Why not say that the distinction is that shows rely on live human performers to a considerable extent and run at set times rather then continuously - so Festival is a show and Bugs isn’t. Isn’t that arbitrary distinction just as logical?
Or how about just acknowledging that this is silly hair-splitting and even Disney doesn’t distinguish between “shows” and “rides” and we can just call them “attractions,” because guests experience them all as entertainment consumed during a day in the park?
No, I think your example of categorizing shows as live performances only is illogical. There is a very clear distinction between a ride and a show. We're discussing screen rides, not screen attractions. A 3D theater attraction that doesn't utilize any type of ride vehicle is a show. Disney also doesn't like to call their rides "rides" because they want you to think of them as the thematic experience they are attempting to be. I'm not sure what point you're trying to make by suggesting categorizing Impressions de France with Race Through New York other than Disney Bad, Universal Good.
Are we counting the lily pad things above you, as those are basically screens/projections.
Also, when we mention the "screenz!" argument, is projection mapping considered screen-based also?
There's a lot of nuance IMO with this type of discussion...technology is advancing and I think the mixture of physical set pieces with screens if it's a moving ride vehicle is the best method for immersion.
I believe the distinction between "screen rides" and "rides that utilize screens" should be made, and this is how I would categorize them:
1. If the screens
are the show scenes, as in, there might be physical sets around the screen but most or all of the action is happening on the screen, and
2. If more than 1/2 of the ride time is utilizing said screens
= screen ride
1. If the ride uses screens but they are not the primary focus of the scene, IE "set enhancement", or
2. If the screen-focused segments are less than 1/2 of the ride time
= a ride that utilizes screens
- All traditional simulators, both theater based and simulator cabin/pod/capsule based are obviously screen rides. (Flight of Passage, Star Tours, Smuggler's Run, Simpsons, Fallon, etc)
- MuppetVision, Shrek - not rides, so not screen rides.
- Toy Story Midway Mania - the screens are 95% of the experience, so, screen ride.
- Rise of the Resistance and Na'Vi River Journey - not screen rides, the screens function as set enhancement. The final escape pod segment on ROTR is only a small portion of the overall ride time.
- Spider-Man is perhaps 75%/25% screen/physical scene. There are ample physical sets but the majority of the ride time has you focused on the screens. It's a screen ride but fair to call it a simulator/dark ride hybrid.
- Transformers is like 90% screen, and the physical sets only serve as transitions between the screens. Definite screen ride.
- Forbidden Journey is almost exactly 50/50, not a "screen ride", but a "ride that uses screens".
- Ratatouille - definite screen ride.
