The History of Disney's Trackless Ride Vehicles 

We're glad that this video has sparked a lot of discussions! We'd just like to clarify that we don't dislike Luigi's and Ratatouille, but we believe that they don't utilise the trackless ride technology to it's fullest potential like Mystic Manor or Pooh's Hunny Hunt. - Dom

aw no mention of the upcoming Beauty and the Beast trackless dark ride coming to Tokyo? The AA"s for that are looking incredible.

When I was a kid in the 80's, I used to have nightmares that I fell out of a Disneyland attraction vehicle that was trackless so I could never figure out where to stand so as to not get hit by another vehicle. Or I could never jump back into a vehicle because I couldn't figure out the track

2 years later, Florida has two trackless systems like this, in Hollywood Studios. Rise of the Resistance and Mickey&Minnie's were two of the most impressive rides I've experienced at Disney

How to do Disney attractions right...let OLC foot the bill

We honestly need to get Mystic Manor in both of Disney’s US parks. It’s so awesome!

I love the ride system itself, and I agree with you that Mystic Manor and Pooh's Hunny Hunt are the best examples of how you must implement a TRS. I've never been on those unfortunetly, but I've been on Ratatouille, and oh boy, what a shame that they didn't go all out with the system. Don't get me wrong, it's a great ride, but most of the time It's riding from screen to screen, and the effects are a bit... anti-climax. Love your video's!

I'd like to see an updated version of this, with your discussion of the use of the trackless ride system at Rise of the Resistance.

Great video!!! I love trackless ride but over time, they leave marks on the floor and you can sort of see where it goes. I think they need to repaint the floor every few years.

Luigi's is brilliant. They had a lot of space constraints after the tire debacle.

I don't really agree with the criticism on Ratatouille. While the ride does primarily focus on the use of screens it is absolutely not a bad ride. The advanced motion vehicles allow for some really spontaneous movement. I don't agree with you saying that there is a "lack of any real utilisation of the trackless darkride technology" -- the trackless darkride technology on Ratatouille is actually used to it's fullest potential allowing the seating to tilt allowing for more dynamic movements, which fully immerse you into the screens. You can actually really feel the movements on the screen in your trackless vehicle. I think Ratatouille should be perceived as a trackless simulator darkride as POVs really don't do justice to the ride's advanced movement system. To conclude, I don't look at Ratatouille as "an excuse by Disney to use the trackless darkride system" I look at it as an experiment of Disney providing simulator-like elements to a trackless darkride. (And in my opinion this experiment has paid off quite well. This comment is not meant to demotivate you. I really love your vids, I just didn't quite get the criticism on Ratatouille. It was after all a fun and entertaining video like always :)

Nitpick. Pooh's Hunny Hunt opened on September 1st, 2000, not 4th. Maybe got confused with DisneySea's opening on September 4th (2001).

I feel like you criticized Luigi's Rollicking Roadsters unfairly. It was a desperate replacement of it's previous opening-day ride, Luigi's Dancing Tires because that one was so poorly-received for the guest that experienced it, complaining it was too slow and the tires themselves that they rode on didn't move in the direction that they wanted properly. So they had to replacement it with something better. I mean, Roadsters is about Luigi having his whole family from his home city of Carsoli in Italy to Radiator Springs for a reunion and throwing a dancing celebration. So all his family members that the guests ride on just dance to one of the Cars-style revisions of famous Italian songs in sync. They rock and spin 360 degrees to each one of the songs. It's also a much tamer ride for kids compared to Carsland's Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and especially it's signature high-speed E-ticket ride, Radiator Springs Racers. So what were you expecting from it?

Watching your videos always brings a smile to my face and makes my day. Do you think once Star Wars Land comes out you’ll do a review video including the building process and opinions of the finished product? Keep up the great work man!

Great video! First time I've seen your channel - very well done! I just subscribed and am preparing to binge...

Dominic, I'm enjoying your reviews and your voice. As a child at DisneyWorld Florida between 1984-1989, I loved the fun of the "boats" that travelled through the waterways and wished that all rides used the waterway theme. I have not yet gone back but I am looking forward to it.

Finally a good video to help explain what a trackless ride is!

I loved Aquatopia, we rode it so many times as we wanted to be able to pass through this section with a waterfall. It's one of the most perfect uses of this technology imo and it's great to have outdoor uses of it.

I've never had the chance to experience the contemporary trackless dark ride, except for Empire of the Penguin at Seaworld. That ride is quite underwhelming, but what it does do well, is utilize the trackless dark ride to make the ride longer. In a limited space, it backtracks and shows you new scenes, as well as dances along with other cars like in Pooh. I'm excited to see how Disney utilizes this in Rise of the Resistance. I've also heard rumors that Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway will utilize this technology as well. Starting off connected like a train, I've heard that the cars will split up down the line and engage in their own courses. Hopefully this is the case.

I really love your video’s, but it almost sounds like you haven’t had a chance to ride Ratatouille. I truly believe this is one of the few rides that benefits from screens and a trackless ride system. Usually I’m not a fan of screens (feels bland) and trackless rides (most feel empty if done poorly). But in Paris it allows the guest shrink down to the size of a rat thanks to the giagantic screens and every vehicle is well positioned due to the TRS, everyone has a front row seat!

