[Question] Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

[Bobd20011]

I know someone else must have asked this, but my search of the boards did not reveal a definite answer.

Is the new Little Mermaid Attraction for DCA the same as the attraction modeled on the Little Mermaid Special Edition DVD?

[mycroft16]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Nope, it isn't modeled on that ride through. Certainly some elements will be similar because they are both about the Little Mermaid, but it will not be a hanging track system (will be an Omnimover system like the Haunted Mansion). From what we can tell it will not go above/below water like the DVD ride through does. They certainly have underwater scenes, but it doesn't look like the track dips down and climbs up (though we'll have to wait for more detail to be absolutely certain).

[Bobd20011]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Does Disney usually reveal info. regarding attractions before they are built, or are we going to have to wait until 2011 to get specifics on this ride?

[dmtnt55]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

I think the Seashell Vehicles are a reality.

[FI183]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

The Blue Sky Cellar will be updated along the road to include a lot of information on the ride. They are being very open with this expansion.

[mycroft16]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

I think the Seashell Vehicles are a reality.

The vehicles are seashells, but not like they are in the DVD ridethrough. On the DVD they are suspended from above and have 2 rows of seats. From the models we've seen in the Blue Sky Cellar videos, the actual ride will be like Haunted Mansion omnimovers (updated I'm sure). Single row for 2 or 3 guests and tracked on the ground, not suspended overhead.

[aimster]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Yeah it sounds like the ride vehicles will look similar to the clamshells you ride in on the Nemo ride at EPCOT, but hopefully they'll turn like the doombuggies do in Haunted Mansion as opposed to just facing one way (just looking to one side) like on Nemo.

[mycroft16]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Yeah it sounds like the ride vehicles will look similar to the clamshells you ride in on the Nemo ride at EPCOT, but hopefully they'll turn like the doombuggies do in Haunted Mansion as opposed to just facing one way (just looking to one side) like on Nemo.

Here is some good artwork:

http://micechat.com/forums/members/mastergracey-albums-paradise-pier-disney-s-california-adventure-project-tracker-image-gallery-picture410-show-scene-overview-voyage-little-mermaid-attraction-copyright-disney.html

Shows the vehicles and it shows that they are capable of turning. At least in this early concept art. I don't see a reason for them to not turn though. The whole point of the omnimover was to be able to very carefully control where the guest is looking by rotating the whole vehicle and they will probably want that in this ride as well. So I'm going to say that these will be pretty close to the final product.

[Aladdin]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

that's too bad, I was really hoping for the suspended ride vehicle in the underwater scenes.

[Nautilus]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

I'm kinda tired of the whole "is it going to be like the virtual ride on the DVD?". To answer that question: NO WAY! Ignore that video. Think Haunted Mansion quality and scope, but swap out the theme for Little Mermaid. That's how it's going to be, not like the DVD video. The concept art for Little Mermaid doesn't really give you a good idea of how the scenes really are; Those really sketchy pieces shouldn't even be released as "this is what it's going to look like" when really they're just there to give a quick overall for certain scenes. I'm not really a fan of that style anyways; even though it works good for illustrating gags, but not for big show scenes.

[Bobd20011]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model




Maybe you need a Starbucks (MiceAge.com - A different look at Disney...) and then you will not get tired so easily.

[BlueSkyDriveBy]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

I don't see a reason for them to not turn though. The whole point of the omnimover was to be able to very carefully control where the guest is looking by rotating the whole vehicle and they will probably want that in this ride as well. So I'm going to say that these will be pretty close to the final product.

The only reason OmniMovers rotate on the base from side to side is to allow the vehicle path to track through the center of show scenes, such as the hallways in HM. Otherwise, the vehicles could be fixed to face one direction only, as the clamshells in the entry ride for Nemo & Friends/Living Seas at EPCOT, if the need for 180 degree scene exposure isn't necessary.

While I haven't seen a track layout or show building plan for TLM, I could see the clamshell vehicles from EPCOT being used. The show building could be laid out in the shape of a simplified flower (similar to the six-petaled rosette center of the Chartes Labyrinth) with each show scene being contained inside each "petal." The clamshells would face inside towards the center of the flower and continuously move around the edge of each petal, so to speak, like the vehicles in the concept art for the "Kiss the Girl" scene. I can envision all of the scenes laid out in this fashion.

Installing the clamshell vehicle system from EPCOT would be cheaper to program and maintain than more traditional OmniMover vehicles, which would be another reason to use them. Plus the ADA clamshells are easier to load/unload for riders and CMs alike. I'll be very surprised if TLM opens with traditional OmniMovers like HM.

[mycroft16]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

While I haven't seen a track layout or show building plan for TLM...

While we have not seen an actual full layout for the track, we have seen show scene mockup models and shots of the model for the front of the building. Even if only briefly during the BSC videos. The loading unloading area at the front of the building has the vehicles all pointing forward (direction of motion). The "Under the Sea" scene in the mockup model (not artwork), shows the vehicles turned to the side. This supports the idea that they will be fully capable of turning to the sides.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsv-fGJkdwk]YouTube - Blue Sky Cellar[/ame]

[Bobd20011]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Well, I am just plain excited for the ride, and I cannot wait until more information is available.

[bfdf55]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

The DCA version will be shorter as the ride isn't capable of using the same scene twice (under water and above the water) as the Paris version did. As for the show itself, it will essentially be a "telling of the story", just as the Paris version was. The design will have to be adjusted to fit the smaller space.

[bfdf55]

Re: Little Mermaid Attraction vs. DVD Special Edition Ride Virtual Model

Don't be fooled by the DVD CG version of the ride. That was essentially just a computer generated version of the model. So the characters that would be AA's in the real attraction were only represented by flats in the video. The actual attraction would probably have been as exciting as flying through Pirates or the Haunted Mansion.