All themed rides should be immersive experiences. That goes without saying. To disregard the conveyance (or "ride") is to throw away one of the key tools in the toolbox. If a ride is nothing but the means through which we move and are directed from one scene to another, then let's call them shows instead (wait- is Carousel of Progress considered a show or ride?)
My point is that MOTION plays a huge part in IMMERSION. Themed rides can utilize so many senses that other art forms can't, so why not hit us with all of them. Are you really saying Soarin would be just as good if it didn't, you know, soar?
Your earlier post suggested the title HINGED on needing this element.. that somehow modern audiences could not do without and still be worthy of that E-ticket title. I was pointing out that the specific tool or element is not as important as the sum of the parts. And you can reach that pinnacle, even with modern audiences, without that element specifically. So to say you really need more of that, or that it's a important checkbox -- that I whole heartedly disagree with.
I would never downgrade an attraction for missing a particular element... if it performed well and achieved the desired result without. That's the essential Disney -- achievement of that storytelling or suspension of disbelief without necessarily taking the direct, literal path.
So in the case of soarin - it's not the motion platform that made it such a hit. It was the composition of the film, the score, the editing, the scale, AND the motion base. Soarin' could have been done with VR headsets and some physical effects and had much of similar impact. The same? No, it would differ.. but arguably much of the emotional impact would remain.
The point is do not get fixated on one tool in the toolbox and think that piece used successfully somehow is a 'must' going forward.
Epcot gave us sights, sounds, and even smells. But the "rides" were more akin to a leisurely stroll though exhibits.
And that's why we've used the term 'attraction' forever instead of 'rides' when it comes to themed entertainment. The term ride is so limited and constrained.
Look at things like the Star Trek Experience... top class stuff that didn't constrain itself simply to being stuck in a ride vehicle.
So I still protest your statement that
I think there is a justifiable expectation that something built today that is deserving of "E Ticket" status needs to be more than a sit-down walk-through. I believe the need for physical sensation in rides has gone up while the need for length has gone down.
And suggest however they get there is less significant to the impact that they do. And star wars I think will be a version of that. I think everyone will get bigger goose bumps walking through imperial hallways than they would simply in some ride vehicle in that same space.
