Randomizing Imagineering
Interesting title for an article huh? So what does it mean? Well it means that yours truly has been daydreaming again and I’ve gone to a place that makes me say “Why not?”
So what do I mean by randomizing Imagineering? Simply put, it’s a concept by which the Imagineers who design and develop Walt Disney World attractions place a random component within the attractions. This action thus makes for a unique experience for the guest upon every visit to this attraction.
In this discussion come with me as I try to pique your interest in visualizing how you would do a little randomizing Imagineering to your favorite attractions.
Present “Randomizing Imagineering” Attractions
This is by no means my brainchild. In fact these thoughts first came to me on my very first ride aboard Horizons. Remember Horizons? It used to sit where Mission: Space now resides.
Anyway, as I recall, as your journey through the attraction came to an end you were given the opportunity to choose how to land. I think the options were by water or by land. This gave the guests a little bit of control and caused you to think, “Hey, I need to ride this attraction again and choose another option to see how that works.”
The Great Movie Ride of course had the “A” and the “B” ride. One would offer the guests an explosive and fiery western scene while the other option would present the gangster scene only. Sometimes you could ask for either and you would be directed to a line for your choice.
When The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror first opened, no one knew how the guests would react. I actually rode that attraction the first day it offered a soft opening to the public. It was still far from complete. The area where guests could see their “elevator photo” wasn’t even there.
When it opened, the ride offered guests a single drop. When the doors flew open, we were all staring at a half-dozen paramedics who were there because there was concern that this attraction, with just the single drop mind you, would possibly cause some guests discomfort.
I believe those paramedics are now stationed outside Mission: Space.
Today we are in an advanced “phase” for the Hollywood Tower Hotel and guests are at the mercy of a computer that randomly selects the drop sequence. You never know how many drops will occur on any particular visit or when you will drop or soar to the top of the attraction. This adds a little mystery and adventure to the attraction.
So the idea of adding a randomizing element to an attraction has been around for a while.
I’d like to propose that we take it to some existing attractions and I want you to think about this on your next visit and then get back to me with your thoughts. Let’s take a look.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Every time I ride “Pirates” I always say to myself, “Wouldn’t it be cool if they could do something about that drop early in the ride?”
Think of it. You know when it’s coming. You know how steep it is and how long you drop. Sure it’s fun and makes you laugh and smile. However, how much more fun would it be if those two factors varied?
I’m sure there is some engineering genius out there who has my dream of putting in some mechanism by which the drop changes from time to time.
Wouldn’t it be nice not knowing whether the drop will take place, if there is more than one drop, how much of an angle there will be in the drop, and whether or not water cannons will fire at you as you drop?
I think not knowing makes the attraction much more appealing and makes every visit fresh and exciting.
Sorry, but seeing Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow doesn’t do it for me. Give me a random drop sequence.
Buzz LightYear’s Space Ranger’s Spin
We know how popular Buzz Lightyear is. Let’s make it even more popular.
Every once in a while why not take one of those obscure “Z” targets and put a special halo on it, indicating that it’s worth a lot of points? Maybe this could be done on a daily basis before the attraction opens for business.
The key is to find this special “Z” and pile up the points. It has to be an obscure “Z” that would make the guests scan each room to find it.
Why not also provide a little incentive? If you compile a certain number of points, thanks to this special “Z”, you get a special “Front of the line Fast Pass” for two people.
I think that would be neat. Look for the special “Z” and get those points.
Haunted Mansion
This one is real simple. Since it is a classic Disney theme park attraction you don’t want to fool around with it too much.
However, there are two suggestions involving a randomizing component or two to add a little adventure to each visit.
First, I would from time to time change the lighting in the attraction. Maybe add a purple or a green tint in a few places to give those places an eerie and different look.
Secondly, and I think this would be cool, from time to time a cast member should be placed in one of several places to give the guests a little something to think about. The first place would be the dining room scene. Hey, is that an audio-animatron or a live person? The next place would be the attic. There are so many dark corners up there, I’m sure there would be plenty of room for another spooky haunt.
Of course, the last place would be the graveyard. The next time you go through the graveyard scene, look for places where you think a cast member could replace a spooky apparition.
