Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You!
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| Disaster: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You | |
| Universal Studios Florida | |
| Area | San Francisco |
| Theme | Disaster Movies |
| Soft opening date | December 23, 2007 |
| Opening date | January 17, 2008 |
| Vehicle type | Tram |
| Ride duration | 25 minutes |
| Previous Attractions | Earthquake: The Big One (1990-2007) |
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Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! is an attraction at Universal Studios Florida. Housed in the former Earthquake ride building, Disaster! takes guests on a tour of Disaster! Studios, where you will become part of the newest Frank Kincaid disaster film. Disaster! features an all-new preshow featuring new technologies, as well as an updated version of the Earthquake simulator that has been a staple in Universal Orlando's history.
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[edit] Story
Disaster! is an interactive attraction following the storyline of a faux movie studio run by Frank Kincaid (played by Christopher Walken). The studio is going bankrupt and needs visitors to act as extras for key insert scenes. In helping Frank Kincaid complete his masterpiece, the visitors are then asked to be a part of the big finale sequence involving an earthquake.
[edit] Queue
Disaster's queue serves as a boneyard for many props from recent faux Disaster Studios films, including a Meteor-Struck House from Apocageddon, a torn apart plane from 300 Knots Landing, a mechanical shark from Das Schurke, and a giant tank being consumed by the tentacles from Super Mega Ultra Atomic Chaos. Guests are also greeted to Disaster Studios with a giant mural of destroyed Los Angeles, introducing Frank Kincaid as the "Master of Mayhem."
[edit] Pre-Show
Guests are introduced to Lonnie, a production assistant who casts guests for scenes that he needs to be shot in the soundstages. Guest are then taken into a screening room where Frank Kincaid appears via holographic special effects. Frank Kincaid then pleas to visitors to help him complete his film. After a big speech, guests are ushered into another soundstage where the scenes are shot. Audience members that were pre-picked to be involved in the scenes are trotted out to perform, and the audience becomes part of the action as well. Frank Kincaid appears on a screen and invites guests to take part in his big finale that is being shot next door.
[edit] Ride
Guests board a subway station, modeled after San Francisco's Oakland West Station. Small plasma screens direct you on the big reactions needed to successfully shoot the scene. The ride vehicle enters a simulated Earthquake scene including pyrotechnics and water. When the scene is over, the screens in the train show the trailer for the faux film "Mutha Nature" you have just shot. The trailer includes a cameoe from Dwayne Johnson and features guests shots inserted into the "film". This similation is similar to the ride Earthquake that had previously been in the building.
Much like all the attractions at Universal Studios Florida, the attraction has specific requirements to ensure the safety of guests, including being free of neck, back, or any other health ailments.
[edit] History
On November 5, 2007, Universal Orlando officially confirmed the refurbishment of this attraction.[1]
The attraction reconstruction itself took 1 month and 3 weeks, the fastest turnaround time for a new attraction in Universal Orlando history. Among the changes include a brand new pre-show experience, as well as new technologies never before used in a theme park. Disaster! also features new ride elements that were not in Earthquake: The Big One.
The attraction started previews on December 23, 2007 after some technical problems delayed the actual opening. The grand opening took place on January 17, 2008 with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson making a special guest appearance.[2]
[edit] Cast
- Christopher Walken- Frank Kincaid
- Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson- Star of Mutha Nature.
- Universal Studios Florida Actor- Lonnie
- Universal Studios Florida Operations Team Member- Production Crew Members
- Matthew Walker- Mikey
[edit] Disaster! Studios Gifts
Disaster! Studios Gifts is a gift shop for the attraction which replaced Earthquake: The Big One's Shakin's Souvenirs gift shop. The store sells various gifts based on the attraction.
[edit] Technology
Disaster! features new technology never before used in a theme park attraction. Disaster uses Musion technology to bring the Frank Kincaid character to life. This technology uses techniques similar to the Pepper's Ghost effect that has been used in attractions such as Haunted Mansion and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster at Walt Disney World Resort. Musion projects a high definition image onto the floor and onto a giant piece of plexiglass, giving it the illusion that it is lifelike. It also gives the ability to interact with objects on stage, as can be seen in many parts of the attraction.
Disaster! also uses Real-Time Editing to help produce the movie trailer for Mutha Nature that is shown at the end of the ride. Real-Time editing captures shots and wirelessly transmits them onto the Disaster! ride vehicle, which then inserts those shots into the trailer.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! at Universal Orlando Resort
- Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! at Orlando Rocks
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