Disney's "Ride Archive" Promises VR Simulations of Lost Attractions

"Anyone who's been to a Disney park has a favorite ride. But what about all the rides that went away before their time and still linger in the childhood memories of grown-ups today?" So begins a very colorful— and very unofficial— video pitch at RideArchive.com.

According to the presentation, Disney's Ride Archive represents "the future of preserving the past" by providing VR simulations of decommissioned rides and attractions like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, the Disneyland Skyway, World of Motion, Maelstrom, Horizons, and others.

"The dark ride is mechanical performance art. We preserve art in so many forms, whether itÂ’s paintings, literature, sculpture, music, or architecture, all of which are singularly embodied in a theme park ride. And yet, no one seems to care about preserving that unifying cultural experience," says Huddy. "I want to change that."

HuddyÂ’s presentation demonstrates how guests would not only experience the ride, but upon exiting the attraction, take home the VR experience on their mobile device. Outside the attraction, guests would also be able to visit the original location where a ride once stood to "collect" a ride using an app on their mobile device. The video also alludes to an augmented reality feature that allows guests to "see" the attraction where it once stood.

"The AR component was added as a last-minute feature," says Huddy. "With Pokémon GO taking the world by storm, it's impossible to ignore the Bulbasaur in the room."

Huddy has enjoyed a unique, sometimes uneasy, relationship with Disney. In 1998, he made a video game parody called Los Disneys, portraying a dystopian future in which Disney purchases Florida and creates a sovereign state. The storyline is a sci-fi fantasy inspired by popular conspiracy theories and urban legends. The controversy Huddy created, however unintentionally, did not fall under the Mouse House's radar. Entertainment Weekly's Noah Robischon asked readers, "Future videogame CEO or Senate subcommittee witness? You decide."

Huddy dismisses the idea of a feud with Disney and maintains it was a respectful homage. "Whenever interviewed, I never disparaged Disney," Huddy insists. "To the contrary, I've always spoken about how inspirational theyÂ’ve been to me as an artist and undoubtedly countless other creative professionals."

A petition on Change.org now allows people to persuade Disney to make The Ride Archive a reality, with Huddy seeming to ask for neither credit nor financial compensation.

"A million-dollar contract should never get in the way of a million-dollar idea," said Huddy. "To paraphrase Walt, 'If we can dream it, they can do it.'"​

The full Ride Archive video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/OxT4Kc12H94