Mission:Space vehicles Spotted and a VERY IMPORTANT FYI!

[Testtrack321]

WDWMagic.com
4 April 2002: Ride System spotted

There are suggestions that part of the ride system was delivered to the Central Shops behind the Magic Kingdom a few days ago.  Eye witnesses report seeing a large flat bed truck, with what looked like parts that match the "Space Simulator Pod" concept.  The truck was being escorted by Disney security. (Thanks to Jason for the information)

The FYI is this

The WDWMagic.com boards have posted that Disney will go as far as sue you over the property rights if you post photos of the M:S ride system. I am DEAD serious here. I am not sarcastic. Hence the Disney security. M:S photos will not be posted on WDWMagic.com if they get them becaue they are worried that Disney might shut them down.

Thanks.

 

[Josiah Harper]

...the Company's concern if the ride system is as revolutionary as I've heard through the "grapevine."

Joe
***"A WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT VACATION" NEW TRAVEL GUIDE***

 

[JeffJewell]

if the ride system is as revolutionary as I've heard

...I guess the ride system is "revolutionary" in the sense that the thing revolves.

The ride mech is an ETC product, basically one of their G-FET simulators modified for high capacity and a lower G-force ceiling. Anyone with the means to write the check (or the ability to convince some computer vendor to write the check) can be revolutionary. This web page has details on the stock version of the product.

Jeff

 

[Bob O]

I dont blame disney for wanting to keep things secret. But with the internet and all the sites worldwide, they cant all be sued and things will come out sooner than they would like them too im sure!!!

 

[Barb]

I agree with Bob, you can bet someone will post pictures. For me, a picture doesn't do much. I need to see it up close and personal to get the full effect. The whole concept does sound interesting. I can only hope it is revolutionary. EPCOT could use a humdinger to put some zip into FW.

 

[ContempoSMT]

thats cool

 

[HorizonsFan]

Disney can only sue if the photos were taken in a restricted area. The folks at WDWMagic seem to think that Disney will sue if ANY photos are released. I think that's a little far fetched...

 

[philjerden]

...for the link to the G-Fet II system. I see what you mean--it's not as though Disney created this technology.

Phil
***"A WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT OUTING" New Travel Guide***

 

[Testtrack321]

Go to the offical M:S website at http://www.disney.go.com/vacations/missionspace/index.html, go to news, then photos. Go to 2-15-01 (not 02) and you can clearly see a pit, roughly 15 ft. in diameter. Those pods can go in there.

 

[juniorbugman]

I would not be too sure that Disney would not try and sue. As my name implies Iam a volkswagen fan and have been for a long time. In the last year or two Volkswagen has gone overboard in its efforts to inforce its trademarks and to protect its products. They have sued and served legal documents to hundreds of website for the usage of Volkswagen names, product identifiers, and logos. Sites that were using these logos and such for years as part of their website domain names were told to stop using them or face being shut down. Volkswagen now has over 140 domain names registered to them, some taken over from the original owners. The fight is still on for a lot of websites using the terms like "bug" in their domain names, so if corporate Disney decides to sue or shut done some sites they might just be able to do it, based on Volkswagens example. Just my two cents worth, so WDWMagic.com boards might be right to be just a bit careful, you never know.

 

[mktiggerman]

Originally posted by HorizonsFan
Disney can only sue if the photos were taken in a restricted area.

all of the ride components are presently stored in restricted areas. When people ask "can we see pictures" and the subject in restricted, that raises red flags, and I personally don't blame them for worrying

 

[HorizonsFan]

all of the ride components are presently stored in restricted areas.

This is true, however the people on WDWMagic were asking for photos that may have been taken during transport. If I'm on the Monorail and take a picture of a truck on the road, it's my picture to do with as I please.

 

[mktiggerman]

Originally posted by HorizonsFan

This is true, however the people on WDWMagic were asking for photos that may have been taken during transport. If I'm on the Monorail and take a picture of a truck on the road, it's my picture to do with as I please.

that's why they're shipped in covered trucks, or dissasembled, so they look like construction equipment...

HEY-O... i'll be here all night!

 

[HorizonsFan]

Which part of the above quote do you disagree with?

