spacemt354
Chili's
*As a disclaimer, it's a first draft, but since the project prompt was posted, I sat on it...thinking...
...thinking....
So I decided to come up with something, because this was the project I was most excited for the whole season (actually it was a factor in joining in the first place) so I could not let it go to waste....
Granted, if I was playing for the win, I'd flesh this out until September 19th, edit it, add in stuff and more, but since I'm not doing that.... this is just more of my first thoughts for the land since the project was launched a few hours ago.
Hope you enjoy!
AMC UNI presents Breaking Bad
Ozymandias – Read by Bryan Cranston
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away
The philosophy and psychology behind Breaking Bad is beyond parallel in the television world. From the brilliant character development, to the transitional music pieces, to the connectivity between themes such as color, setting, and emotion among all the main characters, it transcends basic television, and essentially creates a mythology that will live on in history for decades to come.
Fortunately, Universal Studios, ceased this opportunity in 2016, when the second season of the spin-off series, Better Call Saul, reached heights that even AMC wasn’t expecting. With a continued following of the original show, and the spin-off series, Universal Studios bought the theme park rights for Breaking Bad for 80 Million Dollars…..80…..Million.
Investing even more money into the colossal land, Universal embarked on one of the most ambitious theme park endeavors ever seen before to be set in Universal Studios Orlando.
For example, the show is called Breaking Bad, many of the main cast get more corrupt and downright evil as the show progresses, so what moment captures the show in an era that incorporates all of the show’s themes, and gives the guest audience of the land, the greatest, most fulfilling Breaking Bad experience, with no finite spoilers.
My selection for this would be approximately Season 3 - Season 4 (though other seasons will be referenced/included periodically)
Why Season 3 -4? Because it is all the main characters in a state of totality. What I mean by that is, themes that progressed from Season 1 are still apparent. Nobody is full on evil…yet. And therefore, it doesn’t give away as much of the plot. It is also the point in the series, when the series became a cultural phenomenon. Seasons 1 and 2 set the stage, but the following wasn’t until afterwards.
Therefore, somewhere in the middle of Seasons 3 and 4 will be the setting for these attractions. That being said, for the hard core fans, there will be references (such as the Ozymandias poem in the intro) that will hint at themes in the later episodes.
These cinematic elements include:
- Wide Shots of Landscapes - this will be apparent as soon as you walk into the land - with forced perspective making it seem like the canyon and desert and way off in the distance.
- Time Lapses - as mentioned before, the transitional elements of the attraction (in particular the E-ticket) will use time lapses to transition from day to night/night to day etc. These involve singular shots of either a road, or the sky, and watching them progress overtime in an accelerated speed.
- Color Patterns - throughout the series, certain clothing colors indicate moods and feelings of each character. Such as, if Walter is feeling greedy, he will be wearing a "green" shirt, signifying money. Or if he is wearing yellow, or noticing something yellow, such as the mustard stain on the oncologist's shirt in the pilot episode, he is in a state of caution and/or vulnerability. These will be apparent throughout the land, and in the descriptions of scenes, there will be a blurb that identifies what exactly the characters are wearing in that particular scene, to illustrate their mood in the moment.
- Music Integration - Breaking Bad has some of the most well placed musical notes and songs in any television series. When you go look up names of songs, you'll see that even the names and the lyrics to the songs are relevant for the plot and characters. Some of the most famous songs and scores will be integrated in the attractions.
- Foreshadowing - some elements in the attractions and throughout the land will hint at future events through the use of these "foreshadowing visions" that might take place. This is an element used in the show (particularly Season 2 *cough 737 Down Over ABQ* and in Season 5) but there are other examples as well.
This is to close the gap so that everyone, avid fans from newcomers, can enjoy the experience as a whole and not feel left out from not watching hours of backstory to the land.
For those who are unfamiliar - a rundown of the list of main characters for the land (in general with little spoilers)
Walter H. White (aka Heisenberg) - overqualified high school chemistry teacher with lung cancer who decides to cook crystal meth, originally to pay for his kids education and his medical bills, but when he finds out he's good at it...tends to forget that was the original goal..let's just say haha.
Jesse Pinkman - a student of Walter's in chemistry from years ago, who Walter finds out cooks crystal meth. They partner up and have a very unusual and volatile relationship. Refers to Walt as "Mr. White" Also can't stop using the word for a female dog.
Hank Schrader - Walter's brother-in-law and DEA agent. Hank is responsible for catching meth dealers and cooks in the ABQ area, which, as you can see, can be an issue for Walter.
Skyler White - Walter's wife
Saul Goodman - Walter's crooked lawyer who keeps him and Jesse out of harms way.
Gustavo Fring - Walter's meth boss. Gus is a professional, cautious man, who keeps a low profile, by owning a chain of chicken fast-food restaurants called Los Pollos Hermanos. However, if you cross him, things can end badly for you.
Mike Ehrmantraut - essentially Gus's "enforcer" and a P.I. for Saul Goodman.
