Circle-Vision 360°

Circle-Vision 360° is a film technique, refined by the Walt Disney Company, that uses nine cameras for nine huge rounded screens arranged in a circle. The cameras are usually mounted on top of an automobile for scenes through cities and highways, while films such as The Timekeeper use a static camera and many CGI effects. The first film was America the Beautiful (1955 version) in the Circarama theater, which would eventually adopt its current name of Circle-Vision in 1967.

It is used for a few attractions at Disney theme parks, such as Epcot's O Canada!, Reflections of China, and Disneyland's defunct America the Beautiful, Wonders of China, and American Journeys, which were housed in the Circle-Vision theater in Tomorrowland.

By using an odd number of screens, and a small space between them, a projector may be placed in each gap, projecting across space to a screen. The screens and projectors are arranged above head level, and hand bars may be provided for viewers to hold or to lean against while standing and viewing the film.

Earlier systems

An early development (1900) of this method using ten cameras was called Cinéorama.

Circlorama [1] had started in London in 1963 using eleven cameras.

Parks that use Circle-Vision technology

Disneyland

• Grand opening: 1955
• Closed: 1997
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: Tomorrowland
• Formal Names of Attraction
  • "Circarama"
  • "Circle-Vision 360"
  • "World Premiere Circle-Vision"
• List of Films Shown
  • "A Tour of the West"
  • "America the Beautiful"
  • "Wonders of China"
  • "American Journeys"
• Former Sponsors
  • American Motors (1950s)
  • Bell System (1960s)
  • AT&T/Bell System (1970s)
  • Pacific Southwest Airlines (1980s)
  • Delta Air Lines (1990s)
• Followed By:
  • Rocket Rods
  • Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Magic Kingdom

• Grand opening: October 15, 1971 (America The Beautiful)
• Closing Date: February 26, 2006 (The Timekeeper)
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: Tomorrowland
• Formal Names of Attraction
  • "Circle-Vision 360"
  • "Metropolis Science Center"
• List of Films Shown
  • "America the Beautiful"
  • "Magic Carpet ‘Round the World"
  • "American Journeys"
  • "From Time to Time" (also known as "The Timekeeper")
• Former Sponsors
  • Monsanto
  • Black & Decker

EPCOT

• Grand opening: October 1, 1982
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: World Showcase
  • China Pavilion
  • Canada Pavilion
• List of Films Shown
  • "Wonders of China"
  • "Canada: Far and Wide"
  • "O Canada!" (1982 version)
  • O Canada! (2007 - an updated version with 50% new footage, new soundtrack, and narration)
• Current Films
  • "Reflections of China"
• Upcoming Films
  • " Wondrous China"

Tokyo Disneyland

• Grand opening: 1983
• Closed: 2002
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: Tomorrowland
• Formal Names of Attraction
  • "Circle-Vision 360"
  • "Visionarium"
• List of Films Shown
  • "Magic Carpet ‘Round the World"
  • "American Journeys"
  • "Visionarium" (From Time to Time)
• Sponsors
  • Fujifilm
• Followed By
  • Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters

Disneyland Paris

• Grand opening: April 12, 1992
• Closed: September 2004
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: Discoveryland
• Formal Name of Attraction
  • "Le Visionarium"
• List of Films Shown
  • "Le Visionarium"
• Sponsors
  • Renault (1992-2002)

Other uses of Circle-Vision 360

Expo 67

• Grand opening: April 28, 1967
• Closed: October 29, 1967
• Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
• Location: Telephone Pavilion, Expo 67, Montreal
• Formal Name of Attraction
  • "Canada 67"
• List of Films Shown
  • "Canada 67" - Directed by Robert Barclay. Description from the Expo'67 Guide book: "You're on centre stage for the RCMP Musical Ride... on centre ice for hockey... on the track at the Stampede! CIRCLE-VISION 360^o surrounds you with all the fun and excitement of Canada's most thrilling events and its scenic beauty. And then, take your chldren to the Enchanted Forest...see exciting new communication services for the future... all in the Telephone Pavilion!" (source page 178 Official Expo 67 guide book. Maclean-Hunter Publishing Co. Ltd.)
• Sponsors
  • The Telephone Association of Canada
• Notes: This is one of the rarest Circle-Vision movies, for it has been unseen since 1967. The film was the inspiration for "O Canada" now playing at Epcot.

