The Official "Use of Screenz" Thread

[fryoj]

To get technical, isn't FJ really just an elaborate Omnimover?

 

[JoeCamel]

To get technical, isn't FJ really just an elaborate Omnimover?

If it is then rocket is too

 

[fryoj]

If it is then rocket is too

Eh, It's a roller coaster. Variable speeds, car spacing varies. Gravity powered. There's more to it than just the cars never stopping.

I'm not sure of any of the qualities of an Omnimover that FJ doesn't have.

 

[SkiBum]

Eh, It's a roller coaster. Variable speeds, car spacing varies. Gravity powered. There's more to it than just the cars never stopping.

I'm not sure of any of the qualities of an Omnimover that FJ doesn't have.

The only similarity, to me, is that omnimovers and FJ both move you through the ride. Omnimovers have chain drives or something similar where FJ is a bench on the end of a robotic arm on a track. Also, omnimovers generally don't have any more range of motion than turning and maybe bouncing (ex. Cat In The Hat, Pooh) whereas FJ has a full range of motions, including up/down/sideways, rolling. The boat rides at WDW have more in common with omnimovers than FJ. However, it's kind of a pointless argument as it is really based on how we perceive ride technology.

 

[SkiBum]

I would take another screen oriented ride over another Omnimover attraction any day. Nothing screams last century tech like an Omnimover.

Omnimovers are great for their intended use. Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion, etc. If EPCOT built a new version of Horizons and used omnimover tech, I think that would be really awesome. Or converted UOE to a full-on omnimover dark ride that lasted 10 minutes instead of 45 minutes. However, omnimovers are not good for telling thrilling stories. I agree that they are a little old-fashioned but they work really well in certain ride instances.

 

[CatCatCat]

The only similarity, to me, is that omnimovers and FJ both move you through the ride. Omnimovers have chain drives or something similar where FJ is a bench on the end of a robotic arm on a track. Also, omnimovers generally don't have any more range of motion than turning and maybe bouncing (ex. Cat In The Hat, Pooh) whereas FJ has a full range of motions, including up/down/sideways, rolling. The boat rides at WDW have more in common with omnimovers than FJ. However, it's kind of a pointless argument as it is really based on how we perceive ride technology.

Forbidden Journey is a virtual omnimover. Universal even filed a patent for the ride system:

Patent US20090063036 - Virtual omnimover - Google Patents

At its core, FJ is just motion bases moving along a track, just like the core of Disney's traditional omnimovers. The Kuka arm and bench is analogous to the "buggies" on Haunted Mansion or the "clam shells" on Little Mermaid, attached to the base system which moves the vehicles around the track.

Also, Cat in the Hat and Pooh are not omnimovers.

 

[Disneyhead]

Omnimover is a rather nebulous term like E Ticket. And it depends on which Imagineer's definition you use. "All-Moving" or "Always Moving". When the name was created, it referred to a ride system where all the cars were linked together and all the cars traveled at a constant speed together (Adventures Through Inner Space, Haunted Mansion). Thus the definition "All-Moving". Disney didn't invent that type of ride system, but they innovated the system to where the cars could be rotated to focus the rider's attention on specific things.

Interesting sidebar: WDI marketed the system as ETS (Endless Transit System) and attempted to sell it to large department stores and airports. They didn't sell any.

When Pan was introduced, they expanded the term Omnimover to include that system simply because it used a system where the cars never stop even at load/unload. Thus the definition "Always Moving".

 

[UK-Trigg]

When Pan was introduced, they expanded the term Omnimover to include that system simply because it used a system where the cars never stop even at load/unload. Thus the definition "Always Moving".

This from @Disneyhead is what I always understood an Omnimover to be.

I like t0 call it a continuous people eater

 

[Disneyhead]

This from @Disneyhead is what I always understood an Omnimover to be.

I like t0 call it a continuous people eater

But that definition would include things like Hollywood Rip Ride Rocket and Bluto's. And I don't think anyone would refer to them as Omnimovers.

 

[Teebin]

Does the word Omni imply that they can rotate while moving forward?

