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Part Three:
Aquatopia & StormRider (continued)
The real star
of Port Discovery though is StormRider, the next generation
motion simulator attraction housed right next door in the Center of
Weather Control. With it's copper domed roofs capped with antennas and
spinning satellite dishes, The Center of Weather Control is a stunning
show building.
Upon entering, visitors pass
beneath a large scale model of a StormRider plane. These planes have
been designed to enter the eye of a storm and detonate a "Storm
Diffusion Device" or "Fuse" for short. The Fuse is an
explosive charge capable of being fired into the very center of a storm.
Upon detonation the Fuse torpedo will disperse the weather and bring
calm skies.
Visitors are
directed into a large hanger like room bisected by an elevated catwalk.
This catwalk is elaborately decorated with
brass railings and intricate metalwork. On the far wall is a huge radar
screen showing the weather in the immediate area. On the opposite side
of the catwalk is a large cylindrical tank filled with bubbling water.
Plasma screens hang along both sides of the catwalk. Pipes gauges and
various mechanical devices line the walls.
From the catwalk a uniformed
cast member now starts a pre-show explanation of our journey. We have
been invited aboard a StormRider vehicle which will follow behind a main
lead plane. The purpose will be to enter the massive storm approaching
the area and observe as the main craft targets the eye and fires its
Fuse to end the storm. We are simply along for the ride. The dialogue is
almost all live and all in Japanese, however LED displays scroll English
subtitles for us to follow. (This is how they also handle the pre-show
for the Armageddon attraction at the new Disney Studios park in Paris.)
During the pre-show we get a
demonstration of the power of the Fuse. A vortex is created in the large
water tank. This tornado like effect whirls away in the liquid until a
Fuse is lowered into place and fired. With a loud BANG the water is
disrupted and the vortex eliminated. Next we are introduced to our
pilots. While the main pilot is as professional as you could hope for,
our captain is a young hot shot who is out to make a name for himself.
When the pre-show ends, doors open and we enter the Storm Rider planes.
Seating 122
people, each vehicle is more than three times the size of the Star Tours
cabins. The windshield at the front of the plane is covered with
sliding guards and small portholes lines the walls. Each porthole is
about eighteen inches across and each door holds one porthole. There are
four or five doors on each side of the plane so a total of eight to ten
portholes. All the real action takes place through the main windshield,
the portholes act more as peripheral touches as landscapes whiz by, but
they are a nice touch. The interior of the cabin is very nicely detailed
with vents, control panels and hoses lining the ceilings and walls. Once
strapped in with a seat belt the lights dim, the score ramps up and the
wind screen slides open to reveal our view.
We are already in the air,
hovering low over water. We are chasing the lead plane which is very
close to us and just ahead. His rear engines turn from a vertical to a
horizontal position and fire. His acceleration is quick so ours picks up
to match him. We can hear both captains and the control center chat back
and forth, this time it is all in Japanese with no subtitles.
The cabin pitches forward and
we lean down facing the water as the plane accelerates. The motion is
very smooth and the feel of speed very convincing. It has the smoothness
of Soarin' Over California from California Adventure and the sense of
speed and lateral movement of Star Tours. As is the case with most every
attraction in Tokyo DisneySea the music is exceptional. This score has a
John Williams feel to it, sweeping and majestic. It adds tremendously to
the feeling of being in a movie.
Through the
portholes we see trees and water blur past. The plane banks hard
to the left and we get out first feel of what these simulators can do.
The cabin moves very quickly in any direction, it does not shake or
rattle the way Star Tours does. We continue to fly low over the water
through a canyon of trees. Speed boats slip by underneath us and we
nearly hit a large futuristic sail boat.
It's clear that our pilot is
showing off and has already lost the lead plane. We fly over some trees
and rejoin the number one plane after our captain is scolded. Smoothly
we follow the main plane past a pod of dolphins and up towards a
floating barge. We can see storm clouds gathering in the distance as we
fly a bit too close to the floating ship and again, almost hit it.
A futuristic city is briefly
seen below us but soon we are engulfed in thick, dark storm clouds. The
music turns somber as the captain and the control center bicker back and
forth. The motion in the cabin is remarkably realistic. We are buffeted
by strong winds but remain on course. Without warning a blinding flash
of lightning strikes the lead plane. Smoke pours out of his engine as he
drops briefly from view, then rises back up and yet again, almost hits
us. We are warned to turn back but our hot shot captain has decided to
press forward and fire our fuse, thus ending the storm and cementing his
reputation.