The American Adventure
For years I’ve thought about the American Adventure attraction in Epcot’s World Showcase and how interesting it would be for the guests to sit down before each showing of the attraction knowing that somewhere during the entire performance, one of the audio-animatrons would be replaced by a live cast member.
Guest would certainly pay special attention as they try to determine, with each scene, if any of the figures was actually a live human being.
The key here of course would be to choose a figure that did not have a speaking part. Imagine how closely you would pay attention to every scene as the attraction ran through its story. I think it would be great.
Honey I Shrunk the Audience
OK, we know that the best part of this attraction is when the mice start multiplying and, well, you know the rest. We hear screams from the front of the theater and those screams eventually get close and closer until they emanate from our own row ands beyond.
So what would happen if the audience was told not to worry because even though the mice were being duplicated at an alarming rate they would be dropped into a maze? The mice would just run around the maze and try to find a way out.
It would be highly unlikely that they will be scurrying through the audience.
Har!
Then well into the attraction, long after the mice are duplicated, the random factor comes in. All of a sudden the audience is caught off guard as the mice scurry through the audience.
Oh, one more thing. The theater has to go through some tweaking.
You see, in my version the mice are not limited to entering the theater just from the front. No sir. They can come from the front, rear, left, or right side of the theater. Only the randomizer knows when and from where they will arrive. Think of the anticipation.
Spaceship Earth
Spaceship Earth is another perfect attraction in which one or two of the audio-animatronic figures could be replaced by a cast member. There are so many scenes and so many figures that the possibilities are endless.
The key here is to find a scene in which the figures are not too close to the ride vehicles and not have a speaking part. We don’t want the guests to have an easy time in finding this live person do we?
It’s always good to have that doubt going through the guests’ minds. Is it real or is it Memorex?
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Play It!
This may be stretching it a bit but why not have every hot seat contestant spin a wheel that has on it a number of areas that include either Mickey wearing a WDW pin and a hat or Mickey enjoying a snack?
If the wheel lands on Mickey wearing the pin or hat then the contestant plays for the usual prizes.
However, if the wheel lands on Mickey eating a snack then the contestant play for the opportunity to win a special card that is good for a snack or dinner. For instance, if a guest answers the first several questions correctly he receives a card good for a snack, like a Dole Whip. Maybe as the guest achieves each level that card goes up in value eventually getting to the point where the card contains several sit-down meals, quick-service meals, and snacks.
Just a thought.
The Great Movie Ride
If it’s good enough for Spaceship Earth and American Adventure then why not the Great Movie Ride? Yeah, let’s have a few cast members strewn about the attraction, replacing an audio-animatron or two.
Hey is one of those swimmers is a real live person? Wait, did that skeleton move? That wasn’t the Sigourney weaver audio-animatron and did you notice that munchkin was breathing?
Why not?
Expedition Everest
Well, this idea would have worked had they not built a Yeti on steroids.
Imagine that there were several places in the Expedition Everest attraction that would allow the train to “stall” as if it was stuck. Then you could have a Yeti-like creature appear and slowly approach the train.
He spots a guest and slowly approaches that guest. The train remains stalled. Just before he gets to the train, it takes off.
Better yet, have a streetmosphere cast member get on the train dressed as a guest and have the Yeti yank him off and drag him away.
I know! I know! Keep dreaming.
Dinosaur
So if you’ve ridden Dinosaur you pretty much know the twists and turns.
Let’s add a few different tracks so that at any time the ride vehicle can go onto a different track that may include a dip here and there and also why not have one of those thunder lizards jump out when you least expect it?
Reality or Pipe Dream?
Of course this was all in fun and I have no idea if there have been discussions on adding a randomizing element to an existing attraction. I would at least hope that the imaginers do take a look at an attraction and toss around an idea on how to enhance it.
It’s probably hard to do some re-Imagineering to an existing attraction and so the hope is that future attractions will include an element of surprise or a randomizing element.
I really think it’s those special attractions which more than anything else helps you…
….remember the magic.
Next Time
I call him “Mr. MGM-Studios.” On our next session I’ll introduce him to you and tell you about his Web sites.
I’m off to run in a few races in the Minnie Marathon weekend.
Class dismissed