Expo 86

• Grand opening: May 2, 1986
• Closed: October 13, 1986
• Location: Telecom Canada Pavilion, Expo 86, Vancouver
• Formal Name of Attraction
  • "Telecom Canada"
• Film Shown
  • "Portraits of Canada/Images du Canada" -
• Sponsors
  • Telecom Canada
• Notes - Elements would be repurposed into later versions of Epcot's Canada film.

Other

A system substantially similar is in use at the site of the Terracotta Army exhibit at Xian, China. The narrator of Wonders of China is the famous Chinese actor Keye Luke (1904-1991), most remembered for his role as Master Po in the television program "Kung Fu".

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World Bazaar Omnibus • Penny Arcade Fantasyland Cinderella Castle • Snow White's Adventures • Snow White Grotto • Pinocchio's Daring Journey • Dumbo the Flying Elephant • Cinderella's Fairy Tale Hall • Castle Carrousel • Alice's Tea Party • Peter Pan's Flight • Pooh's Hunny Hunt • It's a Small World with Groot (Opening in January 15, 2025) • Mickey's PhilharMagic • The Haunted Mansion • Fantasyland Forest Theatre (Mickey's Magical Music World) • Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast Seasonal: Haunted Mansion Holiday Nightmare Adventureland Swiss Family Treehouse • Western River Railroad • Jungle Cruise • Pirates of the Caribbean • The Enchanted Tiki Room: Stitch Presents Aloha e Komo Mai! • Jungle Carnival Tomorrowland Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek • Showbase (Club Mouse Beat) • Stitch Encounter • Star Tours: The Adventures Continue • The Happy Ride with Baymax • Wreck-it Ralph (attraction) (Opening in 2026) Toontown Mickey's House and Meet Mickey • Minnie's House • Minnie's Style Studio • Goofy’s Paint 'n' Play House • Donald's Boat • Chip 'n' Dale's Treehouse • Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin • Gadget's Go Coaster • Toon Park Westernland Big Thunder Mountain Railroad • Mark Twain Riverboat • Country Bear Theater • Tom Sawyer Island • Westernland Shooting Gallery Seasonal: Country Bear Vacation Jamboree • Country Bear Jingle Bell Jamboree Critter Country Splash Mountain • Beaver Brothers Explorer Canoes Current Entertainment Disney Harmony in Color Parade • Tokyo Disneyland Electrical Parade: DreamLights • Nightfall Glow Seasonal: Disney Christmas Stories • Quacky Celebration ★ Donald the Legend! • Baymax's Mission: Cool Down Former Attractions and Entertainment The Disney Gallery • Skyway • Mickey Mouse Revue • Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters • Cinderella Castle Mystery Tour • Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room • The Enchanted Tiki Room: Get the Fever! • Lilo's Luau & Fun • Minnie Oh! Minnie! • Magic Journeys • Meet the World • MircoAdventures • Space Mountain • Starcade • Circle-Vision 360° (The Timekeeper) • Donald's Wacky Kingdom • Feel the Magic • Once Upon a Mouse • Star Tours • Captain EO • Grand Recruit Raceway • Hercules the Hero • It's a Small World • It's Magical! • Star Jets • One Man's Dream II: The Magic Lives On! • Goofy's Bounce House • Jolly Trolley • Super Duper Jumpin' Time • Once Upon a Time • Disney's Fantillusion • Jubilation! • Happiness is Here Parade • Dreaming Up! • Fantasy in the Sky • Cinderellabration: Lights of Romance Seasonal: Disney's Halloween Parade "Scream & Shout" • Minnie's Tiara of Dreams • Disney's Halloween Parade "Re-Villains!" and "Banzai! Villains!" (Formerly "Let's Go, Villains!") Disney's Easter Wonderland • Hippity Hoppity Springtime • Halloween Pop'n LIVE • Spooky "Boo!" Parade • It's a Small World Very Merry Holiday • Celebrate! Tokyo Disneyland • Mickey's Gift of Dreams • It's Very Minnie! • Minnie's Besties Bash • Minnie, We Love You! • The Villains' Halloween "Into the Frenzy" Resorts Tokyo Disneyland Hotel • Disney Ambassador Hotel

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