Team Goelz: SYWTBAI Season 14, Project Eleven Open Brainstorming

[Pi on my Cake]

HOLY COW! THOSE ARE SOME LONG FREAKIN HOURS!

Lol, that's Disney. It's a little worse this week since some cast in my shop disappeared so we had to pick up their slack

 

[Basketbuddy101]

I do need some help finishing this. I've finished up to the point where guests board the vehicles. Again, THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE PROJECT. If anyone wants to do a few scenes, let me know asap.




Meanwhile, in an alternate 2013…

Host: …and, I mean…it's just fascinating, the success of this film, and look, I'm sure you have a tremendous amount of respect for Disney and Marvel but to…to beat out 'Iron Man 3,' at the box office, I just, I have to know. What is—what is that like?

Shyamalan: [Chuckles] You know, I don't really like to think of it like that. My only concern was to just… make sure that we didn't lose sight of our ultimate goal, which was…to make something that people could, you know, just really, really enjoy and…I mean, just the way the film has been received by not just the fans here but…all around the world. It was just…a really great opportunity for all of us who worked on it.

Host: [Smiling] Especially Will Smith.

Shyamalan: [Laughs] Especially Will Smith.

Host: [Laughing] So—So, you've obviously been working on the second film which is releasing in 2015, correct?

Shyamalan: That's right.

Host: And the whole cast agreed to return, at least from my understanding, and I would think that…I mean, that's rare, isn't it, to have Will Smith…Will 'frickin' Smith actually sign off and agree to be in a sequel? Can you tell us more about that?

Shyamalan: Yeah, it was great to get him back for this next one, especially because we also have Willow on board now, and—she's great, I mean…if you think her music is great, you should wait to see her acting, I mean, it's just—it's just phenomenal.

Host: And you have, obviously, 7 sequels planned from 2015 all the way to 2029—I'm sure James Cameron Approves.

Shyamalan: [Silence]

Host: So tell me about this—can you clarify something for all of us watching at home? This rumor about…a possible theme park ride with, I mean—everyone's just—just talking about it, nonstop. We've all heard this and that—so many things. Can you tell us anything about it?

Shyamalan: [He looks around, seemingly communicating with someone off camera] I…am not so sure [He laughs]. Can I?

Host: [Grinning] I hope this is going where I think it's going.

Shyamalan: [He smiles and then looks at the camera] I don't even think I'm allowed to do this to be honest.

Host: The people are waiting so by all means.

Shyamalan: Alright, alright [He turns to the camera]. I'm happy to announce that I, along with a team of really talented people at Universal Creative, will be taking you, the fans of 'After Earth,' 1000 years into the future with 'Operation: After Earth,' opening summer 2015 at Islands of Adventure.

Operation: After Earth

It is the summer of 2015, and the site of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' has since been converted into 'New Colony 1,' which in the context of the film's extended story represents mankind's attempt to repopulate the earth, beginning with a stretch of land that was once Virginia. After the events of 'After Earth,' Cypher Raige learned to fully embrace his son. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to embrace a personality in the process. Kitai, Cypher's son and newly-appointed ranger, is assigned the task of taming the wildlife surrounding the new colony. Both Cypher and Kitai, however, decide that such a task requires additional help, and thus, guests are invited to 'New Colony 1' as "Junior Rangers" to assist the project. Before guests can begin their adventure, however, they must first pass a mandatory inspection at the colony's training facility. Fans of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' will be disappointed to find that the relatively-beloved attraction has disappeared from existence, at least in theme. In an effort to minimize costs, it was decided that the aesthetic of 'Alien Attack' was similar enough to that of 'After Earth' to reduce any change to the façade, and thus, with the exception of a few new sleek surface panels, the exterior and nearby gift shops will remain identical to the original.

The Queue:

Not only did Universal Creative decide it was economically-efficient to reuse the original exterior, but it was deemed preferable to make no structural changes to the queue as well. Guests find themselves in the same lobby as before. Granted there are surface changes to be found, such as the new sleek, sterile metallic panels that line the walls, but for the most part, the changes are on the subtle side of things. After a group of guests are escorted into the small lobby, a brief spiel delivers some exposition via PA system. "Greetings, junior rangers. Your presence is very much appreciated. As you know, New Colony 1 has recently completed the first stage of its construction. We cannot fully establish ourselves on this once-familiar planet until we learn to master its landscape, and that means controlling the local wildlife. The prime commander, Cypher Raige, has helped to alleviate the high number of beast attacks around our facility, but even does not have the capacity to take on an army, and that is where you come in. We have arranged for a shuttle to take you to the outskirts of the city; there you will engage these beasts in combat and revert the landscape wildlife to an acceptable level. The prime commander and his son will assist you on this mission. Good luck, junior rangers."