It's now
virtually pitch black with only the occasion bolt of lighting to lighten
the sky. Debris fly past the windows and the ride which was once
smooth and gentle has turned rough and turbulent. Finally we enter the
dead middle of the storm, the eye is in front of us, and it is time to
fire the Fuse!
We see the missile shooting
off from above our windshield. It streams towards the storm, but this is
not our day. A second rouge bolt of lightning strikes the rocket sending
it of of control. The shock of electricity sends the Fuse in a long
spiraling, looping trip right back at us - in an agonizing few seconds
the missile tosses and turns, it's heading directly for our plane!
This is where the fun really
begins. The Fuse arcs back over or windshield and BAM! - It smashes
directly through the ceiling, impaling the craft! This is a real,
three-dimensional, physical prop which shatters down through the roof
with a loud bang and a blast of fog filled air! Panic ensues as all hell
breaks loose.
The plane is rocking and
rolling left to right, the captain is screaming... the Storm Rider is
out of control. Lights flicker, neon jolts across panels on the ceiling
and walls, as fog streams in from several points inside the cabin.
Eventually the Fuse is shaken
lose and it dislodges itself from the plane. We see it toss out in front
of us before exploding into a huge fireball directly in front of the
plane. There is no way to avoid the explosion so the we plow directly
through it. As we hit the first wave of fire a blast of air hits us in
the face sending hair high into the air. The cabin is rocking and
shaking, it's hard to imagine what else could go wrong.
We start a
steep descent from the heavens. The crippled plane can barely
keep aloft. We are plunging towards the water. Now, through the hole
left from the Fuse rain starts to fly in. Real water is flying around
the cabin. Not enough to soak you but just enough to make you squint a
bit. The cabin is now shaking so violently that panels start popping
lose! We see large ceiling panels dangling from above, hoses have broken
lose and fog is spewing everywhere. You really get the sensation of
panic at this point. The plane pulls up nearly hitting the surface of
the water but narrowly avoiding doom.
Through a series of very hard
left and right banks we avoid smashing into futuristic light houses,
factories and buildings and once again regain some altitude. The engines
whine and strain and finally we break out of the killer storm and into
the calm air lit by a striking sunset.
Our inept captain cannot hold
us on course. Suddenly the plane pitches forward and at a near 90 degree
angle we drop from the sky. The water is rapidly approaching us as we
head straight down. We narrowly miss smashing a passing helicopter, then
again miss smashing the lead StormRider plane now floating in the
harbor. PULL UP! PULL UP!!!!!! You
feel yourself wanting to yell out.... PULL UP!!!!!
We smash into the water!
Another blast of air and water hit us in the face as we plunge
underwater for a moment before bobbing to the surface. We have survived.
The wind screen slides shut leaving us stranded
in the sea awaiting a tow back home.
StormRider
combines the best elements of Soarin' Over California and Star Tours
into one state of the art simulator attraction that leaves all others
far in its wake. The in cabin lighting and physical effects add a
tremendous visceral impact to the attraction. It's no longer solely a
visual and aural experience but also a tactile one. By the time the
lights come on and the doors open you feel spent and exhausted. Much
more than any other simulator I have experienced (and I have been on all
the big ones from the Star Trek Experience to Back to the Future and
Star Tours). You really feel as if you've gone through something truly
harrowing.
Many different styles of boats...
In fact this is the only real
complaint I have with the attraction, why must something always go
terribly wrong? Why must we be put through a near death debacle instead
of being allowed to enjoy a pleasant trip? On this level I almost prefer
the calm and smooth ride of California Adventure's Soarin' Over
California. I have enough stress in my daily life that I don't need to
raise my blood pressure while on vacation! But this is ultimately a
wonderful compliment to the show. The fact that StormRider really does
make you stress out, the fact that it really does feel authentic is a
testament to how well crafted it is. It is clearly at the pinnacle of
all similar attractions.
...are docked throughout Port
Discovery
I must confess
that in general I'm not a huge fan of simulator rides. They often
feel claustrophobic and fake to me. At their worst they can make me
sick. That said it is impossible to deny the quality inherent in
StormRider. On a scale of one to four stars this attraction gets three
and a half rocky, shaky and pressure filled stars. StormRider is an
intense, relentless and thrilling experience, but just don't go if you
are having a bad day... you don't need the stress.
Next
we will travel deep into the South American Jungles to take
on Indiana Jones and the Temple of the Crystal Skull...
Want to send some comments
to Ted?
You can E-mail him at ted@mouseplanet.com
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