Segway-Disney!

[team222badbrad]

I dont know how many of you accually got a chance to go into Epcot during Nats but............

How many of you got to visit Innoventions? Did you know that they had a Segway exibit in there?

So in the exibit there was a Disney staff member in there riding on a Segway. So I proceded to ask him if he would let me ride it, if I got a signed letter from Dean Kamen. He said he would like to but, Disney would not let him because of a safety issue................

But anyway..

How many of you accually knew Disney had a Segway Exibit??

If you dont believe me go here:

http://www.segway.com/aboutus/press_...pr_032502.html

Bad Brad

[Melissa Nute]

I saw that...

Brad isn't bad...he be a good boy...the other boys on his team are bad....

[Ian W.]

i asked the person demonstrating why they were wearing so much safty gear, right after they showed how it stands up by itself. they were like, uh, um, err, *loooooooong pause* because disney is safe! then we quickly moved before the disney gestapo came to get us (inside joke, and remember, dont' tape when the ride breaks down )

[jon]

I saw it, but not during nats. Between seeing that, and DDR at Innoventions, I'd say this RobotEAR had a good day.

[Joe Matt]

It should be notted that it oppened in March, and Disneyland has one to in their Innoventions, and I'll check that out when I go latter this year.

Plus, Dean and Disney have a very snug relationship, ABC and ESPN try to show the FIRST competition (Disney owned), and Disney is working on a movie on FIRST. So this news isn't new.

[Ashley Weed]

Do you think Disney will ever have Segways set up as an amusement ride, or something that you have to pay extra for (i.e. boat tag) at their parks before they are commercialized?

[Christine G.]

Well...I was disappointed to see Disney only demonstrating the Segway after Dean Kamen personally told me at the FIRST Kick-off in January that I would be able to ride one at Disney in 2 to 3 weeks. Then I get to Disney in March and April and they tell me they can only demo them.

[Madison]

Originally posted by weedie
Do you think Disney will ever have Segways set up as an amusement ride, or something that you have to pay extra for (i.e. boat tag) at their parks before they are commercialized?

No.

I've spoken at length with the Imagineer who was asked to evaluate the Segway way, way before its public unveiling. While he was impressed somewhat by the technology, and while that may get used in a Disney attraction, the Segway itself won't.

There original intention, by the way, was to rent Segways much like they do strollers. Again, he decided against this and didn't give the idea his recommendation.

[Joe Matt]

Wow, Michael, got WDI contacts....

A recent Disney press release said that they would use them in shows and for rental. This was durring the opening of the Innoventions WDW exhibit.

The reason why they can't let you ride is if you get injured, you can sue Segway and/or Disney, because they aren't insured for the Segway's. Also, when you buy one, you wave the right to sue if you are using the Segway in it's correct form. Not so if you ride it in the parks. Those CM's that use it in Innoventions have signed legal wavers if anything happens.

Also, just because an Imagineer dosn't ok it, dosn't mean they woun't allow it. With Burbank how it is now, they will do anything for plublicity and money. The only problems I could see was stealing. If they run off with a Segway, what will they do? You could put down a huge down payment, $3000 some per, but that will scare away customers.

BTW, Michael, do you know the Mission: Space ride system?

[Madison]

Well, specifically, Disney was unhappy with the idea of hundreds of Segways being littered about in front of their attractions.

They love the technology, but they don't want to increase the problem they're already having with strollers - they take up space, create traffic jams, and are just plain ugly. Segways definitely wouldn't be a benefit there.

What I'd love to see is a combination of Segway technology and the GPS based system in use in Tokyo for Winnie the Pooh's Hunny Hunt and the Aquatopia. That would be amazing stuff. Segways that weeble and wobble, but don't fall over, and they can be free roaming, too. . .

I don't know much about the Mission: Space ride system, except that it uses two centrifuges with, I think, 4 pods apiece. They're coming from a military contractor in upstate NY, I think. I could be totally off about the location, though.

The plan, I think, is to simulate launch with the centrifuges. . . and slowly decelerate them within in a certain relationship with the body's inertia to induce a weightless sensation. It seems a bit odd, and it's hard to explain, but it may yet work

...and for what it's worth, the guy I'd spoken to is no longer with WDI. I've met lots of cool people after they'd left, though. . . I even know the guy who's responsible for the outdoor lighting package on the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror. Now he does commercial and photographic lighting outside of Chicago.

[Joe Matt]

Cool.

I never thought of the "strolers used as battering rams" syndrome that WDW has problems with for the Segway's.

I also want the GPS system, but for it to be in the MK verson of Pooh. Well, lets cross our fingers and hope this will come state side.

Also, from what I hear, MS will have four centerfuges, and many (20) pods attached, each holding 4 people. There will be tactical effects (think Honey, I Shrunk the Audience) in the pods along with interactive elements.

I also got to speak with an Imagineer while waiting for Blast! last year. He mostly did the animation you see in the attractions. I also met and talked to a CM in the Tapestry of Nations (now Dreams) parade in Epcot.

[Madison]

Yep, you're right 4 centrifuges . . . I just checked up on that aerial photograph that popped up on the 'net a while ago.

http://missionspace.wdwmagic.com/