Just imagine how a ride could allow all its vehicles to be lifted, shifted laterally, or moved away from the ride surface entirely during an attraction. Now imagine this all happening without the vehicle leaving its track. That’s the idea behind Disney’s latest patent recently filed by inventors Derek Lee Howard, Gaku Sato, and Edward Allen Nemeth on behalf of Disney Enterprises, Inc.

How the system works

It all starts with a straightforward approach where the vehicle moves along a track. An arm (called a boom arm) is attached to the vehicle. This boom arm can articulate, extend, and pivot to change where the vehicle sits relative to the track. The arm connects to the chassis that runs along the track. The arm adjusts in real time as the chassis moves, which means that the ride vehicle can be repositioned laterally, vertically, or both directions simultaneously. A balance spring or counterweight system is used to offset the weight of the arm and the vehicle it carries. This reduces the power needed from the actuator that drives the arm’s movement. 

The patent describes several ways this technology could be used to create effects during an attraction, starting with simply lifting the vehicle off the ride surface to simulate jumping or flying. The boom arm can also move the vehicle across the track to avoid or to hit obstacles placed in front of it, adjust height in real time to simulate bumps or terrain changes, and to simulate ramps or sky moguls. Acceleration boosts can also be simulated by rapidly lifting the arm. Patent drawings in the filing show both a boat-style vehicle on a water channel and a land-based vehicle with wheels even though the patent notes that the ride vehicle could be styled as a boat, a car, an airplane, or any other type of vehicle. 

Guest Engagement

One detail in the patent that stands out is the provision for guest interaction. The steering interface—steering wheel, joystick, or lever—would allow guests control the position of their vehicle during the ride. Guests could steer up, down, left, or right to avoid obstacles or hit targets. The patent specifically mentions this as a way to add a layer of control to the experience.

The system also supports multiple ride paths. For example, a first ride path could be located on one side of the track and a second ride path on the other. The boom arm would allow the guest to pivot the vehicle from one path to the other, effectively allowing each guest to choose or be directed between different routes through the attraction. To take this one step further, third and fourth ride paths are also described in the patent, giving the system flexibility to create varied experiences on repeat visits or within a single ride.

Disney regularly files patents that may or may not be put into a finished attraction. Yet, the level of detail for this patent—covering water rides, land rides, and flying rides—suggests that this is a platform Disney is investing in at a more technical level. The articulating arm concept itselt addresses a realistic limitation in traditional track-based rides. Once a vehicle is locked into a track, its movement is typically fixed. This system breaks that constraint, opening up possibilities for rides that feel more dynamic and responsive. On a final note, this is a patent application, not a granted patent. The technology described may or may not appear in a future Disney attraction. 

For information: 

Disney