Disney has always been known as a company to push the boundaries of what technology can do, especially when it comes to building rides. We’ve seen some of this thinking in some of Disney’s newest high-tech thrill rides like Rise of the Resistance and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Rise of the Resistance
However, Disney is also creating technology that could work on dark rides, too. The company recently filed a new patent that would basically create the illusion of a ride vehicle rising and falling when it’s just on a flat track.
Disney just filed a new patent with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office that shows technology that would create the illusion of a ride vehicle rising or falling, all while being on a flat track. Now, creating illusions is something Disney is already pretty good at (think of all the forced perspective it uses on buildings to make them appear taller). So this patent is something of a no-brainer, but it is interesting in how it works.
Disney uses forced perspective all the time to make buildings appear taller
So the illusion works like this. The ride vehicle just stays on its flat track, but elements in the ride’s set design are used to create the illusion. The basics are pretty simple: the idea is to use walls and set elements that are angled, so it SEEMS like a ride is rising or falling. So that means the things you see around you would be set at an angle to make it appear like the ride vehicle is going up or down. So walls would be painted at those angles, while static elements around you would be built at slight angles.
©U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
At this point, the patent is showing what would be considered a practical effect. However, it does go on to mention video projection and set elements that can change as the ride vehicle passes to create a stronger illusion of rising or falling.
©U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
This patent is really interesting considering Disney has a LOT of rides in the works now that this concept could apply to. The Encanto ride in Disney’s Animal Kingdom immediately comes to mind, as well as the new Coco ride coming to Disney California Adventure. This could also be applied to any dark ride that Disney may be working on for the new Villains land in Magic Kingdom. Overall, it will be interesting how this concept will be used on future attractions.
©Disney
We’ll keep an eye out for more interesting Disney patents, so stay tuned to DFB for more.
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What do you think this new concept might be used for? Let us know in the comments!
