Story Beats

Join the rowdy band of sky pirates, the Dola Gang, in this thrilling adventure through the skies and search out buried treasure while avoiding military capture at every turn!

Inspired by the beloved 1986 animated film Laputa: Castle in the Sky from Studio Ghibli, guests will become part of the Dola Gang led by Dola Herself. The ride is the convergence of classic animation and the latest in themed entertainment ride technology, delivering both thrills and an immersive experience. With our creation of the novel free swinging mechanism, the Flaptor ride vehicle re-imagines the feeling of flight, allowing the rider to feel as if they are soaring through the air as they bank around hills and into turns, and less connected to a track.

Ride Vehicle Development

The first design opted for a single seat per car, but was promptly redesigned to two seats to increase the ride’s theoretical hourly ride capacity.

The second iteration of the ride vehicle features two seats in line instead of side-by-side to keep the vehicle as thin as possible. Though this design adds length, it helps the vehicle maintain its sleek, maneuverable profile.

Project Skills

• Keyshot
• Adobe Photoshop
• Sketching
• SolidWorks
• Project coordination
• Cross-disciplinary design
• Rapid prototyping
• 3D printing
• Working within the design language of an existing IP