Why is Indiana Jones' intensity so inconsistent?

[Disney Irish]

I wonder when Disney will go thin client on those systems.

I'm sure some of Disney's systems are thin client, such as the POS (I hadn't actually looked to see what vendor they use for their POS). But I'm not sure if real thin clients are as prevalent anymore as it once was. I'd think they go web client instead.

 

[NateD1226]

The last time I went on it, the speed was fast but not extremely fast. But in the room with the Ghost of Mara, there was a lound pop noise that came from our cart that was not supposed to happen. The ride closed down after we got off. Goes to show how that ride needs a HUGE fix.

 

[Figments Friend]

Is there a list of these somewhere? I think it would be awesome if there was a site about all the effects that are absent from rides (but this probably does not exist). The Splash Mountain photo bird is another one I can think of off the top of my head.

I also miss the rotating room in Indy. I am glad that if you get "fortune" it does still use the practical effect for that scene. Too bad the other two are missing.

List of missing effects off the top of my head -

Mirror Collection ( no longer moves out of your way, now stationary )
Rotating Doors to enter the Chamber of Destiny ( deactivated due to wear, now a projection effect )
Chamber of Destiny lighting effects / scrim changes ( different settings currently )
Fog effect in tunnel towards the Gates of Doom ( deactivated ages ago )
Falling 'stone rubble' as you enter the main Show room ( deactivated shortly after opening due to maitenance issues )
Blowing Wind effect in the Skeleton Tomb ( deactivated many years ago, fans still present l am told )



These two are still functional, but sometimes come and go depending on the day -

Green Mist from stone serpents' mouths on suspension bridge facing you ( still presently working, but it's hit or miss at times )
Rat Tunnel mist projection effect ( hit of miss depending on how quickly Transports are being pushed through )

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[baroquehoedown]

When this ride opened, it was possibly if not definitely the most technologically innovative attraction in existence. I was one of those rare people who rode the ride so many times as a kid that I could tell you the differences between the yellow, purple, and blue doors as well as some of the more subtle variations. Back then, even though it was randomized, there was a pattern related to door color. I think with various parts breaking over the years, it's become a bit harder to predict. That being said, the last several times I've been on it, the attraction has been much more intense than I remember it from when I was younger. Maybe they simply don't cycle through some of the randomized options anymore.

I would really love to see Indy functioning like it was when it first opened. It was brilliant back then. Heck, even today it still holds up as an amazing ride. If it could just stop breaking down so often, it'd be great.

 

[Figments Friend]

Wow this is an awesome list! Super comprehensive! This is why this site is so great. I had no idea there used to be fog in the tunnel, that sounds amazing.

Next time you ride IJA, pay attention to how your vehicle is moving in the tunnel as you depart the Chamber of Destiny ( where Mara 'scolds you' for looking into his eyes ).

Your vehicle moves around to give the sensation of 'floating' towards the Gates of Doom that Indy is holding closed for you.
This 'floating' effect was far more obvious back when this tunnel used to feature fog covering the ride path.

The effect was enhanced by the 'flashing lightning' that seemed to create the storm clouds you were now 'floating" on to your destiny.


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[George Lucas on a Bench]

I feel like IJ's technological advancements are greatly exaggerated. Yes, the vehicles were revolutionary. However, the majority of effects are relatively low tech. Some are downright baffling in their chintziness. Air blasts, poor unconvincing projections of bugs and rats, skeletons popping out. It's mostly cheap spook house gags.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Next time you ride IJA, pay attention to how your vehicle is moving in the tunnel as you depart the Chamber of Destiny ( where Mara 'scolds you' for looking into his eyes ).

Your vehicle moves around to give the sensation of 'floating' towards the Gates of Doom that Indy is holding closed for you.
This 'floating' effect was far more obvious back when this tunnel used to feature fog covering the ride path.

The effect was enhanced by the 'flashing lightning' that seemed to create the storm clouds you were now 'floating" on to your destiny.


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Something that had always bothered me was how poorly done/nonexistent the bottom half of that room is. Of course there's supposed to be fog in there, that makes total sense- I had no idea. Makes me wonder what other effects are in these rides that I have no idea existed...

