Is PotC: Battle for Sunken Treasure's RIDE Innovative?

[TubaGeek]

So I'm very impressed by what I've seen of Shanghai's Pirates. Clearly, it's one of the new crown jewels in Disney's crown. From a SHOW aspect, it's a wonder.

That said: what about the ride system? Is it anything we haven't seen before? From what I can tell, it's your standard flume-type ride. Are there aspects to it that aren't visible on silly YouTube videos?
EDIT: I said Hong Kong, meant Shanghai. Sorry.

 

[kap91]

I presume you mean Shanghai?

The ride system has never been used before - they're full maneuverable boats that can rotate and change speed. There's a couple links to the patent around the forums.

Also I'd add that a ride doesn't need to have a unique ride system in order to be innovative.

 

[No Name]

Are there aspects to it that aren't visible on silly YouTube videos?

Yes! The boat is not propelled by water, as the original PotC rides are. Instead, it is conntected to and controlled by a track below. Shanghai's Pirates is the first use of this ride system. You said Hong Kong instead of Shanghai btw.

I'll go into more detail. Well, I said it was connected to a track. I lied. It is connected to two tracks. The front of the boat is connected to one and the back is connected to another. When both tracks are on top of each other, the boat moves forward like a normal boat would, because the front and back are moving in the same direction. But when the two tracks split, the back of the boat moves on a different path than the front.

That allows the boat to rotate. Any boat can turn, but these boats can rotate. And they can move sideways or move while rotating. They can also move backwards without having to go through a Maelstrom-style path-switch thing. Additionally, since there is precise control over the boat, there should be no unintended backups at the end of the ride and no boats bumping into each other. And there are no visible walls/barriers (in fact, none at all) that your boat is being restrained by. I haven't ridden it myself, so I'm sure there are some cool benefits of the system that I'm missing. But that's a lot right there!

Here is the permit: http://www.google.com/patents/EP2505241A1?cl=en

In the ride, for example, the boat rotates while moving at the first Jack Sparrow animatronic scene. The boat faces the scene the entire time, and therefore, the scene is in front of the riders rather than to the side. Gives everyone a better and longer view of it. The boat also rotates while moving in order to directly face the curved screen during the "going underwater" scene, which makes the effect far more convincing.

Here's a map showing the path of the ride and which way the boat faces at all points.

So you lose out on the free feeling of a water-propelled boat, but I think that loss is made up for by so much more.

 

[Flippin'Flounder]

Yes it is. The ride system allows the boats to turn towards the scenes. There's a diagram showing it that describes it better.

Edit: @egg said it much better

 

[TubaGeek]

I presume you mean Shanghai?

The ride system has never been used before - they're full maneuverable boats that can rotate and change speed. There's a couple links to the patent around the forums.

Also I'd add that a ride doesn't need to have a unique ride system in order to be innovative.

Thanks for the correction.
I definitely don't think a ride SYSTEM has to be innovative to make the attraction innovative, but I was specifically looking for ride system info. Clearly this attraction is innovative on MULTIPLE levels. I don't think there's anything to it that's brand-spankin' new, but it seems that ever effect aspect is well beyond what its predecessors accomplished.

Yes! The boat is not propelled by water, as the original PotC rides are. Instead, it is conntected to and controlled by a track below. Shanghai's Pirates is the first use of this ride system. You said Hong Kong instead of Shanghai btw.

I'll go into more detail. Well, I said it was connected to a track. I lied. It is connected to two tracks. The front of the boat is connected to one and the back is connected to another. When both tracks are on top of each other, the boat moves forward like a normal boat would, because the front and back are moving in the same direction. But when the two tracks split, the back of the boat moves on a different path than the front.

That allows the boat to rotate. Any boat can turn, but these boats can rotate. And they can move sideways or move while rotating. They can also move backwards without having to go through a Maelstrom-style path-switch thing. Additionally, since there is precise control over the boat, there should be no unintended backups at the end of the ride and no boats bumping into each other. And there are no visible walls/barriers (in fact, none at all) that your boat is being restrained by. I haven't ridden it myself, so I'm sure there are some cool benefits of the system that I'm missing. But that's a lot right there!

Here is the permit: http://www.google.com/patents/EP2505241A1?cl=en

In the ride, for example, the boat rotates while moving at the first Jack Sparrow animatronic scene. The boat faces the scene the entire time, and therefore, the scene is in front of the riders rather than to the side. Gives everyone a better and longer view of it. The boat also rotates while moving in order to directly face the curved screen during the "going underwater" scene, which makes the effect far more convincing.

Here's a map showing the path of the ride and which way the boat faces at all points.

View attachment 146523


So you lose out on the free feeling of a water-propelled boat, but I think that loss is made up for by so much more.

GOLD. Amazing, thank you.
I agree, it would be weird to be on a boat that feels so restrained, but it seems well worth it.

 

[Mickey1984]

Just watched the video of this and ... WOW! blew me away, really stands on its own, doesn't compare to the original versions, but as a stand alone version, absolutely incredible!