Project Prompt
For this project teams must create a new attraction for Star Wars Land that focuses on the villain side of the Star Wars universe. Darth Vader may make an appearance, but he can't be the focal point. You must choose one Star Wars villain BESIDES Vader to base your attraction around, but any and all Star Wars characters are allowed to make appearances but one villain in particular has to carry the attraction.
Opening Crawl
Attraction Overview
What is a "Random Ride Experience"?
The Resistance has fallen upon difficult times. With the devastation wrought by Starkiller Base, and the rumors of a new dark force rising throughout the Galaxy, General Leia Organa has turned to Bounty Hunters to help collect information of a most important matter. You are challenged to join these Bounty Hunters on this mission,
to find the location of Supreme Leader Snoke.
This ride offers a new style of ride than what has been attempted before. It aims to offer a complete story using multiple ride systems, which the guest experiences in a random fashion. Before diving into the attraction itself, we will take the time to describe in detail the mechanisms and technicalities behind the new kind of theme park experience we have designed.
This concept relies on a combined experience of interactive queues, two separate ride systems (one of which is custom for this ride) to tell a larger story. The ride itself may be broken into 7 separate elements:
I. The Entrance Queue
II. The Coaster "Escape" experience
III. The Secondary Queue
IV. The Robotic Maneuver Automation System Arm (RMA) experience
V. The Tertiary "Choose Your Path" queue
VI. The Animetronic Moving Walkways, based on the path you chose
VII. Exit
Guests enter a single queue, which then forks at the coaster loading point. As the coaster cars pull into the single load station, they are switched out to one of three tracks. The rider does not know which, but it is a simple round robin, unless there is an operator override. From this point they are launched down one of three tracks, and exit at one of three stations. The cars are then collected back to a single track and make their way, backstage, to the unified loading station at the start.
From here, guests embark into one of three isolated, and unique, secondary queues, that are set to the tone and environment of the specific mission they are to experience. Here they board one of three separate and isolated RMA experiences, and upon exit are escorted into a tertiary queue (the Snoke "Choose your Path" queue), where they can again choose a new path, one of three Animetronic shows to end their adventure.
This concept provides 9 different experiences to be had, without modifying any parts of the ride or relying on digital screen technology and randomized projections (like Star Tours).
The one concern which needs to be addressed, from a functional standpoint of the concept, is how to keep the interior queues from clogging, and maintaining flow. This is easier than it sounds, and is based on the ride systems chosen and the ride design itself, and that the ingress and egress points, for the entire experience, are controlled (the Entrance Queue and Coaster, and the exiting Shows) to allow for minor bumps in crowds.
For example, the coaster run time is approximately 1.5 minutes. With a 6 train system, this gives it a throughput of around 2400 riders per hour, which is in keeping with other mad mouse style coasters operated by Disney (for example, Primeaval Whirl is 1000 riders per hour). This means that, 2400 riders per hour will exit the coaster portion, per hour, at one of the three exit stations. This means that the second stage ride and queue (The RMA section) need only accommodate 700 riders per hour, each.
This is not an issue, as even a low capacity style ride (take, Gringott's for example, an E-Ticket at Universal, it has a throughput of 750 riders per hour). Our design is closer, in theory, to the throughput of Forbidden Journey, which has a total throughput of 2880 per hour when running all three tracks (960 per hour, per track). So, as you can see, the secondary stage ride experience can easily handle the crowds issued it by the coaster section.
Furthermore, the final Animetronic "Show" experience is a moving walkway narrative where you "choose your side". There will be 3 moving walkways (for 3 different choices), each a 3 minute segment with capacity of 200 people, and at a capacity of 1,200 per hour per walkway. With 3 walkways, that's a total hourly capacity of 3,600 per hour. Easily enough to process the output from the secondary ride experience.
Additionally, these excess capacities for the secondary ride and theater sections means that if a portion of the ride goes down (one of the missions, either coaster or kuka, for example, has an issue with load / unload), the internal queues can still be processed through the other ride paths, so the ride need not completely shut down or stop. This variance allows for a total system flexibility that is unseen in current attraction designs that do not run multiple tracks..
Star Wars: Galactic Bounty Hunters will be located in the expansion pad to the east of Star Wars Land.
With the queue portion and entrance snaking around the already existing facades. Between the queue and show building, the new attraction will encompass most, if not all, of the expansion space.