Guests proceed into the familiar elevator from the 'Alien Attack' queue. Large LCD monitors are fixed to each side of the elevator, giving guests a view of the outside world, specifically the sprawling natural landscape in the distance—trees, rivers, towering cliffs, etc. The elevator "moves" upward a few floors and the doors subsequently open. Guests proceed down the familiar chrome hallway and past a circular room that once housed two alien creatures sitting on a lounge drinking coffee. The area has since been converted into Cypher Raige's office, complete with a desk and various computer panels, display monitors, hanging potted plants, and strangely-designed, honeycomb-like walls. Guests then proceed down another hallway and into the largest room in the queue—the two-story video conference room, virtually identical to its original incarnation, with the exception of the alien creatures manning the controls on the floor below. This time, a large ursa cocoon is situated below. Will Smith is, of course, no stranger to this room. He was featured onscreen for 'Alien Attack,' and he will return to this monitor once again, albeit as Cypher Raige. The stoic commander appears onscreen before guests. Because they'll only be passing for a few seconds, the commander's dialogue will be kept short—he will discuss fear and its effect in preventing us from taking control of our present situations. Guests proceed into the familiar gallery of weapons and assorted alien technology; given the aesthetic similarities between 'Men in Black' and 'After Earth,' the changes here will be subtle. Finally, guests proceed downstairs and to the loading area, but rather than board small, slow moving shooting gallery-style vehicles, guests board sleek, aerodynamically-designed "hangar vehicles" based on a design from the original film. The vehicles move horizontally through the attraction space, which was gutted to accommodate the entirely new attraction interior. They can hold up to twelve guests per shuttle, with two rows of six facing in opposite directions to reach a higher capacity. The long, thing vehicles are similar to their 'Forbidden Journey' counterparts, with their size and shape being the primary difference.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

I do need some help finishing this. I've finished up to the point where guests board the vehicles. Again, THIS IS NOT A COMPLETE PROJECT. If anyone wants to do a few scenes, let me know asap.




Meanwhile, in an alternate 2013…

Host: …and, I mean…it's just fascinating, the success of this film, and look, I'm sure you have a tremendous amount of respect for Disney and Marvel but to…to beat out 'Iron Man 3,' at the box office, I just, I have to know. What is—what is that like?

Shyamalan: [Chuckles] You know, I don't really like to think of it like that. My only concern was to just… make sure that we didn't lose sight of our ultimate goal, which was…to make something that people could, you know, just really, really enjoy and…I mean, just the way the film has been received by not just the fans here but…all around the world. It was just…a really great opportunity for all of us who worked on it.

Host: [Smiling] Especially Will Smith.

Shyamalan: [Laughs] Especially Will Smith.

Host: [Laughing] So—So, you've obviously been working on the second film which is releasing in 2015, correct?

Shyamalan: That's right.

Host: And the whole cast agreed to return, at least from my understanding, and I would think that…I mean, that's rare, isn't it, to have Will Smith…Will 'frickin' Smith actually sign off and agree to be in a sequel? Can you tell us more about that?

Shyamalan: Yeah, it was great to get him back for this next one, especially because we also have Willow on board now, and—she's great, I mean…if you think her music is great, you should wait to see her acting, I mean, it's just—it's just phenomenal.

Host: And you have, obviously, 7 sequels planned from 2015 all the way to 2029—I'm sure James Cameron Approves.

Shyamalan: [Silence]

Host: So tell me about this—can you clarify something for all of us watching at home? This rumor about…a possible theme park ride with, I mean—everyone's just—just talking about it, nonstop. We've all heard this and that—so many things. Can you tell us anything about it?

Shyamalan: [He looks around, seemingly communicating with someone off camera] I…am not so sure [He laughs]. Can I?

Host: [Grinning] I hope this is going where I think it's going.

Shyamalan: [He smiles and then looks at the camera] I don't even think I'm allowed to do this to be honest.

Host: The people are waiting so by all means.

Shyamalan: Alright, alright [He turns to the camera]. I'm happy to announce that I, along with a team of really talented people at Universal Creative, will be taking you, the fans of 'After Earth,' 1000 years into the future with 'Operation: After Earth,' opening summer 2015 at Islands of Adventure.

