I've made it no secret to those who know me well that being an Imagineer would be my ultimate dream job. I currenly am trying to become a filmmaker, but working for Disney's Imagineering department would be the ultimate. I love to tell stories, and there is no better story than one that gets people involved, and Imagineering is the best in the world at that.
Over the years I have crafted several attraction ideas, usually all of them for Disney (although, I've crafted some for my own unique ideas)
Here is one that I wanted to show you guys and get your input. I hope this is the right place for it.
I Present: Indiana Jones and the River of Time. (Alternate Title: Indiana Jones and the Lost River)
This ride concept is for Disney's Hollywood Studios, but with a few plot tweaks, it could be placed in Animal Kingdom as well.
Ride Premise: Guests are given the chance to take a tour of a newly discovered section of the Amazon River, led by the man who discovered himself, Indiana Jones. Things do not go as planned though when armed mercenaries arrive to raid the ancient temple that lies along the river. Can guests escape the mercenaries as they attempt to take out anyone in their way, and more importantly, can they survive an encounter with the angry spirit that supposedly lives within the ancient temple.
Ride Type: A mixture of Pirates style dark-ride, Jungle Cruise style outdoor animatronics, and a shoot-the-shoot style flume ride (think similar to Jurassic Park at Universal)
Theming: the queue area is set up to look like an archeologist tent site that leads to the river. The "river" is themed to a lush rain forest.
Story: As guests wander through the queue, there are photos of the many discoveries of Indiana Jones, along with Newspaper clippings and several props to make the area seem like an actual worksite. There is also an intercom system that welcomes guests to the "Marshall College Amazon River Discovery Site" and sets up the story that Indiana Jones has discovered a new section of the Amazon river and an ancient temple. As the guests get closer to the actual ride, the intercom informs them of the rules of the ride. Guests are informed that despite the amazing discovery of the ancient temple, they will not be allowed inside. This tour was for the river only.
Once boarded onto the boats (four rows which sit four across, 16 guests in all) the guests are told that Indiana Jones was running a bit behind, but he'll meet them before the end of the tour. The guest on the far right side of the first row is designated the "captain" of the boat. (This comes into play to set up the finale of the ride) The boat begins to move into the "river" and begins to glide towards the first show scene. A ancient ruin stands in the way of what the guests begin to hear. Gunshots and shouting. As guests round the bend, they meet Indiana Jones for the first time as he fights off three mercenaries. He shouts to the guests to duck and cover. As they prepare to turn the corner to escape from the gunfire, one of the mercenaries shoots the gate preventing the boat from heading down into rougher water. The boat then goes down a steep hill into much more turbulent water (ala the drop in Pirates)
The river winds its way into the next show scene, the ruins of an ancient building, the pillars still standing. Indiana Jone's voice comes over the radio telling to watch out for spitting venomous snakes as the boat enters. One one side of the boat, one of the Mercenaries is on the ground struggling to get the snakes off of him. As guests notice this, animatronic snakes pop out of the water and spit water at the guests. Once out of that show piece, the boat continues down the river. The radio sparks to life as Indiana Jones calls out "I'm right behind you. Don't worry, we'll get you out of this alright. I'll meet you at the dock just ahead."
The boat then ascends a small lift hill to the "dock" and suddenly a mercenary boat arrives and begins shooting. Bullets splash in the water (done through air blasts) and the guests boat begins to move again. One blast of gunfire is enough to turn the boat around backwards (via turntable) and then send it backwards down another drop. Once the boat straightens itself out again (second turntable) it continues it's journey down river.
Here we enter a show scene where we see a mercenary wading into the water to come to your boat when the radio chimes in. "It would be best if you kept your hands in the boat. These waters are infested with Piranhas!" The water around the boat begins to bubble furiously with activity as oversized animatronic fish lunge out of the water. The mercenary who was wading int he water is dragged under, screaming.
The boat then finds it way into a section of the river that is littered with ruined pillars. On a bank next to them, Indiana Jones appears again, this time with his famous whip in hand and he whips the guns out of the hands of the mercenaries fighting him. "Keep going! You are almost out of this. Up ahead, there is a fork in the river. Do not go straight, go right!"
The boat continues and soon reaches that fork, but continues straight on, despite Indiana's warning. Indiana radios "What are you doing, I told you not to go straight. Now you are heading straight for the temple. Do I have to do everything around here!"
The ruins around the temple start to become more oninous and skulls are seen hanging on spikes sticking out of the ground as guests get closer to the entrance of the temple. Indiana radios back "Okay. Once you enter the temple stay calm. I will be right there to get you out. Do not move an inch."
The boat enters the base of the temple, and the doors slam shut behind it as the boat's engine turns off. The guests are left in black for a few seconds. Suddenly the boat starts to shake, and flashes of light fill the room. A loud and booming voice echoes through the base of the temple.
