VR sounds like a great C or D level attraction that can fit into a smaller space than a traditional dark ride.
I think this is a key point, even with over 100 VR headsets that can run at the same time, this attraction space is still much less than half of the dark ride space next door. We were originally guessing this second attraction would be a tower ride, pretty much based on the fact that the footprint is far too small for anything else. Now, it makes a lot more sense.
I dislike the idea of VR attractions in theme parks. They make good up charge attractions (ie The Void or Disney Quest) but it goes against the idea that theme parks are cinematic spaces come to life. I’d rather see a creation of those spaces in a physical sense rather than virtually. Hope there’s something more to this rumor than VR headset + smooth ride vehicle.
Keep in mind that the queue and preshow spaces for this attraction were designed to be quite large, and certainly incredibly detailed, so it's a big part of the experience itself. That's something of scale you likely won't see at any small VR attraction.
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I do want to clarify that I am still on the fence about an attraction like this myself, but, I don't want to discount a concept that could be new outright. I feel that we, especially on these forums, tend to hold classic style dark rides to a higher standard than maybe regular guests—and to some extent, perhaps the industry itself.
There are not many "classic" style dark rides planned for Epic Universe at this time. Actually, I think Yoshi is the closest we got. (Maybe the main Wizarding World ride, but the jury is still out on that too.) Universal doesn't seem interested in just creating their own Magic Kingdom here.
Mario Kart uses more AR than we were probably expecting. Monsters sounds like it wants to be an evolution of the FJ style KUKA ride, and Dragons doesn't have a dark ride at all. In fact, the contrast between Disney and Universal can be exemplified by the fact that even the "kiddie" ride section of Epic Universe is mostly made up of thrill rides. The land's spinners can go upside down for God's sake. This isn't your grandpa's Dumbo ride! The main attraction is a roller coaster, and this ain't no Barnstormer.
Even the one ride in dragons suitable for all kids will have them shooting each other with water cannons. Nearly everything designed for this park seems to be interactive, and all in very different ways.
Even Disney themselves seem to have moved on from classic-style dark rides. If Runaway Railway and Rise of the Resistance aren't evidence of that I don't know what is. The use of hologram characters and screens with just a couple select AAs sprinkled in for Rise tells me that the two companies are more alike than fans of either probably care to admit.
Anyway, my point is I guess, is that, to borrow a phrase from bad movie trailers: "the world, is changing."