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Shanghai Disneyland announcement gives hint of what to expect for the new Soarin' at Epcot
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↩ replying to wdwmagicStill think they should move the entrance to Soarin' into World Showcase. Much more of a thematic fit in WS than in Future World.
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Once the new film makes its debut, will the old one still be available to ride with? Just wondering.
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Has anyone heard if the queue will be updated along with the new film and if WDW will be getting the all new walk thru portion that is mention in the Shanghai description? Also isn't the entire pavilion about due for a refresh? How long has it been since the major refurb?
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↩ replying to PinnySmartI doubt the queue gets much more than fresh paint and maybe new visuals on the screens. It was themed like an airport so there is no real need for a new look. God forbid they actually have to close the entire ride...
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Will the new/Shanghai version have variable scenes? I get the sense that each location with have a local ending but will the other scenes randomize a la Star Tours?
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↩ replying to doctornickI don't think they'll be randomized--we'll just fly over WWoHP while they go over the Great Wall in Shanghai.
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I hope it is randomized...and I still think Soarin will be closed for a refurb (they will have to rework the que, and update the other theaters, and hopefully new or working interactives)...no matter how crazy some people think, they shut down rides all the time for refurbs :)
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↩ replying to DManRightHereA ride like Soarin' is built to avoid any total shutdown. I think it will work like this:
Build new theater up to par for the new show but have it premiere with our current Soarin'; during its construction, blow out a wall at the back of the current queue and install a door connecting to the new queue area for the new theater (do something similar for the exit path);
Open new theater and then close each of the current theaters, one at a time, to make upgrades to support the new digital film.
Once all three theaters have been updated, premiere the new ride experience all at once--probably in 2017 at the earliest.
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↩ replying to ISTCNavigator57I hope I'm wrong, but I do not see that happening.
I'm assuming when the third theater is nearly completed they will shut down for refurb and start updating the old theaters while testing the new theater. They can also rework ques, interactives, and signage.
The article said expected opening of late 2016, but I don't know where that info came from..
We'll see!
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I wouldn't be surprised if Soarin' closes for a refurb/adding the new theater once Frozen Ever After opens. I know there's no great "slow" times for Epcot with F&W but maybe in late Nov/early Dec 2016 after F&W before Christmas.
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I think Disney will close Soarin after Frozen as said before. More crowds will then move to Frozen so guests won't mind the closure of one main e ticket while the park then has Test Track and Frozen.
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The queue set up and theater locations make a perfect set up to build one while the other two are in operation. Open the new one, and close one of the others to refurb it and then finish and open that one and go on to the last one. This would probably require no closure at all and not even much of a disruption with the exception of a slight "bump out" to build the connection to the new one.
Also, if I read it correctly, the opening is strictly for the new theater and not the new film. Rumor has it that the new film will debut in SDL first and then be moved stateside. That won't happen until after SDL opens and that will be later then 2016.