"Who dares enter my sacred resting grounds!"
A waterfall just ahead of the boat features the face of an angry spirit. It's eyes filled with red light.
"You wish to tempt fate, mortals? You wish to face my angry might? Then face me you shall!" The face says just before it vanishes and the boat's engine revs back on, and the boat begins it's climb up the last major lift hill. Fire and projections of spirts fill the walls as ominous music plays. Once almost to the top, large rocks begin to fall from the ceiling as the booming voice laughs. Guests are splashed with water from the falling rocks.
"PERISH" The voice rumbles as the boat falls down the flume shoot out of the temple. A picture is taken just before the big plunge. Once the boat settles from the drop, it heads into a show building for the last show scene. Guests see the remains of the boats of the mercenaries. Indiana Jones is seen in the distance. The last few mercenaries are shown, attempting to attack him. Suddenly a rumble fills the room (shaking the boat) and the temple begins to fall apart, rocks falling, pillars collapsing as the ground beneath the mercenaries opens up and red light glows from beyond.
"PERISH" repeats the voice of the spirit from the temple, as the mercenary animatronics are swallowed by the ground and flames shoot out of the holes. The red glow fades as Indiana Jones thanks the guests and directs them on their way (ala the Indiana Jones anaimatronic featured in the Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland)
The guests them reach the unload dock and depart towards the gift shop (set up like another Marshall College Expedition Tent) where they may purchase their ride picture. The boat goes up a small lift hill to return it to the proper level (ala WDW's Pirates) and heads to the loading dock.
---
The reason I crafted this elaborate new ride concept rather than just create a new story for the Indiana Jones Adventure from Disneyland and DisneySea, is because I would love to see WDW go all out on a new ride that would bring in loads of people. Indiana Jones is already a popular name and draw, and seeing as WDW already has the ride system and track layout of the IJA featured in Dinosaur, it would make sense to do something new.
The Temple featured in the ride is the main icon of the ride, and can be seen from several areas in the park, making it a secondary "weenie" as Walt would call it, sort of like Tower of Terror is the "weenie" for Sunset. The temple would have the face of the spirit/god carved on the outside, it's mouth where the flume exits. On the top could be a giant torch, which on occasion could shoot a jet of flame into the air.
That's pretty much the idea in a long, winded nutshell. I hope you enjoy it. Please, feel free to discuss, and suggest any changes to the idea. I am proud of the idea, but I would love to hear what you all have to think.
:wave:
Over the years I have crafted several attraction ideas, usually all of them for Disney (although, I've crafted some for my own unique ideas)
Here is one that I wanted to show you guys and get your input. I hope this is the right place for it.
I Present: Indiana Jones and the River of Time. (Alternate Title: Indiana Jones and the Lost River)
This ride concept is for Disney's Hollywood Studios, but with a few plot tweaks, it could be placed in Animal Kingdom as well.
Ride Premise: Guests are given the chance to take a tour of a newly discovered section of the Amazon River, led by the man who discovered himself, Indiana Jones. Things do not go as planned though when armed mercenaries arrive to raid the ancient temple that lies along the river. Can guests escape the mercenaries as they attempt to take out anyone in their way, and more importantly, can they survive an encounter with the angry spirit that supposedly lives within the ancient temple.
Ride Type: A mixture of Pirates style dark-ride, Jungle Cruise style outdoor animatronics, and a shoot-the-shoot style flume ride (think similar to Jurassic Park at Universal)
Theming: the queue area is set up to look like an archeologist tent site that leads to the river. The "river" is themed to a lush rain forest.
Story: As guests wander through the queue, there are photos of the many discoveries of Indiana Jones, along with Newspaper clippings and several props to make the area seem like an actual worksite. There is also an intercom system that welcomes guests to the "Marshall College Amazon River Discovery Site" and sets up the story that Indiana Jones has discovered a new section of the Amazon river and an ancient temple. As the guests get closer to the actual ride, the intercom informs them of the rules of the ride. Guests are informed that despite the amazing discovery of the ancient temple, they will not be allowed inside. This tour was for the river only.
