Well, here goes!
The Imagineer—Project 2
The Up Ride
Details:
For a new dark ride concept at the Hollywood Studios I looked back at some original concepts used at the Magic Kingdom. Since I was doing an Up themed ride I felt that it was appropriate to use a similar ride format as Peter Pan's flight. I also felt it best to add new technology to it to give a full experience of flying above some special show scenes. Add in a good storyline as well as some emotions and I created The Up Ride.
Location:
The Up Ride is located in the current Backlot location. The building replaces; the entrance queue, the water tank, the backstage exhibits, and the loading area. This space will be used as an expanded Pixar Place.
Exterior Sign:
The exterior of the building will be fairly large. The left side will be used as a meet'n'greet location while the right will be fast pass machines and additional stroller parking. The signage will be a fairly large marquee above the entrance doors.
(Entrance Sign)
New Technology/Ride Vehicle:
The Up Ride will feature lots of new technology. First off, this will be the first suspended dark-ride to feature Omni-Screens, basically dome shaped screens similar to the ones featured in Horizons but fairly smaller. Also, the loading will be similar to the E.T. ride at Universal to avoid long lines. It won't use moving ramps. The ride's vehicle is designed to look as if it was made from a house. Above it are a series of baloons that hide the ride's support and controls. The vehicle itself is form of new technology. It is the only suspended system as of now to be able to tilt from side to side and rotate 180 degrees. This allows for better viewing of the show scenes. The seating arrangement is 6 eats with a lap bar for each person.
(Ride Vehicle)
Blueprints of Ride:
Here are the ride's blueprints. They are based on the main sections, not the show scenes themselve's.
Queue:
The attraction's queue begins at the exterior entrance and carries on inside. The entrance hall is designed to be fairly fancy, with red carpeting and overhead lighting that gives the room a calm look. An above sign indicates that you are currently inside the "Hall Of Explorers". On the opposite wall is a series of pictures of various explorers including Amelia Earhart, Orville and Wilbur Wright, and Charles Muntz. Around the bend is the next room, "The Hall Of Flight". Surrounding the queue line is a series of plane models. There is a biplane, an airplane, and a hot air baloon. The final area is the loading dock. There are numerous rope switchbacks that lead you from side to side. Jutting out from the ground are oversized storybook pages that show you Carl and Ellie's life as they progress from each page. (think the queue for Many Adventures Of Winnie the Pooh)
The Ride:
The ride is grouped by sections. One section can hold up to 3 show scenes.
Carl's House:
1. Living Room- The attraction starts out as you are passing through Carl's Living room. An animatronic Carl is arguing on the phone with a business man and is refusing to sell his house. He says that he is going to leave with "Ellie".
2. Dining Room- As the vehicles pass through the house you see tons of inflated and deflated baloons lying around. Suddenly Russel walks into the house.
Liftoff!:
1. Rising Up- The ride fully begins as you start to rise above the city. As you climb up pay close attention to the windows on each of the buldings surrounding you. AA's in the windows make hilarious expressions as you pass. As you get higher up an a model of Carl's house passes strangely close to your vehicle.
2. Pastures Below- As you pass above a miniature set designed to look like a miniature field below.
(Fly-Over Scene)
Storm Ahead!:
1. Rain, Winds, and Lightning- As you climb you suddenly run into a massive storm which threatens to blow you away. Hiddden fans, fog effects, and strobe lights add to the effect of a large storm. The ride vehicle sways and even partially rotates as you are blown around. Carl's house briefly appears as it is blown around you. Suddenly the vehicles dip downwards through the storm.
(Stormy Weather)
Landing/Paradise Falls:
1. Landing- In the following scene you are passing through a light fog. The vehicle is now gliding lightly downwards. If you look to the side you won't be able to see the ground due to the fog. All of a sudden a massive rock wall appears as the vehicle passes by. A few more appear dangerously close. The vehicle manages to get to the ground in time. If you look you can see Carl and Russel pulling the vehicle along.
(Rock walls and ground landing)
2. Paradise Falls- As Carl and Russel keep going they stumble upon a beautiful view of Paradise falls. The view is painted onto a massive section of wall, giving it a deeper perspective of the valley below.
(Paradise Falls)
Meet Kevin and Dug:
1. Meet Dug- The next scene has Carl and Russel meeting a talking Dug. The scene is a hilarious exchange of humour between the characters.
2. Forest Chase- Now, the ride gets exhilarating. The vehicles descend into the forest where are a group of animatronic dogs are chasing after and unseen creature. The vehicles speed up to 15 mph. Sensory techniques are used to surround the ride vehicles with special effects. A few animatronic dogs attached to arms are seen racing alongside the vehicle.
3. Meet Kevin- Now we see Carl, Russel, and Dug meeting Kevin, who pops out and surprises them. As they continue the animatronic Kevin leaps out of sight as a bunch of vicious looking dogs pop out of the brush. They lead Carl, Russel and Dug away.
(Kevin)
Muntz's Lair:
1. Entrance- The dogs are now surrounding the ride vehicles and the main characters as you enter a massive cave.
(Entrance to cave)
2. Meeting Muntz- Muntz meets up with Carl and Russel and explains that he is still searching for the mysterious bird.
3. Spirit Of Adventure- You are now inside Muntz airship. As you follow the characters through each room you can notice Muntz is getting crazier. After threatening Carl and Russel he hears Kevin in the background. Fortunately Carl, Russel, and Dug manage to escape.
4. Chase- The vehicles speed up again to outrun Muntz's dogs.
5. Capturing Kevin- The next scene has the characters at Kevin's home where Dug explains that Kevin needs to visit her babies to feed them. Suddenly she is captured by Muntz's ship. Carl, dug, and russel jump into their house and take off after the airship.
Finale:
1. In the Air, Again- The vehicles pass next to a set of large dome screens. We get an intense battle in the sky between some biplanes and Carl's house. The next screen shows them boarding Muntz's ship.
2. Inside the Ship- Now inside, Carl manages to sneak and free Kevin with the help of Dug. The vehicles pass through numerous rooms to capture all of the action. The
3. Muntz V.S. Carl- The vehicles enter Muntz's museum where he is battling Carl with a sword. The next scene is on top of the Spirit of Adventure where Muntz is accidentally knocked off of his own ship by Carl's house.
4. Finale- The vehicles pass by the main window of the spirit of adventure where Carl, Dug, and Russel are dropping off Kevin to her babies. They all wave good-bye and the ship takes off.
Exit:
The unload leads guests past a large mural showing Carl's House sitting on the top of Paradise Falls along with a collage of Ellie's adventure book. This leads to the gift shop.
Music:
The ride's score is composed by Michael Giacchino.
Well, that was it. Enjoy!