Huell Babineaux - Saul Goodman's body guard
Land Overview
The Breaking Bad landscapes spread far and wide across the American Southwest, reaching as far south as Mexico, and even to the Granite State of New Hampshire in another. However, the essence of location for the show, can be centered around the desert. The location of several cook-outs between Walter and Jesse in the early stages of the series, and then more significant events later on.
The New Mexican desert landscape offers the benefit of having a “canyon range” akin to Radiator Springs Racers, giving the creative team enough land and show buildings to represent varied landscapes indoors, through the use of transition time-lapses (an element used throughout the show, and will be used in the E-ticket attraction for the same transitional purpose)
Having an indoor show-building allows the creative team to have many elements that wouldn’t make sense outdoors due to the landscaping issues. For instance, having a 308 Negra Arroyo Lane walk-through would make no sense if you have canyon range, seeing as in the show, Walter White’s house is not next to a desert canyon.
Nevertheless, the desert theme will offer entrances to both the E-ticket attraction, No Half Measures, (indoors) and the C-ticket attraction, Hank's Ride Along (indoors and outdoors). There will be a walking trail as well, in addition to one of the 14 locations of Los Pollos Hermanos owned by Gustavo Fring, and on the outskirts, to the mini-mall where Saul Goodman’s law office is.
This metaphor is chronicled by some of Walter's actions throughout the series, and will be put on display in this dark ride hybrid attraction.
Queue - The Offices of Saul Goodman
The attraction begins as you walk into Saul Goodman's Law Office (with additional queues in the parking lot). When you walk in, there is nobody in the office. All of the chairs are empty, but the door to the office is open. You hear some commotion in the office, with Jesse's voice overbearing Saul's voice. When guests are able to enter, you walk into a 5 minute pre-show experience.
The reason for a less thematically driven queue is that, many places in ABQ aren't that thematic...it takes place in an ordinary town, and many times, you have to go to the most ordinary places to do your business dealings. And at Saul's office, you tend to wait a long time, having the first leg of the queue in a generic parking lot, weaving back and forth and into Saul's office, seemed the most thematically relevant.
A combination of screen and physical sets of Saul's office are in front of you, as Jesse looks at you, somewhat confused, and then back at Saul.
*Note that Jesse is wearing yellow and Saul is wearing blue with a yellow tie)
Jesse "Yo...what are these b!tches doin' in here now? Yo, I thought this was a private meeting...beat it"
Saul "Hey hey, calm down kid, Walter asked for them alright, he's not too pleased with you after what you've done--"
Jesse "Oh yeah...riddle me another one Saul, Mr. White is ticked...the sky is blue too"
Saul "Yeah and so is that crystal meth of yours... if you keep smoking it he's going to have some problems alright...look, folks, *turns to the guests* I'm really sorry to bring this upon you alright...I'm just a lawyer trying to make a living, and if my most volatile client asks for me to get him out of trouble, eh...I gotta do it.
Jesse "What are they even doing here?"
Saul "Walter needs to get a leg up on Gus, because of you, Jesse, Gus may never work with either of you again...and if Gus doesn't want you..heh, heh...well, let's just say the ground might take you"
Jesse "Stop with the metaphors and just spit it out"
Saul "He needs them to go to meet him out in the desert, alright...not that complicated that's all I know!
Jesse "Fine...*turns to the audience* good luck dealing with..broke bad Mr. White. Ya know, dude's snapped yo..."
Saul: "Well, nevertheless - folks I'm gonna have you go with Huell here *Huells walks from behind the guests and into the screen picture* "Yeah I know he was behind you...he's a people person...he will take you to the vehicle that will go meet Walter in the desert. One thing I ask is you keep Huell happy...Huell are you happy?"
Huell: "Reasonably"
Saul: "Heh....that's better than usually...you caught him on a good day folks haha....alright Jesse get out of here I got another important client coming in...folks bye bye...exit is that way, we got you a nice car too paid a little extra for it...unfortunately, eh Huell here forgot the "low profile" aspect and you've got some pick up trunk...you gotta sit in the back..it's like you're Captain Cook or something."
Jesse "Yo Chili P is the bomb--"
Saul "Folks, see ya"
Huell *as the safety instructor*
Pleeease keep all hands and feet inside the truck. We don't want an act of God happening or anything. Please put your seatbelt on and watch your kids...heck why are you even bringing kids on this anyway...y'all must be crazy."
While Huell is driving the vehicle (unseen), you leave the back of the law office (indoor setting at dusk) and drive off towards the desert. As you leave for the desert you hook a left and go onto a main road.
This is the first use of the time-lapse technology and music blended into one. Creating a scene of dusk around your vehicle on a road towards the desert, you set off to the meetup between Walter and Gus as a passive observer, as the time lapse technology gives the illusion of sunset, nighttime, and your car speeding off into the desert, even though you're only going 5 mph or so, and then reaching sunrise...as the lyrics and melody offer you a foreboding sense of danger as to what you're getting yourself into.
