygosh! I forgot all about that!” constantly while watching the video. I cannot possibly imagine a single theme park collectible, video, or book ever encapsulating the Disneyland experience as much as this one DVD. Maybe this is my nostalgia peeking through – my wife commented that ATIS was a somewhat boring ride, even in digitally-rendered three-dimensional computer animation – but for anyone who remembers the Monsanto dark ride, this is simply not to be missed. I cannot stress enough what a fascinating and worthwhile purchase this is. Of all the recommendations I’ve ever made in my life, this one earns my highest praise. Buy it. You won’t be disappointed. Steve has even indicated that people emailing him with “rush shipping orders” for Christmas might even be accommodated, if they can tolerate a little extra payment for shipping.

Kevin Yee
http://www.miceage.com

Review:

Steve, Just a note to say thank you and "WOW" for your amazing DVD. It is obvious what passion can do when you really love what you do. I'm forwarding your link to as many people as I can to get lots of them sold for you. Great job!! Well done!!

"The Oscar goes to Steve, for finding new ways to arrange pixels for our comfort and convenience! The DVD Rocks!"

Eddie Sotto (Former Senior Vice President of Concept Design at Walt Disney Imagineering)

Review:

Where do I begin… the DVD is AWESOME! It is so much more than I expected, and I expected a lot. You did such a wonderful job of re-creating one of my most favorite Disneyland attractions of all time. I am truly thankful to you for all of the hard work you put into bringing ATIS back to life.

It is just so wonderful that given what little material you had to go by, you were able to re-create the ride so closely to how I remember it, and I was 26 when it closed so my memories are still quite strong. It was so real that I was craning my neck to look out of my atommobile and see the scenes as I left them, or as they approached.

Steve, again, thank you so much for taking on this project and doing such a quality job of it. Even the artwork on the disc itself is worthy of framing. Since I first found your site when it first appeared I felt that you are a fantastically talented person, and this project proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt. Good work, Steve.

Sincerely
Jeff Babb

Review:

Just wanted you to know that I received the DVD last night and it was great! It really brought back great memories for me – I hope you know how much your hard work is appreciated by the fans of this fantastic ride. Now it’s time for you to take break, sit back, relax, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Sincerely,
Clay Colvin

WOW!

You know, any other words just can't describe it better then that one simple
word. From the DVD case, to the quality graphics, to the exceptional sound;
WOW just describes the entire product.

A tip of the mouse-ears to you and your hard work.

You may know of my work if you hang around the Newsgroups, VisionsFantastic, or #Disney-Central. I produce Disneyland ride videos taking multiple trips and editing together a unique experience. I can sympathize with your hard work and can truly appreciate the birth pains you had to go through to give this baby life. From one creator to another - you have done Walt proud.

RU

Dear Steve:

I got my DVD today and just wanted to say that I admire the finished piece greatly and am in awe of the work and dedication that went into creating it. I’m sure you must be pleased and proud of what you’ve accomplished. To me, it’s nothing short of remarkable. Congratulations. You’ve brought the ride back to life single-handedly!

All best wishes –

Don Brockway

Review:

The DVD arrived yesterday and it was absolutely wonderful. To paraphrase Mastercard commercials:

One-of-a-kind DVD: $20 plus tax and shipping.

Nostalgia for a long-lost and
much beloved Disneyland ride

: Priceless.

It's strange--I was only 8 when ATIS closed, and I remember it just well enough to wish I remembered it better. Your labor of love helped me do just that. It was the next best thing to going back in time 20 years.

Hats off to a truly talented computer animator and an extremely devoted Disneyland fan!

Sincerely,

Kellee

Steve,

What an awesome job you did on the "Adventure thru Inner Space" virtual ride-through. I watched the DVD with my 10-year-old son, who never had a chance to experience the ride (although I described it to him while we were standing in line for "Star Tours"). We both enjoyed not only the ride-through, but all the bonus items too! Kudos to you for getting this monster project done! And a tip-of-the-hat to Paul Barrie as well for the superb sound!

Clinton Alvord

Steve,

You did an amazing job with the dvd! I can't believe how great this looks. Disney should hire you to recreate everything they've torn down! I imagine you're relieved to finish this, but have thought what you're going to do next? I've toyed with trying to build the House of the Future with a basic 3-D program, but my skills aren't up to it. I just want to say a big, "Thank You!" for bringing this ride back to life.

Bob Ammidown

Hi, Steve.

Just wanted you to know I had a chance to watch the DVD over the weekend and it's brilliant!

After all the time and effort you poured into this project, you should be very pleased and very proud of the end result. Thanks for sharing this with all of us.

Regards,

Dale

Hi, Steve!

Just wanted to thank you for the GREAT DVD! You've done a fantastic job, and thanks for sending it out so quickly! I've been looking foreward to seeing it for 2 years, and it was definetly worth the wait!

KUDOS!!! :-)
Linda Matyja

Steve,

Un-be-lieve-a-ble! I had pretty high expectations after seeing the previews you had, and you shattered all! The level of detail and the richness of the colors and everything brought this attraction back to life after nearly 20 years. You have brought this back for a new generation to enjoy.

You have an incredible talent and you used it in a way that we can all enjoy. Thanks for your hard work. I hope you realize the masterpiece you created.

Thanks
Clark Wothe

YES! I am finally finished after two years of hard work it is here.

Now taking orders for the ATIS Virtual Ride-thru NOW SHIPPING!

Sorry US orders only please. Contact me via email if you would like to send payment by a money order instead of a PayPal payment.

If you live outside the US and are interested in the DVD, please send me your address and number of copies and I can quote you a price for shipping.

