Dark Rides
parkworld-online.com
SPLASH UFO Yomiuriland, Japan
unusual dark ride! E On Splash UFO, sponsored by the food company Nissin, guests hop on
board floating ride vehicles themed after cups of UFO yakisoba (Japanese fried noodles) and set sail for an interactive boat ride through the Food Factory. Along the way they they observe the manufacturing and cooking process behind the noodles while fighting evil characters with laser canons. The Mini Raft Ride system was provided by German manufacturer
Hafema and features a layout similar to an earlier installation by the company at Fuji-Q Highland elsewhere in Japan but with added interactive and indoor elements. “We have modified the 4-seater boats so that they can accommodate the
gaming unit, a device with four buttons (one for each passenger) which triggers a laser canon that is used to shoot at several overhead screens,” explains Hafema's head of projects, Mathias Nick. Passengers board the ride via a turntable, leading them straight into the first interactive scene and towards a 12m-long lift hill. From the top of the
Taking shape in Italy
Gosetto is supplying two dark ride transport systems for opening within the next 12 months. The first will be unveiled this December as part of a Smurf-themed attraction at the new Comics Station indoor park at Antwerp railway staion in Belgium. Each car will feature four-abreast seating on a monorail-style track, providing every passenger with unobstructed views of of the scenes and special effects before them. Delivery is set for this December. The other project is an interactive dark ride with a dual rail and 6 passengers per
rotating car. It will be ready by the end of July 2017 for an as as yet unconfirmed park in Asia. Earlier this year, Gosetto completed its first prototype of a new 4-seater trackless dark ride vehicle, reporting good results in terms of performance between charge times. The Italian ride manufacturer, which has supplied several dark rides and fun houses in recent years, supplied two notable attractions last season including a spinning car transport system in collaboration with Triotech for a Warner Bros-themed ride at Studio City Macau and also its largest dark ride to date. The latter, located in the Turkish capital of Ankara – pictured right – spans three storeys and stands 13m tall, complete with two uphill spirals and two downhill slopes with magnetic brakes. The ride occupies a 10 x 13m footprint.
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arlier this year, Yomiuriland in Tokyo launched a new 24,000 square- metre area called Gujjoba!! (Good Job) featuring 15 new attractions spread across four factory-themed buildings – including one very
lift, they plunge into an elevated channel and into the first drop. After the drop, the boats stop momentarily for the second interactive scene before entering a whirlpool at the start what becomes a very turbulent ride. Passing briefly outside the building, the boats return inside for the third and final scene, and then float back towards the station. Also featured as part
of the Food Factory experience in the same building is UFO Bump,
a set of spinning bumper cars. See more at
yomiuriland.com/ gj/
food.html
AUGUST 2016
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