Operation: After Earth

It is the summer of 2015, and the site of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' has since been converted into 'New Colony 1,' which in the context of the film's extended story represents mankind's attempt to repopulate the earth, beginning with a stretch of land that was once Virginia. After the events of 'After Earth,' Cypher Raige learned to fully embrace his son. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to embrace a personality in the process. Kitai, Cypher's son and newly-appointed ranger, is assigned the task of taming the wildlife surrounding the new colony. Both Cypher and Kitai, however, decide that such a task requires additional help, and thus, guests are invited to 'New Colony 1' as "Junior Rangers" to assist the project. Before guests can begin their adventure, however, they must first pass a mandatory inspection at the colony's training facility. Fans of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' will be disappointed to find that the relatively-beloved attraction has disappeared from existence, at least in theme. In an effort to minimize costs, it was decided that the aesthetic of 'Alien Attack' was similar enough to that of 'After Earth' to reduce any change to the façade, and thus, with the exception of a few new sleek surface panels, the exterior and nearby gift shops will remain identical to the original.

The Queue:

Not only did Universal Creative decide it was economically-efficient to reuse the original exterior, but it was deemed preferable to make no structural changes to the queue as well. Guests find themselves in the same lobby as before. Granted there are surface changes to be found, such as the new sleek, sterile metallic panels that line the walls, but for the most part, the changes are on the subtle side of things. After a group of guests are escorted into the small lobby, a brief spiel delivers some exposition via PA system. "Greetings, junior rangers. Your presence is very much appreciated. As you know, New Colony 1 has recently completed the first stage of its construction. We cannot fully establish ourselves on this once-familiar planet until we learn to master its landscape, and that means controlling the local wildlife. The prime commander, Cypher Raige, has helped to alleviate the high number of beast attacks around our facility, but even does not have the capacity to take on an army, and that is where you come in. We have arranged for a shuttle to take you to the outskirts of the city; there you will engage these beasts in combat and revert the landscape wildlife to an acceptable level. The prime commander and his son will assist you on this mission. Good luck, junior rangers."

Guests proceed into the familiar elevator from the 'Alien Attack' queue. Large LCD monitors are fixed to each side of the elevator, giving guests a view of the outside world, specifically the sprawling natural landscape in the distance—trees, rivers, towering cliffs, etc. The elevator "moves" upward a few floors and the doors subsequently open. Guests proceed down the familiar chrome hallway and past a circular room that once housed two alien creatures sitting on a lounge drinking coffee. The area has since been converted into Cypher Raige's office, complete with a desk and various computer panels, display monitors, hanging potted plants, and strangely-designed, honeycomb-like walls. Guests then proceed down another hallway and into the largest room in the queue—the two-story video conference room, virtually identical to its original incarnation, with the exception of the alien creatures manning the controls on the floor below. This time, a large ursa cocoon is situated below. Will Smith is, of course, no stranger to this room. He was featured onscreen for 'Alien Attack,' and he will return to this monitor once again, albeit as Cypher Raige. The stoic commander appears onscreen before guests. Because they'll only be passing for a few seconds, the commander's dialogue will be kept short—he will discuss fear and its effect in preventing us from taking control of our present situations. Guests proceed into the familiar gallery of weapons and assorted alien technology; given the aesthetic similarities between 'Men in Black' and 'After Earth,' the changes here will be subtle. Finally, guests proceed downstairs and to the loading area, but rather than board small, slow moving shooting gallery-style vehicles, guests board sleek, aerodynamically-designed "hangar vehicles" based on a design from the original film. The vehicles move horizontally through the attraction space, which was gutted to accommodate the entirely new attraction interior. They can hold up to twelve guests per shuttle, with two rows of six facing in opposite directions to reach a higher capacity. The long, thing vehicles are similar to their 'Forbidden Journey' counterparts, with their size and shape being the primary difference.

First off, holy cow i forgot Will Smith's character was named Cipher Rage! Was that movie written by an 5 year old lol

Second off, can we make the talk show host (love the into btw) A Ryan Seacrest Type from Bojack Horseman. I feel like that joke works well with the tongue in cheek nature of the project. Also, I just love that show haha. Feel free to veto that.

Third off, I can help. I figure the three most memorable (memorable is used loosely when describing After Earth) sequences was the jungle full of animals, the gliding off the waterfall over the cliff, and the battle with the alien in the caves. Universal tends to like sticking to what's familiar, so we could keep that as our three main parts too, just changed to our plot. A jungle sequence that's a mix of Screenz!! and practical effects. A flying sequencedone with the screena like forbidden journey, but angled downward so you feel like you're actually flying. And a cramped, intense finale with the alien in some caves done with all practical to make it feel more real. There at just my quick ideas, I don't know what you had planned

fourth off, if this meant to be a shooting ride?

