Soarin' movie to change to a global theme?

[DocMcHulk]

One of the nice things about Soarin is it's infinitely changeable. It's not that hard to roll out a new movie every 4-5 years. It would take a few day of reprogramming the ride vehicles... and away you go. VERY little down time.

Heck, you could have a series of 4 or 5 and run them randomly so every ride is different.

Same with Toy Story mania.

 

[olmec26]

One of the nice things about Soarin is it's infinitely changeable. It's not that hard to roll out a new movie every 4-5 years. It would take a few day of reprogramming the ride vehicles... and away you go. VERY little down time.

Heck, you could have a series of 4 or 5 and run them randomly so every ride is different.

Same with Toy Story mania.

But you have to remember, they have to get the budget to film these movies...does anyone know what the budget of the current film was?

 

[dandaman]

I feel confident that Mr. Goldsmith could whip up a new soundtrack based on the original theme. I do agree however, the Soarin soundtrack is very very good and inspiring as well.

Edit: I continued to read only to find out that Mr. Goldsmith has passed (soared?) on. Seoooo... get that Hans Zimmer POTC movie guy to do it... he is good at reworking old themes and adding new ones as he did in Worlds End.

Was just about to say "Yeah, about that..." before I read the edit.

I'd be all for a new "global" movie, as long as someone can integrate the current Soarin' theme into certain parts of it. (Actually, ol' Hans was the first name I thought of for this. )

 

[RSoxNo1]

Am I the only one still waiting for the Soarin' scents air fresheners?

 

[Hrudey3032]

Am I the only one still waiting for the Soarin' scents air fresheners?

Sheer Brilliance!!!!!!

Better patent that idea real quick

 

[progroupie]

But you have to remember, they have to get the budget to film these movies...does anyone know what the budget of the current film was?

Was the current movie all Disney filmed? It just seems to me like Disney could have paid less for the rights to generic films of scenic California than they would have spent on doing it themselves. Not that Disney would ever cut corners like that...:lookaroun But I would think that there would be plenty of footage available if they decided to change the theme without spending a lot of money.

 

[Mr.EPCOT]

Was the current movie all Disney filmed? It just seems to me like Disney could have paid less for the rights to generic films of scenic California than they would have spent on doing it themselves. Not that Disney would ever cut corners like that...:lookaroun But I would think that there would be plenty of footage available if they decided to change the theme without spending a lot of money.

Yeah, it's all filmed by Disney. You have to remember that while there is probably plenty of stock footage like that out there, very little if any of it will be filmed in the large size format that's required for Soarin'.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

I'd love to see a new film for Soarin'. I really don't care what's on it, as long as its national or global. Just having it be one state is too narrow. There's a whole lot of land out there, and I'd like to see some of it.

And I'm glad I'm not the only one that thought LA, the Golden Gate Bridge, etc were not "natural wonders." Always found that kind of funny that they were described that way...

 

[olmec26]

Yeah, it's all filmed by Disney. You have to remember that while there is probably plenty of stock footage like that out there, very little if any of it will be filmed in the large size format that's required for Soarin'.

Not to mention in HD...

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I would prefer they made the world theme version just for Epcot as the California theme fits better in DCA seeing how it's a park about California and all. That and it'd make both rides unique in some way

 

[baz212]

They need to do something. I rode Soarin in May for the first time in may and was both impressed and dissappointed at the same. The ride itself was very impressive and DS5 loved it. However the adults in my party were very dissappointed in the quality of the ride film it was very scratched and seemed to be badly spliced in quite a few places. Popular or not it needs to either go down for a refurb or have an entirely new film installed.

 

[hpyhnt 1000]

They need to do something. I rode Soarin in May for the first time in may and was both impressed and dissappointed at the same. The ride itself was very impressive and DS5 loved it. However the adults in my party were very dissappointed in the quality of the ride film it was very scratched and seemed to be badly spliced in quite a few places. Popular or not it needs to either go down for a refurb or have an entirely new film installed.

Yeah, thats what happens after a few years. The quality definitely isn't as good as it was when the attraction first open. Back then, the video was really sharp, and it really did seem like you were looking down at California. I've noticed the same thing has happend to Mickey's Philarmagic. The 3-D just isn't as sharp as it used to be.

 

[JWG]

Not to mention in HD...

I can agree on the HD, but I guarantee there's plenty if IMAX format film of the world out there. I've seen plenty of it at various IMAX theaters over the years.

Problem is, most of it is for specific IMAX films that are doing exactly what Soarin' does less the theater experience, so I'm sure no one will surrender those videos.

 

[stitch2008]

I can agree on the HD, but I guarantee there's plenty if IMAX format film of the world out there. I've seen plenty of it at various IMAX theaters over the years.

Problem is, most of it is for specific IMAX films that are doing exactly what Soarin' does less the theater experience, so I'm sure no one will surrender those videos.

