Star Wars virtual reality at The Void in Disney World and Disneyland
To borrow from another science fiction mainstay, the experience is not quite like entering a holodeck. But it does allow visitors to boldly go where no one has gone before — namely the magma-encrusted planet of Mustafar — in a largely convincing (if highly illogical) way. Yes, the gear is still clunky, and the imagery is a notch or two below Ultra HD. Users can’t help but be aware of the technology that makes the illusion possible, thereby compromising total immersion into the story. But VR trickery (at least The Void’s application of it) has accelerated to the point that transcendence, breaking down the barrier between virtual and reality, is tantalizingly close.
Among the elements that distinguishes “Secrets” from other VR attractions and works in its favor is that participants can see virtual renderings of their entire bodies, including their hands. Mine looked like human hands with arms outfitted in the white uniforms of stormtroopers. Also, I could see, as well as talk to and hear, the fully formed bodies of the digitally transformed guests who were joining me on the mission. As opposed to the disembodied and isolating aspects that plague some other VR presentations, “Secrets” is highly social.
It’s also multi-sensory. The smells of burning embers, the sensation of heat, the low rumble of vibrating floors, the rib-tickling sensations delivered by haptic vests, and other “4D” effects all help convince participants that their Mustafar mission is really happening. Surprisingly, the enhancements extend to the sense of touch. For example, K-2S0, an imposing, but friendly droid (who sounds suspiciously similar to Anthony Daniels, the actor who voices the gold-plated C-3PO), helps guide participants through the experience.
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