New WDI ride system - Twister....

Sounds like a cool mix of ride, virtual imaging, and user-controlled experience...and since it's Disney, you can bet on immersive theming!

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2013/05/03/walt-disney-imagineering-patents-new-twister-ride-system-may-be-themed-to-planes/

It actually looks pretty cool. It would be great for it to be an indoor attraction for small parks total land wise (like Carowinds) but Disney has a bunch of extra land (at least at their orlando site). They don't need to keep building these space conserving indoor rides like Soarin or the Little Mermaid. They should be building big rides that attract thrill lovers and families both like Everest.

Not sure I'd call Soarin' or Little Mermaid "space conserving." The show buildings for these, like many Disney attractions, are really quite expansive. Indeed, they had to build a huge, new building at Epcot to house the two Soarin' theaters.

Walt Disney World is large, yes, but the other Disney Resorts around the world have a fraction of the space; and while WDW is huge, the WDW parks are somewhat hemmed in by infrastructure, off-stage operations, show buildings (Haunted Mansion, Pirates, Small World, Rock-n-Roller Coaster etc) and so on.

You're probably right, but doesn't WDW need a big roller coaster? Make it themed, too. They make everything themed.

Expedition Everest, space mountain, big thunder mountain railroad - all fairly decent sized roller coasters.

Disney is not a teen thrill park. I think their collection suits them nicely.

And the fact that they "make everything themed" (I love that) is what keeps them from putting in a 250 ft tall multi-humped steel thriller. California Screamin is the best Disney example of what you're looking for, Tyler, but they've got a seaside boardwalk theme going on over there, so it's a different fit. I can't think of anything going on over at the WDW parks that would 'allow' that.

I suspect Tyler is making the assumption that "Walt Disney World covers 40 square miles = unlimited space to expand the parks." But take Magic Kingdom Park, for example: there's a road that encircles the park literally just outside the berm. The monorail maintenance facility is behind Storybook Circus. And so on. There is no room at Magic Kingdom Park for a "big roller coaster".

doesn't WDW need a big roller coaster?

No.

But slithernoggin, roads and buildings can be moved. We have seen it many times in park design.

But I agree that Disney does not need a huge B&M or whatever. Keeping most of the rides so that the entire family can ride together is part of what makes Disney Disney.

While most of Magic Kingdom Park's Main Street was built using forced perspective, the building that now houses the Town Square Theater was built full size, just to ensure that no one could see the Contemporary Resort from inside the park. Disney would never build an attraction at MKP that would allow guests to see other parts of the park.

Well, sure, except for being able to see parts of Tomorrowland from Liberty Square.

Anybody ever notice the cinder block building that is the back of Everest from the Animal Kingdom parking lot? Now, there's an illusion killer.

Imagine what happens when you do a walk-down from the inside!

Wait, was it Expedition Everest you were on that one time when the chain broke?

;)

I did get walked off of WDW's Splash once---we came out the back side of the show building. It was utilitarian to its core and really quite fascinating.

I give them a pass on the Everest building. I'm not sure I care I can see it from the parking lot, and they painted it something innocuous enough that I hardly notice it anymore.

All this ride needs is a wind tunnel to make it feel like you are moving.

How fast are these planes going to move? does each plane have a a motor in the body and one on the rail? It looks like they are way too close to fit much in there, there are also those gaps between the "Keyhole extrusions" that make up the main frame are a little worrying, they have to fit all of the wires inside a pipe that goes through the bearings in the plane bar, that pipe also has to support the thousands of pounds of all the riders and planes. Finally, those sideways "C" supports, I feel bad for the unlucky guy who keeps spinning in front of that, kinda ruins the illusion, the shape also does not look very effective for load bearing, why not use a standard arch instead? Pushing it out loses so much strength.

I could see this easily being used with a door theme from Monsters Inc.

Or the plane theme from... Planes.

Yes, Planes was indicated as the most likely theme...

If it were a *non-Disney* company, I'd say stay tuned as it may change. Since it IS Disney, I highly doubt that would happen...

Don't forget that Disney also just bought a franchise. How about instead of prop planes the ride vehicle is an X-Wing. Death Star Raid