 

[Basketbuddy101]

First off, holy cow i forgot Will Smith's character was named Cipher Rage! Was that movie written by an 5 year old lol

Second off, can we make the talk show host (love the into btw) A Ryan Seacrest Type from Bojack Horseman. I feel like that joke works well with the tongue in cheek nature of the project. Also, I just love that show haha. Feel free to veto that.

Third off, I can help. I figure the three most memorable (memorable is used loosely when describing After Earth) sequences was the jungle full of animals, the gliding off the waterfall over the cliff, and the battle with the alien in the caves. Universal tends to like sticking to what's familiar, so we could keep that as our three main parts too, just changed to our plot. A jungle sequence that's a mix of Screenz!! and practical effects. A flying sequencedone with the screena like forbidden journey, but angled downward so you feel like you're actually flying. And a cramped, intense finale with the alien in some caves done with all practical to make it feel more real. There at just my quick ideas, I don't know what you had planned

fourth off, if this meant to be a shooting ride?

Thanks for the feedback! I was hoping to shy away from the shooting element because that might downgrade the ride to a D/C ticket by default, unless we can make the attraction thrilling enough to step it up to an E.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Thanks for the feedback! I was hoping to shy away from the shooting element because that might downgrade the ride to a D/C ticket by default, unless we can make the attraction thrilling enough to step it up to an E.

My vote would be no shooting as well. I just wasn't sure since you kept saying we were fighting off the wildlife if that meant we were supposed to have weapons

 

[Snoopy]

I'm signing off guys since I'm going to work very early tomorrow, so I'll be back tomorrow afternoon. Well done to everyone this round, and I can't wait to see what the other projects look like.

 

[Basketbuddy101]

I'm gonna go ahead and finish the ride. We're running out of time!

 

[DisneyManOne]

"Bedtime Stories"

Inspired by the 2008 film Happy Madison produced for Disney, Bedtime Stories takes guests aboard a flying bed for what is essentially Peter Pan's Flight on steriods.

Stretching out from the reaches of the Imagination Pavilion, the ride's entrance takes us through a house, where we can hear Skeeter telling stories to the children of his friend and love interest, Jill. Taking flight aboard a canopy-covered bed, we fly off into the worlds Skeeter and the kids dream up.

First stop, medieval times, where we meet a medieval squire named "Sir Fixalot" and his rival "Sir Buttkiss". Throughout the story the kids make their own additions, such as the king giving Sir Fixalot a chance to prove himself. During the celebration, Patrick announces that "it starts raining gumballs" and the story ends. Indeed, our bed is pelted with falling gumballs in a practical effect combining sound and motion atop the canopy.

Next, a Western theme in which he receives a free "Ferrari" horse from a Native American chief. The children do not corroborate the story, but have him save a damsel in distress from several criminals. Then, it's off to Greece to meet Skeetacus, a Greek gladiator who, after impressing the emperor and a stadium of onlookers, attracts the attention of the "fairest maiden". He and the maiden walk into a restaurant where all the girls who were mean to him growing up are sitting at a table, they are to be so impressed by the maiden he is with, they start to nervously sing the "Hokey Pokey". After a meal they go for a walk on the beach where a large hairy man who is having trouble breathing is washed up on the shore, and after Skeetacus saves this man's life, a rainstorm sends him and the maiden into a magical cave which has Abraham Lincoln in it.

Finally, it's off to the far reaches of space, where Skeeter battles the snotty Kendall in anti-gravity. Our bed hems and haws to and fro, as if affected by the anti-gravity. Skeeter emerges victorious, and the stories conclude.

Sorry if it's a little bare-boned, I've been super-busy all weekend. Feel free to make as many touch-ups as you see fit.

 

[Basketbuddy101]

Meanwhile, in an alternate 2013…



Host: …and, I mean…it's just fascinating, the success of this film, and look, I'm sure you have a tremendous amount of respect for Disney and Marvel but to…to beat out 'Iron Man 3,' at the box office, I just, I have to know. What is—what is that like?

Shyamalan: [Chuckles] You know, I don't really like to think of it like that. My only concern was to just… make sure that we didn't lose sight of our ultimate goal, which was…to make something that people could, you know, just really, really enjoy and…I mean, just the way the film has been received by not just the fans here but…all around the world. It was just…a really great opportunity for all of us who worked on it.

Host: [Smiling] Especially Will Smith.

Shyamalan: [Laughs] Especially Will Smith.

Host: [Laughing] So—So, you've obviously been working on the second film which is releasing in 2015, correct?

Shyamalan: That's right.

Host: And the whole cast agreed to return, at least from my understanding, and I would think that…I mean, that's rare, isn't it, to have Will Smith…Will 'frickin' Smith actually sign off and agree to be in a sequel? Can you tell us more about that?