Serving the purpose to extend the attraction and capacity of Star Wars Land 1.0, this new addition will blends seamlessly with the already existing environment. The attraction is housed within a new 7-story show building. This is hidden from general view by the mountainous facade that rings the north of the current Star Wars Land proposal. These craggy peaks, along with a mixture of vegetation, serves to hide it from the Guests within the theme park, without an abrupt change in terrain or architecture which breaks the immersion experience of the area.
The exterior facade, intentionally, was designed to compliment the overall aesthetic that Star Wars Land has established.
Due to the footprint constraints of the area, the layout is designed in a multi-layered format, with some ride elements overlapping others when looked at from a side angle, though invisible to the guest. This is most prevalent in the queue area, where a gentle slope carries guests up several levels as they pass through the interactive queue scenes which establish the story. This is to take advantage of building up, instead of building out (vertical vs horizontal development).
While not to the scale of the attraction itself, this interior depiction gives an overview of how everything is situated within, starting from the entrance queue on the far right, all the way to the moving walkway choices in the bottom left.
*Note the coaster section is less rectangular in actual design. For a more detailed and accurate depiction of the coaster section, see the layout below, illustrating the three coaster tracks, leading to the three varied missions at the end, to give the attraction a strong "reridability" factor.
Vehicle Designs
Being a multi-layered attraction, there will be two unique ride vehicles that guests will experience on their mission to the Outer Rim.
Coaster Vehicle Description
The coasters ride vehicles are front and back, and contain 4 seats per car, with 2 front facing, 2 rear facing, with 5 cars per train. The design takes queues from spinning coaster designs, but this is not a spinning ride vehicle. So, yes, this means some riders can and will experience the ride...facing backwards.
Rather, the intent is to simulate an "escape pod" feel to the ride, as well as offer unique rider points of view, without disorienting them too much.
The launch mechanism involves a series of switches, to get the riders on the correct track. After a short pause, the riders are launched at 25 kph using a magnetic launch system. This jolt offers 3 g's of force as they rush out of the launch tunnel into the larger building and what appears (to the rider) a high speed spin.
Robotic Maneuver Automation System (RMAs)
Patented by Walt Disney Enterprises, the Robotic Maneuver Automation System (RMAs) is the next generation in themed entertainment ride system.
Inspired by the KUKA arm technology, the RMAs uses a robotic arm, however with much more flexibility and interaction than a generic KUKA arm. For comparison sake, the jump in technology is comparable to the jump between a generic dark ride, and a trackless LPS dark ride.
The RMAs system (or Rolly's as the Imagineers refer to them, as a loving homage to Rolly Crump), offer the ability to present scenes to guests in a way that even modern KUKA technologies can offer. G-forces can be fine tuned, and scene angles spectacularly managed through the sheer articulation of the unit itself.
The much more advanced RMAs brings a novel experience for the guests, adding an immersion into your themed environment. This technology is used in the second half of the attraction, after guests disembark the coaster portion of the attraction.
There are a variety of features that make the RMAs unique:
1 - Bilateral Motion
The RMAs system has a wider range of motion than a KUKA arm by today's standards. Having the capacity to rotating 180 degrees around your environment. The half circle rotation allows the architects of the attraction to have physical sets on both sides of the RMAs track, rather than keeping all of the sets on the side of the track the riders are facing. This flexibility adds to the detail and immersion that can go into particular scenes in the attraction. This motion was adapted from some of the latest nano-surgery techniques that use this type of bilateral motion for complex procedures.
2/3 - Using Inverse Kinematics
Through geometric differential equations with inverse kinetics, this will allow the robotic arms to rotate the proper angles for the attraction. The kinematics of the robotic arm calculates joint velocities at different points in the mechanism, which are divided into segments that can rotate independently from one another, creating a non-linear motion and the ability to rotate more freely as a whole.
4 - New Additions
4a - Control Pad
A touch-screen platform located on the right hand side of each seat...this allows guests to control at certain points in the attraction when to interact with their environment to further the narrative of the story.
4b - Storage Compartment
A zipped storage area is located underneath each seat on the ride vehicle.
4c - Elongated Arm
The robotic arm now has the capability of extending into the physical set itself, adding further immersion in the scene. At some points during the ride experience, you will be up close and personal with the life-like Audio-Animatronics, whereas on typical attractions you are at a distance away from them, and can't appreciate the realistic detail.