 

[D.Silentu]

However, the majority of effects are relatively low tech. Some are downright baffling in their chintziness. Air blasts, poor unconvincing projections of bugs and rats, skeletons popping out. It's mostly cheap spook house gags.

I believe most of these are effective in context, but when I rode opening year there was one thing that absolutely astonished me. The back of the skeleton room is a wall sized painting! I couldn't believe that Disney's state of the art attraction resorted to such an obvious, low tech method of extending the scenery. I've yet to decide whether the queue "windows" in Space Mountain are better or worse, but both are regrettable.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I prefer the Space Mt. windows in Disneyworld, which have an odd moving 3D effect as you walk by that looks similar to the ending of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I'd LOVE for IJA to get a thorough refresh... go in, and look at every effect that was installed in '95.

Look at the broken ones and see which are worth fixing and improving, and look at the ones that are unnecessary and find effective replacements. Look at the effects that work and see if they can be improved while retaining the spirit of what the effect is supposed to accomplish.

Put something worthwhile in that awful rat projection room. Fix the rotating doors. Add projection mapping where necessary to help deepen sets and breathe life into the environment.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I believe most of these are effective in context, but when I rode opening year there was one thing that absolutely astonished me. The back of the skeleton room is a wall sized painting! I couldn't believe that Disney's state of the art attraction resorted to such an obvious, low tech method of extending the scenery. I've yet to decide whether the queue "windows" in Space Mountain are better or worse, but both are regrettable.

I'd like to think that the creatives for both Indy, and the Space Mountain Queue had higher ambitions for these lesser effects, and were restricted by the budget.

 

[Stevek]

Having ridden it so many times, I really can't tell the difference if it's more or less intense from ride to ride.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

Which skeleton room? The one with the arrows at the end of the ride or the one with the corposes that come at you?

I believe he's referring to the one with the "arrows" air blasts towards the end. The one with the skeletons popping out similar to the ending of Poltergeist I believe is commonly referred to as the mummy chamber.

 

[chadwpalm]

I would need to re-listen to the podcast interview of Tony Baxter talking about IJA, but I vaguely remember him stating that the intensity was decreased early on due to complaints (don't completely quote me on that), but I do specifically remember him saying the far right seat in the back row was the most intense.

I don't believe the perceived differences in intensity are due to different ride profiles, but due to where you are sitting in respect to the center of gravity on the vehicle. If the vehicle banks right then the people sitting on the left will be raised up and the people on the right will be lowered. You get a different experience depending on where you sit. The only major differences I recall are when the vehicles slow down or stop due to a backup at the loading dock.

 

[truecoat]

The ride was more intense at one point but then this happened and it was toned down from what I heard...

Indiana Jones ride lawsuit.

 

[shortstop]

I believe he's referring to the one with the "arrows" air blasts towards the end. The one with the skeletons popping out similar to the ending of Poltergeist I believe is commonly referred to as the mummy chamber.

The one thing I notice without fail every time I ride Indy is the mural at the end of that hall. You’ll notice two skeletons have their heads attached to the wall above the doorway cutout, while their bodies are painted onto the wall below. If you look head on, it looks like their heads are attached. Once you make the turn towards the right, the magical effect is ruined.

 

[George Lucas on a Bench]

I prefer the Mummy ride at USF.

 

[D.Silentu]

Which skeleton room? The one with the arrows at the end of the ride or the one with the corposes that come at you?

The one where the corpses come at you. I think George Lucas On A Bench called it the mummy chamber a few posts back. I was never bothered by the skeletons in the "dart room," they're supposed to be paintings on the wall. However, in the part I'm referring to the painted scene is an extension of the room and a poor one in my estimation.

 

[Phroobar]

The one where the corpses come at you. I think George Lucas On A Bench called it the mummy chamber a few posts back. I was never bothered by the skeletons in the "dart room," they're supposed to be paintings on the wall. However, in the part I'm referring to the painted scene is an extension of the room and a poor one in my estimation.

The dart room warriors are three dimensional at Disney Sea.

 

[NateD1226]

Put something worthwhile in that awful rat projection room.

I don't even think the projection was on when I last went on it.