Photo TR: Orlando parks and DisneyQuest

[WillMontu]

I was able to visit a few Orlando parks in the last week, including all four Disney parks, Universal, and SeaWorld.

 

Some of us have been to DisneyQuest once or twice, and it was originally planned as a method to bring Disney to larger cities. DQ is basically a theme-park-in-a-box, with a few attractions and a lot of arcade games. I have seen very few DQ trip reports posted here, so here are some pictures I took during my last visit

 

The first DQ was the Orlando location at Downtown Disney. Shortly after, a second location went up in Chicago, with a third location under construction. The Chicago location did not perform so well, and it was closed down later (the third location was scrapped). The Orlando location remains the only one still operating (and even its future is uncertain).

Here's one for the Linux (and penguin) fans out there.

These used to be used to control the RC vehicles through the maze. Each vehicle had a camera mounted to it. Now it is just used for conventional video games

Lost Treasures of the Inca was an interactive remote control vehicle attraction. The infrastructure is still there, but the attraction is not operating anymore

It's a little bit like the Jungle Cruise at the Disney Parks, only without a skipper and without animatronic animals

Virtual Jungle Cruise consists of rowing an inflatable boat through a virtual jungle

Pirates of the Caribbean is a 3D interactive game with of five players (one controlling movement and four controlling the cannons). The more enemy ships destroyed, the higher the score

Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride is also a VR attraction

If you're into 20th century technology, Ride The Comix is a HMD VR attraction

It's more a simulator/game type attraction though

They still have their Alien Encounter attraction though

Some attraction have been modified and/or removed over the years. Had the original design been successful, every DQ location would receive new attractions on a regular basis.

The simulator in action

The ride itself consists of a small two-person pitch-and-roll simulator. If you like hangtime, this is the ride for you! There are several of these simulators to increase capacity

CyberSpace Mountain is a coaster simulator. The design is relatively simple, consisting of selecting elements (ie. vertical loop, cobra roll) and then "riding" your creation. Jeff Johnson could spend all day here counting the millions of combinations of c

Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters is a bumper-car type attraction, however the cars can pick up and fire balls in the playfield.

Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam is one of the central attractions to the arcade section

DQ used to have a DDR machine, but it was removed in favor of Pump It Up machines

The RCT pinball game was in slightly better condition than the one at Blackpool (this one was level and the LED display was working, but the right flipper kept sticking). Where is Cameron when we need him?

They had a "drum game", similar to what Robb and Elissa played in Japan

Including sections for old-school arcade games (Asteriods, Galaga, etc.), DQ has pinball games, air-hockey, and others

The top three floors mainly consist of arcade games, such as these linked Daytona games. All games are included with admission

Like any theme park, DQ is loosely separated into themed areas

Upon entering, elevators take people to the third floor, which is a "center point" of DQ

DQ is basically a theme-park-in-a-box

[pianojohn]

Great pics! Every time I go to DQ, I never bring my camera, so it's nice to see pics from the inside.

[SharkTums]

This TR is kind of making me sad!

 

DisneyQuest used to be so awesome and a lot of fun. Now it seems like they don't update anything, and they just let stuff rot away.

[haiderodes]

Nowadays the best part of Disney Quest is the Cheesecake Factory Express. The elevator was pretty cool the first time through as well.

[Homer]

This TR is kind of making me sad!

 

DisneyQuest used to be so awesome and a lot of fun. Now it seems like they don't update anything, and they just let stuff rot away.

Quoted for the truth. Will, this TR made me emo.

 

DQ was like awesome back in 1998 and 2000. I loved Cyberspace Mtn. and I really wished this concept was successful.

 

Who's up for at least one TPR meet here before this place becomes a memory?

[thefitness]

I agree it started out great, but have they added anything since they opened?

 

The Pirates ride is awesome though!

[mxman005]

DQ is one of those things that Im happy going to just once a year. I can go and get everything done that I want to and be happy. The last time I was there I did Cyber Space Mountain for the first time and thought that was pretty cool.

 

I never really understood the mighty ducks game thing. I think it took to much effort, maybe thats why I dont like DDR. I think the most fun thing to do there is pirates. Its a pretty cool 3d things. The wait is usually pretty long but fun. One of my biggest problems with the place is the Jungle Cruise. In the tr pictures it shows the opening scene of the Jungle Cruise. Cinderella Castle and the Matterhorn are in the same pictures..... I guess the trees would have been to tall and would soared over the Disneyland castle so they chose not to show it.

