IOA days

[RobFL]

Okie dokie... so here's the story.

I always liked various theme parks, but when IOA was preparing to open it became my holy grail so to speak. I learned everything about the park and began to learn about themed design.

Now, i've branched off of this initial "fanatical" feeling into a generalized enjoyment of all Disney parks as well - most specifically, Epcot, my current employer.

And while I certainly appreciate all that Disney has to offer, today in a bout of boredom, I bagan glimpsing over the old IOA pages I used to visit. I watched the ride videos, even downloaded bits of the soundtrack that used to be forever in my playlist in days past.

I really miss this park. It's not really gone, just out of sight and out of mind for a good period. Heck, my annual pass is even still good, though I had nearly forgotten it.

So... now, tomarrow, I plan to venture back into the park. I get to experience once more the sense of wonder, discovery, and excitement this place always brought me. It was new and exciting from the start, but the music swells, and the light house beacon seems to shine a bit brighter than before...

Will I come back a changed man? Will i no longer enjoy my relatively "stale" station in Epcot?

I don't know.. I don't think so.. I've given all of IOA's expeiriences a try, and my tummy does not concur with my brain, and thus certain items have been etched permanently off the to-do list. I'm enthralled, but not one who enjoys motion sickness as i am prone to. So, perhaps I'll just appreciate the less "exciting" experiences in the park just as I enjoy the similar attractions of WDW.

Will it just be another walk in the park? Or a whole new experience in and of itself? I can't quite tell...

-Rob

 

[pheneix]

>>>I bagan glimpsing over the old IOA pages I used to visit. I watched the ride videos, even downloaded bits of the soundtrack<<<

Where did you find IOA's soundtrack at? I've found a clip from Spiderman, but other than that nothing. Please say you found it somewhere that is not being hunted down by the RIAA.

 

[Hyperion93]

Meh, I like IOA and all, it's fun. But WDW's magical feeling is just....better than anything IOA can offer.

 

[General Grizz]

You mean Disney's IOA?

"I CHEDDAR to think about it!!" :brick:

 

[JLW11Hi]

Isn't the Cat in the Hat supposed to be a great "slow" ride? I heard the animatronics were great. And what about this "Mr. Bean's Super Monkey Machine" thing? It sounds like the TTA of Seuss Landing. I havent been there yet, but I love the art of Dr. Seuss, and I can only imagine an arial tour of the place!

 

[RobFL]

Sylvester McMonkey McBeans Incredible Driving Machines were to be an ariel bumper cars of sorts, based on the books of the sneeches. You went along getting a star and losing a star depending on your journey.

If anything, think of the Tomarrowland Speedway with a "Please hit each other" sign on a monorail above the area.

There is a dramatic design flaw however. Originally, the problem was that the vehicles could not make it up the small inclines in "imperfect" conditions and would get stuck at various positions along the track. Then, when trying to solve this dillema, it was discovered that the vehicles could not easily be evacuated when needed, because a cherry picker would have to goto each vehicle.

The design flaws are the "fault" of a overseas design company which went bankrupt and told IOA to "fix it yourself" and thus they hired out many of the areas top design firms and no lasusible solution was discovered.

The tracks of the ride remain looming over sues landing, a whisical monument to a failed attempt at a wonderous creation.

-Rob

 

[RobFL]

Cat in the Hat is wonderful.

It takes a motion base system similar to Pooh and goes crazy with it. Vehicles love to turn and twist, and you get "flung" around corners.

The start of the ride is actually turning to face the car waiting to dispatch behind you and then being flung around the first corner and into the ride itself.

The animatronics at times are hoakey, but in other places are very well done. A lot of movement, but that also means sometimes a lot of effects aren't working quite right.

At one point, you just start spinning wildly as the house is "torn apart" by Thing 1 ans Thing 2 and large blacklight reactive rings come down around you vehicle spinning the opposite direction, thus increasing the sensation of movement, while strobe lights illuminate the "animated" effects on the rings.

-Rob

 

[JLW11Hi]

That is too bad about that Sylvester McBean thing. I had heard somethign about them being in a state of limbo for quite some time. I hope they get the funding to fix everything up. And the Cat in the Hat ride sounds awesome. Are the couches suspended like on Peter Pan?

 

[RobFL]

Nope, they're on the ground, hence the motion "base."

Come to think of it, they're shaped an awful lot like the Pooh's Honey pots.

-Rob

 

[pheneix]

The same vehicles (with different fiberglass and 6 guns attached) are used in MIB at the Studios.

 

[RobFL]

I kept riding MIB one day in the single rider line, no more than a 3 min wait, and i got soooo sick.

I almost had a protien spill on BTTF wwhen i finally did something besides MiB.

-Rob