Shyamalan: Yeah, it was great to get him back for this next one, especially because we also have Willow on board now, and—she's great, I mean…if you think her music is great, you should wait to see her acting, I mean, it's just—it's just phenomenal.

Host: And you have, obviously, 7 sequels planned from 2015 all the way to 2029—I'm sure James Cameron Approves.

Shyamalan: [Silence]

Host: So tell me about this—can you clarify something for all of us watching at home? This rumor about…a possible theme park ride with, I mean—everyone's just—just talking about it, nonstop. We've all heard this and that—so many things. Can you tell us anything about it?

Shyamalan: [He looks around, seemingly communicating with someone off camera] I…am not so sure [He laughs]. Can I?

Host: [Grinning] I hope this is going where I think it's going.

Shyamalan: [He smiles and then looks at the camera] I don't even think I'm allowed to do this to be honest.

Host: The people are waiting so by all means.

Shyamalan: Alright, alright [He turns to the camera]. I'm happy to announce that I, along with a team of really talented people at Universal Creative, will be taking you, the fans of 'After Earth,' 1000 years into the future with 'Operation: After Earth,' opening summer 2015 at Islands of Adventure.

Operation: After Earth

It is the summer of 2015, and the site of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' has since been converted into 'New Colony 1,' which in the context of the film's extended story represents mankind's attempt to repopulate the earth, beginning with a stretch of land that was once Virginia. After the events of 'After Earth,' Cypher Raige learned to fully embrace his son. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to embrace a personality in the process. Kitai, Cypher's son and newly-appointed ranger, is assigned the task of taming the wildlife surrounding the new colony. Both Cypher and Kitai, however, decide that such a task requires additional help, and thus, guests are invited to 'New Colony 1' as "Junior Rangers" to assist the project. Before guests can begin their adventure, however, they must first pass a mandatory inspection at the colony's training facility. Fans of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' will be disappointed to find that the relatively-beloved attraction has disappeared from existence, at least in theme. In an effort to minimize costs, it was decided that the aesthetic of 'Alien Attack' was similar enough to that of 'After Earth' to reduce any change to the façade, and thus, with the exception of a few new sleek surface panels, the exterior and nearby gift shops will remain identical to the original.






The Queue:

Not only did Universal Creative decide it was economically-efficient to reuse the original exterior, but it was deemed preferable to make no structural changes to the queue as well. Guests find themselves in the same lobby as before. Granted there are surface changes to be found, such as the new sleek, sterile metallic panels that line the walls, but for the most part, the changes are on the subtle side of things. After a group of guests are escorted into the small lobby, a brief spiel delivers some exposition via PA system. "Greetings, junior rangers. Your presence is very much appreciated. As you know, New Colony 1 has recently completed the first stage of its construction. We cannot fully establish ourselves on this once-familiar planet until we learn to master its landscape, and that means controlling the local wildlife. The prime commander, Cypher Raige, has helped to alleviate the high number of beast attacks around our facility, but even does not have the capacity to take on an army, and that is where you come in. We have arranged for a shuttle to take you to the outskirts of the city; there you will engage these beasts in combat and revert the landscape wildlife to an acceptable level. The prime commander and his son will assist you on this mission. Good luck, junior rangers."

Guests proceed into the familiar elevator from the 'Alien Attack' queue. Large LCD monitors are fixed to each side of the elevator, giving guests a view of the outside world, specifically the sprawling natural landscape in the distance—trees, rivers, towering cliffs, etc. The elevator "moves" upward a few floors and the doors subsequently open. Guests proceed down the familiar chrome hallway and past a circular room that once housed two alien creatures sitting on a lounge drinking coffee. The area has since been converted into Cypher Raige's office, complete with a desk and various computer panels, display monitors, hanging potted plants, and strangely-designed, honeycomb-like walls. Guests then proceed down another hallway and into the largest room in the queue—the two-story video conference room, virtually identical to its original incarnation, with the exception of the alien creatures manning the controls on the floor below. This time, a large ursa cocoon is situated below. Will Smith is, of course, no stranger to this room. He was featured onscreen for 'Alien Attack,' and he will return to this monitor once again, albeit as Cypher Raige. The stoic commander appears onscreen before guests. Because they'll only be passing for a few seconds, the commander's dialogue will be kept short—he will discuss fear and its effect in preventing us from taking control of our present situations.


