Virtual reality, ‘Star Wars’ style, lands at Disney Springs
The virtual-reality experience called Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire has debuted at Disney Springs.
The attraction, presented by a company called the Void, will help fanboys and others get their Stormtrooper on. Without being too spoilery here, participants will experience the sensation of walking “inside” intergalactic scenarios, firing weapons, teetering near the edge of disasters and coming virtual-face-to-virtual-face with familiar characters.
After a scanning process that gives you the trooper look, you’re outfitted with an adjustable vest and headgear with built-in volume control. The adventure begins. Groups of four are sent off on a specific mission that requires some action, teamwork and fairly simple tasks, assuming you pay attention to the instructions in your ear.
But you might be distracted by looking at your teammates, who, through your eyes, also are Stormtroopered up. When they move, the troopers COMMENTARY move. If they’re 6-foot-2, their digital counterparts are too. There is coordination required, such as going through open portals. Who goes first? It’s harder without facial expressions, which are obscured by the helmets. (Pro tip: Talk with your hands.)
Along with the visuals, which surround players and take place on multiple levels, there are vibrations beneath your feet and in your vest to make the action even more lifelike. There are strong scent and temperature effects. Think Soarin’ Through the Galaxy.
“Instead of just seeing a virtual world around you, you can feel it and touch it and interact with it. If you see heat you can feel it,” said Curtis Hickman, cofounder and chief creative officer of the Void. “The world isn’t just virtually imaginary around you. It’s there, it’s with you.”
Hickman suggests adventurous approaches.
“People at the start are not sure what they can interact with and what they can’t,” said Mark Miller, executive producer with ILMxLAB, which collaborated on the development of the experience. “Once you reach out and touch that first doorway … the mind kicks in and the immersion becomes so much deeper.”
The experience includes real-life physical props — we sat and observed for a while, held a blaster and may or may not have found the droid we were looking for.
Like any good action flick, Secrets of the Empire builds to a climax that even non-fanboys can relate to. You don’t need knowledge of the Skywalkers’ saga or to have seen “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
“We designed this so that anybody can enjoy the experience and sort of know where they’re going and what they’re doing and why they’re there,” Hickman said. “But that being said, if you are a ‘Star Wars’ fan, there’s definitely a lot here for you and a lot of really cool moments designed just for you.”
Disney and the Void can imagine some sort of sequel, eventually.
“This is the first thing, which implies that there could be a second thing,” Hickman said. “The technology is such that we’re not limited only to this experience.”
A round through Secrets of the Empire lasts about 30 minutes and costs $29.95 per person. Players must be at least 10 years old and at least 48 inches tall. The attraction is in the Marketplace section of Disney Springs. Another location of Secrets of the Empire will debut at Downtown Disney in Anaheim, Calif., next month.