ATIS Virtual Ride-Thru DVD's will work on Playstation 2, Xbox and 98% of most DVD players.

Stuff to see on the DVD!

• Full CGI Ride Thru of Adventure Thru Inner Space in Full 5.1 Surround Sound (audio rebuilt from the ground up by Paul Barrie)
• Vector line ride thru of attraction
• Animation tests
• Render Mistakes
• Alternate camera fly though
• 360 Chair model test
• Image Slide Show (over 80 images and close up shots)
• Images of all 8 display boxes in Lobby scene
• Alternate "Back on visual Eye" scene
• Animation Composite Example
• Commentary of Problems and Issues with ride-thru (optional) by Steve Wesson
  

Yes it is true. I have been hard at work getting this finished by the end of this month (or maybe earlier).

Get your Paypal accounts ready.

Adventure Thru Inner Space is about to re-open once again to the public. Virtually that is.....

Now relive the adventure again in my Adventure Thru Inner Space CGI tribute that took over a year of hard work to create.

Fun things to see on the DVD:

• Full CGI Ride Thru of Adventure Thru Inner Space in Full 5.1 Surround Sound (audio rebuilt from the ground up by Paul Barrie)
• Vector line ride thru of attraction
• Animation tests
• Render Mistakes
• Alternate camera fly though
• 360 Chair model test
• Image Slide Show (over 80 images)
• Shots of all 8 display boxes in Lobby scene
• Alternate "Back on visual Eye" scene
  
  
  

The Adventure Thru Inner Space Virtual Ride Thru is a perfect holiday gift to the hardcore Disneyland Fan or anyone who is interested in experiencing the Inner Space Adventure once again. All DVD's will include a case, printed disk and box art DVD's have been tested to run great in Playstation and Xbox machines and should run in 99% of all DVD players.

CGI Ride-Thru Tribute update: I am currently working with a friend and fellow Disneyland web master of Doneinthedark.com / Country Bear Playhouse fame, Paul Barrie Jr. to help make the ATIS Virtual Ride-Thru Tribute, sound better than ever! He sent me a sample from the Entry Lobby in 5.1 surround and it sounded incredible! He is separating/rebuilding the Virtual Ride-Thru audio into a 5.1 surround sound format which will really immerse the audience while watching the film. I can't wait to hear it when it is finished!

When will it be done?!!!

My goal is to have it finished before Christmas this year which might make it a nice gift for ATIS fans out there. Rendering this stuff takes forever if you don't have a "Render Farm" like PIXAR does! Please be patent. Just like the game Doom3 or Half life 2 "It will be done when it is done."

In other update news...

Now you can build your own Omnimover Atommobile/Doombuggy System at home! (Yeah, right?)

I was sent a copy of the original OmniMover "Atomobile" / "Doombuggy" Patent in (PDF format) from Donna L. Hill. You can actually read the text in this document and see the up close mechanical chair parts that run underneath it as well. Good luck figuring it out. Amazing stuff.

Go to Downloads section of the site to see the Patent in PDF format.

Sorry for the long time between updates. I have been really busy with many matters in the last few months that has taken me away from my web site baby, Atommobiles.com. Let me explain what has been going on with myself, ATIS CGI project and more.

The good: I have completed 100% of the CGI Virtual Ridethru (attraction ride only) and have completely worked out my DVD issues. The entire ridethru from start to finish runs about 12 min including the line entry and exit of the attraction. I am very proud of the final outcome of the ATIS virtual ride thru and it looks great running on DVD TV. I have tested it on many DVD players as well (old and new) to make sure most common players will run it. I have even tested it on Xbox and Playstation 2 and they both run terrific! Whew! As time allows I am working on the DVD extras so I can add some other interesting things to make it this DVD a complete package. I am currently writing my second draft of of the history of ATIS and pulling together some images and footage to use for the segment. I am also toying with other ideas such as a ride thru version (out of atommobile car) with the lights on or I might even include a vector line ridethru as well. I also want to include a short making of movie and and alternate audio track with my commentary about some of the animation issues and problems I had in certain areas of the project. Should be interesting to those who care.

The bad: I get a ton of E-mail asking me when my CGI project is going to be finished and that I "said" it would be finished months ago. I am very sorry it isn't finished yet. There is a reason for the delay. As some of you already know my current employer is shutting down my web division and they are giving me until Sept 30th to find a new job. I have been scrabbling to find a new job by interviewing, sending out resumes and going to interviews but nothing has really turned out yet. I came really close to landing a job as an Flash Advertisement builder for the North County Times online newspaper. Damn! That would have been perfect for me. It's hard to find work as a full time graphic designer in San Diego. To many creative people live out here I guess. So, needless to say my mindset and time hasn't been on working on the ATIS CGI project as much as I would like. I am trying hard to start up some freelance work from clients and try to go into freelance design full time. I already have a few clients lined up that I am in contact with to get some freelance work but I am looking for more. As soon as things settle down in my job situation and I get stable I can go back and focus on my project again to give it the attention and love it needs to be something special.



I received some interesting e-mails I would like to share with everyone. I received some new images Tommorowland and ATIS related from Tim Hawkins that I have posted in the galley section (page 2) of the site.

I also received an interesting e-mail link from Tim Hauser about a Photo essay comparison: Then and Now on Tommorowland at Savedisney.com. The article is very sad but interesting to thumb through. See it here. Also check out the maintenance worker image of the walls of ice scene. Very cool stuff.

Adventure Thru Inner Space Snowflake Item number: 2242379521
Stephen contacted me about his ATIS peice of history. Check out more details on Ebay.
See it here

News 01-12-04: 3 new Gallery images, CGI Movies are back online, teaser added and