4d - Sensor Feedback
Described in more visual detail in (5), the sensor feedback is a wirelessly connected GPS tracking system that interacts with Audio-Animatronics on the attraction, based on certain commands built into the ride system's algorithm.
During certain portions of the attraction, you will be able to interact with your environment, and fire laser canons, flamethrowers, and more, to escape or battle your enemies. In order for this to feel real without the use of screens, a sensor system is built into both the ride vehicle and in the animatronics themselves. When guests fire on their control pad (4b), the sensors will activate and the animatronics will react the the visual effect emitted from the ride vehicle via projection mapping.
5 - Sensor Interface
Through linear mapping and sensory enhancements, throughout the attraction, there will be points where you and the environment around you interacting in a life-like way. This is achieved through the sensor systems embedding in both the vehicle and Audio-Animatronics themselves.
Your adventure begins as you happen upon a palace, of sorts, built into the mountainous trees of the terrain. It appears very old, but obviously has current occupants, as when you approach and walk under what appears to be various flags, some new, some old, scarred and tattered, you notice a statue of Maz Kanata, rising in the center of a well kept plaza.
After the events of The Force Awakens, Maz has set up a new home on this planet, and much like everything in the Star Wars world, once something is destroyed, it is built again, but even larger than before!
As you walk towards the palace you are unaware of the adventure that awaits you, but are given some clues as you pass the attraction description sign posted outside of the queue line.
Walking to into the palace you enter into a large open area with only background music playing in the area. A large cantina bar area, seemingly abandoned, gives you a foreboding glimpse as to what may come on your adventure. It's almost as if the cantina is intentionally closed for some sort of secret gathering.
You wind around the corner and head downstairs to the cellar, where you continue walking forward into the corridor.
In a small divide on the right hand side, you see a small figure in the shadows, before popping out with large glasses.
"Ah...there you are!" the creature proclaims, who as she comes out of the shadows, is revealed to be Maz Kanata. "Keep heading down this way, your destiny awaits"
You begin to hear commotion and chatter towards the end of the corridor. You veer to the left and enter a large meeting room, where a member from the Resistance (cast member), guides you to a seat as the meeting takes place.
As you and other guests stand around an open center in the room, you await what is to come. Suddenly, the room illuminates with a large hologram in the center of the room, with several prominent Resistance members seated around the center of the room in hologram projection form. The most notable being General Organa, who speaks first.
"On behalf of the Resistance, we thank you for taking the time to consider this dangerous mission." General Organa declares. "Even after the fall of Starkiller Base, the First Order has been growing rapidly across the galaxy, putting their force upon even territories in the Outer Rim. They've destroyed the Republic...and therefore, we are all that is left."
A short pause and then she continues...
"What we ask of you today is not for the faint of heart...Bounty Hunters for many years have been associated with the Empire and the First Order. However, due to the First Order's actions over the past years, we've been able to wrangle in some of the galaxy's most notorious bounty hunters, for a special mission.
A curtain from the side rises to show a guild of bounty hunters standing together, including Cad Bane, Aurra Sing, Boba Fett, IG-88 and three new bounty hunter characters, La Cree Sen, Babo, and Membora Lorak.
Those characters will have rich backstories in a novel series about Bounty Hunters (coming out sometime in the 2020s), so when they appear in the attraction, they will have some sort of a following in the novels. Brief character depictions are elicited below:
New Character Personalities
La Cree Sen - a woman and fierce assassin who plays by her own rules. While she can be charasmatic at times, you wouldn't want to cross her and be on the wrong side of a disagreement. She will always "shoot first"
Babo - an alien creature from Tatooine who has a neutral perspective on the whole Resistance vs First Order dispute, however the First Order's claims on his home planet have made him temporarily side with the Resistance, but perhaps, not for long.
Membora Lorak - a young bounty hunter who grew up in the harsh environment and wants to do good in the galaxy. He's ambitious and cunning, which helps him on his missions, but he has a soft spot for the Resistance as he detests the First Order's oppressive authority.
General Organa continues "These men and women are risking their lives for this desperate mission. To find and destroy Supreme Leader Snoke. We have received vital information recently from our Bothan friends"...she pauses..."many bothans died to bring us this information, we have confidence that Supreme Leader Snoke is hiding in his tank on a planet in the Outer Rim."