We are Born When We Die being a metaphor for birth, death, and transformation theory that is prevelant throughout the series....Walter was transformed into Heisenberg after the Walter White of old...ceased to exist.
As a dim and cloudy sun comes up, the time-lapse ends and you arrive at the desert.
Walter, Mike, and Gus are all wearing dark clothing, indicating a sinister plan underneath.
Mike: "We got company..."
But they aren't looking at you, they turn around and on the horizon, they see a cartel car pull up in the distance, and take a shot, that echos throughout the landscape.
Everyone ducks and Huell screams
Huell "Oh they don't pay me enough for this...I'm getting out of here."
Your vehicle makes a turn to the left, however is stopped by Walter on the right side of the car
Walt: "Get these people out of here, we have to leave now!" *Gunfire continues*
Huell: "Well hop in boss" *More gunfire continues*
As Huell accidentally drives towards the gunfire, you see the animatronic of Gus begin walking to the gunfire...unarmed..
Mike: "Get down!!" he screams but Gus has no fear - he spreads his hands out and stares right at the cartel, who then stop firing, enough Huell to right the car and for you to escape..
You hear Walt say, trembling "we have to lay low...I...I need to speak with Jesse"
The scene as you're driving goes gray and foggy....
You hear water dripping from a hose, as the scene around you goes blanket white and gray...you hear sirens in the background, faded out so that they sound almost like a submarine, as you hear bubbling water around you...until a large pink bear appears next to your traveling vehicle....
Eerie, ominous sounds are played as the bear turns to reveal a burned off portion of its face, as it fades to black and the sound goes silent. All you hear is a faint heartbeat on the horizon, and then a cough...then another cough.
After the transition omen, you arrive outside of 308 Negra Arroyo Lane (Walter White's House) and outside of the car, you see an animatronic Walt talking into a camera, his black jacket hanging over one shoulder, revealing a pink sweater.
Walter: "My name is Walter Hartwell White - this is to my family...I have made some terrible choices...*he pauses* and covers the camera..."but I did them...for the sake of my family." A whimpering can be heard from Walt "I know some may not see it that way, but it's who I am"
Skyler "Walt?"
Skyler walks out from the front door and approaches Walt kneeling on the ground "What's going on? Are you hurt?" Walter collects himself, stands up, takes off his jacket and the sun reflects off his pink sweater to reveal a more ominous red color...as he stares down his wife...
Walt: "No Skyler...I'm not, you clearly have no idea so let me clue you in....stay out of my affairs...*his voice changes to a Heisenberg like tone *stay out of my business...do not ask me how I conduct my work...now get back inside!"
In front of your vehicle, you see another car approaching - the same one of the cartel in the desert. Walter looks on and gets back in the car and speeds away down the street in the perpendicular direction.
Mike: No one is following you Walter...it's all in your messed up mind. Here's a thought...why don't you stop playing games, and do your job. Your job...is to cook meth...it's about time that became your number one priority again.
Walt: But..but--
Mike: Just stop and think what you're doing before you do it, Walter. No Half Measures....Gus expects the next shipment in tomorrow, I hope for your sake, you can deliver. Take your group party and go home...no need for witnesses...*under his breath* dumb jerk....
Walt: "I need you all to stay with me...I will keep you safe, but we will mutually help each other in these dealings. My boss...Gus Fring, I know has it out to kill me...we, we need to stop him. Through my brother-in-law, I was able to sneak the Salamanca cousins an address to our confrontation yesterday...but, it was unsuccessful...and now I think they're coming for me...we...we need to move fast."
A faint sound of a fly can be heard buzzing around the trunk.
You approach Jesse at an abandoned location on the outskirts of town, where Jesse approaches the car
Jesse: Yo, what's gotten into you man...did you even sleep last night?
Walt: Jesse - I am trying to protect us...Gus..the cartel...everyone is after us -- *buzzing*
Jesse: Speak man...
*fly continues to buzz*
Jesse "Move over - I'm driving this thing yo"
Walt: We have to go to the desert -- I have money buried out there, then I need to get my family and we need to get out of here.
*fly continues to buzz and Walt freaks out*
Jesse: Will you get a hold of yourself man...yo gatorade me, !
The car frantically stops to see the area dug up and a pink, destroyed teddy bear sitting in one of the dug up holes.
Simultaneously DEA cars are crossing by...at this point in the attraction "Hank's Ride Along" - the C-ticket attraction, crosses paths with the E-ticket in an epic showdown, where people on the DEA side (the C-ticket), end up face to face with you...
The aggressive music stops...as the trunk slowly looks at the horizon...and a loud heartbeat begins to drum...as Walt screams...
Jesse: Mr. White, it's gonna be okay...
Walt manically laughs as the cars on the horizon slowly come closer to you...the manic laughing continues....
Suddenly - the entire cartel shows up, and the DEA, being outnumbers have having people on ride alongs, escapes and calls for backup, now leaving you and the cartel face to face....
From the other horizons, Gus and Mike approach with Mike warning the cartel to step down. Several members come out...guns at the ready...requesting Walter's money as payment...
