Immersive mobile theater

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for moving a ride vehicle in an immersive mobile theater. A ride vehicle is received in an enclosure. The ride vehicle is received from a first track to a track segment within the enclosure. The movement of the ride vehicle is restricted to the track segment within the enclosure. The enclosure, with the ride vehicle inside, is moved from a first physical location to a second physical location while the ride vehicle is located within the enclosure. An immersive media presentation is provided within the enclosure while moving the enclosure from the first physical location to the second physical location and while the ride vehicle is located within the enclosure. The ride vehicle is released from the track segment within the enclosure to a second track.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for moving a ride vehicle, comprising:
 receiving the ride vehicle in an enclosure, wherein the ride vehicle is received from a first track to a track segment within the enclosure;   restricting movement of the ride vehicle to the track segment within the enclosure;   moving the enclosure from a first physical location to a second physical location while the ride vehicle is located within the enclosure;   providing an immersive media presentation within the enclosure, wherein the immersive media presentation is provided within the enclosure while moving the enclosure from the first physical location to the second physical location while the ride vehicle is located within the enclosure, and wherein providing the immersive media presentation within the enclosure comprises projecting a video presentation portion of the immersive media presentation on an interior surface of the enclosure; and   releasing the ride vehicle from the track segment within the enclosure to a second track.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the immersive media presentation within the enclosure comprises:
 generating a sound presentation portion of the immersive media presentation within the enclosure.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the enclosure from the first physical location to the second physical location results in at least one change in velocity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein providing the immersive media presentation within the enclosure comprises:
 coordinating the at least one change in velocity with a thematic moment in the immersive media presentation.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein moving the enclosure from the first physical location to the second physical location comprises:
 moving the enclosure along a third track that is separate from the first track and the second track.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the third track provides at least one change in motion during the movement of the enclosure, and wherein providing the immersive media presentation within the enclosure comprises:
 coordinating the at least one change in motion with a thematic moment in the immersive media presentation. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:   rotating the track segment while the ride vehicle is located within the enclosure.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the immersive media presentation within the enclosure comprises:
 coordinating rotation of the track segment with a thematic moment in the immersive media presentation.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a reflective dome. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ride vehicle has a first potential energy at the first physical location and has a second potential energy at the second physical location, the second potential energy being different from the first potential energy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second track is coupled to the first track to form a circuit for the ride vehicle, and wherein the movement of the enclosure from the first physical location to the second physical location completes the circuit between the first track and the second track. 
     
     
         12 . A system for enhanced amusement, comprising:
 a ride vehicle track having an exit track section and an entry track section;   an enclosure track that is separate from the ride vehicle track;   an enclosure that is moveable along the enclosure track, wherein the enclosure includes a track segment, and wherein the track segment aligns with the exit track section at a first position along the enclosure track and aligns with the entry track section at a second position along the enclosure track, and wherein the enclosure includes at least one projector that projects a video portion of an immersive media presentation on an interior surface of the enclosure; and   a ride vehicle that is moveable along the ride vehicle track and to and from the track segment, wherein the immersive media presentation is provided within the enclosure while the enclosure is moving between the first position along the enclosure track and the second position along the enclosure track.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first position along the enclosure track is physically different from the second position along the enclosure track. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure further includes:
 means for receiving the ride vehicle on the track segment from the exit track section of the ride vehicle track;   means for restricting the movement of the ride vehicle to the track segment within the enclosure; and   means for releasing the ride vehicle from the track segment to the entry track section of the ride vehicle track.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure further includes:
 means for rotating at least a portion of the track segment within the enclosure.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure further includes:
 one or more speakers that generate an audio portion of the immersive media presentation within the enclosure.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure comprises a reflective dome. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure track extends vertically. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the enclosure track includes a variation that changes a course of the enclosure as it moves along the enclosure track, wherein the change in the course is synchronized with a thematic moment in the immersive media presentation. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a plurality of enclosure tracks, the plurality of enclosure tracks including the enclosure track;   a plurality of enclosures, the plurality of enclosures including the enclosure, wherein each enclosure is associated with one of the plurality of enclosure tracks, each enclosure having a track segment that aligns with the exit track section at a first position along a respective enclosure track and aligns with the entry track section at a second position along the respective enclosure track; and   a plurality ride vehicles, the plurality of ride vehicles including the ride vehicle, wherein each of the plurality of ride vehicles operates simultaneously and completes a circuit comprising the ride vehicle track between the entry track section and the exit track section and a track segment in one of the plurality of enclosures between the exit track section and the entry track section.