Potential updates to Avatar Flight of Passage

[_caleb]

The track on Hagrid’s is non diegetic. It requires you to use your imagination. It is easily the best ride in Orlando, definitely the best coaster (with Velocicoaster as a close second).

I’m not talking about whether or not the ride is enjoyable. I’m talking about how well it’s themed.

You’re saying that even though the main and most visible part of the ride is the track, but the audience is supposed to pretend it’s not there because it’s not part of the story. But how are guests supposed to know this (until they sort it out by the end of the ride)? What else are we supposed to pretend not to see?

Every themed attraction requires guests to use their imaginations. But in my opinion, well-themed attractions work to incorporate or hide the workings and infrastructure; or at least to direct the guests’ gaze toward the themed bits and away from “non diegetic” parts, like tracks.

Flight of Passage attempts to hide the seams and structures with that simple little dazzle effect. They intentionally disorient us during the transition from seat to Banshee. The Banshee vehicle “breathes” to help engage all senses and to minimize the “let’s play pretend” aspect.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

I’m not talking about whether or not the ride is enjoyable. I’m talking about how well it’s themed.

You’re saying that even though the main and most visible part of the ride is the track, but the audience is supposed to pretend it’s not there because it’s not part of the story. But how are guests supposed to know this (until they sort it out by the end of the ride)? What else are we supposed to pretend not to see?

Every themed attraction requires guests to use their imaginations. But in my opinion, well-themed attractions work to incorporate or hide the workings and infrastructure; or at least to direct the guests’ gaze toward the themed bits and away from “non diegetic” parts, like tracks.

Flight of Passage attempts to hide the seams and structures with that simple little dazzle effect. They intentionally disorient us during the transition from seat to Banshee. The Banshee vehicle “breathes” to help engage all senses and to minimize the “let’s play pretend” aspect.

In other words, you’re condemning every roller coaster to being another mountain or train. How creative!

Edit: or in a black box!

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Where is that meme on how to theme a Disney coaster? That was hilarious! At some point, you just have to accept the fact that a roller coaster is a roller coaster and use your imagination. It’s a theme park. Lol

 

[MisterPenguin]

In other words, you’re condemning every roller coaster to being another mountain or train. How creative!

Edit: or in a black box!

We need stock meme power, NOW!!!...

 

[Purduevian]

We need stock meme power, NOW!!!...

View attachment 686685

Barnstormer is the only exception to this rule at WDW right? It uses the same imagine it's not there as Hagrid's.

 

[Pancho]

Think about this: Radiator Springs Racers is longer, light years better, and cost half as much as Guardians.

uh, it may be longer and cost less. but it's not light years better. it's not even better than test track. yeah, it's themed nicely but the ride is kinda sluggish. it's fun and all but no where near as fun as cosmic rewind. or even test track.

 

[ToTBellHop]

uh, it may be longer and cost less. but it's not light years better. it's not even better than test track. yeah, it's themed nicely but the ride is kinda sluggish. it's fun and all but no where near as fun as cosmic rewind. or even test track.

We were not at all impressed by RSR, honestly. We had more fun on Incredicoaster…and wanted to hate Mission Breakout but simply couldn’t.

 

[JohnD]

Everest works because it's themed to a train, and trains have tracks.
Hagrid's is great, but it's themed to magical flying motorbikes; the tracks actually contradict this theme.

That's right. The ride cars are supposed to fly and defy the law of gravity. What were they thinking?

 

[JohnD]

I’m not talking about whether or not the ride is enjoyable. I’m talking about how well it’s themed.

You’re saying that even though the main and most visible part of the ride is the track, but the audience is supposed to pretend it’s not there because it’s not part of the story. But how are guests supposed to know this (until they sort it out by the end of the ride)? What else are we supposed to pretend not to see?

Every themed attraction requires guests to use their imaginations. But in my opinion, well-themed attractions work to incorporate or hide the workings and infrastructure; or at least to direct the guests’ gaze toward the themed bits and away from “non diegetic” parts, like tracks.

Flight of Passage attempts to hide the seams and structures with that simple little dazzle effect. They intentionally disorient us during the transition from seat to Banshee. The Banshee vehicle “breathes” to help engage all senses and to minimize the “let’s play pretend” aspect.

You're kidding right? In FOP, you mount a stationary ride vehicle and stare at a screen while looking at 3D images with 3D glasses on. With Hagrid's, you're on a roller coaster. Roller coasters have tracks. What are the ride vehicles supposed to do? Fly? Second, we're supposed to believe that Uni guests have no clue that Hagrid had a flying motor bike and can't figure out this is what the ride is portraying?

 

[_caleb]

In other words, you’re condemning every roller coaster to being another mountain or train. How creative!

Edit: or in a black box!