Walter continues to manically laugh, but then stops when he sees Gus. The Breaking Bad theme music begins to play...and as your car continues slowly forward...continuing towards the site...
Gus and Mike on your left, the cartel on your right...and the DEA calling for backup....
Jesse, concerned at Walter's silence, asks what he's going to do? There is no response and your trunk turns into the unload area...
As you exit the vehicle, the post-show area is themed to the desert interior similar to what was in Scene 7. You are now Heisenberg, and you get to make the final walk of fate.
Ironically, the song "Goodbye" plays in the background...the same epic song from when Gus-- well....fans of the show will recognize this song. Now the song has more meaning in the show, and connects with relevance in the attraction, because it is a foreshadow of what is to come for characters...
You make the trek out towards the exit with all of the dug up holes, and everyone looking in your direction - as a funny mirror you walk past gives you the impression that you're wearing Heisenberg's hat, glasses, and mustache as you continue to walk out towards the enemies.
You go to the hole with the pink teddy bear in it...much like the interactive queues in attractions such as Space Mountain, etc...there are several areas for interactivity so everyone in the queue line gets the opportunity to be "Heisenberg"
You press the pink teddy bear and out of the dug up holes, explosives detonate and on 360 degree screens around you, smoke envelops the area as you walk out in style to the song goodbye, as you exit back to the regular land area on the opposite side with the canyon range behind you...moving on to your next endeavor of survival.
On this C-ticket attraction, you'll slowly travel on a ride along with the DEA and Asac Schrader to capture this "Heisenberg" character who produces blue meth on the street.
While the queue of the E-ticket had more comedic elements moreso than the darker attraction, the C-ticket will take the humor and levity even further to offer a variety of attractions in the land. The comedic elements stemming from a run in with Jesse's meth head friends Stinky Pete and Badger, who, as you approach them in the car, act all silly and olaf to the situations at hand.
In addition the banter on the radio between Hank and Steve Gomez (his partner) add to the comedic elements as well.
The 5 minute attraction ends inside the E-ticket in fact. Where they actually catch Heisenberg, Gus, and the cartel in the desert, but since they have no backup, need to retreat for the time being, and hear a giant explosion behind you as you travel back to the DEA headquarters.
Serving fast food items akin to quick service restaurants around Universal, with the specialty item being fried chicken cooked to perfection by the "chicken brothers"
See...look how happy the customers are!
Be sure to tip your waiters and waitresses, or you may get something other than Stevia in your tea
Special merchandise found only in Universal Orlando - you can get basically anything (except for actual meth) at the Safe House.
Breaking Bad is one of the most unique shows ever put on television - and obviously, one of my personal favorites. While it's very challenging to incorporate an entire finite TV series, without spoiling things, and not simply following the plot - what I tried to do was infuse a story that would be able to fit (somewhat) into the narrative.
This would explain why Walt kept the pink teddy bear after it was in his pool at the end of Season 2, and would explain why Gus wanted to hire Gale as a cook (aside from obvious reasons of Jesse) during Season 3. The "No Half Measures" attraction also plays into Walt's paranoia during Season 3 Episode 10 "Fly" and a hint at his more tyrannical nature towards the end of Season 4.
Overall, this was the project I was most looking forward to all season long, so I will conclude by saying, in the words of Heisenberg...
"I did this for me...I liked it..."
...thinking....
So I decided to come up with something, because this was the project I was most excited for the whole season (actually it was a factor in joining in the first place) so I could not let it go to waste....
Granted, if I was playing for the win, I'd flesh this out until September 19th, edit it, add in stuff and more, but since I'm not doing that.... this is just more of my first thoughts for the land since the project was launched a few hours ago.
Hope you enjoy!
Ozymandias – Read by Bryan Cranston
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed:
And on the pedestal these words appear:
'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away
Introduction
Breaking Bad to some is a show about a 50 year old high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, who contacts inoperable lung cancer, and, seeing as he has milked his potential away in life, decides to take control and use his chemistry knowledge to cook methamphetamine in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Some see it as a show about a simple midlife crisis gone wrong, but even at the surface, it is so much more.The philosophy and psychology behind Breaking Bad is beyond parallel in the television world. From the brilliant character development, to the transitional music pieces, to the connectivity between themes such as color, setting, and emotion among all the main characters, it transcends basic television, and essentially creates a mythology that will live on in history for decades to come.
Fortunately, Universal Studios, ceased this opportunity in 2016, when the second season of the spin-off series, Better Call Saul, reached heights that even AMC wasn’t expecting. With a continued following of the original show, and the spin-off series, Universal Studios bought the theme park rights for Breaking Bad for 80 Million Dollars…..80…..Million.
Investing even more money into the colossal land, Universal embarked on one of the most ambitious theme park endeavors ever seen before to be set in Universal Studios Orlando.
