Originally Posted By Nobody From post 59: "Every ride systems isn't required to have a specific name. I'd say that most, particularly at EPCOT, are unique to the attractions they were designed to serve." Fair enough, but if a system was unique enough, you'd think it would have it's own patent (and perhaps name). Somebody geeky enough would probably be able to tell us. Unless, of course, it was just a variation on the Omnimover design... ;-)
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy << Fair enough, but if a system was unique enough, you'd think it would have it's own patent (and perhaps name). >> You do realize that Disney has patented a number of ride systems for these sorts of continuous loading dark rides, not all of them came to be know by a "brand name."
Originally Posted By Nobody "You do realize..." I guess I do and I don't. I've yet to find the specific patent for the SSE ride system. You know, the one that says that it is unique and doesn't fall under the "Omnimover" patent as a logical subset. If you stumble upon that one, please let us know.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Why couldn't it be a logical subset of any of the other ride systems that Disney has developed? Considering that it doesn't do the two primary things an omnimover was designed to do -- 1) pivot through the track in concert with show scenes via mechanical bars linked to the track, and 2) tilt on inclines, why is logically a subset of the omnimover design? To me, it's a logical subset of the Peoplemover system, not an omnimover.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip <<Do Peoplemover cars have a continuous speed like SSE's vehicles?>> No.
Originally Posted By leobloom Thanks RT, I was thinking the Peoplemover accelerated out of the station and at varied its speed at certain points (like in Space Mountain and the Dreamflight windows).
Originally Posted By RoadTrip << I was thinking the Peoplemover accelerated out of the station and at varied its speed at certain points (like in Space Mountain and the Dreamflight windows).>> Absolutely correct.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy But there's no reason that a Peoplemover has to do this. The exact same ride system could be operated so all the vehicles travel at the same speed.
Originally Posted By Nobody SSE vehicles are all attached in a continuous chain. If one slows down, they all slow down. The peoplemover trains are separate from each other. Just one of the many differences. But of course, they both do move people, so they are similar in that regard.
Originally Posted By dshyates but an omnimover can't speed up and slow down over the course of the attaction. I really don't think it's really debatable. When epcot opened SSE, WoM, And Horizons were all considered to be omnimovers. George McGinnis talks about the oddities of the Horizons omnimover in that it is ALWAYS facing sideways. The cars are also hung from overhead, don't turn or tilt in any way and yet it is a omnimover. So what do we know about omnimovers? Well, Disney considers HM, SSE, WoM, Horizons, Nemos clam shells, and the new LM Omnimovers. They are a continous string of cars that move at a continous speed. They can turn tilt, spin, hang, or not but there is no space between vehicles and the speed never changes. Thats about it. Here is George McGinnis' article and a sketch diagram of the Horizons vehicle. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/3bnowg" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/3bnowg</a> I found this helpful. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2r8v54" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/2r8v54</a>
Originally Posted By dshyates This is also interesting. <a href="http://tinyurl.com/35d5tm" target="_blank">http://tinyurl.com/35d5tm</a>
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Based on those descriptions, and the patents Disney filed in the 60s, I'd say the Omnimover is an adaptation of the Peoplemover. So, all these rides are really Peoplemover systems.
Originally Posted By dshyates I would have to say yes. And the line blurs further when they redo the PM into the IncrediPods and they mount rotatable vehicles on the PM. But the Omnimovers, which is a trademarked and patented ride system has a continuous line of vehicles and a continuous speed. The PM does not. Imagination is pretty much the 50/50 mesh of the 2. Trains like a PM that speed up and slow down like a PM, yet rotate to limit eye lines. Yet another a unique and underutilized ride system.
Originally Posted By danyoung Thank you, dshyates - this is exactly the kind of articles that I was talking about. Sorry, SG - time to give it up! I had to do the same thing about a year ago when I was arguing that dark rides were specifically the Fantasyland type rides, and not rides like the HM and Pirates. Through the words of imagineers, I was proved wrong (and I just HATE being wrong!!!). Ah well, at least I learned something. . .
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy I wouldn't say that I am wrong but it appears that in it's broad use, Omnimover has no particular meaning at all. I prefer terms that have some technical and specific meaning to describe things. If every continuous loading conveyance that Disney has ever built is an Omnimover, then so be it. I think it's a sloppy use of a term that once had a very specific meaning, no matter what kind of people choose to use it that way.
Originally Posted By Sport Goofy Personally, I think the Bob Gurr article on designing the first Omnimovers gives the best description of what this ride system is supposed to be: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/News-ID108210.asp" target="_blank">http://www.laughingplace.com/N ews-ID108210.asp</a> He personally describes it as a "candied apple on a stick." He also describes how the other continuous loading attractions developed for the 1964 World's Fair were precursors to what evolved into the Omnimover design. I don't believe that SSE, Horizons, or Journey have any of the "candied apple on a stick" features that describe the classic Omnimover.
