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Ride Profile
www.parkworld-online.com
“
LEFT: Kevin Rafferty gives guests the opportunity to actually play a game
This is one
with them!
installation of the
of the most very complex Does Toy Story Mania embody new
technologically
systems which technology, or is it comprised of existing
operate all of the technology used in a new application?
complex “show” elements A little bit of both. We’ve used existing technology
attractions
for attractions in and computer power in new ways to create the
Disney parks games, plus invented some elements of the “spring
Walt Disney worldwide. On Toy action shooter” that enhance the play of the game.
Imagineering
Story Mania! he
acted as lead Describe the technology. What makes it
has created. It engineer. work?
takes 154
Park World This is one of the most technologically complex
sought out Kevin attractions Walt Disney Imagineering has created. It
computers to Rafferty at the takes 154 computers to run the game, each with a
run the
Imagineers' lair in Glendale, California. The ride’s specific set of tasks, and they all must stay very tightly
senior concept writer has spent the last 30 years synchronised. To communicate with the vehicles, we
game
”
developing concepts for Walt Disney Imagineering use a secure wireless network that is much more
and turning them into three-dimensional storytelling reliable and secure than your typical wireless network.
experiences for Disney park guests. As a member of The real-time animation is possible because the
Imagineering’s “Blue Sky” group, he is currently spring-action shooters communicate with the
working on concepts for new attractions at Disney animating computers at a rate of 60 times per
parks around the globe. Our first question for Kevin second. This allows you to see the targets you hit
Rafferty was simple... react in real time, just like it would happen at a
midway game at a county fair.
Is Toy Story Mania a dark ride or a game?
How is it different from similar attractions? Will we see this technology applied to future
Toy Story Mania! is our latest, interactive ride and Disney attractions?
game experience. Each time an individual plays the We will continue developing more interactive,
game, the experience will be different based on their customised and personalised attractions Every time we
abilities. And for the first time on a Disney ride, guests create a new way to apply technology, that process
wear 3D glasses and experience 4D effects. becomes part of the Disney Imagineering tool kit for
the next generation of attractions. I’m sure you’ll see
Why do people enjoy it? pieces and parts of this in the future, though I have
Guests tell us they love the quick pace and challenge no specifics to share right now.
and find the experience very repeatable. As with all
Disney attractions, Toy Story Mania! starts with a story. Is this technology available from others? Do
Our guests tell us how much they enjoy interacting you expect to see non-Disney variations of
with our Disney/Pixar characters – and this attraction this eventually in other parks?
We develop attractions like this based on invented
and innovative technology created or adapted by our
Imagineering teams.
What do you, as Imagineers, enjoy most
about Toy Story Mania?
Our Imagineering team just loves this attraction –
we’re still enjoying challenging each other to see who
can get the highest scores! The best part of
experiencing an attraction we’ve created is to see and
hear the expressions on the faces of our guests – they
love it!!
What other plans are there for the Pixar
area at Disney’s Hollywood Studios?
We’re always working on something new – so stay
tuned.
Toy Story Mania! will open at Tokyo
DisneySea, Japan, in 2012. A version
of the game is also available for the
Nintendo Wii courtesy of Disney
Interactive Studios.
46 NOVEMBER 2009
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