Thematic Considerations
The progressive themes of Breaking Bad give us characters in different emotional and physical states depending on when we look at the series. What makes a television series difficult to make into an attraction, or even moreso a land, is that it’s not a 90 minute film with a finite ending. If you decide to make the land based on the series after it has ended – well spoiler alert to anyone who hasn’t seen the film – and also it doesn’t allow you to show the characters in their more…'pleasant'…conditions.For example, the show is called Breaking Bad, many of the main cast get more corrupt and downright evil as the show progresses, so what moment captures the show in an era that incorporates all of the show’s themes, and gives the guest audience of the land, the greatest, most fulfilling Breaking Bad experience, with no finite spoilers.
My selection for this would be approximately Season 3 - Season 4 (though other seasons will be referenced/included periodically)
Why Season 3 -4? Because it is all the main characters in a state of totality. What I mean by that is, themes that progressed from Season 1 are still apparent. Nobody is full on evil…yet. And therefore, it doesn’t give away as much of the plot. It is also the point in the series, when the series became a cultural phenomenon. Seasons 1 and 2 set the stage, but the following wasn’t until afterwards.
Therefore, somewhere in the middle of Seasons 3 and 4 will be the setting for these attractions. That being said, for the hard core fans, there will be references (such as the Ozymandias poem in the intro) that will hint at themes in the later episodes.
Cinematic ConsideraTions
Breaking Bad's style is unique in the sense that when you watch an episode of it, there is a certain vibe and vision that is on display, that we will attempt to capture in the land.These cinematic elements include:
- Wide Shots of Landscapes - this will be apparent as soon as you walk into the land - with forced perspective making it seem like the canyon and desert and way off in the distance.
- Time Lapses - as mentioned before, the transitional elements of the attraction (in particular the E-ticket) will use time lapses to transition from day to night/night to day etc. These involve singular shots of either a road, or the sky, and watching them progress overtime in an accelerated speed.
- Color Patterns - throughout the series, certain clothing colors indicate moods and feelings of each character. Such as, if Walter is feeling greedy, he will be wearing a "green" shirt, signifying money. Or if he is wearing yellow, or noticing something yellow, such as the mustard stain on the oncologist's shirt in the pilot episode, he is in a state of caution and/or vulnerability. These will be apparent throughout the land, and in the descriptions of scenes, there will be a blurb that identifies what exactly the characters are wearing in that particular scene, to illustrate their mood in the moment.
- Music Integration - Breaking Bad has some of the most well placed musical notes and songs in any television series. When you go look up names of songs, you'll see that even the names and the lyrics to the songs are relevant for the plot and characters. Some of the most famous songs and scores will be integrated in the attractions.
- Foreshadowing - some elements in the attractions and throughout the land will hint at future events through the use of these "foreshadowing visions" that might take place. This is an element used in the show (particularly Season 2 *cough 737 Down Over ABQ* and in Season 5) but there are other examples as well.
EpIsodic and Character Overview
Many of the characters seen in the land and attractions have a plethora of historical context behind them in the show, and for someone who has never seen Breaking Bad to come into this show and go full bore, it can be a bit overwhelming. In this sense, many of the attractions and things to do inside the land will have brief character moments either in the queue or as a pre-show that will set the stage for what to expect from the characters and what experiences you'll be taken on.This is to close the gap so that everyone, avid fans from newcomers, can enjoy the experience as a whole and not feel left out from not watching hours of backstory to the land.
For those who are unfamiliar - a rundown of the list of main characters for the land (in general with little spoilers)
Walter H. White (aka Heisenberg) - overqualified high school chemistry teacher with lung cancer who decides to cook crystal meth, originally to pay for his kids education and his medical bills, but when he finds out he's good at it...tends to forget that was the original goal..let's just say haha.
Jesse Pinkman - a student of Walter's in chemistry from years ago, who Walter finds out cooks crystal meth. They partner up and have a very unusual and volatile relationship. Refers to Walt as "Mr. White" Also can't stop using the word for a female dog.
Hank Schrader - Walter's brother-in-law and DEA agent. Hank is responsible for catching meth dealers and cooks in the ABQ area, which, as you can see, can be an issue for Walter.
Skyler White - Walter's wife
Saul Goodman - Walter's crooked lawyer who keeps him and Jesse out of harms way.
Gustavo Fring - Walter's meth boss. Gus is a professional, cautious man, who keeps a low profile, by owning a chain of chicken fast-food restaurants called Los Pollos Hermanos. However, if you cross him, things can end badly for you.
Mike Ehrmantraut - essentially Gus's "enforcer" and a P.I. for Saul Goodman.
Huell Babineaux - Saul Goodman's body guard
Land Overview
The New Mexican desert landscape offers the benefit of having a “canyon range” akin to Radiator Springs Racers, giving the creative team enough land and show buildings to represent varied landscapes indoors, through the use of transition time-lapses (an element used throughout the show, and will be used in the E-ticket attraction for the same transitional purpose)
Having an indoor show-building allows the creative team to have many elements that wouldn’t make sense outdoors due to the landscaping issues. For instance, having a 308 Negra Arroyo Lane walk-through would make no sense if you have canyon range, seeing as in the show, Walter White’s house is not next to a desert canyon.
