Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest-ID-81580.asp" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Disney’s Gets a Patent for a Floating Omnimover Ride</b></a> <p>Disne by Mark finds a brand new patent that has just been approved for a "Floating Omnimover Ride". Here's the description from the patent filing.</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span>A floating omnimover ride with high capacity throughput and enhanced control over speeds of passenger boats. The ride includes a water containment structure with spaced apart sidewalls defining an elongated guide channel that defines a loop-shaped ride path or circuit. The ride includes a volume of liquid contained in the guide channel to a desired depth. The ride also includes a chain of passenger boats floating in the liquid contained in the guide channel. Each of the boats is linked to the two adjacent boats with a connecting link such that the chain of boats is a continuous loop. The chain of boats has a length that is approximately equal to a length of the ride path, and during operation of the ride, the boats in the chain are moved along the loop-shaped ride path at a predefined rate by a pump station moving the liquid in the guide channel.</span></p> <p><span><br /></span></p>
Originally Posted By oc_dean An omnimover running through a channel of water ... okay. Now ....It would seem to me ... they would attempt such a run .. in a natural setting. Like a narrow water stream through a forest. So therefore, that would rule out using such an idea in Tomorrowland. But I can see how this could be adapted in a land like - Adventureland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland. WDW? yes DLP? yes Disneyland? Only space available is Frontierland. But ... seems there was another patent developed for a boat type of ride (on a track of sorts) - Which could be used for a high capacity attraction for Frontierland? Anyway .... Hard to imagine an omnimover for Frontierland, over a boat like PotC. And an omnimover in a trough of water in Tomorrowland doesn't quite sound right. So, I don't see this patent ever going for something in DL. DCA? That sounds more logical. The other Disney resorts? Sounds more logical as well.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Gosh, that sure sounds like Paris's verison of Storybookland Canal Boats, which opened nearly 2 decades ago. I guess the main differences are that the boats won't have any noticeable space between them, and the driving force is moving water rather than an underwater cable (which makes me wonder how they'll be able to slow/stop the ride for guests who take a long time to load). Still, it seems quite similar in the end result. I agree with Dean that this most likely won't end up in DL. My immediate thought was that it could be something for the Avatar development at DAK, since an early leaked drawing appeared to show a boatride included in a multi-story/multi-attraction building, but I still have a hard time believing they're going forward with that project. Maybe the idea came up when they were in blue sky, and they figured they should patent it just in case anybody else tries it, even if they don't actually build it.
Originally Posted By oc_dean This is just wishful thinking..... I'm hoping the rumor of Frontierland being expanded beyond the railroad track .. would include a high capacity original ride (or perhaps themed to "Lone Ranger")... using this newly patented idea from Disney: <a href="http://micechat.com/forums/disneyland-resort/170829-newly-patented-disney-ride-system.html" target="_blank">http://micechat.com/forums/dis...tem.html</a> (It's my guess this is being used for Shanghai's PotC? Or is that something else?)
Originally Posted By oc_dean So, here is the patent for the new boat technology ... <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=EM0AAgAAEBAJ&zoom=4&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/patents?...&f=false</a> Now, I'd love to see the patent for the floating omnimover .. and see how they both differ.
Originally Posted By oc_dean There's also a patent that was going to be used for a Wall-E dark ride for Tomorrowland .... I'd love to see that patent too. Would have been filed no less than 3 years ago. Possibly 4 to 5.
Originally Posted By oc_dean Duh! ... It would help if I simply went to the link LP provided! FLOATING OMNIMOVER: <a href="http://www.disneybymark.com/2013/02/20/floating-omnimover-ride/" target="_blank">http://www.disneybymark.com/20...er-ride/</a> compare that to........ UNDERWATER CONTROLLED BOATS: <a href="http://www.google.com/patents?id=EM0AAgAAEBAJ&zoom=4&pg=PA1#v=onepage&q&f=false" target="_blank">http://www.google.com/patents?...&f=false</a>
Originally Posted By BlueOhanaTerror Shanghai. Almost certainly for the attraction that drift through show scenes under and around Storybook Castle.
Originally Posted By oc_dean ^^^^ Somehow ... I can't get my head around the sight of this endless train of omnimover floating boats through a pretty subterranean castle moat. I thought they were going to stick with this concept: <a href="http://parksandresorts.wdpromedia.com/media/disneyparks/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dar59323LARGE.jpg" target="_blank">http://parksandresorts.wdprome...ARGE.jpg</a> Sort of ... like the old WDW Swan Boats: <a href="http://www.bigbrian-nc.com/70s/0111-1001.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.bigbrian-nc.com/70s...1001.jpg</a>
Originally Posted By FerretAfros My guess is that the underwater controlled boats (which can rotate to face various directions) will be used for the Shanghai castle ride. It seems like they could face forward most of the time, and be turned during key scenes. The omnimover was likely developed for Shanghai's POTC (judging by the image of a sinking ship in the patent), or for an attraction that is no longer in development. I'm still not sure how feasible it would actually be for a functioning amusement ride system, since there are so many variables to be considered (like how quickly the boats move in the water when they're full vs empty, since they'll be submerged different amounts)
Originally Posted By teddibubbles I think the coolest ride system is the one on Ladybug Boogie, inside Bugs Land, at Fliks Fun Fair, in Disney's California Adventure, at the Disneyland Resort, Attraction the way it moves is so cool magnetic ride
Originally Posted By just another guest Just a little side note but this patent application has not been granted a patent yet. This is the info on it below. While Disney probably will get the patent, there are some applications that are not approved, and this has happened in the past with Disney. But I don't think there is any prior art that could block it. Publication number US20130025491 A1 Publication type Application Application number 13/193,746 Publication date Jan 31, 2013 Filing date Jul 29, 2011 Inventors David W. Crawford Edward A. Nemeth Applicant Disney Enterprises, Inc.