"It is your mission, to get there safely and defeat the First Order once and for all. Reinforcements will be at your disposal throughout your journey, but it is up to you, the Guild of Bounty Hunters, to accomplish this task and restore balance to the galaxy. Your Guild leaders over there will guide you to your places...you will be in enemy territory, so you must have training. Good luck and may the force be with us."
The hologram fades away and you progress towards the Audio Animatronics of the Bounty Hunters who accept the mission and are given their assignments to pull off this daring task.
"Well if you're going to join...you'll have to know how to fight" snickers a voice from the back of the guild as you walk towards the next leg of the queue. The voice was from Boba Fett you glares you down as you proceed through the corridor.
The upcoming corridor is a variety of interactive elements that "train" you for the mission. Such as unlocking codes through touch screens, firing laser canyons at targets on the walls, and more, all while in the background you hear members of the Guild of Bounty Hunters telling you what to do. Eventually as you reach the end of the corridor, the gristly voice of Cad Bane can be hear telling you.
"We are going aboard the Star Destroyer where high ranking members of the First Order are, in order to gain an Imperial Cruiser so landing on Snoke's planet won't arise suspicion. Stay cautious.
All of a sudden as you step into the loading area (themed to the chrome interior of the Star Destroyer hanger, you hear the alarm bells sounding as members of the First Order scramble to find the "traitors"
"Well that didn't last long" Cad Bane says sarcastically "We need to get to the escape pods."
The queue ends as you board the pods and proceed to the roller coaster portion of the attraction.
II. The Coaster "Escape" Experience
Each coaster track has custom laser and lighting effects based on the mission you are experiencing. Your Bounty Hunter will talk to you through the mission, with little quips about how they are having trouble controlling the vehicle, and avoiding the surrounding battle scene.
Floating overhead are physical models of a First Order Star Destroyer you escaped from, as well as a Resistance Dreadnought, engaged in battle. You are not really the target of this battle, but you surely want to escape alive! Dead Hunters don't collect Bounties!
Here is a Ridethrough of Mission A, as an example.
After exiting your vehicle, you will transition down a small corridor, themed to the particular mission you are in. This tunnel takes you to a large open room, where the secondary queue for the ride begins.
III. The Secondary Queue
and
IV. The Robotic Maneuver Automation System Arm (RMAs) Experience
Below are the depictions of the 3 Secondary Queues and RMAs Experiences, described together as "missions", that one will experience on the attraction. They are written as Mission A, B, and C, with each traveling to a different planet in the Star Wars Universe.
Mission A: Endor Crash Landing
Your adventure begins as you fly into the dense forest of Endor. You exit your spaceship and into a cave where you see the showdown of a skinny figure emerge. Aurra Sing appears from the darkness.
"Ahh you made it! How delightful." She says in an eerie tone, "Let me show you around."
She leads you through the wet and dark cave over to her spaceship. You see supply crates unloaded and opened, the whole cave lit temporarily. They flicker from the lack of power.
"These are you're lovely jetpacks for today. They have a diabolical little laser cannon attached, please use it sparingly. BUT why are we here? Well sweetie, today we are going to find the whereabouts of that dreadful Snoke. *she points to a makeshift hologram with a map of Endor on it.* Who's with me?! Oh that's right, all of you are... Now get suited up, this is where the fun begins!"
Scene 1
You make your way into the next room and board your jetpacks. You turn to see the cave exit and you fly out into the Endor forest. You hear Aurra again
"Our buddies back home say Snoke is in the First Order base here, but it's protected by a shield generator. That'll be our first stop on this wonderful journey of ours!"
Your jetpacks then takes off and you approach a metal bunker. "Remember how I told you to use those lasers sparingly? DONT! SHOOT! FIRE!"
A blue button lights to your side and you fire at the storm troopers. "Now the shield generator!"
Scene 2
Your jetpacks aims up and you destroy the sheiks generator. You feel the explosion as your thrown back.
"AHAHA! That's what I like to see!" You swiftly turn around, "Now let's go see dear old-" you are then greeted by a huge ATAT.
"Snoke... RUN!" Your jetpack takes off, avoiding ATAT Fire.
