Disney, Raytheon Debut Sum Of All Thrills

[The Interpreter]

Raytheon Co., the Waltham defense contractor, said it is helping to unveil a ride at Epcot, part of Walt Disney World in Florida, that requires thrill seekers to make use of their mathematical skills.

Called the "Sum of all Thrills," the ride lets guests custom-design an experience by using math skills, a touch-screen table, and a robotic simulator, and the ride is part of a larger Raytheon effort to encourage students to develop an interest in math and science, Raytheon said in a press release.

That press release said: "Interactive and customizable, Sum of all Thrills lets guests of all ages create their own experience by first choosing a ride theme, including a roller coaster, bobsled, or jet plane. Using multi-touch object recognition tables with instructions available in six languages, guests use math and engineering based tools, such as rulers and speed dials, to design and customize their ride by adding corkscrews, inversions, or steep hills. Guests learn and apply mathematical and engineering principles to determine how much energy is needed for a jet to take off or for a roller coaster or bobsled to make it up its first climb."

Raytheon said it also unveiling a virtual Sum of all Thrills experience online at www.MathMovesU.com. That experience is aimed at middle school students, and it combines the three ride elements of the theme park experience into one multidimensional ride. "Students answer math-related questions to unlock elements that enable them build their own ride on-line," Raytheon said....

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009...n_unveil_2.html

[KI Kevin]

Disney's spin off of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit? That's what it seems like to me.

[Delirium_Guy]

Disney's spin off of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit? That's what it seems like to me.

Not even close. Sum of All Thrills is basically a simulator attached to a Kuka Robotic arm. Guests are able to design their own experience. This new section of Innoventions is themed as a high tech lab with a heavy emphasis on math and physics. From what I've seen and been told, its actually a pretty neat experience. I'm planning to go check it out this evening or tomorrow hopefully. MouseSteps has some pictures posted now http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option...3&Itemid=65

Rip Ride Rockit is a fairly dull & lame coaster experience only highlighted by the great onboard audio & song selection :-)

- Todd....eeek 194 pph at Epcot?! Ouch!

[KI Kevin]

Disney's spin off of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit? That's what it seems like to me.

Not even close. Sum of All Thrills is basically a simulator attached to a Kuka Robotic arm. Guests are able to design their own experience. This new section of Innoventions is themed as a high tech lab with a heavy emphasis on math and physics. From what I've seen and been told, its actually a pretty neat experience. I'm planning to go check it out this evening or tomorrow hopefully. MouseSteps has some pictures posted now http://www.mousesteps.com/index.php?option...3&Itemid=65

Rip Ride Rockit is a fairly dull & lame coaster experience only highlighted by the great onboard audio & song selection :-)

- Todd....eeek 194 pph at Epcot?! Ouch!

Sorry if I worded that wrong. I mean in no way are the the same ride experience, it's just that they're both interactive thrill rides coming out at parks in the same area within a few months of each other.

Didn't mean they were the same ride experience.

[jzarley]

How different is this from the "Cyberspace Mountain" attraction they used to have at DisneyQuest?

[Avatar]

They both seem similar to each other. Sum of All Thrills looks more open and futuristic and with individual viewing screen vs. Cyberspace which completely surrounds you while both rides view the same screen. My Daughter and I both took a ride in the Cyberspace Mountain a week ago Wednesday at Disney Quest. Have ridden both HRRR and Cyberspace Mountain in the past couple weeks I agree with Todd that HRRR is nothing in any way like what I see in Cyberspace Mountain or Sum of All Thrills and that HRRR is lame as far as thrill coaster goes. But unlike Todd I did enjoy my rides on HRRR, every coaster has its purpose, while they may fall short of expectations I am glad they are all not the same experience.

[CedarPointer]

Cyberspace Mountain was epic. And it was my first "coaster" with inversions... lol

[Delirium_Guy]

But unlike Todd I did enjoy my rides on HRRR, every coaster has its purpose, while they may fall short of expectations I am glad they are all not the same experience.

You must have been fortunate enough to get one of TWO trains that actually are running smootly :-) I'm happy for you! Unfortunately, my two rides (and if they were my ONLY two rides I'd be OK with that) were incredibly rough and left me with a pounding headache after. With that said, I give them mad credit for the song selections and all the hidden tracks. The music is so perfectly timed with the elements of the coaster. I definitely enjoy that aspect of the ride. Oh, one of these days, perhaps I'll get that smooth ride. I don't want to derail the thread about the flaws and issues that are currently plaguing HRRR. I still haven't hit Sum of All Thrills, however I'm heading to Epcot first thing tomorrow morning to give it a try.

- Todd