I think your example of WWOHP is what made it clear to me. There, as opposed to Remy, I’m me. Like, I’m not pretending or need to pretend to be anything other than a human woman. I can be a human woman walking through Diagon Alley and it’s perfectly believable to my brain. I can’t however, be a mouse or a toy. My brain can’t ever pretend that I am a mouse or toy. Ever. So to suspend disbelief, I think depends on how much suspending is necessary.
I find it far easier to interact with face characters than fur characters. Probably it’s the facial expressions and actual words. I’m uncomfortable around fur characters because I can’t track what the person inside is thinking or feeling by reading their facial expressions or body language.
When I watch a Magician and he wants me to look at his left hand, I focus completely on the left hand. I don’t WANT to know how those things are done, so I am all about Suspension of Disbelief. Do I actually think they are doing ‘magic’? No. But, I’m happy with “Something really neat was just done.”
Some places are much better - um - magicians. Seussland at Universal is a good example of lovely theming but zero immersion. Although, I think an immersive Seussland would be creepy with the weird shapes.
So the part in MMRR where you’re going down a waterfall TOTALLY achieved suspension of disbelief for me. That one moment, I was actually disoriented and thinking HOW DID I GET IN A WATERFALL?? I generally agree w most of the comments above, but the use of tech to achieve this feeling - much like the breathing of the banshees in fop - stood out to me as being utterly convincing with little to no work on my part.
You just reminded me that there have been at least two truly “whoa, what?” moments at WDW that can only be experienced once…
The very first time I rode Peter Pan, I didn’t notice the track above the ride vehicles. So when the ride began & I saw that the track below us was ending, there was just the briefest moment of, “wait, what?!? How in the world… Oh… wow, cool!!!”
There was also a moment on Mr. Toad all those years ago when in the dark a “train” is coming at you and you’re about to collide with it, and… you pass right through it. Because there’s nothing there. Just a light. But it sure looks like you’re about to collide with a train, and I was waiting for one of us to veer off…
I do think that the youtube and the internet has spoiled some things. Someone told me to not watch any rides (especially the new Harry Potter roller coaster) before riding, so as not to spoil it. Glad I didn’t.
This reminds me that probably the best first-ride experience I’ve ever had was Indiana Jones Adventure at Disneyland. The ride doesn’t quite pack the same punch after the 200th ride through, but that first time was bonkers. So many surprises!
Wow, sounds awesome. Disneyland has long been on my bucket list. Haven’t been there since (I think) 1995 or so, before the 2nd park opened. I have a good college friend in Sunny L.A. that’s long overdue for a visit.
Our first time on EE. I had no idea it went backwards. Such fun (after the briefest of moments thinking ‘is this supposed to happen?!’)
Only if you decide to watch beforehand. Seems like a bad idea unless you’re checking for suitability for kids or similar.
I don’t think I would ever choose to watch a pov before riding irl.
For some people/families POV videos are really helpful. I almost always have my kids watch POV. DS12 has sensory processing disorder, and knowing what to expect as far as sounds, lights, movement etc really helps him. DD10 also benefits because she has anxiety and needs to always know what she is about to experience. She is very fearful that she is not going to like something and then be trapped in a situation that makes her uncomfortable. We’re kind of starting to get her over her fear of seeing a movie or play in a theater, although of course now theaters are closed I can see how spoilers ruin things for many people, but also some people need spoilers
I am trying to steer clear of spoilers for the Mummy at Universal Studios because I really want to enjoy the experience for the first time, but it’s really the first time I’ve cared
I was not trying to be argumentative, I’m sorry if that was the tone of my post. I was just trying to elaborate/build upon. I can imagine the situation that I presented would apply to adults who have anxiety, SPD, or simply don’t like surprises. For us and people like us, it goes beyond just checking to see if the ride is too scary, or age appropriate, some people need to have the surprises ruined for them or they can’t even have courage to get on the ride. Even if it is PPF or Journey into the Imagination.
The Mummy is only going to be ridden by DH and me, I know about one part in particular that would be a no-go for my kids. And yes I am really freaked out not knowing what to expect on the ride but I want to experience that thrill of not knowing just this once.
I have to say that I have never once thought I was anywhere other than in a theme park in Orlando, FL. Don’t get me wrong, I love the attention to detail that goes into the lands, but they are still just movie sets that I can walk through - along with thousands of other people who wouldn’t be there if the location was “real”. Probably the closest WDW comes is KS; the African landscape has been very well recreated, the animals are certainly real, and the vehicle is not completely unlike a vehicle that might be used on an actual African “tourist” safari trip. Even more so in the case of WAT.
You still sound like you’re trying to justify watching POV videos to me and I genuinely don’t know why.
I don’t really care who watches them and would never negatively judge people who did so.
I feel like I don’t get immersed anywhere very easily. When we were at SWGE it was a very busy time which I think took a toll on the experience. Large crowds definitely make it feel more like a theme park, less like a “far away land”.
Actually the most immersive experience for me, as an adult, has probably been AK as a whole. It gives me the strongest feeling that I’m somewhere else, in another country. Particularly the Asia and Africa parts with all the detailed theming, vegetation etc. and of course the safari which makes you forget you’re in a theme park.
As a child, the most immersive experience I remember was walking into the Mexico pavilion in WS for the first time. For a kid it really felt like walking into a whole other world. I think the key here was that it was unexpected and it’s a pretty realistic space that feels like you’re outside when you just walked into a building.
I can see how spoilers ruin things for many people, but also some people need spoilers 