Scene 3
"Let's set a real nice trap!" Your blue button lights up again and you deploy a tow cable between two trees. The ATAT falls right over you. But you quickly escape. "Wow! That was exciting!" Aurra says laughing. You then hear two storm troopers yelling, "Hey! Over there!"
They mount their speeders. "Looks like another car chase!"
Scene 4
You blast off into the Forest. You zoom past trees and around rocks. But the storm troopers catch up. They pass in front of you. "JUST PRETEND THEY'RE WOMPRATS. SHOOT!" She yells in excitement. You fire at the storm troopers and their bikes. They explode into a ball of fire. "WOOOHOO!" You hear Aurra Yell.
"Okay we're almost to the jackpot!" You see a large stone bluffing appear in the distance. It grows closer. "Oh no problem. The doors won't open! Hurry blast em!" You quickly fire at the big metal doors as you attempt to slow down. They explode into pieces as you skid to a halt inside the dark and mysterious temple. "Well good work, I didn't think I could do it! Wasn't that fun?! Oh yea Snoke... I'll go this way, you check down there. See you when I see you!"
You dismount your jetpack and walk down the misty halls of the temple into a huge throne room, where you can see nothing but empty darkness.
Mission B: Mandalore Crash Landing
After blasting into hyperspeed towards the Outer Rim, and an epic chase through space with the First Order hot on your tail, you crash land on the planet Mandalore. This planet in the Outer Rim territory is home of the Mandalorians, and is an arid landscape with a viscous alien atmosphere. This is where Supreme Leader Snoke's whereabouts are supposed to be based on your intel, and you trek through the terrain, prepared for anything, getting closer to your destination.
The queue winds around some rocky formations and towards a new horizon where you see an Audio-Animatronic Boba Fett giving you instructions on how to proceed.
"Stay on guard" Boba Fett, your bounty hunter leader through the expedition warns "You'll need protection on this planet. Mandalorians are fierce...the First Order isn't the only thing we should be looking out for."
The Animatronic also interacts with the guests as you walk past, pointing out certain people who may not be ready for the mission with a dark sense of humor. Lines such as...
"Better bulk up kid...First Order isn't a lightweight." Boba may say as a smaller guest walks past.
After walking through the thick atmosphere, you receive a warning that a sand storm is approaching.
"Quickly...to your gear...move!" Boba Fett demands as you enter the loading dock for the next portion of the attraction. Your RMAs duel as a jetpack backpack as you pull the straps (shoulder harness) over your head and awake for instructions. And akin to the other scenarios in the attraction, each RMAs vehicle seats 4 guests and to the right of each seat is a control panel for interaction within the attraction.
Lift off!
And the RMAs lunges back and you take off.
Scene 1
As the sand storm is approaching your jet pack launches and tries to escape it but it's too late and you enter a whirlwind. Air blows all around you and it feels like you're in a vacuum as the air swirls around you with visual effects creating the greenish tint to the sand on the planet.
"We gotta get out this" Boba explains. "This is worse than the Sarlac"
Soon however, the sand storm is over and you can see the landscape around you as you turn the corner...only to find something standing in your way.
"Halt..." a chrome stormtrooper demands as you see a squadron of stormtroopers standing in from of you, lined up for attack. It's Captain Phasma.
"General Hux we found them...and their leader" as she points to Boba Fett. "Traitors to the First Order, you will suffer for your actions" Captain Phasma takes out her weapon and aims to fire at your jetpack, and orders the Stormtroopers to do the same.
The Stormtroopers line up to fire against you as Boba Fett creates a distraction. Soon your control pad lights up and you're tasked to press it and control it.
As you do, flames from a flamethrower on top of your jetpack begin to create a barrier between you and Captain Phasma as the Stormtroopers are ordered to fire. The projected flames interacting with the physical sets in front of you, using a new kind of Audio Animatronic LPS system that can navigate and interact digitally with surrounding areas.
You veer off to the right and maneuver your way around the blast and towards the cave where supposedly, Snoke is hiding.
Scene 3
As you are attempting to reach the lair, Tie-Fighters attack from above and green laser projections and sounds surrounding you. Leaning around another corner and dodging laser blasts, you see dust emerging in the distance again, however this time it isn't a sand storm.
Mandalorian Warriors charge into the battlefield as a third party and disrupt the fighting going on to protect their homeland.
"These are proud people" Boba Fett remarks "They are my people"
Soon Boba Fett joins in with the Mandalorian Warriors to charge into battle as you try and navigate your way to Snoke's hideout.
