Soarin' cleaned up

[boufa]

Concur. Phyical film will always have a better resoulution (essentially unlimited) than any digital technology (HD and beyond). However digital doesn't degrade over time like film does.

Not true. Film has a max resolution (grain) and in many cases digital has passed it. The sensors of the digital camera have gotten smaller than the grain of film. Now there are millions of different digital sensors, and thousands of types of film, so not every combination is better than the other. However it can be done.

The limitation is however that the digital sensor cannot see what is not there. So the best they can ever do is duplicate the film down to the grain and convert the system to digital projection. Unless of course they re-shoot the video in digital with digital cameras.

We don't know what the timeline is for the film. They may be planning to reshoot the film before they go digital. No one knows.

Edit... did a little more research, average 35mm film is estimated to be 125 megapixels. There are consumer cameras that shoot in the 40 megapixel range (and that number will be out of date before I click post!) There are commercial cameras (motion and still) that contain 300 megapixels and more! No, I realize that this is not IMAX or OMNIMAX, but the Digital technology is rapidly approaching and passing the film.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Actually...I'm going to challenge you on this one, DisneyBamaFan. I understand where you're coming from, really, I do. However, there is a difference between someone whining that theym "didn't get the hotel upgrade that they SO DESERVED, where on earth is the pixie dust at Disney?" versus BAD SHOW.

The video quality on Soarin is just plain bad show. Things that Disney can fix, but knows that they can get away without doing so is a general decline from the way things used to be run. I think that people are up in arms because the quality of the attraction is slipping...along with the quality of other things around the park that should be maintained. When all of these seemingly "little things" add up, it becomes a noticeable problem and glaringly obvious decline in the quality of the theme parks. .....

I agree totally with your thoughts, Amy, very well stated. And great to 'see' you again. Your last sentence quoted there says a lot.

Just looking at your avatar area, thought I would give you this link re: Uncle Kyle....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1040191&page=72

And to update his post, they did have their baby, Reese.

 

[grimley1968]

I'm sorry to read these posts. I haven't seen Soarin' since October of last year. I did notice then some artifacts on the screen, and couldn't tell if the screen had been torn or if they were spots on the projection. Sounds like the latter. It was distracting then, and sounds like it's gotten worse. For a ride that depends so completely on the quality of a projected film, having it so dirty is inexcusable. I always assumed this was digital, due to the major costs of maintaining such high quality film, but I was wrong. Digital quality may be slightly less than film quality (as I type this), but I'd rather have that and not have the spots, especially if the quality difference is so small that I wouldn't notice it.

To the poster who decries the "whining": the posts in this thread about spots on the film aren't whining. This is something that greatly affects one of the most loved rides at WDW. Film degradation on a ride like this is important, and I appreciate the updates about it, as much as it disappoints me.

 

[neoavatara]

Soarin' is still great. But it is degrading, that is for sure, and the specks are noticeable. I am not usually picky about seeing those things, but I saw it both times I rode it. Refurbishment is necessary at some point soon...but of course, that would be costly, not only in direct costs but in shutting down that pavilion for a time.

 

[NickyKnack]

Wait, if I have to provide my own magic, and bring it with me from home.... why am I paying them the big bucks again? Be cheaper to take the magic with me to Six Flags... and if Disney keeps up with the steady decline, there wont be much difference other then the cost of admission.

(Sort of kidding... sort of)

No - That is stating your OPINION. In my opinion, it still looks and feels amazing.

Too many Dissers have made it a point to point out things that they dislike about WDW as often as they can. You want to know why WDW disappoints when you (the larger you)? Because you bring the magic with you when you come. If you arrive without it in your heart, you will leave without having seen it. Since you once felt it in WDW, you assume that WDW has changed for the worse. But it is not WDW that has changed.

 

[doconeill]

IIRC, Soarin' uses a modified form of the abandoned "IMAX HD" system for dome use at 48 frames per second. IMAX HD didn't last long because it required twice the film so wasn't useful for anything near feature length, and it drove the production costs up even further.

And chartle is right - there is a "Digital IMAX" system - but they cannot project it as large as the typical IMAX film image because the digital resolution can't be enlarge enough without showing digital artifacts (i.e. blockiness). Digital IMAX is roughly double (or is it quadruple? it uses 2k projectors) the resolution of a 1080p Blu-Ray - which is good, but not that great when blown up on a giant screen. For a 60' horizontal screen, each pixel would be about a third of an inch wide - which could easily be noticeable even without compression artifacts.

With more material being filmed with 4k cameras, we could see 4k projectors come into wider use, but I know directors like 4k cameras not because of the total resolution, but because they can "adjust the shot" be reframing and zooming without actually shooting the scene over again since the end result is at a lower resolution.

Omnimax is already a niche market for films - if Disney wanted to switch to a digital projection, they'd most likely find themselves having to develop it themselves.

 

[RivaLJ]

The artifacts are very distracting to what should be a great experience on Soarin. I found myself focusing more on them than on the movie.