Nice video, and I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion on Ratatouille - yes I rode it in person, multiple times. While there are one or two moments where the trackless is indeed beneficial to the experience (when Luigi makes us spin with the broom / the individual screens scenes), otherwise it just comes with a lot of shortcomings, starting with the most obvious one: that dang black floor. The movements are also really sluggish (while we are supposed to be chased!..) and while the vehicles are on a motion plateform, it's barely noticable. Indeed, trackless vehicles can't have as much power as tracked rides - a reason why the Justice League rides at the Six Flags parks kept its track instead of going trackless. Another flaw from the trackless approach (allowing multiple vehicles in one scene) is the lack of squinching, and for a ride entierly relying on screen, it's bad. That makes Ratatouille a multiplex 4D theater where you vehicle takes you from one theater to another... But definitely not an immersive ride like Spiderman succeded to be.... while using a track.

Always love your content.

That was a very good video. Thank you!

Dark ride = interior indoor ride?

the ratatouille ride has one or two elements that could not be done with a traditional track ride. that being said, they could be altered to suit a tracked ride. still liked it tho

*MYSTIC MANOR IS BEST TRACKLESS*

The mystic manor has the best attraction, gift shop, restaurant combo

I loved this video! It's great to see how ride systems have advanced in the years. I went on ratatouille and I think it could be much better, but unfortunately there are too many screens.. I can't wait to Hong Kong disneyland to experience Mystic manor. i hope it will blow my mind :D Also maybe a suggestion for a new HistoryTyme video. What about animatronics? they just announced the new A1000 animatronic wich will be used in galaxy's edge. i would love too see a video about that with some more additional information :D

underrated channel!!

I'm reminded of a European attraction called Symbolica, which I believe uses similar technology. It's pretty mind-blowing in its potential applications.

Excellent review!

A little correction to your video. In the beginning you said that wire guided vehicles used magnets, that is incorrect. The wire in the floor produces a magnetic field radiating from the wire and a specialized antenna on the ride vehicle is able to locate the origin of the magnetic field. A little bit of a shameless plug, if you search on youtube "Inductive Guided Robot" I posted a video of a small scale example of Inductive Guidance and explain in depth how it works.

The trackless ride is made by ETF, and is founded in the very south of Netherlands in a very small town called Nederweert (a few kilometres from my home)… 😅

I'd have said that water ride thing in Toyko was kinda like the Flying Saucers only one water and actually working.

Nice video! Very informative. The Mystic Manor trackless ride is absolutely amazing. Hopefully, the new Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride will be as good.

I am a firm believer that Disney's first trackless ride was Davy Crockett's explorer canoes. It may have cast members to keep it on course, but it's still a free moving experience

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How could you forget the first trackless in America at SeaWorld Orlando? That was the big breakthrough of trackless technology that brought it into the mainstream market for use.

I love you Review Tyme

IMO, the track version of Winnie the Pooh in California and the trackless version in Tokyo are VERY similar experiences and you would never guess the Tokyo one cost so much more to build. I think the trackless tech is way more hype than significant advantage for fun enhancement.

This is so interesting

I think Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railway is also going to use this tech

Great video. I love those rides but I do enjoy ratatouille as well

you need a part 2 of this video with star wars and mickeys and minnies railway!!!

The Director: The name of the AI that will enslave mankind

I believe these rides like mystic manor are not made by Disney like they were back in the day. They are made by companies that design and build them and Disney just pays for it.

The music almost put me to sleep but the info was great!

I understand that this is about Disney trackless dark rides, but by far the best I've experienced is symbolica at efteling.

Wait is the boiler room on the second floor?

I love Luigi’s Rollickin Roadsters

Isn't the new TDL BATB ride also gonna be trackless?

I wish I could Cosplay in tokyo disneyland...

Luigi's is actually way more fun than Aquatopia, it has more movement and spinning and it is synchronized to a soundtrack.

why would they not take advantage of the freedom of movement , and make the rides interactive? of course , for safety's sake , the riders will not control the ride directly, any input has to go through the 'Director' to stop the ride from turning into a bumper car arena...

How about mystique manor

I think you should look up the word exasperate.

Beauty and the beast?

Indiana Jones is still the best ride... coming in close is Shanghai Pirates but that ride is pretty empty compared to the dense effects in Indy. Of course Indy Disney Sea is the better of the two but I love the new trackless inventiveness. These rides do have to keep capacity in mind as it means nothing if it can take only a dozen passengers a day through it. Pirates and Haunted Mansion chew through guests with their ultra high capacity.

The Pooh ride should be at Disney World

Trackless rides feel really empty for me, I prefer tracked rides by far. They also have a lot of element of surprise with rotation etc. and who's looking at the direction of the tracks anyways =|

What about DINOSAUR or Indiana Jones?

when this channel blows up people are gonna see my comment and go "oh damn"

Look at eftelings symbolica..

Ive been on all these rides.... Mystic Manor is way too hyped and Rat is far better than some say. Pooh's Hunny Hunt is the oldest and still the best of the bunch. It moves the most and has the most thrill. Mystic Manor on the other hand has more classic Disney dark ride elements but is lame compared to the OG haunted mansion. Rat is more like a Universal ride so I think that's why diehard Disney fans tend to hate it. None of them are perfect but all of them are enjoyable.

The ride is never perfect, that’s why you need to reride…smart on Disney’s part.

Great video but how dare you speak ill about Luigi's!

How about you just do videos on all Dark Rides not just at Disney, But in other parts of the US and the world???

None of these work when I ride them.

Ratatouille not as good because of screens!? What are you talking about? It's a genius idea, the cars act and work like an actual rat running around the oversized props, in no way do the screens detract from the experience.

You're making it sound like it's Disney's invention

pretty sad that disney understands that fans in other countries demand innovation while americans will continually consume the same old rehashed garbage.

Ratatouille is sooooo boring... What a waste of a great technology!

all disney does is talk about things looking up, it was fun at 5 and 10 but a complete waste of money and time from there on not to mention a complete BORE !