"Defend the canyon" Phasma declares to her troops
The Stormtroopers begin to fire at the incoming warriors, but the onslaught comes regardless...
Scene 4
You enter a large scale battle with Mandalorian warriors and First Order troops in a land and air fight.
The Mandalorians typically have detested the Jedi Council and the Republic for centuries in the Star Wars Universe. However, the First Order has put serious tax confinements on imports/exports from Mandalore on the Outer Rim, causing the Mandalorians great suffering as a whole.
The fierce warriors are lined in their garments and fight valiantly, worthy of recognition in the archives of the Mandalorian Order. The distraction of the warriors gives you enough time to reach Snoke's hideout as your flamethrower blasts through the rocks that impede your entry.
However just as you reach the canyon, Captain Phasma, damages and battle torn from the fighting, stops you int your tracks. Your RMAs leans around her as she begins to fire at you, before Boba Fett grapple hooks her leg and swings in to distract her and the Stormtroopers in time for you to make it into the canyon.
"Good luck...you're gonna need it" Boba Fett advises as you see the Resistance fighters on coming out of the sky and into the battle before you blast open the canyon where you think Snoke is hiding, and it is there where you disembark your ride vehicle.
Mission C: Dantooine Crash Landing
Amid a rocky, mountainous terrain, you exit your space pod and walk out onto the terrain. The alien world has an ominous presence, and a coarse chill runs down your spine, as you traverse outward into the unknown, wondering whether the First Order is still following you after your space chase.
Your sources tell you Snoke is on this planet, and you are cautiously optimistic, but also, cautiously nervous for the encounter.
As you continue walking further, Cad Bane (much like the buzz animatronic before boarding space ranger spin, warns you of the dangers ahead)
In his serious tone, Cad Bane warns "This is it. Snoke is here. Use caution, remember your training."
You then board a RMAs vehicle (acting as your jet pack and defense for the expedition in to the mountain)
Foreboding music begins to play in the loading area.
You load on a continuous moving walkway and pull down your restraints. The RMAs vehicles seat 4 across and are equipped with individual shoulder harnesses acting as the jetpack "backpack" straps. There is also a small panel on a shoulder rest to the right of each seat, which enables certain weapons on your jetpack device.
Scene 1
You continue gazing out onto the barren landscape and gaze at the two large moons that surround Dantooine. In the distance, you can see a faint dot getting closer to you.
Your intercoms with Cad Bane are interrupted with the sound of a dark, masked voice. One of Kylo Ren.
Slowly, he breathes...
"Peace is a lie, there is only passion.
Through passion, I gain strength.
Through strength, I gain power.
Through power, I gain victory."
Suddenly you are instructed by Cad Bane to take off and get to the mountain canyon at certain coordinates. You lift off and the RMAs are lurches back and to the side into the next scene.
Scene 2
Two full sized Tie fighters are seen overhead and blast at you, with green lights flashing on both sides of you, narrowly missing. You swerve to the side and into the canyon...before a large imperial ship lands right in front of you, and you are pulled, by Kylo Ren, closer to the ship.
"Do you feel that..." he taunts "I know what you seek, and you won't get it."
A small fight between Cad Bane and imperial stormtroopers take place, as you maneuver around the landed imperial ship, to see an AA Kylo Ren in full gear, standing at the base of the ship.
Lightsaber fully locked and loaded, Kylo Ren twirls it around as it makes a cackling sound and screech...ready for battle.
And pulls you closer to him. The RMAs arm begins to vibrate as you get closer and closer, being dragged in by the Force.
Scene 3
Your jetpack starts shaking, and Cad Bane calls out "remember your training!"
Your control pad on the right hand side lights up and it enables you to fire a laser cannon from the top of the RMAs arm. A laser effect from the top makes it feel like you are interacting with the physical set environment as the AAs of Kylo Ren and the Stormtroppers react to your lasers. You sail further away and towards the cave when you hear a familiar sound in the distance.
"It's the Resistance..." Kylo Ren declares. "Prepare for battle"
Scene 4
Soon you are in the middle of a gigantic land battle on Dantooine. As you careen around the laser blasts, aerial attacks, and ground assaults, you make your way to the treacherous hideout of Supreme Leader Snoke.
