The Sum of All Thrills

The Sum of All Thrills is an attraction at Epcot. Sponsored by Raytheon, the ride lets park guests custom-design their own thrill ride using mathematical tools, an innovative touch-screen table and a robotic simulator. Guests design a thrill ride using an interactive touch screen that lets them determine height and speed while adding features such as dips and corkscrew turns. Once "built", guests climb aboard their customized design in the 4-D robotic simulator that uses sight, sound and movement to give them a realistic experience.

Your adventure begins in a briefing room. Here your hosts, Grace and Spencer, provide instructions on how to design your thrill ride. While doing so, they make a strong pitch for studying math and science and how these courses will give you the tools you need to build cool stuff like skyscrapers, high-performance racecars, and especially video games. Parents will appreciate this message that is intended to motivate their young.

After the briefing, a cast member hands everyone a small plastic card and directs you to an electronic drafting board. The first task, swipe your card. This will associate you and your design so the computer can recreate your ride once you've completed it. After selecting a language on the touch-sensitive screen, you choose what type of thrill ride to develop. The options are Bobsled for a tame encounter, Roller Coaster for a mild ride, and Jet for the intense experience.

The next screen provides track options. Loops, corkscrews, hills, dives, and slaloms are all on the menu. You'll get to select three track layouts in all. Next you use an electronic ruler and knob to design the intensity of the hills and the speed in which to traverse them. Once your design is complete, you give it a name (like Winter Avalanche) and then a cast member directs you to a second floor boarding area. Here you are asked to take EVERYTHING out of your pockets and store them in a free locker (key locked).

Now it's time to board. Attached to a significantly impressive robot arm are two seats. After you're seated, the cast member lowers a large apparatus over your head. While doing so you are told that there is an emergency stop button located between you. If at any time the ride becomes too intense, you can slap your hand down on this knob and the ride will immediately stop. Within each apparatus is a television monitor. Here, an animated video recreates the ride you designed. In the corner of the monitor is a small insert picturing your riding companion. The device even creates "wind" to add to the realism.

Touring Tips

• The Sum of all Thrills only has four robotic arms, each holding two guests. In other words, the attraction has a low capacity.
• If you are sensitive to motion sickness you might want to sit this ride out.
• They provide a locker while you are on the simulator for your cameras, purse, and loose-fitting shoes.
• If you have a problem with heights be aware that you are on the end of a robot arm about 10 feet off the ground.
• There is a height requirement of 54 inches if you design a ride with any inversions.

Facts

• It opened to the public on October 14, 2009 as the first ride to be located within INNOVENTIONS at Epcot.