‘Kim Possible’ interactive game debuts at Disney World

Imagine a hidden theme park attraction with no line and no building, one that lasts as long as you want and changes each time you visit.

Debuting Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Epcot in Walt Disney World, the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure blends an old-fashioned treasure hunt with high-tech spy gadgetry in an interactive game similar to geocaching or orienteering.

“These play patterns are as old as human history,” said Jonathan Ackley, producer of the Kim Possible theme park game. “We’re just finding a new application that people enjoy. The game uses a lot of technology without feeling technical.”

Based on the Disney animated TV show “Kim Possible,” about a high school cheerleader who fights crime in her spare time, the self-paced game deputizes secret agents who scour the Orlando, Florida, theme park for clues to help save the world from super-villains bent on destroying the planet.

Visitors receive clues and trigger hidden surprises using a hand-held “Kimmunicator” device, essentially a converted cellphone.

“On other attractions, we very much control your experience,” said Ackley, a director in the interactive division of Walt Disney Imagineering. “In this attraction, we’re giving the guests the ability to control their experience — a remote control for controlling the theme park.”

So let me get this straight. If I’ve got a remote control for the theme park, what’s stopping me from hitting rewind and replaying the secret clue over and over again?

“You really want to catch the bad guy,” Ackley said. “You want to get onto the next clue.”

But can I replay the clue over and over again?

“There’s really no incentive to abuse the power,” Ackley said.

He obviously doesn’t know me very well.

Designed to be played by groups or families, Disney can program two Kimmunicators to follow the same path if, for example, the boys won’t share with the girls.

By default, the game is set at the highest difficulty level, with additional clues provided for stumped agents.

“There’s a help button for the parents,” Ackley said with a wry smile.

Employees play a role in some of the games. In the United Kingdom Pavilion, the secret agent receives instructions to whisper “Danger is my cup of tea” until an in-the-know shop employee surreptitiously slips a tea bag to the agent. Kids in preliminary play tests took the clandestine exchange very seriously, Ackley said, pocketing the tea bag and sneaking out of the shop.

A series of missions take place in seven World Showcase pavilions:

China – Rescue the precious Jade Monkey from Lord Monkey Fist and his monkey ninjas.

France – Prevent tyrant billionaire Senor Senior Sr. from deploying his procrastinator ray.

Germany – Stop mad scientist Professor Dementor from using his evil mind-control pretzels.

Japan – Restore order to the four elements (fire, air, earth and water), thrown out of balance by mad scientist Dr. Drakken.

Mexico – Recover a rocket ship stolen by Dr. Drakken.

Norway – Retrieve stolen Viking furs from the shape-shifting Camille Leon.

United Kingdom – Foil the plans of the world’s deadliest golfer, Duff Killigan, bent on turning Earth into a giant golf course.

Each game, included in the cost of park admission, takes about 45 to 60 minutes to complete.

Find the latest amusement and theme park news at the Los Angeles Times Funland blog: latimes.com/funland.

— Brady MacDonald, Los Angeles Times staff writer

[Image: Disney]

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 27, 2009 at 10:39 am by Brady MacDonald and is filed under Epcot at Walt Disney World, Family & Kids, Florida, Southern States, Theme Parks. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.