The Horror Side of the Street...
My expansion for the Sunset Blvd area is based on a playful vision of Horror movies, and the Disney Villains that we all love to hate.
I present
Disney's Hollywood Studios Fear Factory
Backstory
When Alfred Kitchock, the famous suspense and horror movie director set out to make his new film in Hollywood Studios he got a little more than he bargained for!
The new film, entitled Waves of Fear...about a boat ride into the dark reaches of our minds... was just in pre-production when the director held an open casting call for actors to play the roles of the Bad Guys.
The first to respond was J. Worthington Fowlfellow (the sly fox from Pinocchio) and before you could say "Hi Diddly Dee, an actor's life for me"!
He had invited all his villainous friends to join in the fun.
The movie continued on schedule, but the villains liked it so much they decided to stay, and open their own restaurant to work from.
and when Jack Skellington,the Pumpkin King discovered there were scares to be had...he opened up a door to Halloweentown in the area to invite other souls who wanted to have a good fright!
A map of the area is here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chronata/4639901488/
Waves Of Fear
The premier (premiere!) ride in the area utilizes new technology to combine the effects of a traditional dark ride with the watery splashes of a boat ride and the thrills and turns of a coaster. All completely indoors.
The boat vehicle is equipped with speakers in the headrests and lap bar restraints.
Each scene of the ride plays upon common fears, with little whispering voices that can be heard throughout the experience.
Opening scene...
the guests are told they are appearing as extras in the new film, Waves of Fear as they board the boat. Make sure you scream as loud as you can...because we have to make the scene look good!
The boat heads into the dark, with only a pin point laser to guide them.
Fear of Claustrophobia...
As the boat heads up a rise, the flickering lights reveal the walls and ceiling start to close rapidly in. The voices whisper "you don't mind closed in spaces do you? WELL..Do YOU?"
forced perspective ahead makes it look as if the boat will definitely be crushed if it goes any further...when suddenly the vehicle drops down a sharp slope straight into darkness, with a big splash!
"Or maybe you don't like the unexpected...welcome now...to the the Unknown! Mwa ha ha ha..."
Fear of water...
The boat now circles around and around in what appears to be a whirlpool, while projections of bubbles and wave crashes combine with real splashes.
"There's no reason to panic ...unless you don't know how to swim..." the voices taunt
Fear of Heights...
the boat now begins moving up a track,and the effect of cloud projections, and miniatures below, makes it appear to be going higher than it is. "It's not the height you need to fear...but the sudden fall at the end!" the vehicle goes down into a fast roller coaster corkscrew, to splash down at the end, plunging into pure darkness.
Fear of the dark...
"Now now...you are too old to be afraid of the dark, aren't you?"
Fear of clowns...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chronata/4639292481/
the lights come on revealing giant clown statues ahead that surround both sides. As the boat nears, they begin to rock back and forth with a maniacal and mechanical canned laughter ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
The rocking gets harder and harder over the vehicle,until it appears they will some crashing down on top on the guests.
A giant glowing clown with sharp teeth and a big knife appears ahead, raising the weapon to bring it down on the heads of the passengers. luckily, the boat goes into a sharp turn away...
Fear of Snakes and spiders...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chronata/4639290655/
another quick drop and curve, lands in a splash surrounded by giant snake and spider animatronics.
Occasional a snake or spider will drop down right above the heads of the riders.
"What is so scary about slimy crawly things? Perhaps it's time to FIND OUT!"
Fear of fire...
One last track climb, surrounded by bursts of flames that come out at unexpected times, and a final quick drop which appears to go right through the flames that appear in the middle of the track.
"If you have the courage so far to face your fears...then you won't get burned"
The end...
The ride ends with the boat coasting on the track to the exit, where all the stage lights come on, and the director waves from atop his camera dolly. "Aaaand CUT! Beautiful job everyone...that's a wrap!"
SHOCKWAVE photos
A change to get your own still from your premiere in the Waves of Fear. The usual embarrassing ride photo.
