It doesn't matter.
You don’t know what you are talking about.
Soarin’ itself was definitely something new. There is nothing wrong with iteration, but that doesn’t mean there should be a denial of what else exists.
I’m familiar with the attraction. It uses the third generation of Vekoma’s motor bike system. It’s definitely a better product, but it is Vekoma’s product.Until I rode TRON last week, I was thinking the same: "fancy Motorbike Coaster from Vekoma"... I rode it and Vekoma/Disney reinvented the wheel for it and there is no way the ride could have been done 10 years before.
The first Motorbike Coasters used a mechanically intense hydraulic launch system with cables, catch car and a lot of other components. TRON use a very efficient and effective LSM launch system that is light years above what was used for Rock n Roller Coaster back in 1999.
Next, the Lightcycle themselves: the original Motorbike system was not nice for taller riders as the secondary leg restraints consisted of black pads that rested on riders knees, like on this picture:
The idea was that when you pulled the handles toward you, the back rest would come down on your back. But, if you're tall, your legs get in the way and you can't lock the back rest and can't ride.
On TRON, the leg restraints was replaced by two metal bars that come out of the Cycle and lock your legs in place. You straddle the seat then put your feet in the stirrups. Those move back and once you're settled all the way in, you pull the silver handles. The shiny metal bars (smart, allows the cast members to see them even in the dark station and allows them to check if they are locked in place) come out of the bike and lock at a 90 degrees angle. In the picture below, you can see them on the body of the Lightcycle, under the seat. You will also see that the Lightcycle back restraint shape was improved and is a lot more comfortable.
The last major innovation for the Lightcycles are those colored wheels and lights. Those are not "dumb lights" that stay on throughout the ride. They change color, turn on and off and change intensity depending on what is required for the show. Add that to on-board audio and can you imagine the battery requirements for the power required for all that?
Until I rode TRON last week, I was thinking the same: "fancy Motorbike Coaster from Vekoma"... I rode it and Vekoma/Disney reinvented the wheel for it and there is no way the ride could have been done 10 years before.
The first Motorbike Coasters used a mechanically intense hydraulic launch system with cables, catch car and a lot of other components. TRON use a very efficient and effective LSM launch system that is light years above what was used for Rock n Roller Coaster back in 1999.
Next, the Lightcycle themselves: the original Motorbike system was not nice for taller riders as the secondary leg restraints consisted of black pads that rested on riders knees, like on this picture:
The idea was that when you pulled the handles toward you, the back rest would come down on your back. But, if you're tall, your legs get in the way and you can't lock the back rest and can't ride.
On TRON, the leg restraints was replaced by two metal bars that come out of the Cycle and lock your legs in place. You straddle the seat then put your feet in the stirrups. Those move back and once you're settled all the way in, you pull the silver handles. The shiny metal bars (smart, allows the cast members to see them even in the dark station and allows them to check if they are locked in place) come out of the bike and lock at a 90 degrees angle. In the picture below, you can see them on the body of the Lightcycle, under the seat. You will also see that the Lightcycle back restraint shape was improved and is a lot more comfortable.
The last major innovation for the Lightcycles are those colored wheels and lights. Those are not "dumb lights" that stay on throughout the ride. They change color, turn on and off and change intensity depending on what is required for the show. Add that to on-board audio and can you imagine the battery requirements for the power required for all that?
The overall experience is greater than the sum of its parts.
That is an assessment of the overall attraction experience, not of the ride system.
You could use this hypothetical for practically any of the consumer products IP. Doesn't make it any more limiting than a Star Wars park
Alternative facts ^
They create them all the time, they just don't bother to build any of them.
To be fair, you have to look at the source material. Frontier land is one of my favorite lands. However, you're basically recreating streets and shops.
Why would that matter? It’s not a question of if it is something new to their respective parks, but new in general. Why not say Alien Saucer Spin is a new flat ride design because a lot of people don’t visit Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World?
The fact is that FoP is an evolutionary and not revolutionary ride technology. That does not however take away from it. It is an amazing attraction that is probably the best in Orlando right now.