I don't think disney wants to use footage that has already been shown in IMAX theaters. I think they would prefer to shoot new footage so that they can get exactly the shots they want without having to settle on footage that looks somewhat like what they want.

 

[TOTGuy]

They need to do something. I rode Soarin in May for the first time in may and was both impressed and dissappointed at the same. The ride itself was very impressive and DS5 loved it. However the adults in my party were very dissappointed in the quality of the ride film it was very scratched and seemed to be badly spliced in quite a few places. Popular or not it needs to either go down for a refurb or have an entirely new film installed.

You should also keep in mind that the film is played about 100 times a day, 365 days a year. Maint. has told me they replace the film every 6 months and we have to order film cleanings 1-2 times a day as dust still manages to get on the film. More likely than not you caught the film right before a cleaning was called in. Riding in the morning assures you a clean film.

 

[ewensell3]

You should also keep in mind that the film is played about 100 times a day, 365 days a year. Maint. has told me they replace the film every 6 months and we have to order film cleanings 1-2 times a day as dust still manages to get on the film. More likely than not you caught the film right before a cleaning was called in. Riding in the morning assures you a clean film.

Any murmurs on if or when it might be converted to digital? That would alleviate all film maintenance and add the ability to quickly change between various films.

I suppose cost is the main holdup. The first IMAX digital systems came online earlier this year, so projectors are probably prohibitively expensive even when maintenance is taken into account.

On the otherhand, I would guess more eyeballs see this particular IMAX-based show than any other on the planet. Perhaps Disney could talk IMAX into providing some cheap/discounted projection in return for being named a "flagship" site? Just thinking out loud here.

 

[crowdcontroltap]

Maybe this will help all of you out. I talked to a good friend of mine who works backstage at Disney University and this person knows what is coming and what is not. They told me that it would change to Soarin' Over American soon and not Soarin' Over the World like some people have guessed (including yours truly).... she is 100% certain that is happening. Another thing she mentioned to me was about the Four Seasons Resort which I already knew some about but did not know that it would cater to a higher tax bracket of folks (lets just say it will cost you way more to stay here than at the Grand Floridian). They also dropped several hints as to a possibly new theme park idea that Disney is toying around with..... and no its not Beastly Kingdom. She said it would be a park more geared to people who had alot of money and wanted to get close to exotic animals. They also said it would be build near the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Just some info that I found out this past week. Take care and again two of these things are true and the other is still up in the air.

 

[yankspy]

Maybe this will help all of you out. I talked to a good friend of mine who works backstage at Disney University and this person knows what is coming and what is not. They told me that it would change to Soarin' Over American soon and not Soarin' Over the World like some people have guessed (including yours truly).... she is 100% certain that is happening. Another thing she mentioned to me was about the Four Seasons Resort which I already knew some about but did not know that it would cater to a higher tax bracket of folks (lets just say it will cost you way more to stay here than at the Grand Floridian). They also dropped several hints as to a possibly new theme park idea that Disney is toying around with..... and no its not Beastly Kingdom. She said it would be a park more geared to people who had alot of money and wanted to get close to exotic animals. They also said it would be build near the Animal Kingdom Lodge. Just some info that I found out this past week. Take care and again two of these things are true and the other is still up in the air.

You are refering to "Night Kingdom". If you want to know more about it just search that term and you will see about a half a dozen threads devoted to it. Thanks anyway though.:wave:

 

[Rob562]

I don't think disney wants to use footage that has already been shown in IMAX theaters. I think they would prefer to shoot new footage so that they can get exactly the shots they want without having to settle on footage that looks somewhat like what they want.

There are two problems with using stock IMAX footage in Soarin':

First, the footage would need to be in OMNIMAX format, and not the standard IMAX flat-screen format.

And the more limiting reason, even if they got stock OMNIMAX footage, Soarin's OMNIMAX screen is *upside-down* from how all other OMNIMAX screens are presented. All other OMNIMAX theaters the screen curves up and over the audience, not down and under.
And due to the way the image is filmed (via a distorted lens), there's no way of simply turning the film over to make it right-side-up. (And that also means Soarin's film could never be shown in a "normal" OMNIMAX theater) Soarin's film footage has to specifically be shot for the attraction.

-Rob

 

[olmec26]

Any murmurs on if or when it might be converted to digital? That would alleviate all film maintenance and add the ability to quickly change between various films.

I suppose cost is the main holdup. The first IMAX digital systems came online earlier this year, so projectors are probably prohibitively expensive even when maintenance is taken into account.

On the otherhand, I would guess more eyeballs see this particular IMAX-based show than any other on the planet. Perhaps Disney could talk IMAX into providing some cheap/discounted projection in return for being named a "flagship" site? Just thinking out loud here.

There are no OMNIMAX digital projectors yet, so it's easier to stick with film.