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Disney Patents Wild New “Boom Arm” Ride System That Could Let Attractions Jump, Dodge, and Fly
If you love geeking out over what Walt Disney Imagineering is cooking up behind the blueprints, this one is a big deal. Disney has filed a new patent for an articulating “boom arm” ride system that could seriously shake up how future attractions move, feel, and surprise us.
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The patent, officially published as US 2026/0027482 A1 and filed on behalf of Disney Enterprises, Inc., outlines a ride vehicle attached to a movable arm that runs along a track. But here is the twist. Instead of being locked rigidly to that track, the vehicle can be lifted, shifted side to side, or raised completely away from the ride surface while still traveling forward. Think of it as a ride car that refuses to stay in its lane.
At the heart of the system is a chassis that runs along a traditional track. Connected to that chassis is the boom arm, which can extend, pivot, and articulate in real time. As the vehicle moves through the attraction, the arm adjusts its position vertically and laterally, allowing for dynamic motion without switching tracks. A counterweight or spring system helps balance the load, reducing the power needed to move the arm and vehicle.
The patent outlines several possible applications that could dramatically change the feel of a ride. Vehicles could be lifted to simulate jumps or short bursts of flight. They could shift left or right to dodge obstacles or hit targets. The arm could raise and lower the vehicle to mimic bumps, ramps, moguls, or terrain changes.
It could even span gaps in a show floor or create sudden airtime-style moments by quickly altering elevation. The concept drawings show everything from boat-style vehicles in water channels to wheeled land vehicles, suggesting the system is meant to be flexible across multiple attraction types.
One especially intriguing detail is guest control. The patent describes a steering interface such as a wheel, joystick, or lever that would allow riders to control their vehicle’s position during the experience. Imagine steering up, down, left, or right to avoid hazards or trigger interactive elements. That opens the door to attractions that feel more like participatory adventures than passive rides.
The system also supports multiple ride paths. The boom arm could pivot the vehicle from one side of the track to another, effectively switching between different routes mid-ride. The patent even describes up to four potential paths, which could allow for varied experiences, branching storylines, or repeat ride value without separate track systems.
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Of course, it is important to remember that this is a patent application, not a confirmed attraction. Disney files patents regularly, and not all of them make it into a finished ride. Still, the level of detail here suggests this is more than a blue sky concept. It tackles a real limitation of traditional track-based rides by freeing the vehicle from being locked into a single plane of motion.
Whether this ends up in a high-speed Cars-style attraction, a water-based adventure, or something entirely new, one thing is clear. Disney is still swinging for the fences when it comes to ride innovation.
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