Guests proceed into the familiar gallery of weapons and assorted alien technology; given the aesthetic similarities between 'Men in Black' and 'After Earth,' the changes here will be subtle. Finally, guests proceed downstairs and to the loading area, but rather than board small, slow moving shooting gallery-style vehicles, guests board sleek, aerodynamically-designed "hangar vehicles" based on a design from the original film. The vehicles move horizontally through the attraction space, which was gutted to accommodate the entirely new attraction interior. They can hold up to twelve guests per shuttle, with two rows of six facing in opposite directions to reach a higher capacity. The long, thing vehicles are similar to their 'Forbidden Journey' counterparts, with their size and shape being the primary difference. The attraction itself will utilize slightly larger dome screens, wider and higher in resolution.

Credit: Colie Wertz


The Ride:

The vehicles move slowly sideways and through the facility, winding through a hangar, sleek vehicles hanging from up above. Suddenly, one of those vehicles is lowered from the ceiling, revealing Cypher Raige and Kitai Raige in full animatronic form. "Welcome, recruits. Let us tend to our mission," Cypher says, his hand on a control panel. Kitai is holding his familiar dual cutlass; his suit suddenly turns black. "I like this suit, dad, but I think it's something bad," he says. Cypher ignores him. The vehicle exits the hangar and a series of familiar scenes from the film play out. At first, the vehicle glides through a fully-realized, physical forest, with trees towering to the ceiling, thick fog surrounding guests. At first, guests find themselves facing a pack of oversized black bears, presented in full animatronic form. Before the bears can attack guests, however, Kitai appears via musion screen and sends the cutlass flying at one of the bears, scaring them away. "I can't bear these guys, dad," Kitai says. Cypher ignores him. The vehicle then plunges into a creek, floating above the water. A pack of killer brook trout begin flying out of the water in an effect similar to that of the piranha attack in the Jungle Cruise. Cypher appears via musion screen and catches one of the fish with his own cutlass. Kitai commends his father for the catch. "I always thought your fishing skills were a little watered down." Cypher ignores him.

The vehicles then travel in front of one of the dome screens, sending guests upwards toward the sky flying alongside a pack of oversized flying eagles. Cypher and Kitai trail the beasts on their own vehicle. Kitai swings aimlessly at one of the eagles with his cutlass. "How do you have the ea-gall to take these guys on, dad?" Cypher ignores him. Guests swoop through the skies and send the eagles tumbling to their deaths. The prime commander clearly means business, as guests discover when one of the eagles swipes at guests' vehicle, sending them tumbling into the depths of an even more foreboding forest environment. Guests quickly encounter a pack of vicious monkeys. The animatronic creatures swipe their claws furiously, their eyes glowing. Before they can go in for the kill, Cypher and Kitai fall from the sky via musion screen, their vehicle blowing up in the background, an effect achieved via light and fog effects. Kitai examines the scene. "Next time, let's let mom drive." Cypher ignores him once more. He swings his cutlass at one of the animatronics, which respond to the actions of Will Smith's onscreen character. Kitai looks around nervously. "I don't think we're out of the woods yet, dad." Cypher ignores him. Guests continue through the forest and into a dank cave. Guests smell a musty odor. Darkness. The sound of a vicious creature can be heard somewhere deep in the cave. Kitai and Cypher appear walking into the cave via musion once more. Kitai is holding a futuristic lantern. "Let's shed some light on this subject, eh, dad?" Cypher ignores him. "We have been tracked by an Ursa. Be mindful of the present moment and size this opportunity to cleanse the earth once and for all." Kitai looks at the ceiling, terrified. Guests move through the physical environment slowly. Before they can take in the well-sculpted rockwork, a massive Ursa animatronic bursts into the scene, flaunting its terrible mouth at guests. The vehicle bumps and speeds in the opposite direction, tumbling through darkness in an attempt to escape the beast. After the chase is over, the Ursa moves in for the kill, stopping guests at the edge of a cliff inside the cave. Cypher appears once more via musion and stabs the creature in the head. The creature tumbles to the ground, sending guests down a hill into darkness, past a corner and out of the cave. Cypher and Kitai greet guests from outside the cave, surrounded by rubble. Kitai beams at guests. "I guess that Ursa's plan got off to a rocky start." Cypher looks upward, clearly infuriated by the insufferable puns. The vehicle returns to the station.

 

[Pi on my Cake]

Meanwhile, in an alternate 2013…



Host: …and, I mean…it's just fascinating, the success of this film, and look, I'm sure you have a tremendous amount of respect for Disney and Marvel but to…to beat out 'Iron Man 3,' at the box office, I just, I have to know. What is—what is that like?

Shyamalan: [Chuckles] You know, I don't really like to think of it like that. My only concern was to just… make sure that we didn't lose sight of our ultimate goal, which was…to make something that people could, you know, just really, really enjoy and…I mean, just the way the film has been received by not just the fans here but…all around the world. It was just…a really great opportunity for all of us who worked on it.

