With EuroDisneyland (now Disneyland Paris) set to open in April 1992, Disney had found a new use for the Cirlce-Vision format. The Visionarium, or "From Time to Time", or "Timekeeper" was presented as the view of a 9-eyed robot that could travel time, the new attraction planned for the French park was considered for adaptation into the Disneyland Circle-Vision. An overhaul of Tomorrowland had been proposed to be completed in 1992, and then later considered for 1994, but was canceled. The attraction opened in Tokyo Disneyland in 1993, and at Walt Disney World in November 1994. In both places, it replaced Circle-Vision ("American Journeys"). It was closed in Tokyo in 2002, Paris in 2004, and was closed for good (after seasonal closures) at Walt Disney World in February 2006. At Walt Disney World, the building now houses a show based on "Monster's, Inc."

The Disneyland two-movie package came to and end July 7, 1996, as the mid-1970s revised version of �America the Beautiful� came back for a special nostalgia encore on July 11, and ran through September 7, 1997, making the end of the Circle-Vision 360 theater as an attraction at Disneyland, and the end of the Premiere Shop, at least in its original location. I can remember seeing the films with other cast members in post-operating hours screenings just for us - the final screenings.

And, of course, during the construction downtime, I was happy to use the quiet, air-conditioned building as a reading spot.

Disneyland enthusiasts awaited an all-new exciting ride-through attraction that would use the building at the Peoplemover track, rumored to be something like the Test Track attraction at Epcot, sponsored by General Motors. This was part of a long-awaited overhaul of Tomorrowland.

Tested on the Peoplemover track was a dragster-like vehicle that would zip quickly over Tomorrowland along the same patch that the Peoplemover shuttles used to leisurely roll over. Guests could see that. But what was going on inside the Circle-Vision building?

Guests found out on May 22, 1998 when the new Tomorrowland, and Rocket Rods, debuted. Where the Premiere Shop had been, the American Space Experience exhibit attempted to draw in and educate pedestrians with astronaut and space exploration information, artifacts, and props. Further east, where the Circle-Vision exit had been was a new Premiere Shop.

The former Circle-Vision preshow area contained queue switchbacks among former Tomorrowland ride vehicles, including part of a Mark III Monorail. The vehicles were painted to resemble technical drawings. The circular theater had also been retained for queue switchbacks, although on the screens was a loop that consisted partly of sped-up film footage.

Continuing along through what used to be the Circle-Vision exit, guests would make their way down a dark, newly constructed staircase (or nearby elevator), and a newly constructed tunnel that would take them under the surface of Tomorrowland so that they could reemerge in the former Peoplemover loading structure.

It was a very large waiting area, and given the nature of waiting area and exit, a sweeper was usually dedicated to sweep the line, empty the trash cans, and respond to "spills" or gum or whatever calls that the ride operators would call in.

Rocket Rods was presented as a futuristic mode of transport that might someday also make stops in other places around Anaheim. However, the attraction, which was opened without and sponsor, was plagued with operational, maintenance, and artistic problems and went into "hiatus" in September 2000, never to return.

This meant it gave even more opportunity to take breaks away from it all.

The American Space Experience, which ended up featuring some material from Disney's "Mission to Mars" fictional film, remained for three more years, closing on October 2003.

The Circle-Vision theater, relegated to being a pre-show for the Rocket Rods, was finally removed entirely to make way for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, which opened March 10, 2005. The Buzz Lightyear attraction had been a successful overhaul of a long-existing omnimover attraction at Walt Disney World that had, over the years, had airline sponsors in turn for having the attraction basically be promotional for the airline (the history of flight, the destinations of the airline). I (Ken) find that an interesting coincidence, given that the building at Disneyland used to have an airline sponsor. The Buzz Lightyear "shoot 'em up" aspect had been proposed for attractions at Disneyland that never made it, such as Dick Tracy's Crimestoppers.

With the thorough overhaul for the Buzz Lightyear attraction, the official and unofficial break areas were mostly removed. I (Ken) ended my time as a cast member a few months later. Coincidence? Probably.

Perhaps the Circle-Vision format never caught on for wide usage outside of Disney theme parks because the format is too restricting for fiction, expensive, and space-consuming. I do think is a good format for documentaries and would be interested in seeing it used for live events.