Star Tours 2.0 details.

[Damien2213]

Simulators that you find in the malls don't exist anymore because you got into a small crammed pod and the effect isn't that good overall. Sometimes it depnded on the simulator and sometimes on what feature you were watching. There was one feature that started out as as a Wooden Coaster and then would jump to race cars and dune buggies and as I have A been in an F1 Car and B rode on a dune buggy and it was 100% accurate feeling.

However when you make the seating a little bit larger the movements slow a bit and you get more of what Star Tours is like. Its not terrible but wasn't the best simulator ride I've been on either. I thought Busch Gardens Williamsburg did a good job with Corkscrew Hill. For while now I thought that was the best simulator I've ever been on, keeping in mind I haven't been to Universal and I don't consder Dark Kastle or Spider-Man simulator rides. Prior to the refurbishment of all Ripley's Motion rider venues I thought they had more realistic simulation feel wise.

I guess in the end Disney has to have the perfect balance between realism and family entertainment....either way I highly doubt Star War 2.0 won't be a success. It will bring in the millions no problem...

 

[rutgers1]

Damien...I have no doubt it will bring in more people - and more money - but I just hope they do more to push the boundaries of the technology. I love Disney as much as the next super fan here, but when I take a step back, it is pretty clear that Universal is clearly pushing the envelope more. That is sad.

 

[NoChesterHester]

Damien...I have no doubt it will bring in more people - and more money - but I just hope they do more to push the boundaries of the technology. I love Disney as much as the next super fan here, but when I take a step back, it is pretty clear that Universal is clearly pushing the envelope more. That is sad.

A 3D motion simulator with multiple ride variations has never been done before. It could be pretty amazing.

My personal feeling is that the "immersion" experience will depend on the overall experience. How much will we enter the world of Star Wars when we wind our way through the queue? How much will they update the queue??

 

[nytimez]

A 3D motion simulator with multiple ride variations has never been done before. It could be pretty amazing.

My personal feeling is that the "immersion" experience will depend on the overall experience. How much will we enter the world of Star Wars when we wind our way through the queue? How much will they update the queue??

If it's an enclosed ride vehicle with a small-ish screen in the front, the best queue in the world won't make it more immersive.

 

[NoChesterHester]

If it's an enclosed ride vehicle with a small-ish screen in the front, the best queue in the world won't make it more immersive.

I disagree. Some Six Flags attractions are fantastic, but they don't take you anywhere. All I am saying us that Star Tours is more than a smallish screen.

Universal's rides may be better in some cases, but for the most part they fall short on the full execution. There always seems to be something that breaks the story. IMO the queue, preshow, and exit serve every bit as critical piece to "immersion" as the ride itself. The whole package is necessary.

 

[nytimez]

I disagree. Some Six Flags attractions are fantastic, but they don't take you anywhere. All I am saying us that Star Tours is more than a smallish screen.

Universal's rides may be better in some cases, but for the most part they fall short on the full execution. There always seems to be something that breaks the story. IMO the queue, preshow, and exit serve every bit as critical piece to "immersion" as the ride itself. The whole package is necessary.

Queue, preshow and exit are all important parts of the ride. I'm not denying that.

But if I'm on the ride and still thinking of how great the queue was, then the ride has not met expectations.

Star Tours has, to this point, been an aggressively mediocre ride experience, and the best queue or preshow in the world wouldn't change that.

 

[DISaholic's]

You are all going to slam me... but....I love Star Tours. Always have. I'm not a rollercoaster person and so Star Tours suits my ride style. While I agree it's been getting a little dated, I still enjoyed it on our trip in July. When my sons were too small to go on rollercoasters it was their absolute favorite. For all those complaining about the screen size, and size of the area...what do you think the inside of the Space Shuttle is like? Small windshield and you are really locked inside a very small area of the craft. Star Tours stays true to what it was designed to be. A small spacecraft in a large galaxy . I hope the new one stays relevant to the Star Wars saga and I"m excited to see the changes on our next trip.

 

[poeticdiabetic]

You are all going to slam me... but....I love Star Tours. Always have. I'm not a rollercoaster person and so Star Tours suits my ride style. While I agree it's been getting a little dated, I still enjoyed it on our trip in July. When my sons were too small to go on rollercoasters it was their absolute favorite. For all those complaining about the screen size, and size of the area...what do you think the inside of the Space Shuttle is like? Small windshield and you are really locked inside a very small area of the craft. Star Tours stays true to what it was designed to be. A small spacecraft in a large galaxy . I hope the new one stays relevant to the Star Wars saga and I"m excited to see the changes on our next trip.