Nevertheless, the desert theme will offer entrances to both the E-ticket attraction, No Half Measures, (indoors) and the C-ticket attraction, Hank's Ride Along (indoors and outdoors). There will be a walking trail as well, in addition to one of the 14 locations of Los Pollos Hermanos owned by Gustavo Fring, and on the outskirts, to the mini-mall where Saul Goodman’s law office is.
E-Ticket Attraction - No Half Measures
"No Half Measures" is a metaphor used in Breaking Bad by Mike Erhmantraut to signify that, when you have the opportunity to do something, you have to seize the opportunity to do so 100%. Essentially, no second guesses and no holding back.
This metaphor is chronicled by some of Walter's actions throughout the series, and will be put on display in this dark ride hybrid attraction.
Queue - The Offices of Saul Goodman
The attraction begins as you walk into Saul Goodman's Law Office (with additional queues in the parking lot). When you walk in, there is nobody in the office. All of the chairs are empty, but the door to the office is open. You hear some commotion in the office, with Jesse's voice overbearing Saul's voice. When guests are able to enter, you walk into a 5 minute pre-show experience.
The reason for a less thematically driven queue is that, many places in ABQ aren't that thematic...it takes place in an ordinary town, and many times, you have to go to the most ordinary places to do your business dealings. And at Saul's office, you tend to wait a long time, having the first leg of the queue in a generic parking lot, weaving back and forth and into Saul's office, seemed the most thematically relevant.
A combination of screen and physical sets of Saul's office are in front of you, as Jesse looks at you, somewhat confused, and then back at Saul.
*Note that Jesse is wearing yellow and Saul is wearing blue with a yellow tie)
Jesse "Yo...what are these b!tches doin' in here now? Yo, I thought this was a private meeting...beat it"
Saul "Hey hey, calm down kid, Walter asked for them alright, he's not too pleased with you after what you've done--"
Jesse "Oh yeah...riddle me another one Saul, Mr. White is ticked...the sky is blue too"
Saul "Yeah and so is that crystal meth of yours... if you keep smoking it he's going to have some problems alright...look, folks, *turns to the guests* I'm really sorry to bring this upon you alright...I'm just a lawyer trying to make a living, and if my most volatile client asks for me to get him out of trouble, eh...I gotta do it.
Jesse "What are they even doing here?"
Saul "Walter needs to get a leg up on Gus, because of you, Jesse, Gus may never work with either of you again...and if Gus doesn't want you..heh, heh...well, let's just say the ground might take you"
Jesse "Stop with the metaphors and just spit it out"
Saul "He needs them to go to meet him out in the desert, alright...not that complicated that's all I know!
Jesse "Fine...*turns to the audience* good luck dealing with..broke bad Mr. White. Ya know, dude's snapped yo..."
Saul: "Well, nevertheless - folks I'm gonna have you go with Huell here *Huells walks from behind the guests and into the screen picture* "Yeah I know he was behind you...he's a people person...he will take you to the vehicle that will go meet Walter in the desert. One thing I ask is you keep Huell happy...Huell are you happy?"
Huell: "Reasonably"
Saul: "Heh....that's better than usually...you caught him on a good day folks haha....alright Jesse get out of here I got another important client coming in...folks bye bye...exit is that way, we got you a nice car too paid a little extra for it...unfortunately, eh Huell here forgot the "low profile" aspect and you've got some pick up trunk...you gotta sit in the back..it's like you're Captain Cook or something."
Jesse "Yo Chili P is the bomb--"
Saul "Folks, see ya"
Loading Area
You exit out a side door of Saul's office and into the back alley of the mini-mall, as a hot rod car approaches, able to seat six in a car, three across each row" Each car is equipped with a Los Polos Hermanos air-freshener hanging from the rear view mirror.Huell *as the safety instructor*
Pleeease keep all hands and feet inside the truck. We don't want an act of God happening or anything. Please put your seatbelt on and watch your kids...heck why are you even bringing kids on this anyway...y'all must be crazy."
While Huell is driving the vehicle (unseen), you leave the back of the law office (indoor setting at dusk) and drive off towards the desert. As you leave for the desert you hook a left and go onto a main road.
Scene 1 - We are Born When We Die
This is the first use of the time-lapse technology and music blended into one. Creating a scene of dusk around your vehicle on a road towards the desert, you set off to the meetup between Walter and Gus as a passive observer, as the time lapse technology gives the illusion of sunset, nighttime, and your car speeding off into the desert, even though you're only going 5 mph or so, and then reaching sunrise...as the lyrics and melody offer you a foreboding sense of danger as to what you're getting yourself into.
We are Born When We Die being a metaphor for birth, death, and transformation theory that is prevelant throughout the series....Walter was transformed into Heisenberg after the Walter White of old...ceased to exist.
As a dim and cloudy sun comes up, the time-lapse ends and you arrive at the desert.