Host: [Smiling] Especially Will Smith.

Shyamalan: [Laughs] Especially Will Smith.

Host: [Laughing] So—So, you've obviously been working on the second film which is releasing in 2015, correct?

Shyamalan: That's right.

Host: And the whole cast agreed to return, at least from my understanding, and I would think that…I mean, that's rare, isn't it, to have Will Smith…Will 'frickin' Smith actually sign off and agree to be in a sequel? Can you tell us more about that?

Shyamalan: Yeah, it was great to get him back for this next one, especially because we also have Willow on board now, and—she's great, I mean…if you think her music is great, you should wait to see her acting, I mean, it's just—it's just phenomenal.

Host: And you have, obviously, 7 sequels planned from 2015 all the way to 2029—I'm sure James Cameron Approves.

Shyamalan: [Silence]

Host: So tell me about this—can you clarify something for all of us watching at home? This rumor about…a possible theme park ride with, I mean—everyone's just—just talking about it, nonstop. We've all heard this and that—so many things. Can you tell us anything about it?

Shyamalan: [He looks around, seemingly communicating with someone off camera] I…am not so sure [He laughs]. Can I?

Host: [Grinning] I hope this is going where I think it's going.

Shyamalan: [He smiles and then looks at the camera] I don't even think I'm allowed to do this to be honest.

Host: The people are waiting so by all means.

Shyamalan: Alright, alright [He turns to the camera]. I'm happy to announce that I, along with a team of really talented people at Universal Creative, will be taking you, the fans of 'After Earth,' 1000 years into the future with 'Operation: After Earth,' opening summer 2015 at Islands of Adventure.

Operation: After Earth

It is the summer of 2015, and the site of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' has since been converted into 'New Colony 1,' which in the context of the film's extended story represents mankind's attempt to repopulate the earth, beginning with a stretch of land that was once Virginia. After the events of 'After Earth,' Cypher Raige learned to fully embrace his son. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to embrace a personality in the process. Kitai, Cypher's son and newly-appointed ranger, is assigned the task of taming the wildlife surrounding the new colony. Both Cypher and Kitai, however, decide that such a task requires additional help, and thus, guests are invited to 'New Colony 1' as "Junior Rangers" to assist the project. Before guests can begin their adventure, however, they must first pass a mandatory inspection at the colony's training facility. Fans of 'Men in Black: Alien Attack' will be disappointed to find that the relatively-beloved attraction has disappeared from existence, at least in theme. In an effort to minimize costs, it was decided that the aesthetic of 'Alien Attack' was similar enough to that of 'After Earth' to reduce any change to the façade, and thus, with the exception of a few new sleek surface panels, the exterior and nearby gift shops will remain identical to the original.






The Queue:

Not only did Universal Creative decide it was economically-efficient to reuse the original exterior, but it was deemed preferable to make no structural changes to the queue as well. Guests find themselves in the same lobby as before. Granted there are surface changes to be found, such as the new sleek, sterile metallic panels that line the walls, but for the most part, the changes are on the subtle side of things. After a group of guests are escorted into the small lobby, a brief spiel delivers some exposition via PA system. "Greetings, junior rangers. Your presence is very much appreciated. As you know, New Colony 1 has recently completed the first stage of its construction. We cannot fully establish ourselves on this once-familiar planet until we learn to master its landscape, and that means controlling the local wildlife. The prime commander, Cypher Raige, has helped to alleviate the high number of beast attacks around our facility, but even does not have the capacity to take on an army, and that is where you come in. We have arranged for a shuttle to take you to the outskirts of the city; there you will engage these beasts in combat and revert the landscape wildlife to an acceptable level. The prime commander and his son will assist you on this mission. Good luck, junior rangers."

Guests proceed into the familiar elevator from the 'Alien Attack' queue. Large LCD monitors are fixed to each side of the elevator, giving guests a view of the outside world, specifically the sprawling natural landscape in the distance—trees, rivers, towering cliffs, etc. The elevator "moves" upward a few floors and the doors subsequently open. Guests proceed down the familiar chrome hallway and past a circular room that once housed two alien creatures sitting on a lounge drinking coffee. The area has since been converted into Cypher Raige's office, complete with a desk and various computer panels, display monitors, hanging potted plants, and strangely-designed, honeycomb-like walls. Guests then proceed down another hallway and into the largest room in the queue—the two-story video conference room, virtually identical to its original incarnation, with the exception of the alien creatures manning the controls on the floor below. This time, a large ursa cocoon is situated below. Will Smith is, of course, no stranger to this room. He was featured onscreen for 'Alien Attack,' and he will return to this monitor once again, albeit as Cypher Raige. The stoic commander appears onscreen before guests. Because they'll only be passing for a few seconds, the commander's dialogue will be kept short—he will discuss fear and its effect in preventing us from taking control of our present situations.


