STORY HIGHLIGHTS Disney opens an exhibit where kids create roller coasters -- and ride them Theme parks are trying to make their rides more interactive, taking cues from gaming The "Sum of All Thrills" ride opens Wednesday at Epcot Center in Florida Kids design their rides on computers, ride them in a stationary robotic carriage
Any kid can dream up a roller coaster. But those who visit a new exhibit at Walt Disney World's Epcot theme park can actually take a ride on their fantasy creations.
Kids climb into this robotic carriage whose virtual-reality technology gives them a customized thrill ride. 2 of 2
Epcot on Wednesday opened a new attraction called "Sum of All Thrills," which lets kids use computer tablets to design a virtual roller coaster, bobsled track or plane ride. After inputting their designs, kids climb into a robotic carriage that uses virtual-reality technology to help them experience the ride they've created.
"This is really the next generation -- where there's a lot more personalization involved" in the amusement-park experience, said Eric Goodman, Disney's lead project manager on the ride.
This make-your-own-ride approach appears to be a growing trend in the world of amusement parks and museums. Taking cues from the video game industry, park and ride designers have realized that people -- especially young ones -- want to interact with and even design their own thrill rides.
In addition to the new Epcot ride in Orlando, Florida, two Disney theme parks feature a ride called "Toy Story Mania," which lets riders shoot at targets as they roll down the track and, in doing so, shape their own ride experience. Another Disney attraction, CyberSpace Mountain, caters to adults and kids by letting them customize their own virtual ride from a menu of drops, loops and other features.
Universal Studios in Florida opened a roller coaster in August called the "Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit," which lets people create their own personal musical soundtrack for their ride.
KINJO NOTE: I LOVE LIVING IN ORLANDO! I am going today, to go ride it. [ele]
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Whalesdude on October 15, 2009, 10:50:39 AM
If I didn't read that story, I would take this horribly out of context:
"KINJO NOTE: I LOVE LIVING IN ORLANDO! I am going today, to go ride it."
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: kinjo on October 15, 2009, 04:53:23 PM
:furrysmiley069fn: dirty mind of the whales blubber
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 15, 2009, 04:58:07 PM
Huh sounds cool. I did like playing Rollercoaster Tycoon as a kid
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: kinjo on October 15, 2009, 05:06:04 PM
i liked playing Theme Park as a kid on Genesis [yum]
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 15, 2009, 05:25:29 PM
Great, we can ruin are lives by pretending in our rooms with video games, now we can do the SAME DAMN THING but pay shit loads of money for it.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 15, 2009, 05:38:59 PM
Sounds like what you do already, minus the shitloads of money spent
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 15, 2009, 05:43:45 PM
Exactly, Why should I spend shit loads of money to do the SAME DAMN THING.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 15, 2009, 07:10:55 PM
*giggles* This topic makes me laugh...
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 15, 2009, 10:03:58 PM
To get fresh air once in a while. [bowser]
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 15, 2009, 10:09:47 PM
Can't I just walk outside and get some of that for free? Or like... go to work?
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: kinjo on October 16, 2009, 07:45:27 AM
One day air will cost money. But not in our lifetimes. [ksuck]
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 06:48:48 PM
So yeah, i'm just going to get roller coaster tycoon and then sit outside with it.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 16, 2009, 07:48:16 PM
cuz you have a laptop and can do that... also.. FRESH AIR
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 07:52:08 PM
I has my window open 24/7 =3 always getting fresh air.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 16, 2009, 08:11:15 PM
laptops are good for that. I used to smoke a strawberry cigar and post on the 4M after school. :P
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 16, 2009, 08:30:14 PM
I do that...
Wait.. I dont smoke...
I dont go to school either...
o.o
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 08:52:34 PM
my laptop sucks, well, the power management. I can't go somewhere and post on my laptop because the battery would die by the time I got there.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 16, 2009, 08:55:09 PM
You dont go places anyway =3
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 08:55:46 PM
HEY! one day I may feel like it.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 16, 2009, 09:04:33 PM
Dont keep the laptop on when you are traveling.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 09:09:27 PM
pfft, doesn't matter. would still run out of power just doing it's shut off tasks.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 16, 2009, 09:10:40 PM
ok then fine. you laptop is horrible, you should feel horrible.
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: black death on October 16, 2009, 09:12:57 PM
[devcry]
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Adelaide on October 16, 2009, 10:23:24 PM
Stop arguing... o.o Also, maybe that one day you actually go somewhere, you would have already changed to a better battery. Now cheer up =] :sady:
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: kinjo on October 17, 2009, 08:06:03 AM
You could always get a solar charge kit for laptops
Title: Re: Disney debuts do-it-yourself thrill ride
Post by: Flashwerewolf on October 17, 2009, 10:57:42 AM