Scene 2 - Face-Off
Quietly approaching and sitting at a distance...you see animatronics of Gus, Walter, and Mike staring at each other, as Mike turns around and informs everyone
Walter, Mike, and Gus are all wearing dark clothing, indicating a sinister plan underneath.
Mike: "We got company..."
But they aren't looking at you, they turn around and on the horizon, they see a cartel car pull up in the distance, and take a shot, that echos throughout the landscape.
Everyone ducks and Huell screams
Huell "Oh they don't pay me enough for this...I'm getting out of here."
Your vehicle makes a turn to the left, however is stopped by Walter on the right side of the car
Walt: "Get these people out of here, we have to leave now!" *Gunfire continues*
Huell: "Well hop in boss" *More gunfire continues*
As Huell accidentally drives towards the gunfire, you see the animatronic of Gus begin walking to the gunfire...unarmed..
You hear Walt say, trembling "we have to lay low...I...I need to speak with Jesse"
The scene as you're driving goes gray and foggy....
Scene 3 - 737 Down Over ABQ
This transitional dream scene represents a Breaking Bad embodiment of foreshadowing. The piece is meant to represent something that will happen (possibly happen to you in this attraction) in the future.
You hear water dripping from a hose, as the scene around you goes blanket white and gray...you hear sirens in the background, faded out so that they sound almost like a submarine, as you hear bubbling water around you...until a large pink bear appears next to your traveling vehicle....
Eerie, ominous sounds are played as the bear turns to reveal a burned off portion of its face, as it fades to black and the sound goes silent. All you hear is a faint heartbeat on the horizon, and then a cough...then another cough.
Scene 4 - Confessions
Here you enter a specific room where your vehicle stops for 30 seconds - acting as a break point in the attraction.
After the transition omen, you arrive outside of 308 Negra Arroyo Lane (Walter White's House) and outside of the car, you see an animatronic Walt talking into a camera, his black jacket hanging over one shoulder, revealing a pink sweater.
Walter: "My name is Walter Hartwell White - this is to my family...I have made some terrible choices...*he pauses* and covers the camera..."but I did them...for the sake of my family." A whimpering can be heard from Walt "I know some may not see it that way, but it's who I am"
Skyler "Walt?"
Skyler walks out from the front door and approaches Walt kneeling on the ground "What's going on? Are you hurt?" Walter collects himself, stands up, takes off his jacket and the sun reflects off his pink sweater to reveal a more ominous red color...as he stares down his wife...
Walt: "No Skyler...I'm not, you clearly have no idea so let me clue you in....stay out of my affairs...*his voice changes to a Heisenberg like tone *stay out of my business...do not ask me how I conduct my work...now get back inside!"
In front of your vehicle, you see another car approaching - the same one of the cartel in the desert. Walter looks on and gets back in the car and speeds away down the street in the perpendicular direction.
Scene 5 - No Half Measures
Speeding away, shifting around the turns, you careen on-wards attempting to escape from the cartel as you hang on for your lives. All of a sudden, a car stops in front of you, and it's Mike. Your trunk brakes to a stop and you see Mike outside of the car.
Mike: No one is following you Walter...it's all in your messed up mind. Here's a thought...why don't you stop playing games, and do your job. Your job...is to cook meth...it's about time that became your number one priority again.
Walt: But..but--
Mike: Just stop and think what you're doing before you do it, Walter. No Half Measures....Gus expects the next shipment in tomorrow, I hope for your sake, you can deliver. Take your group party and go home...no need for witnesses...*under his breath* dumb jerk....
Scene 6 - Fly
You drive away and enter another transitional zone this time going from noontime, to nighttime...in the transitional zone, Walt explains to you in the back of the truck that
Walt: "I need you all to stay with me...I will keep you safe, but we will mutually help each other in these dealings. My boss...Gus Fring, I know has it out to kill me...we, we need to stop him. Through my brother-in-law, I was able to sneak the Salamanca cousins an address to our confrontation yesterday...but, it was unsuccessful...and now I think they're coming for me...we...we need to move fast."
A faint sound of a fly can be heard buzzing around the trunk.
You approach Jesse at an abandoned location on the outskirts of town, where Jesse approaches the car
Jesse: Yo, what's gotten into you man...did you even sleep last night?
Walt: Jesse - I am trying to protect us...Gus..the cartel...everyone is after us -- *buzzing*
Jesse: Speak man...
*fly continues to buzz*
Jesse "Move over - I'm driving this thing yo"
Walt: We have to go to the desert -- I have money buried out there, then I need to get my family and we need to get out of here.
*fly continues to buzz and Walt freaks out*
Jesse: Will you get a hold of yourself man...yo gatorade me, !
Scene 7 - To'hajiilee
Racing off into the desert, around corners and turns into along straight-away, it soon becomes dawn once more and you approach the territory of To'hajiilee
The car frantically stops to see the area dug up and a pink, destroyed teddy bear sitting in one of the dug up holes.
Simultaneously DEA cars are crossing by...at this point in the attraction "Hank's Ride Along" - the C-ticket attraction, crosses paths with the E-ticket in an epic showdown, where people on the DEA side (the C-ticket), end up face to face with you...
