Compressed Air at Disney

[OverKill]

So Im watching Modern Marvels, Today about Disney in Florida. The camera navigates to the pyro setup each night. The technician says they use Compressed Air to send up all there shells. He claims they have better control of timing, and height. Go figure, I never knew. Anyone else know this?

[PyroManiacs]

Yes, seen this episode also.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVVkbnxPKRE

[matandch]

Yes, I've heard this. Also heard that it's to keep smoke down in and around theme park. I've also heard that at times FL-I4 could become obscured by the smoke.

[OverKill]

I could very easily see it making for a better show. Let's face it, to much smoke is no friend of any Pyro Tech. I wonder if manufacturers of shells would start on something like this? It could be something new for all of us. Alot less accidents as well.

[matandch]

I'm kind of a purist. Next it will be no break fireworks or a laser light show. Only BP lift for me.

[bweaver1985]

Disney in Florida no longer uses compressed air. They did a few years ago. When they did this they used circuit boards inside the shell which controlled the burst charge since they was no time fuse used. This allowed them to program exactly when it would burst. Became way to expensive. They only used it at Epcot for Illuminations but it is no longer used in Florida. Disneyland still uses compressed air due to the close proximity of the crowd.

[bweaver1985]

As a WDW Annual Passholder, I have seen Walt Disney Fireworks at least 50+ times. I have even had the experience of watching from "Off Stage" where the Fireworks Crew watches from. Once at Magic Kingdom, and once from Epcot. The best is when they use the perimeter shoot sites for special events, park guests are in the middle with fireworks 360 degrees around them.

407

[PyroManiacs]

That has to be awesome. Never been surrounded during a show. Ill have to check that out if I ever make it to there.

[bweaver1985]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaxvMwbFz2o

Watch the end (12:45 and on) f^%#*@$ awesome.

[displayfireworks1]

If I remember correctly I heard Disney had major problems with this compressed air system, I believe the year was 2004. It would be interesting to see where that chip in shell technology ended up. I thought I saw a video from a PGI convention where this was demonstrated and they shot two salutes that went off in the air simultaneously, then three, the problems started when they tried four and so one. They did not go off the same after that. The technology may have not been as exact as they thought. Disney may also subcontract some of the displays out to local display companies.
Here is set up video that looks like what we all do, but I would imagine to use the compressed air system you have to do it from a land based location.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46466u37Ojk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_esniRG0Rc
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll18/brookedannar/DisneyWorld2008261.jpg
http://cdn.wdwmagic.com/imgstore/ElementGalleryItems/attractions/Fullsize/Reflections-of-Earth_Full_6884.jpg

[bweaver1985]

If I remember correctly I heard Disney had major problems with this compressed air system, I believe the year was 2004. It would be interesting to see where that chip in shell technology ended up. I thought I saw a video from a PGI convention where this was demonstrated and they shot two salutes that went off in the air simultaneously, then three, the problems started when they tried four and so one. They did not go off the same after that. The technology may have not been as exact as they thought. Disney may also subcontract some of the displays out to local display companies.
Here is set up video that looks like what we all do, but I would imagine to use the compressed air system you have to do it from a land based location.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46466u37Ojk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_esniRG0Rc
http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll18/brookedannar/DisneyWorld2008261.jpg
http://cdn.wdwmagic.com/imgstore/ElementGalleryItems/attractions/Fullsize/Reflections-of-Earth_Full_6884.jpg

Disney has an entire team to setup fireworks with 3 crews every day, a loading crew, and a cleaning crew, and a shooting crew. There have been a few occasions where other Display companies have shoot at Disney World. Pyrotecnico did a display for the APA at Disney world a few years ago.

[hatsgoods]

that's neat to see. I remember watching to modern marvels show of that episode too

[displayfireworks1]

409
This is a picture of an old electric match someone sent me. They are telling me these were used by Disney in the 60's. From the Atlas Powder Company

[supermofunk8]

I dream of shooting 2 12'' kellner shells from my backyard all the time to establish that the king is now back home in maryland lol Dangerous but very cool!!!