From the exterior, the show building is designed to look like a soundstage, with plain metal walls, giving it a rather industrial look. A huge sign on the front is the only itme of theming that really gives any indication of what is to be found inside.
The queue area is an open type area, in a small courtyard just besides the front of the building. Here the guests assemble to be funneled into one of two pre-shows. Music from the movie plays in this waiting area, and the usual warning signs are on view, warning guests of lound noises, darkness, and flashing lights.
Inside, the preshow area is modelled after many of the recent attractions, in the style of a briefing room with various props from the movie. A large screen hangs in the centre of the room, complete with a cast member to provide some additional spiel. Following a short greeting from the CM, the video display begins to relive some great moments in special effects history, showcasing some of the best work the movie makers have ever created. Michael Clarke Duncan is next to take the video stage, retelling some of his experiences from making the movie Armageddon. For those familiar with Test Track and Dinosaur at WDW, this preshow takes on a very similar feel. The CM returns to perform some very dubious spiel, focusing around getting the guests to demonstrate their fear poses etc. At this point the preshow really seems to lose its way. It looks to me like the show was originally meant to exit the preshow at the end of Michael Clarke Duncan's segment, but for some reason, there is now a 5 minute session with the CM that really becomes annoying fast, and might put many off re-visiting the attraction repeatedly.
Exiting the preshow, guests make their way along a soundstage corridor to the main set, where they find themselves on a Russian space station. The room is a circular set, allowing guests to stand anywhere around the circular central core, with no defined standing points or seating areas. This free-roaming nature is important, as it allows you to view the show from many different positions, greatly adding to it's repeat visit value. The actual set is very well done. The level of detail is exceptional, with total 360 degree sets, with literally things to be seen from every possible angle and direction.
The story of the show, is that the Russian space station is in outerspace, sitting in between a giant asteroid field, and Earth, and the astoroid field is on a collision course with Earth, and hence the Space Station. The guests on board the space station are basically there to take an up close and personal look at the total destruction of the space station, and its a quite an experience!
The doors to the set close, and the work lights fade, to leave the space station lit as it would be in the movie. Various dialog between the Russian Cosmonaut and the onboard computer keeps the guests informed of what is happening. Two giant viewing ports show the scene either side of the space station, where the approaching rocks can be seen. These view ports are very well implemented. They appear to use the same focal length modification that Mission Space uses to create a depth of vision that is far beyond what a regular LCD or Projection screen can deliver. THe views out into space really are stunning to see, and even more impressive, is that the debris approaching one view port, passes beyond the station, and is seen leaving the station in the other view port, all with syncronised audio and physical effects.
As the debris begins to hit the space station, a huge number of interior effects begin to unfold. There really are hundreds and hundreds of events taking place inside the room, far to many to see in one viewing. Amongst the highlights are, very precise, directional audio effects, highly detailed control console lighting, collapsing roofs, fire tunnels, smoke, explosions, electrical sparking, gas venting through the floor, and a depressurisation effect. The latter is probably one of the most impressive, where the escape pod is punctured, and everything inside the room begins to be sucked out into space. There really is a noticable pressure change inside the room, and smoke, sparks, and air are litterally sucked out right past you. Its important to realise that this show is a total 360 degree spectacle. Things are happening every direction you look, so it certainly isnt the kind of attraction where you stand and look ahead. be sure to be looking up, down, left and right, behind you and ahead.
Every show I saw was ended with applause from the guests, giving an indication of how good this attraction really is. The finale is rather a hot one, I wont say anymore to keep the element of surprise.
Exiting the set, guests pass backstage behind the set to see some of the equipment used, and exit back into the park.
The preshow takes approx 10 minutes, with the main show running at around 5 minutes.
Armageddon was a real surprise for me, a jewel in the Walt Disney Studios that I didnt expect to find. It's Imagineering at the highest level, with a level of immersion and detail that WDI is famous for. This attraction would work very well at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, and would be a sure-fire hit in my opinion. Perhaps located in one of the vacant soundstages? I will keep my fingers crossed.