The aggressive music stops...as the trunk slowly looks at the horizon...and a loud heartbeat begins to drum...as Walt screams...
Jesse: Mr. White, it's gonna be okay...
Walt manically laughs as the cars on the horizon slowly come closer to you...the manic laughing continues....
Suddenly - the entire cartel shows up, and the DEA, being outnumbers have having people on ride alongs, escapes and calls for backup, now leaving you and the cartel face to face....
From the other horizons, Gus and Mike approach with Mike warning the cartel to step down. Several members come out...guns at the ready...requesting Walter's money as payment...
Walter continues to manically laugh, but then stops when he sees Gus. The Breaking Bad theme music begins to play...and as your car continues slowly forward...continuing towards the site...
Gus and Mike on your left, the cartel on your right...and the DEA calling for backup....
Jesse, concerned at Walter's silence, asks what he's going to do? There is no response and your trunk turns into the unload area...
Post Show Scene "8" - Say My Name
As you exit the vehicle, the post-show area is themed to the desert interior similar to what was in Scene 7. You are now Heisenberg, and you get to make the final walk of fate.
Ironically, the song "Goodbye" plays in the background...the same epic song from when Gus-- well....fans of the show will recognize this song. Now the song has more meaning in the show, and connects with relevance in the attraction, because it is a foreshadow of what is to come for characters...
You make the trek out towards the exit with all of the dug up holes, and everyone looking in your direction - as a funny mirror you walk past gives you the impression that you're wearing Heisenberg's hat, glasses, and mustache as you continue to walk out towards the enemies.
You go to the hole with the pink teddy bear in it...much like the interactive queues in attractions such as Space Mountain, etc...there are several areas for interactivity so everyone in the queue line gets the opportunity to be "Heisenberg"
You press the pink teddy bear and out of the dug up holes, explosives detonate and on 360 degree screens around you, smoke envelops the area as you walk out in style to the song goodbye, as you exit back to the regular land area on the opposite side with the canyon range behind you...moving on to your next endeavor of survival.
C-Ticket Attraction - Hank's Ride Along
In the spirit of the earlier seasons of Breaking Bad, Walter's brother-in-law Hank used to take him on ride alongs to show him how he captures meth labs, which in fact Walt used to his advantage, but that is a whole other story.
On this C-ticket attraction, you'll slowly travel on a ride along with the DEA and Asac Schrader to capture this "Heisenberg" character who produces blue meth on the street.
While the queue of the E-ticket had more comedic elements moreso than the darker attraction, the C-ticket will take the humor and levity even further to offer a variety of attractions in the land. The comedic elements stemming from a run in with Jesse's meth head friends Stinky Pete and Badger, who, as you approach them in the car, act all silly and olaf to the situations at hand.
In addition the banter on the radio between Hank and Steve Gomez (his partner) add to the comedic elements as well.
The 5 minute attraction ends inside the E-ticket in fact. Where they actually catch Heisenberg, Gus, and the cartel in the desert, but since they have no backup, need to retreat for the time being, and hear a giant explosion behind you as you travel back to the DEA headquarters.
Restaurant - Los Pollos Hermanos
You can't have a Breaking Bad land without having Los Pollos Hermanos as a restaurant option. Not including it would be a missed opportunity, but including it also seems really obvious. Nonetheless, Los Pollos Hermanos is a fixture at the front of the land, as you can now taste the delectable chicken made famous on the show for yourself!
Serving fast food items akin to quick service restaurants around Universal, with the specialty item being fried chicken cooked to perfection by the "chicken brothers"
See...look how happy the customers are!
Tea Shop
A little bit of fan service, but close by to the Los Pollos Hermanos will be a small tea shop, featuring lots and lots of Stevia.
Be sure to tip your waiters and waitresses, or you may get something other than Stevia in your tea
The Safe House - Gift Shop
Well since Huell is still waiting at the safe house, he decided to open up a Breaking Bad merchandise location! Close by Saul's Law Office by the mini-mall strip, The Safe House will have a variety of Breaking Bad merchandise that will satisfied the most hardcore fans, to the beginners as well.
Special merchandise found only in Universal Orlando - you can get basically anything (except for actual meth) at the Safe House.
Felina
Breaking Bad is one of the most unique shows ever put on television - and obviously, one of my personal favorites. While it's very challenging to incorporate an entire finite TV series, without spoiling things, and not simply following the plot - what I tried to do was infuse a story that would be able to fit (somewhat) into the narrative.
This would explain why Walt kept the pink teddy bear after it was in his pool at the end of Season 2, and would explain why Gus wanted to hire Gale as a cook (aside from obvious reasons of Jesse) during Season 3. The "No Half Measures" attraction also plays into Walt's paranoia during Season 3 Episode 10 "Fly" and a hint at his more tyrannical nature towards the end of Season 4.
Overall, this was the project I was most looking forward to all season long, so I will conclude by saying, in the words of Heisenberg...
"I did this for me...I liked it..."
