dome based attractions

FILM AND MEDIABASED ATTRACTIONS

Judy Rubin and Joe Kleiman

EARLY FILM-BASED DOME

Journey to the Stars Seattle World’s Fair, 1962 15 min Cinerama 70mm color film 8,000 sq ft aluminum dome Vertical angle 160 degrees 4.5 million viewers

THE FILM PARK

Epcot Center, Florida, 1982 95% of attractions entail film or video

element Spaceship Earth – planetarium at apex Horizons (1983-1989) – Omnisphere

Twin IMAX domes, vehicle traveled through center.

Omnisphere under construction 1982

IMAX AND OTHER DOME SIMS

Back to the Future: The Ride Universal Studios Florida 1991

Asteroid Adventure (Galaxy) Phantasialand 1994

Star Trek: The Experience (8/70) Las Vegas Hilton 1998-2008

Race for Atlantis (IMAX 3D) Caesars Palace 1998-2005

StormRider Tokyo DisneySea 2001

Soarin’ Over California (IMAX 48fps) Disney California Adventure 2001

INTERCHANGABILITY

Flight of the Dragon from Happy Valley Shanghai played for two months at FlyOver Canada Flight of the Dragon (left) features a Huss

motion base, four blended projectors, 80’ dome screen

FlyOver Canada (right) uses Brogent motion base, single 60fps projector, 60’ dome screen.

INEXPENSIVE UPDATES

Universe of Energy 1982 New show Ellen’s Energy Adventure 1996

El Rio del Tiempo 1982 Changed to Gran Fiesta Tour 2007

Both updates required minimal set changes. Majority of cost in film and soundtrack production.

EXPENSIVE UPDATES

Alteration from Back to the Future: The Ride to The Simpsons Ride Replacement of IMAX projectors with six

SONY SXRD projectors in each auditorium (now being changed to Christie 4K DLP)

Update of motion base appearance Complete revision of all interior and

exterior spaces

FINAL PRODUCT

3D DARK RIDES

Some, like Toy Story Mania, use real time CGI in a shooting gallery-type interactive environment.

Others tell a story, using large screens and domes tied together by physical props. Vehicles travel down track, but can rotate 360º 6 DOF motion base integrated into vehicles Vehicles have tall sides or “blinders” to keep riders’

attention on filmed images Almost all vehicles are identical in appearance

THE AMAZING ADVENTURES OF SPIDER-MAN

Universal’s Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios Japan

TRANSFORMERS THE RIDE 3D

Universal Studios Singapore, Hollywood, and Florida

CURSE OF DARKASTLE

Busch Gardens Williamsburg

FERRARI WORLD ABU DHABI

Ferrari World features one 3D dark ride and two 2D film-based dark rides. To save costs, the same vehicle is used for all rides.

HARRY POTTER AND THE FORBIDDEN JOURNEY

Ride vehicles for this 2D film-based attraction are “flying” benches attached to the ends of robotic arms traveling on a track. In the photo, dome screens, which move with the vehicles for a portion of the ride, can be seen on the left.

THE EDU-TAINMENT DOME

Dunhuang Academy in China’s Gobi Desert Dual flat screen preshows and dual Sky-

Skan fulldome theaters World heritage site. Artifacts, shared on

dome, tell history of Silk Road

ENTERTAINMENT TO EDU-TAINMENT

Dragon’s Treasure, City of Dreams Macau Designed by Falcon’s Treehouse

Incorporates physical props and lighting effects Dome projection by Kraftwerk

15 Christie DLP projectors at 60fps

ENTERTAINMENT TO EDU-TAINMENT

Turtle Trek, SeaWorld Orlando Also by Falcon’s Treehouse. Teaches

message of conservation at marine life park Dome projection also by Kraftwerk

34 projectors with 360 degree stereo image

CURVED SCREEN = VISCERAL EXPERIENCE

Manta, SeaWorld San Diego Roller coaster launch tunnel surrounds

riders with feeling of being underwater with manta rays

CURVED SCREEN = VISCERAL EXPERIENCE

King Kong 360 3D, Universal Studios Hollywood 3D screens on each side of studio tour tram

places riders in middle of battle between King Kong and T-Rex via 16 projectors, each with its own server

LED CEILING SCREENS

(L to R): Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas; Yeosu Expo 2012, South Korea; Chimelong Ocean Kingdom, Hangquin Island, China

DESIGNED FOR VARIABILITY

World of Color at Disney California Adventure was designed for the easy addition of preshow elements and the swapping out of entire segments and shows This interchangibility has been used numerous

times to promote films and television programs from the Walt Disney Company as well as to celebrate holidays and seasonal events since the show premiered in 2010

In 2013, a new winter themed show was introduced for the holiday season

DESIGNED FOR VARIABILITY

In 2011, computer gaming company Blizzard Entertainment rented out the California Adventure park and World of Color. A special show took place on the fountain screens with characters from the company’s various franchises, including World of Warcraft, running around the lagoon