 

[SkiBum]

Forbidden Journey is a virtual omnimover. Universal even filed a patent for the ride system:

Patent US20090063036 - Virtual omnimover - Google Patents

At its core, FJ is just motion bases moving along a track, just like the core of Disney's traditional omnimovers. The Kuka arm and bench is analogous to the "buggies" on Haunted Mansion or the "clam shells" on Little Mermaid, attached to the base system which moves the vehicles around the track.

Also, Cat in the Hat and Pooh are not omnimovers.

Completely agree about Cat In The Hat and Pooh. I thought about it later and realized that I was wrong all day long on that. Interesting that they filed the patent as a virtual omnimover as it seems so different. To tie it all back together, screens can be effectively used in most applications. Just like ride technology, the type of ride dictates when to use screens, sets including AA's, or a mixture of both. However, too many similar rides and usages of screens lessens the impact.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

On the Disney end of the spectrum, Panasonic has been now officially titled as an official technological partner of WDPR (Walt Disney Parks & Resorts).

Panasonic named official projection technology for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts - TechRepublic

 

[Mike S]

On the Disney end of the spectrum, Panasonic has been now officially titled as an official technological partner of WDPR (Walt Disney Parks & Resorts).

Panasonic named official projection technology for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts - TechRepublic

The people who hate "screenz" are in for a rude awakening.

 

[WAJAS]

On the Disney end of the spectrum, Panasonic has been now officially titled as an official technological partner of WDPR (Walt Disney Parks & Resorts).

Panasonic named official projection technology for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts - TechRepublic

They have a similar title with SeaWorld as well.

 

[GadgetGuru]

On the Disney end of the spectrum, Panasonic has been now officially titled as an official technological partner of WDPR (Walt Disney Parks & Resorts).

Panasonic named official projection technology for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts - TechRepublic

Honestly, I think this screams more use cases for MM+ than anything else. Disney uses and replaces projectors. That's no surprise. It just means they have a new supplier.

The possibility of other Panasonic technology means either more back-of-house systems will run on Panasonic hardware or Disney will be using Panasonic solutions for more MM+ fanciness.

 

[Nick]

On the Disney end of the spectrum, Panasonic has been now officially titled as an official technological partner of WDPR (Walt Disney Parks & Resorts).

Panasonic named official projection technology for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts - TechRepublic

We'll see how it plays out, but this sounds more like a sponsorship type of thing and a guarantee that Panasonic is the only projection tech used in Disney Parks. With quite a few screen based rides lined up (Both SW rides, both Avatar rides, Mickey ride), this seems like a no-brainer for Panasonic.

Not too dissimilar from "Pop Secret" being the official popcorn of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts when you think about it though.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

We'll see how it plays out, but this sounds more like a sponsorship type of thing and a guarantee that Panasonic is the only projection tech used in Disney Parks. With quite a few screen based rides lined up (Both SW rides, both Avatar rides, Mickey ride), this seems like a no-brainer for Panasonic.

Not too dissimilar from "Pop Secret" being the official popcorn of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts when you think about it though.

In a strange way, I see it being like how UPR is having their strategic partnership with the group of Christie in a sense.

 

[belloq87]

With quite a few screen based rides lined up (Both SW rides, both Avatar rides, Mickey ride), this seems like a no-brainer for Panasonic.

Hopefully not all of those are going to end up being fully "screen based." The battle attraction for Star Wars is supposed to be overflowing with practical/physical stuff, no? 150 AAs, and all that.

 

[AlexanderMBush]

Hopefully not all of those are going to end up being fully "screen based." The battle attraction for Star Wars is supposed to be overflowing with practical/physical stuff, no? 150 AAs, and all that.

I believe someone debunked the 150 AA rumor for the Battle E-Ticket.

 

[belloq87]

I believe someone debunked the 150 AA rumor for the Battle E-Ticket.

I've seen conflicting reports, certainly. For my own sanity, I'll choose to keep hope alive for the time being. I don't want to spend the next three years with my expectations in the cellar, because that's not too exciting.