Guests proceed into the familiar gallery of weapons and assorted alien technology; given the aesthetic similarities between 'Men in Black' and 'After Earth,' the changes here will be subtle. Finally, guests proceed downstairs and to the loading area, but rather than board small, slow moving shooting gallery-style vehicles, guests board sleek, aerodynamically-designed "hangar vehicles" based on a design from the original film. The vehicles move horizontally through the attraction space, which was gutted to accommodate the entirely new attraction interior. They can hold up to twelve guests per shuttle, with two rows of six facing in opposite directions to reach a higher capacity. The long, thing vehicles are similar to their 'Forbidden Journey' counterparts, with their size and shape being the primary difference. The attraction itself will utilize slightly larger dome screens, wider and higher in resolution.

Credit: Colie Wertz


The Ride:

The vehicles move slowly sideways and through the facility, winding through a hangar, sleek vehicles hanging from up above. Suddenly, one of those vehicles is lowered from the ceiling, revealing Cypher Raige and Kitai Raige in full animatronic form. "Welcome, recruits. Let us tend to our mission," Cypher says, his hand on a control panel. Kitai is holding his familiar dual cutlass; his suit suddenly turns black. "I like this suit, dad, but I think it's something bad," he says. Cypher ignores him. The vehicle exits the hangar and a series of familiar scenes from the film play out. At first, the vehicle glides through a fully-realized, physical forest, with trees towering to the ceiling, thick fog surrounding guests. At first, guests find themselves facing a pack of oversized black bears, presented in full animatronic form. Before the bears can attack guests, however, Kitai appears via musion screen and sends the cutlass flying at one of the bears, scaring them away. "I can't bear these guys, dad," Kitai says. Cypher ignores him. The vehicle then plunges into a creek, floating above the water. A pack of killer brook trout begin flying out of the water in an effect similar to that of the piranha attack in the Jungle Cruise. Cypher appears via musion screen and catches one of the fish with his own cutlass. Kitai commends his father for the catch. "I always thought your fishing skills were a little watered down." Cypher ignores him.

The vehicles then travel in front of one of the dome screens, sending guests upwards toward the sky flying alongside a pack of oversized flying eagles. Cypher and Kitai trail the beasts on their own vehicle. Kitai swings aimlessly at one of the eagles with his cutlass. "How do you have the ea-gall to take these guys on, dad?" Cypher ignores him. Guests swoop through the skies and send the eagles tumbling to their deaths. The prime commander clearly means business, as guests discover when one of the eagles swipes at guests' vehicle, sending them tumbling into the depths of an even more foreboding forest environment. Guests quickly encounter a pack of vicious monkeys. The animatronic creatures swipe their claws furiously, their eyes glowing. Before they can go in for the kill, Cypher and Kitai fall from the sky via musion screen, their vehicle blowing up in the background, an effect achieved via light and fog effects. Kitai examines the scene. "Next time, let's let mom drive." Cypher ignores him once more. He swings his cutlass at one of the animatronics, which respond to the actions of Will Smith's onscreen character. Kitai looks around nervously. "I don't think we're out of the woods yet, dad." Cypher ignores him. Guests continue through the forest and into a dank cave. Guests smell a musty odor. Darkness. The sound of a vicious creature can be heard somewhere deep in the cave. Kitai and Cypher appear walking into the cave via musion once more. Kitai is holding a futuristic lantern. "Let's shed some light on this subject, eh, dad?" Cypher ignores him. "We have been tracked by an Ursa. Be mindful of the present moment and size this opportunity to cleanse the earth once and for all." Kitai looks at the ceiling, terrified. Guests move through the physical environment slowly. Before they can take in the well-sculpted rockwork, a massive Ursa animatronic bursts into the scene, flaunting its terrible mouth at guests. The vehicle bumps and speeds in the opposite direction, tumbling through darkness in an attempt to escape the beast. After the chase is over, the Ursa moves in for the kill, stopping guests at the edge of a cliff inside the cave. Cypher appears once more via musion and stabs the creature in the head. The creature tumbles to the ground, sending guests down a hill into darkness, past a corner and out of the cave. Cypher and Kitai greet guests from outside the cave, surrounded by rubble. Kitai beams at guests. "I guess that Ursa's plan got off to a rocky start." Cypher looks upward, clearly infuriated by the insufferable puns. The vehicle returns to the station.

I'm sorry, I literally fell asleep while typing up a part of the ride through