No slamming is even necessary. You can love it. I love it, but for different reasons. See, it was the very first ride that my two DSs rode at WDW- ever. I was kind of afraid that the rides at WDW was going to be too intense for them. They liked Star Wars, so I thought that it would be a good first ride. They were about 6 and 7, respectively.

Well, they loved it, even though it was intense for my younger one. But he liked it anyway. So we always have to ride it... even though it's outdated. It's just our ride.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

A 3D motion simulator with multiple ride variations has never been done before. It could be pretty amazing.

But outside the 3D element, multiple ride variations are not necessarily new. 3D adds depth, but doesn't change the baseline element. It's like throwing a new windshield on a 20 year old car. Doesn't change the car, but you sure have much better view without all the rock chips in the windshield.

 

[ChrisFL]

A 3D motion simulator with multiple ride variations has never been done before. It could be pretty amazing.

Which is surprising, since it seems to be one of the easier things that can be done with a computer programmed simulator.

Besides, I had that idea way back in 1992

 

[doconeill]

I really don't think it "hasn't been done before". Cyber Space Mountain is a variable motion simulator, and others have selectable adventures. It may not have been done on an attraction this large though, and the advent of digital projection technologies that are good enough makes it VERY easy.

 

[pilferk]

If it's an enclosed ride vehicle with a small-ish screen in the front, the best queue in the world won't make it more immersive.

I know the old simulators are being completely removed and brand new simulators are taking their place.

What the field of view and number of viewscreens will be, I don't know. But given how inexpensive decent 3-d digital projection has become, of all types, it wouldn't surprise me to see something a bit more immersive, with LED projectors on the sides simulating "windows" looking outward.

We'll see. I haven't seen (or heard) details on the new simulators yet.

 

[pilferk]

I really don't think it "hasn't been done before". Cyber Space Mountain is a variable motion simulator, and others have selectable adventures. It may not have been done on an attraction this large though, and the advent of digital projection technologies that are good enough makes it VERY easy.

They get you with the "3d" tag, though.

This TYPE of thing has been done (heck, it's done with Tower of Terror...just the output is different) before....a ride with various or variable outcomes. And it's been done in simulator type rides, too.

But it hasn't been done in 3D simulator rides.

 

[ChrisFL]

They get you with the "3d" tag, though.

This TYPE of thing has been done (heck, it's done with Tower of Terror...just the output is different) before....a ride with various or variable outcomes. And it's been done in simulator type rides, too.

But it hasn't been done in 3D simulator rides.

*cough*Horizons*cough*, not in 3D, but just replying to the Tower of Terror point

 

[doconeill]

They get you with the "3d" tag, though.

This TYPE of thing has been done (heck, it's done with Tower of Terror...just the output is different) before....a ride with various or variable outcomes. And it's been done in simulator type rides, too.

But it hasn't been done in 3D simulator rides.

Assuming they DO in fact incorporate 3D. I can't recall if they ever officially confirmed that, and even if they did we know they can change their minds - until its open and the guests see it, it doesn't exist. A Disney version of Schroedinger's Cat, so to speak.

I remember there was talk about some sort of glasses-less 3D, but I think they backpedaled on that...

 

[pilferk]

*cough*Horizons*cough*, not in 3D, but just replying to the Tower of Terror point

And, you could argue, even Spaceship earth, now.

All of them are either random results or the end was/is dependant on guest input.

It's not a new idea, in theme park attractions, for sure.

But it's the "3-d" that lets them skate by.

 

[pilferk]

Assuming they DO in fact incorporate 3D. I can't recall if they ever officially confirmed that, and even if they did we know they can change their minds - until its open and the guests see it, it doesn't exist. A Disney version of Schroedinger's Cat, so to speak.

I remember there was talk about some sort of glasses-less 3D, but I think they backpedaled on that...

I don't think there's anything official, yet.

But everything I've heard/read/seen, in conjunction with the simulator hardware (which, admittedly, isn't a LOT) has mentioned 3-d.

Now, while yes, technically, until they open it they could remove/change any elements.....the fact is they've bought and paid for the simulators already. That's the constant, and it seriously effects their ability to change.

Anyway, my point was...the statement of "never been done before" is completely predicated on the 3-d tag. It's sort of semantics. If that goes away, you're right. It's not a first of anything, really.