 

Nice to have a huge place to play video games. They need to do some major work and make it what it was back in the day, or they need to gut the place and make its a ESPN Zone.

[WillMontu]

Part 2: EPCOT.

 

EPCOT is probably my favorite of the WDW parks. I visited about a day or so after Sören left. I visited again later in the week to get some more rides in. The park was relatively crowded, though I got on all the major rides except Soarin' (and Sören!)

More pictures are on the way

Is this supposed to be one of those "Magic Eye" pictures? They don't work for me anyway

This alternative fuel SUV was right by the Humvee

Test Track was almost a walk-on through the S&P line, though I still had to sit through the pre-show

These LED displays are relatively new

What happens if the Japanese restaurant is closed? Take the next best thing

Merchandise at the Canaba Pavilion

Kind of expensive though

Best part of the UK pavilion: The candy!

Italy

As was the Donkey

The garden railway was cool

And the Toblerone

But they still have the candy!

Germany just won't be the same

This guy reminds me of the troll at Tusenfryd (you know the one, Joey)

It's like Valhalla at BPB...in more ways than one (though this came first)

Maelstrom had recently came out of rehab

The Mexico Pavilion

With a few tweaks, they could probably turn this into a ride.

Despite all the warnings, Mission: SPACE was still Red Dawn Awesome

Hidden Mickey?

This was in the Living Seas. Anyone know what it means? Maybe a DiveQuest guest leaving his mark

The centerpiece is this large animated globe

SSE now exits to Project Tomorrow. There's not that much to do here, but they plan on adding more stuff

The ride system is the same as it has been since 1982

Is this IllumiNations? It's Spaceship Earth

I hope they don't take these "credits" out

Spaceship is one of the original 1982 attractions with small changes made over the years. It will be in rehab later this year

This day I did EPCOT "sad and pathetic" style

[kennywood!007]

Awesome pictures so far!

[cfc]

That's too bad about the Lost Treasure of the Incas game at Disney Quest. It was tough to play, but it really looked liked you were driving through a big Incan temple on the TV screens. My two favorites were the Pirates and Jungle Cruise games, but that Ride the Comix thing with the VR helmet made me sicker than a dog.

[Homer]

Nice Epcot photos, you should have photoshopped Soren into the Germany pics though.

[haiderodes]

I like how they felt it necessary to include Gary Sinise in the ride disclaimer.

WHOA! Warning, this attraction includes Gary Sinise! haha

[Hattuchili]

Aww, good old EPCOT - I miss you. I noticed they changed something on the train track out there. It always gives me a good feeling to see the pictures. Thanks for posting, I am looking forward to more pictures.

 

--Soren

[jedimaster1227]

Great photos! Glad you are enjoying Orlando and all that Disney has to offer!

 

This TR is kind of making me sad!

 

DisneyQuest used to be so awesome and a lot of fun. Now it seems like they don't update anything, and they just let stuff rot away.

 

Its been on that path for the last few years unfortunately. My friends and I normally visit the park at least twice a year, normally on rainy days (or hurricane-induced school vacations). The last time I was there was on my birthday and the Pinball Spin along with Ride the Comics were broken. Cyberspace Mountain had at least 3 consoles not functioning. Aladdin's Magic Carpets seems to be running alright, though some of the controllers have developed a tilting problem (towards one side or the other). Battle for Buccaneer Gold is the newest attraction and for some reason, our cannons didn't fully react to our firing... The only "fully-functioning" attraction we ended up experiencing was Invasion (we did it a couple of times, just so we could see the Alien Encounter tributes). Despite all of the neglect DisneyQuest has been getting over the years, it still holds my occasional interest, just not something I would purchase an annual pass for...

 

That's too bad about the Lost Treasure of the Incas game at Disney Quest. It was tough to play, but it really looked liked you were driving through a big Incan temple on the TV screens. My two favorites were the Pirates and Jungle Cruise games, but that Ride the Comix thing with the VR helmet made me sicker than a dog.

 

I just remember getting frustrated that my jeep would either hit a wall or get jammed between another car, taking up my entire turn. I am much happier with Jambo Safari (my favorite arcade game within the complex) setup in the Lost Treasure of the Incas' place...

[Louise]

I've always wanted to go to DisneyQuest, seems like pics from the inside are pretty rare, was glad to see these, thanks Will. I *must* make it there someday soon.

 

Mmmmm, EPCOT.