There are suggestions that part of the ride system was delivered to the Central Shops behind the Magic Kingdom a few days ago. Eye witnesses report seeing a large flat bed truck, with what looked like parts that match the "Space Simulator Pod" concept. The truck was being escorted by Disney security. (Thanks to Jason for the information)

This is the first post on this thread. If I take a picture of this "large flat bed truck, with what looked like parts that match the "Space Simulator Pod" concept" as it travels down the road, I think I can post them on the Internet or paper my bathroom if I choose...

 

[larworth]

This comment mentions SEVERAL rides for the same major entertainment leader (Disney). Does anyone know what else ETC has done for Disney?

ETC has, thus far, been very successful in the design and manufacture of several unique rides for a major U.S. entertainment industry leader. The Ride Works development group works closely with ETC's Motion Science Institute to enhance the ride thrill features, while minimizing the potential for unwanted side effects, such as motion sickness. The use of sustained G-forces and sub- threshold motion, coupled with virtual visual cues, gives riders the most unique experience they will ever experience. Says Mitchell, "I really believe that the rides being produced by ETC do not exist anywhere else in the world -- not anywhere! It is exciting to be the first and only company to have the talent and facilities to produce these phenomenal entertainment experiences."

Again there is the term RIDES. Looks like they have used the Disney project to launch a much bigger thrust into the entertainment sector.

Entertainment Technology Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Environmental Tectonics Corporation (Amex: ETC) today announced the grand opening of The Ride Works(TM), a state-of-the-art entertainment ride development and test facility at its Southampton, PA, USA headquarters. William F. Mitchell, President and CEO, stated, "This facility promises to be a cutting edge, premier development and test center for the creation of innovative, next-generation entertainment and show rides worldwide."

Can’t wait to give these babies a spin. I guess I should have phrased that the other way around.

 

[airlarry!]

Just some housecleaning. The Mission:Space website is:

http://www.disney.go.com/vacations/missionspace/index.html

Did you notice in the press release announcing The Ride Works from ETC this quote from the company president:

The Ride Works development group works closely with ETC's Motion Science Institute to enhance the ride thrill features, while minimizing the potential for unwanted side effects, such as motion sickness. The use of sustained G-forces and sub- threshold motion, coupled with virtual visual cues, gives riders the most unique experience they will ever experience. Says Mitchell, "I really believe that the rides being produced by ETC do not exist anywhere else in the world -- not anywhere! It is exciting to be the first and only company to have the talent and facilities to produce these phenomenal entertainment experiences."

Sounds like Star Tours on Steroids, without the sickness.

 

[JeffJewell]

larworth...

Does anyone know what else ETC has done for Disney?

...I know that the CyberSpace Mountain cabs are ETCs, and I wouldn't be at all surprised to hear the Star Tours and/or Body Wars mechs came through that pipeline, as well. They're certainly ride mechs that are in ETC's bailiwick, and we know Disney and ETC have an on-going relationship.

airlarry!...

Sounds like Star Tours on Steroids

...yeah, ETC's technology makes for a solid foundation. The part that has me concerned is how much the Imagineers have been allotted to add the Magic.

It's likely to be a "fun" ride even without much Pixie Dust, but I'll tell you up front that I'm going to be disappointed in Disney if that's what ends up happening. The scuttlebutt I've heard is that it's headed that direction, but there's really nothing for it but to wait and see, at the moment.

Jeff

 

[Another Voice]

What’s really funny is that several pictures have been floating around the Internet showing the circular foundations for the four spinning units in the pavilion and the exact ride mechanics have been known for a long time. I wonder how much these threats are really serious (and how much they are to cover up some embarrassment over the attraction itself).

The ‘Star Tours on steroids’ comment is probably pretty close in terms of the physical sensation of the attraction (although call it a Maytag on steroids is probably a little closer). In terms of storyline….

What gets me is that all the majesty and wonder of space is being reduced to nothing but a “spin, puke, buy a tee shirt” experience. Long gone are any attempts to have the attraction live up to its subject matter.

 

[larworth]

A look at ETC’s books shows they’re getting this tidy sum from Disney for the ride mechanism.

2000-----3.7
2001-----8.4
2002----23.6 (list as backlog)

Total--- 35.7 million

I can't recall what the official/unofficial? total spend was going to be, but wasn't it well over $100 million? Would think that even after installation and infrastructure expenses this ought to leave a few million for some pretty good added show effects!

 

[Distriv]

I remember a rumor from a while back about Mission: SPACE having some weight lessness. An experiance like ToT excpt longer. Has anyone heard about this?