The blasts of canyons and lasers make for a mesmerizing experience aboard the RMAs arm as you fly through the physical sets that are erupting around you in a sea of fighting, putting the "war" in Star Wars.
You can hear Kylo Ren in the background order troops to take you down, and you swirl around the fire of the Storm Troopers and, with the help of some Resistance pilots, enter the canyon as Cad Bane covers you with more firepower.
"Go..go! This is your shot. I'll cover you" Cad screams as your RMAs blasts through the canyon and hopefully into the hideout of Supreme Leader Snoke and you exit your ride vehicle to explore within.
V. The Tertiary "Choose Your Path" queue
Supreme Leader Snoke - Finale Scene
After exiting the RMAs arm, you enter the cave to find it abandoned...you leach forward slowly as the bombastic fight music slows...and there is an eerie sound in the background
A menacing voice can be heard echoing throughout the canyons.
"What you seek cannot be found.....you...bounty hunter...thought you could challenge me? The First Order?"
Out of the blackness a gigantic hologram of Supreme Leader Snoke rises from the ground. Even larger than in the queue.
"You...must...choose"
You lean forward through the hologram and into the blackness. You hear laser blasts, canyon fire, and vibrations in the background. This looks like this has been a trap for the Resistance the whole time.
Now, you must choose...
VI. Choose Your Own Path Ending
For the final leg of the attraction, you will choose your own path. After exiting the RMAs arm, you now know that Snoke is not in the hideout the intel told you he was in, and it looks like the entire scenario has been a trap for the Resistance.
You must choose your own destiny for how the attraction will end.
Will you continue with the Resistance and try to track down Snoke?
Will you take the "easy" path and join the First Order?
Or will you take your own path as a Bounty Hunter?
This leg of the attraction will use moving walkways (akin to the post show of WDW's Space Mountain) that provides a linear based story and one that enables the story to be continuous. Therefore, guests can't stop and hold up the story with the moving walkway.
Join the Resistance Path Animetronic Presentation
By walking through this path you begin to hear light piano music and a puff of wind in the tunnel that you choose. There is a faint light on the horizon.
You are greeted by La Cree Sen, a bounty hunter (seen in Maz's palace in the entrance queue) who guides you on your path.
"The path to the Resistance is not behind you, it is ahead.."
You continue walking as you are on the main Resistance cruiser in space as you have rendezvous with the X-wing squadrons from your battle on the planet. The music continues to swell in the background and grow louder with each step...before you hear the Resistance soldiers uncover a code from one of the Stormtroopers defeated in battle, a battle that was initiated by your courage. Your bravery in completing the mission helped the Resistance provide a sneak attack to Supreme Leader Snoke at his new destination.
As you continue to walk...screens around you blast you off into hyperspace and you arrive at the location of Snoke on a Star Destroyer, as the a slow "Force theme" plays in the background.
You arrive at a large Star Destroyer and through a visual cue you can see a robbed figure, possibly Luke Skywalker or Rey, battling the crippled Snoke in a lightsaber duel aboard the Star Destroyer, seemingly getting the upper hand on the evil leader.
Triumphant victory music plays as you exit into the gift shop, with "Rey's theme" subtly playing as you walk out.
Join the First Order Animetronic Presentation
You are greeted by Membora Lorak, a bounty hunter from the entrance queue of Maz's Palace who guides you along the pah to the dark side.
Membora Lorak: Look at you. Chose the path of victors did you? Excellent. We've got work to do. Come along little ones. I've much to teach you.
You then rendezvous with a large Star Destroyer in space, and Kylo Ren approaches Membora Lorak.
Clocked and masked, Kylo Ren approaches the bounty hunter.
"I see you've done well. Now we must finish off the Resistance for good"
The Star Destroyer starts to fire at the X-Wing support that has launched into orbit and a huge space battle takes place, with the Star Destroyer too much for the Resistance to match up with.
"Fall back..fall back!" You hear from the X-Wing communications.
The X-wings circle around and rush out into deep space to escape from the First Order, defeated and crippled.
Kylo Ren returns and looks you in the eye as you continue progressing through the walkway. "You need a teacher...I can show you...the dark side"
You exit with the famous Imperial March music playing in the background.
Join the Bounty Hunters Animetronic Presentation
By walking into the path of the bounty hunter you enter a dirty metal spaceship. You can see a large window out into space and at the helm is none other than the bounty hunter leader, IG-88.
