Zootopia: Hot Pursuit is a trackless dark ride at Shanghai Disneyland. Based on the Zootopia franchise,[1] it opened in December 2023 as the centerpiece of the park's Zootopia land.[2][3][4] It is Disney's first trackless ride in Mainland China,[5][6] and likely considered a model for future Zootopia attractions at other Disney parks.[7]
| Zootopia: Hot Pursuit | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Shanghai Disneyland | |
| Area | Zootopia |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date | December 20, 2023 |
| Ride statistics | |
| Attraction type | Trackless dark ride |
| Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering |
| Theme | Zootopia |
| Music | Michael Giacchino |
| Vehicle type | Police Car |
 Must transfer from wheelchair | |
Ride experience
editAs guests (or newbies) enter the Zootopia Police Department, they get an alert about the city's former deputy mayor, Dawn Bellwether, and her two of her hench-sheep having escaped from prison and kidnapped famous pop star, Gazelle, before her latest concert at the Zootopia Day Festival as part of the former's plot for revenge against Zootopia for her previous defeat. After being informed by Chief Bogo, Bellwether suddenly hacks into the ZPD's system and taunts them over the kidnapped Gazelle. Serious about the situation, Bogo tells the guests to head for the loading station to go out and save the Zootopia Day Festival from disaster. Once the guests jump in police cars, they arrive in Tundratown were officers Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde meet them. Judy tells them the situation and she and Nick try to catch Bellwether and save Gazelle. But the escapees, spooked by the ZPD, flee from the scene of the crime with Gazelle in tow and the chase is on as they then try to lose the duo on snowmobiles. Judy, Nick and the riders chase them on a spare snowmobile through Tundratown before entering Sahara Square, nearly being hit by an oncoming freight train as the duo crashes their snowmobile off-screen. Riders enter the rest of Sahara Square where Duke Weaselton is trying to sell Gazelle-themed merchandise, then after spotting a Gazelle impersonator, Judy and Nick, aided by the riders, catch Bellwether trying to lose them in the crowd while the riders take a detour to the Mystic Springs Oasis. There, they encounter its nude occupants before spotting the villainess escaping from the building. Next, riders enter the Rainforest District, where Judy and Nick catch sight of Bellwether and her remaining hench-sheep in one of the aerial tramway's cars and go after them while riders head into one of them. Once onboard, Judy and Nick appear on the car's roof. Nick ensures his partner and the riders present that the car is safe to hold them in, only to inadvertently kick a bolt loose. The car literally hangs by a thread and, to make matters worse, Bellwether appears and kicks the duo off the car's roof as Gazelle watches in horror from the other car while doing the same to the hench-sheep. Bellwether then disconnects the car from its mechanism wheels, sending it and the riders plummeting towards the ground. While in mid-fall, Judy and Nick apprehend the hench-sheep before getting themselves tangled up in vines. Riders encounter Flash Slothmore, who, living up to his name, is in his car and they drive off to Savanna Central where the Zootopia Day Festival is held. Riders enter Savanna Central where Bellwether, attempting to avoid recapture, tries to lose the ZPD in a sidecar-fitted moped, only to be intercepted by them. A police helicopter with Judy and Nick holding onto a ladder hanging from it arrives on the scene as they finally rescue Gazelle. Refusing to give up, Bellwether sets off after them, scattering attendees left and right before crashing her moped into an ice cream cone which an elephant attendee had dropped in the chaos, catapulting the villainess through the air before getting herself stuck in the sign of a Big Donut catering truck like Weaselton had before, ending her threat to the festival for good as she is seized by Benjamin Clawhauser. The ride ends with Gazelle performing "Try Everything" at the festival and Judy and Nick congratulating the riders for their help.
Music
editAcademy award-winning composer, Michael Giacchino composed the music for this attraction based on the scores by him, using a sixty-five-piece orchestra to synchronize some of the scenes from the Walt Disney Animation Studios film including a quartet of classical sections like strings, woodwinds, percussion and brass as well as a quartet of rhythm sections such as guitar, bass, drums and keyboards.[8]
Incident
editSoon after the ride opened, an incident, in which a child exited the ride and was dragged underneath, occurred.[9][10][11]
Reception
editThe ride received positive reviews from critics and audiences.[12]
It was nominated in the category of Outstanding Visual Effects in a Special Venue Project at the 22nd Visual Effects Society Awards.[13]
References
edit- ^ Davis-Friedman, Samantha (September 5, 2023). "Details revealed for Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disneyland". Attractions Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (October 23, 2023). "Zootopia Land to Open at Shanghai Disneyland Theme Park". Variety. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Disney launches world's first 'Zootopia' themed land in China". The Spokesman-Review. November 29, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Flaherty, Morgan (September 5, 2023). "Disney Reveals New Details on Upcoming Zootopia Land". WDW Magazine. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Olsvik, Justin (December 26, 2023). "Ride Review: Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia Hot Pursuit". Theme Park Insider. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Zhang, Rui (November 16, 2023). "Trackless ride system powers Shanghai Disneyland's latest attraction Zootopia: Hot Pursuit". China.org.cn. China Internet Information Center. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Palm, Iman (December 20, 2023). "Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia-themed land could come to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim". KTLA. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Composing the magical soundscapes of Zootopia at Shanghai Disneyland - China.org.cn". www.china.org.cn. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Nolfi, Joey (December 26, 2023). "Child reportedly injured after jumping out of Disney's new Zootopia ride". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Tinoco, Armando (December 26, 2023). "'Zootopia: Hot Pursuit' Ride Accident At Disneyland In Shanghai After Child Reportedly Got Pinned Under Attraction". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Dunn, Alessia (December 25, 2023). "Disney Reveals Fate of Beloved Attraction After Child Is Hit, Pinned Under Car". Inside The Magic. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ "Shanghai Disneyland's Impressive Zootopia Dark Ride". YouTube. ReviewTyme. December 22, 2023. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
- ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 16, 2024). "'The Creator' Leads Visual Effects Society Feature Competition With 7 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 16, 2024.