The queue area is an open type area, in a small courtyard just besides the front of the building. Here the guests assemble to be funneled into one of two pre-shows. Music from the movie plays in this waiting area, and the usual warning signs are on view, warning guests of lound noises, darkness, and flashing lights.
Inside, the preshow area is modelled after many of the recent attractions, in the style of a briefing room with various props from the movie. A large screen hangs in the centre of the room, complete with a cast member to provide some additional spiel. Following a short greeting from the CM, the video display begins to relive some great moments in special effects history, showcasing some of the best work the movie makers have ever created. Michael Clarke Duncan is next to take the video stage, retelling some of his experiences from making the movie Armageddon. For those familiar with Test Track and Dinosaur at WDW, this preshow takes on a very similar feel. The CM returns to perform some very dubious spiel, focusing around getting the guests to demonstrate their fear poses etc. At this point the preshow really seems to lose its way. It looks to me like the show was originally meant to exit the preshow at the end of Michael Clarke Duncan's segment, but for some reason, there is now a 5 minute session with the CM that really becomes annoying fast, and might put many off re-visiting the attraction repeatedly.
Exiting the preshow, guests make their way along a soundstage corridor to the main set, where they find themselves on a Russian space station. The room is a circular set, allowing guests to stand anywhere around the circular central core, with no defined standing points or seating areas. This free-roaming nature is important, as it allows you to view the show from many different positions, greatly adding to it's repeat visit value. The actual set is very well done. The level of detail is exceptional, with total 360 degree sets, with literally things to be seen from every possible angle and direction.
The story of the show, is that the Russian space station is in outerspace, sitting in between a giant asteroid field, and Earth, and the astoroid field is on a collision course with Earth, and hence the Space Station. The guests on board the space station are basically there to take an up close and personal look at the total destruction of the space station, and its a quite an experience!
The doors to the set close, and the work lights fade, to leave the space station lit as it would be in the movie. Various dialog between the Russian Cosmonaut and the onboard computer keeps the guests informed of what is happening. Two giant viewing ports show the scene either side of the space station, where the approaching rocks can be seen. These view ports are very well implemented. They appear to use the same focal length modification that Mission Space uses to create a depth of vision that is far beyond what a regular LCD or Projection screen can deliver. THe views out into space really are stunning to see, and even more impressive, is that the debris approaching one view port, passes beyond the station, and is seen leaving the station in the other view port, all with syncronised audio and physical effects.
As the debris begins to hit the space station, a huge number of interior effects begin to unfold. There really are hundreds and hundreds of events taking place inside the room, far to many to see in one viewing. Amongst the highlights are, very precise, directional audio effects, highly detailed control console lighting, collapsing roofs, fire tunnels, smoke, explosions, electrical sparking, gas venting through the floor, and a depressurisation effect. The latter is probably one of the most impressive, where the escape pod is punctured, and everything inside the room begins to be sucked out into space. There really is a noticable pressure change inside the room, and smoke, sparks, and air are litterally sucked out right past you. Its important to realise that this show is a total 360 degree spectacle. Things are happening every direction you look, so it certainly isnt the kind of attraction where you stand and look ahead. be sure to be looking up, down, left and right, behind you and ahead.
Every show I saw was ended with applause from the guests, giving an indication of how good this attraction really is. The finale is rather a hot one, I wont say anymore to keep the element of surprise.
Exiting the set, guests pass backstage behind the set to see some of the equipment used, and exit back into the park.
The preshow takes approx 10 minutes, with the main show running at around 5 minutes.
Armageddon was a real surprise for me, a jewel in the Walt Disney Studios that I didnt expect to find. It's Imagineering at the highest level, with a level of immersion and detail that WDI is famous for. This attraction would work very well at Disney-MGM Studios in Orlando, and would be a sure-fire hit in my opinion. Perhaps located in one of the vacant soundstages? I will keep my fingers crossed.