 

[AndyFL]

We went back to Epcot today and I purposely road Soarin again to see if my mind was playing tricks with me. The first time we were on concourse 2, sitting on the extreme right side and the artifacts were virtually unnoticeable. Today we were on concourse one and in the middle and the artifacts were clearly visible but different than before. They would be there and then would clear off like you swiped off an etch-a-sketch but then would slowly reappear. On our last trip there was a bug (fly or something) that made an appearance at the beginning, this time the fly didn't appear till near the end but there were these "dirty arcs" that kept appearing that were NOT noticeable in concourse two. These artifacts would be present and then the video would do a quick glitch and they would be gone but would then come back. Very strange.

 

[Robo]

We went back to Epcot today and I purposely road Soarin again to see if my mind was playing tricks with me. The first time we were on concourse 2, sitting on the extreme right side and the artifacts were virtually unnoticeable. Today we were on concourse one and in the middle and the artifacts were clearly visible but different than before. They would be there and then would clear off like you swiped off an etch-a-sketch but then would slowly reappear. On our last trip there was a bug (fly or something) that made an appearance at the beginning, this time the fly didn't appear till near the end but there were these "dirty arcs" that kept appearing that were NOT noticeable in concourse two. These artifacts would be present and then the video would do a quick glitch and they would be gone but would then come back. Very strange.

That's the nature of film.

Physical things like lint, hair and dust can affect certain sections of the print, then get swept
away as the frames chug by.

Sometimes, if the dirt is gritty, it can permanently scratch the film or tightly imbed itself
on the print.

Certain of these artifacts (in combination) can make each film performance look slightly different
as the various bits dust, lint, hair, and permanent scratches appear and disappear
as the print chugs through the projection gate.

The easiest (and most expensive) solution is to thread up a new print (copy of the film)
as it will not have any (or many) of these physical distractions present.

Again, Disney may keep some pristine copies of the print ready to thread up for
"VIP" performances of the show(s.)

.

 

[glammadiva]

I must inhale too much pixie dust while I'm in the World. I never really notice the problems with the film. I am a sad case! I am going "home" for weekend in December. If I can sneak away I will check it out. My daughter doesn't love Epcot like I do. Robo, thanks for the education. When I see your name as the last poster on a thread I always check it out to learn from the master.

 

[Robo]

Aw, shucks.

Thanks for the kind words, glammadiva!

 

[raven69david]

A few months ago there was a thread about the poor video quality of Soarin....artifacts on the video, etc. We went today and the video seemed markedly clearer and free of defects. Just wondering if anyone else had noticed this.

Which concourse did you use when you went on the ride?

EDIT:
NM, saw post 48.

 

[polopony]

I appreciate these informative threads, too. But sometimes it's just as well not to have these things pointed out to you in advance. It's like the old, "don't think about a pink elephant" phenomenon. Kinda hard not to.

I don't mind knowing in advance - that's why I'm here. But I sure won't be telling my family about this before we experience Soarin' next month.

This applies to so many things - same reason I'm choosing not to inform my family that a guy was bitten by a rattlesnake this year at the resort we're staying at. Why risk having them focus on the negative unnecessarily and potentially ruin their experience?

 

[AndyFL]

Which concourse did you use when you went on the ride?

EDIT:
NM, saw post 48.

As noted, we were seated on the extreme right side. As we rode conc #1 yesterday and noticed the artifacts I looked over towards the right side (we were seated on the far left yesterday on #1) and the right side seemed to be alot clearer.

 

[trekker93]

So if I close my left eye and only look at the right side, it'll be a better picture!

 

[Feralpeg]

Sorry to disagree but still saw the amoebas floating around yesterday.

Agree. I went last week and they were still there and very noticable.

 

[Evil Princess]

I agree totally with your thoughts, Amy, very well stated. And great to 'see' you again. Your last sentence quoted there says a lot.

Just looking at your avatar area, thought I would give you this link re: Uncle Kyle....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1040191&page=72

And to update his post, they did have their baby, Reese.

Aw, Dan Murphy! You're still on here, hi! Good to see you too Actually, Kyle and I still talk quite frequently, his daughter is too precious for words.

I ran into Kyle and his wife Elizabeth IN Epcot a couple of years ago while they were on their honeymoon and we spent some time in the parks together. His wife recognized me from Facebook and the Disboards. I guess it really is a small world after all, eh?

 

[SoarinWorld]

As stated this is dirt on film and in projection equipment. During slower economic times like now. Maintenance gets streamlined not to mention a very busy summer on a very popular ride. As for clean extra prints there maybe a back up in a can but prints are expensive and take up room and special storage. There are no "VIP prints" for only special guests even if there were the time and effort just to remove this large old print to clean print and back is waste of time and money. Usually a print is ordered and maintenance scheduled at certain runtime hours. Guest complaints can alter that but the cost of print is considered along with quality of presentation. I see these particles on the images but still enjoy the ride!

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

We went to Epcot on Sunday. We were in the concourse on the far left. I didn't notice anything, but maybe that's because I wasn't looking for it. Anyway, after the ride, everyone broke out in a huge applause, it was awesome. People were clapping all the way out the door.

 

[Girls1]

Did this ride for the first time on Saturday. I didn't notice any problems with the film. But of course I was not wearing my glasses or focusing so intently.
It seemed like a pretty cool ride.