Hmm… but with that logic, Tower of Terror is like a 25-minute ride. You start in the hotel gardens, move through the lobby, the library pre-show, the boiler room, each section is immersive, but you’re still just queuing until you actually strap in. ROTR just takes that idea and dials it up to 100. You get on a ship, you ‘get captured,’ and yeah, it blurs the lines really well. But it’s still just a pre-show on steroids.
Obviously, that’s a stretch, there are plenty of longer, more elaborate queues and pre-shows that ToT. But ultimately, the experience starts the second you walk through those hotel gates. And maybe that’s why ROTR is in its own category. It blurs the lines so much that the whole thing feels like one continuous ride. And if that’s how you want to judge it, fair enough. But for me...
The ride starts when I’m told to keep my arms and legs inside the vehicle. And when you get to that part, it’s a Ratatouille trackless dark ride with minimal movement. Presentation, definitely 10/10. Ride system? A solid 8 at best. I’d take Indy, Spider-Man, or Forbidden Journey over it any day, because at the end of the day, the ride itself has to hold up, and have some intensity for me personally.