"Ahhh, welcome criminals. You've chosen wisely, and you will be greatly rewarded. Just wait and see what the Bounty Hunter Guild thinks of your work."
He turns back to his controls and the ship lurched into hyperspace. You fall out of hyperspace in front of a smoggy grey planet. As you approach the surface you realize the planet is a huge desert.
"Welcome to Tatooine..."
Your ship flies past Mos Eisley and finally lands near a large sand structure.
"after you...
A door opens and you walk into a large dark room. seated around you are many notorious bounty hunters.
"Congratulations." One of the slimy creatures says.
"We will be using you in the future for any... Despicable opportunities we may come across. Now, enjoy your spoils bounty hunters!" The bounty hunters clap softly, giving their subtle nod of approval... A metal door opens and you exit to the gift shop to seek your reward.
VII. Exit - Maz's Vault - Gift Shop
Having spent centuries traveling the galaxy, Maz has collected antiques and countless other treasures which she stored in her many vaults and storerooms. Although her previous home was destroyed by the First Order, many of her vaults and her collection remained untouched. Now Maz has transported her treasures to her new place here on this planet and is willing to sell some her trinkets to those who are worthy.
Guests will exit the ride into an impressive trapezoidal stone archway leading to one vault Maz has graciously decided to open to visitors. Eagle-eyed guests will spot the wroshyr wood curio box that the diminutive pirate queen stored Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber in. Near the box is a four thousand year old hyperspace sextant, a fusioncutter head, and a diatium power cell (seen from the movie). Supply crates, labeled as Maz’s Curio Boxes litter the store.
Jedi robes (both adult and kid sizes line one part of the wall (although Maz advises guests to hide their Jedi robes from the First Order). Not feeling particularly on the side of good; kids can find Captain Plasma, Kylo Ren, and First Order Trooper costumes and face masks. Or maybe the life of a bounty hunter is more appealing with a Boba Fett hunter’s wallet.
Like the ride, guests can choose their side with the “I Am…”shirt collection featuring an array of bounty hunters, First Order, and Resistance themes. Various attraction pins are available if guests would like to keep their allegiance secret. Among her travels, Maz has come across a cache of instruction manuals for Jedi, Bounty Hunters, Sith and for the old Empire. Pick one up for in inside look at several organizations. Who knows; maybe next time you will choose a different path.
Maz’s Counsel
Similar to many of the fortune telling machines in Disneyland, Maz’s Counsel is the high tech version that will fit in seamlessly to the surroundings. Guests will insert money that causes a screen to light up. Maz appears around the corner and notices you. She is first impatient, but as she looks closer at you, she pauses. Maz will then instruct you to lean in closer to “have a look at you”. Simulated eyes will appear and guests will line up their eyes to the illustration. Maz will hum for a moment, then flip up her lenses and deliver a short verbal destiny for the guest. A print out of this destiny will drop down into a slot for the guests to take with them. Maz waves the guest away and hurries back around the corner.
Make Your Own ID
Guests can step up to this booth to make their very own Bounty Hunters License, Resistance pilot card, or a First Order name tag (trooper number included). You can include a picture of yourself on the ID or use one of the standard images, like Captain Phasma, Poe Damerian, Finn, Rey, or even bounty hunters like Bobba Fett. A word of caution: impersonating a First Order trooper can lead to a lot of trouble.
Expansion and Further Park Placement
In order to spruce and freshen up the attraction, one of the tracks could go under a refurbishment phase, changing the location and sets. This is possible since there are three ride tracks, so two could stay open at a time if this ever were to happen. The only segments of the ride that would require a complete closure would be the queue and post-show.
If this ride becomes a success, it could be easily added to Hollywood Studios. There's more than enough land to build something of this size in that park.
Summary/Conclusion
With
Star Wars: Galactic Bounty Hunters, Disney takes an underappreciated component in the vast Star Wars Universe, and turns it into a ground-breaking E-ticket attraction.
The ride serves as not only a perfect expansion to Star Wars Land, but also sets off a new generation of theme park attractions.
) a Universal park. No limits to where you can place the attraction beyond that. This is the most research heavy project yet, so if you're not familiar with your team's respective show I would at least scan the wiki. Good luck teams, due to the research heavy nature of this prompt projects will be due Sunday, July 24th at 11:59 EST.