I'm not sure why you're being snarky. I'm just sharing my opinion. No "condemnation" from me!

I think WDI has always been pretty creative in this regard. If you read back a couple posts, you'll see that I pointed out a few examples of what I'd consider to be well-themed coasters:

I was thinking about how you can see the “track” on Radiator Springs Racers and Test Track (themed as a road), and on the Incredicoaster (themed as, well, an old-time roller coaster), on Everest and Big Thunder as train tracks, and on the Matterhorn as a bobsled run. Even Slinky Dog Dash is (poorly, in my opinion) themed (as a toy in Andy’s back yard).

Otherwise, Disney mostly puts roller coasters in buildings to use the dark to hide the tracks.

I like all of these approaches better than a tangle of track that we’re supposed to imagine isn’t there for the sake of the story.

 

[_caleb]

Barnstormer is the only exception to this rule at WDW right? It uses the same imagine it's not there as Hagrid's.

No, Barnstormer is no exception. In my opinion, it is a cheap, lazy, poorly-themed attraction.

 

[_caleb]

That's right. The ride cars are supposed to fly and defy the law of gravity. What were they thinking?

We can't know what restrictions and stipulations Universal put on the designers of Hagrid's, but I'm sure we could come up with several possible ride mechanisms that would fit the theme better– even if it needed to be a coaster.

Have you ever been on a suspended coaster? An overhead track could be blended in with the trees and wouldn't be in the line of sight of guests while they look down at the grounds of the Forbidden Forest.

S&S's Axis coaster would have been a great solution, as it would allow the motorbike to sometimes be suspended, sometimes beside, and sometimes above the track.

 

[_caleb]

You're kidding right? In FOP, you mount a stationary ride vehicle and stare at a screen while looking at 3D images with 3D glasses on.

You're right that the rides are fundamentally different. But we're in a Flight of Passage thread talking about "visible ride structures." FoP uses tricks to hide the workings and roller coasters like Hagrid's do not.

With Hagrid's, you're on a roller coaster. Roller coasters have tracks. What are the ride vehicles supposed to do? Fly?

Hagrid's is indeed a roller coaster. But it could have used a different ride system. If story and show had been prioritized over "coaster," they might have done something different.

Second, we're supposed to believe that Uni guests have no clue that Hagrid had a flying motor bike and can't figure out this is what the ride is portraying?

No, you're not supposed to believe that. Of course guests can figure out the ride. My point is that an attraction that is designed to help the guest imagine the story and how they fit into it (or, at least doesn't make it more of a stretch than it needs to be) is a better themed attraction than one that doesn't bother.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Barnstormer is the only exception to this rule at WDW right? It uses the same imagine it's not there as Hagrid's.

Yes, it currently is the only Disney domestic coaster that violates The Meme. Build a box around it!!!

Primeval Whirl was the second. That's why it had to go!!!!

 

[yensidtlaw1969]

With Hagrid's, you're on a roller coaster. Roller coasters have tracks. What are the ride vehicles supposed to do? Fly?

When rumors of Hagrids were first being bandied around I had gotten the impression that it was going to be a next-generation version of a Kuka Arm dark ride, like Forbidden Journey but without projection domes and featuring some evolved tech - Motorbikes with Sidecars "flying" on Kukas that could reach Test Track-like speeds, all indoor sets and animatronics and controlled lighting and effects, and a queue that transitioned from outdoors to "outdoors" seamlessly to create the illusion you were still outside but entering the thick of the dark forest.

What we actually got is . . . less exciting to me than that idea sounded.

 

[doctornick]

Yes, it currently is the only Disney domestic coaster that violates The Meme. Build a box around it!!!

Primeval Whirl was the second. That's why it had to go!!!!

Goofy’s Sky School in DCA?

 

[MisterPenguin]

Goofy’s Sky School in DCA?

We're gonna need a bigger box.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Yes, it currently is the only Disney domestic coaster that violates The Meme. Build a box around it!!!

Primeval Whirl was the second. That's why it had to go!!!!

Did you even look at your meme, you fool? Primeval Whirl is RIGHT THERE!

I now respect you 7% less.

 

[celluloid]

I think the film is going to be edited to do a really fast dive down after the first few moments to be a metaphor for the drop in box office numbers you are going to see in the second full week of release.

 

[celluloid]

No, you're not supposed to believe that. Of course guests can figure out the ride. My point is that an attraction that is designed to help the guest imagine the story and how they fit into it (or, at least doesn't make it more of a stretch than it needs to be) is a better themed attraction than one that doesn't bother.

I get what you are saying; the reality of the world there is always checks and balances of it all. At a certain point pleasing the entire audiences is more important and you can ask everyone to imagine. I am a huge themed environment guy, but you have to please everyone. Not just the theming junkies. Reality of the business, even show business of theme parks.