The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure

[KevRus]

I thought I remember people saying that the Hollywood Studios version of TSMM would be inferior and "cheaper" than the DCA TSMM, but it seems exactly the same to me (other than different projectors and the general "setup" of the queue/ride I guess?).

Not that I care, all I care about is that DCA's is spectacular.

[Majikku]

WDWs queue looks cheaper

[SparkyLD]

No no, meaning the queues, at DCA you are sent directly into the box the board game is concealed in. DHS you start out int eh toy box, the queue, where you come upon the board came abd go into it.

[KNRG]

You know, despite how people rave about it, I don't find it to be a particularly good attraction. I have no desire to queue up for it again for a while. Certainly no desire to watch the over-priced potato perform again (and unlike at DCA i spent plenty of time near it to watch the show - and it was not better then nothing).

[SNJ]

and it was not better then nothing

You'd rather nothing than Mr. Potato head? I bet if he was cut from the attraction you'd be saying "It would have been better than nothing."

What does he take away from the ride? He seems like he can only add, he's not that bad. And if he does affect your ride that much, you're taking him WAY too seriously.

[HSM fans]

Well said SNJ!!!!!!!!

[Abe22222222]

Sheesh guys! All this talk about potatos has made me hungry! MMmmmm....with some butter, chives, and some bacon! Ah man! My mouth is watery!

anyways...enough about the spud! Anyone know something new about the girl with the fins? Her garden is being demolished obviously. But what about her new location? When do they start building her new headquarters? Breaking ground? Anything?

[Simba]

edit: mistake post, sorry!

[Simba]

TSMM is different there than DCA. DCA uses front projection on the screens with higher quality projectors. WDW uses rear projection with lower quality projectors.

If DCA uses front projectors, where are the projectors? Wouldn't you be able to reach out and make shadows on the screens?


(screen shots taken from this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMPYRHKr400


ETA: The projectors would have to be above the screen on the opposite side of the projected image. That's an awfully high angle to project at and still have a "square" image on the screen... there's a significant amount of trapezoidal distortion of an image projected at that angle that has to be compensated for.


Notice in this image below -

The red arrows point to the edge of the projection. To accurately project that perfect of a line along the edge of the screen, perfectly parallel to the divider (indicated by the blue arrows) with a projector that's above the screen on the opposite side, is nearly impossible. Any other placement of the projector would result in shadows from the ride vehicles. This perfectly aligned projection can be seen in the screen shot above as well. To me, the only way you're obtaining that sort of perfection is with a rear projected image.


ETA: Just one more image to illustrate what I mean:



The projector would have to be high enough to cast an image that wasn't obstructed by the tops of the rather high ride vehicles. The projectors can't be THAT high however, as there are awnings above the screens, and I don't see any visible projectors. Not to mention there's the "theater" effect - whenever you look at the projector in a theater you inevitably see dust floating in front of the projector, as well as seeing the light coming FROM the projector. I have haven't seen this in any photos or video I've seen.

[MagicWDI]

I've been working with digital projectors for about 2 years now; digital cinema projectors, as a matter of fact. We have accomplished a pretty solid and perfectly framed image at very high angles that we couldn't with 35mm projectors in some cases. This is accomplished with not only using custom lenses for the angle but also the inner software within the projector itself. You can customize the image to appear fully framed with proper ratio no matter where the projector is with the right throw. Now of course there is a limit with most projectors but you do not need to be shooting straight on or have a long throw with the help of digital projectors and their inner software.

But this is just digital cinema projectors I work with. There are actually projectors on the market for short throws, matters just like this. Take a look at this - http://gizmodo.com/341660/sanyo-plc+...hrow-projector. Now this projector has an insanely short throw, but it is just an example how close a projector can be at an insane angle from the screen and still produce a perfectly framed image and the fact that it's possible.

Now these projectors are not made for 3D in mind, which require twice the frame rate, or higher, than your highest 2D frame rate, which requires a high amount of processing power. But with the combination I can imagine WDI working something out with a projector manufacturer utilizing a mix of these technologies. There might just be a projector out on the market with this in mind.

All I am trying to say is this isn't impossible.