Once boarded onto the boats (four rows which sit four across, 16 guests in all) the guests are told that Indiana Jones was running a bit behind, but he'll meet them before the end of the tour. The guest on the far right side of the first row is designated the "captain" of the boat. (This comes into play to set up the finale of the ride) The boat begins to move into the "river" and begins to glide towards the first show scene. A ancient ruin stands in the way of what the guests begin to hear. Gunshots and shouting. As guests round the bend, they meet Indiana Jones for the first time as he fights off three mercenaries. He shouts to the guests to duck and cover. As they prepare to turn the corner to escape from the gunfire, one of the mercenaries shoots the gate preventing the boat from heading down into rougher water. The boat then goes down a steep hill into much more turbulent water (ala the drop in Pirates)
The river winds its way into the next show scene, the ruins of an ancient building, the pillars still standing. Indiana Jone's voice comes over the radio telling to watch out for spitting venomous snakes as the boat enters. One one side of the boat, one of the Mercenaries is on the ground struggling to get the snakes off of him. As guests notice this, animatronic snakes pop out of the water and spit water at the guests. Once out of that show piece, the boat continues down the river. The radio sparks to life as Indiana Jones calls out "I'm right behind you. Don't worry, we'll get you out of this alright. I'll meet you at the dock just ahead."
The boat then ascends a small lift hill to the "dock" and suddenly a mercenary boat arrives and begins shooting. Bullets splash in the water (done through air blasts) and the guests boat begins to move again. One blast of gunfire is enough to turn the boat around backwards (via turntable) and then send it backwards down another drop. Once the boat straightens itself out again (second turntable) it continues it's journey down river.
Here we enter a show scene where we see a mercenary wading into the water to come to your boat when the radio chimes in. "It would be best if you kept your hands in the boat. These waters are infested with Piranhas!" The water around the boat begins to bubble furiously with activity as oversized animatronic fish lunge out of the water. The mercenary who was wading int he water is dragged under, screaming.
The boat then finds it way into a section of the river that is littered with ruined pillars. On a bank next to them, Indiana Jones appears again, this time with his famous whip in hand and he whips the guns out of the hands of the mercenaries fighting him. "Keep going! You are almost out of this. Up ahead, there is a fork in the river. Do not go straight, go right!"
The boat continues and soon reaches that fork, but continues straight on, despite Indiana's warning. Indiana radios "What are you doing, I told you not to go straight. Now you are heading straight for the temple. Do I have to do everything around here!"
The ruins around the temple start to become more oninous and skulls are seen hanging on spikes sticking out of the ground as guests get closer to the entrance of the temple. Indiana radios back "Okay. Once you enter the temple stay calm. I will be right there to get you out. Do not move an inch."
The boat enters the base of the temple, and the doors slam shut behind it as the boat's engine turns off. The guests are left in black for a few seconds. Suddenly the boat starts to shake, and flashes of light fill the room. A loud and booming voice echoes through the base of the temple.
"Who dares enter my sacred resting grounds!"
A waterfall just ahead of the boat features the face of an angry spirit. It's eyes filled with red light.
"You wish to tempt fate, mortals? You wish to face my angry might? Then face me you shall!" The face says just before it vanishes and the boat's engine revs back on, and the boat begins it's climb up the last major lift hill. Fire and projections of spirts fill the walls as ominous music plays. Once almost to the top, large rocks begin to fall from the ceiling as the booming voice laughs. Guests are splashed with water from the falling rocks.
"PERISH" The voice rumbles as the boat falls down the flume shoot out of the temple. A picture is taken just before the big plunge. Once the boat settles from the drop, it heads into a show building for the last show scene. Guests see the remains of the boats of the mercenaries. Indiana Jones is seen in the distance. The last few mercenaries are shown, attempting to attack him. Suddenly a rumble fills the room (shaking the boat) and the temple begins to fall apart, rocks falling, pillars collapsing as the ground beneath the mercenaries opens up and red light glows from beyond.
"PERISH" repeats the voice of the spirit from the temple, as the mercenary animatronics are swallowed by the ground and flames shoot out of the holes. The red glow fades as Indiana Jones thanks the guests and directs them on their way (ala the Indiana Jones anaimatronic featured in the Indiana Jones Adventure in Disneyland)
The guests them reach the unload dock and depart towards the gift shop (set up like another Marshall College Expedition Tent) where they may purchase their ride picture. The boat goes up a small lift hill to return it to the proper level (ala WDW's Pirates) and heads to the loading dock.
---
The reason I crafted this elaborate new ride concept rather than just create a new story for the Indiana Jones Adventure from Disneyland and DisneySea, is because I would love to see WDW go all out on a new ride that would bring in loads of people. Indiana Jones is already a popular name and draw, and seeing as WDW already has the ride system and track layout of the IJA featured in Dinosaur, it would make sense to do something new.
The Temple featured in the ride is the main icon of the ride, and can be seen from several areas in the park, making it a secondary "weenie" as Walt would call it, sort of like Tower of Terror is the "weenie" for Sunset. The temple would have the face of the spirit/god carved on the outside, it's mouth where the flume exits. On the top could be a giant torch, which on occasion could shoot a jet of flame into the air.
That's pretty much the idea in a long, winded nutshell. I hope you enjoy it. Please, feel free to discuss, and suggest any changes to the idea. I am proud of the idea, but I would love to hear what you all have to think.
:wave:
