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New thrill ride at EPCOT

Walt Disney World unveils new ride at Epcot

The 'Sum of All Thrills' uses robot-arm technology that Universal Orlando is also believed to be using for a new Harry Potter ride

3:45 PM EDT, October 14, 2009


Walt Disney World unveiled its newest attraction Wednesday, a small but significant addition featuring first-of-its-kind simulators that allow guests to design -- and then ride -- their own roller coasters, bobsleds and jet planes.

But what makes the "Sum of All Thrills" at Epcot particularly interesting is that it offers a glimpse of what to expect in an even bigger attraction being built at Universal Orlando as part of that resort's highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

The Disney attraction, underwritten by defense contractor Raytheon Co., features robotic arms that that loft riders through the air. The massive mechanical appendages were developed by German robotics company KUKA Aktiengesellschaft, which builds similar arms used by car manufacturers on assembly lines.

It is the first attraction at any of Orlando's theme parks to use such a ride system. But it is likely to have company soon.

Universal is widely thought to be using robot arms for The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter, the centerpiece attraction in its $200-plus million Wizarding World project inside Islands of Adventure. While Universal has kept most details of the ride secret so far, construction documents show that the resort is working with a company that builds ride systems based on KUKA arms.

Disney's ride designers have been interested in KUKA arms for several years. Eric Goodman, a show producer with Walt Disney Imagineering, said they were especially intrigued by the ability to add "hoods" -- small capsules that close around a rider and allow for an immersive simulator experience.

Goodman said the technology turned out to be a perfect fit for Disney and Raytheon, which had been discussing a sponsorship deal for an exhibit inside one of Epcot's Innoventions pavilions. The companies wanted to create an experience in which children used basic math and science principles to design a thrill ride.

The arms have several advantages. Unlike conventional linear rides, for instance, the robot arms in the Sum of All Thrills can move in multiple directions at once because they rotate on six different axes. They have also been programmed with more sophisticated animation software.

"We were able to make a smoother ride," Goodman said.

Disney's Sum of All Thrills is by no means identical to Universal's Forbidden Journey. The Harry Potter attraction, which will be housed in a 15-story replica of Hogwarts Castle, will be a much larger, more lavish experience.

Universal's ride is also expected to be a type of "robocoaster," in which the robot arms advance along a track even as they swivel riders in various directions. The bases of the robot arms in the Sum of All Thrills are fixed in place.

The Wizaring World is scheduled to open sometime in the spring.

For Raytheon, the Sum of All Thrills is part of a broader outreach effort that also includes sponsoring the New England Patriots' new hall of fame in Massachusetts, where it has devised interactive exhibits that combine math and science with football. (Companies inside Epcot's Innoventions typically pay Disney about $1 million per year in sponsorship fees and sign on for three-year terms.)

William Swanson, chairman and chief executive officer of Waltham, Mass.-based Raytheon, said the goal is to get more children interested in learning about math and science – and, not coincidentally, help ensure a continued stream of prospective employees in the future.

"What we need to do is help young children to understand how they can use math. If we can get young kids excited, we can build the pipeline," Swanson said. "For us, it's a long-term strategy."

Jason Garcia can be reached at jrgarcia@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5414.

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[DonnyD]

Glad to hear that Disney is trying to compete with the new Universal planned Harry Potter thrill ride

[MissDisney]

I am trying to picture where this will be, exactly, and how thrilling it will be. I hope it's a totally exciting experience, but a little shy of the M:S Orange Side.... LOL

[mickeysgirlz]

Isn't there a coaster at DisneyQuest that you can design yourself and then ride it in a simulator?

[DonnyD]

Originally Posted by mickeysgirlz

Isn't there a coaster at DisneyQuest that you can design yourself and then ride it in a simulator?

Yes, last time we were at DisneyQuest it was still there. I never used it but my kids did and liked it but it was a short ride and did not load and unload fast. I'm sure newer technology is better and more quicker to load and unload riders.

[delmarjohn]

I have said this before ....we should stop wasting our money on our failed education system and put dsiney in charge ......also let them ..."future" our cities....... the present leaders could not see the future if they were actually living in the future.....look around and see if we have any planning in our cities...

[timkelmom]

I posted some pics in this thread.

http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/wdw-t...ttraction.html

I think it looks really cool and can't wait to try it.

[DayDreamer]

Another attraction, love it! It looks like its gonna be really wild.

[delmarjohn]

let you know will be there in april ...oh my toooo long

[Screever]

Maybe I'm missing something, but this doesn't sound really ground breaking to me...oh well.

Where in Epcot will they be putting the ride? Maybe use the old WoL space?

[delmarjohn]

from what I have heard,it is an upgrade from the disney quest ride

[timkelmom]

This ride is located in Innoventions.