Dark Rides
DARK RIDES IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT
George Walker, SVP of Unlimited Attractions, talks us through the
evolution of dark rides and how previous
limitations are now a thing of the past…
W
hat if . . .? That’s the question we often start with when developing new ideas at Dynamic Attractions, and right now we are
focused on advancing what we believe is an evolutionary step in the dark ride experience. Within the secrecy of our 60,000 sq ft mock up space, our Attraction Development Center in Orlando is filled with designers, artists, and engineers all working feverishly to answer that question. Dark rides have been captivating audiences for nearly a century, and in a way, all of Dynamic Attractions’ ride systems provide the foundation for traditional dark ride principles. Our SFX CoasterTM
, for example, started with
the question, “What if you could combine the elaborate storytelling of a dark ride with the exhilaration of a rollercoaster?” Coasters offer a high-speed rush and brute thrills, but are not ideal for appreciating show scenes, special effects or story points. Conversely, dark rides are not known for their physical excitement. Dynamic Attractions’ SFX CoasterTM
gives guests both of
these at the same time. The first of its kind, MISSION: Ferrari, will soon open in Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, and we are confident it will be a game-changer. What if an interactive dark ride were about more than
just shooting? During my time as Creative Director of Ferrari World, this question was answered with Benno’s Great Race. Here the animatronics and show sets are woven together with gameplay screens that focus guests’ attention on solving puzzles rather than just looking for targets. The game clues emphasise the characters and story rather than distract you from them.
What if you could tilt, spin, and drop guests in a
theater experience that makes a show feel more like a ride? The answer to this question is our Dynamic Motion TheaterTM
, a completely new take on a dark ride-like
experience that places guests in a theater that moves in a way that follows the action on the stage and screen. What if there were a dark ride vehicle that could lift
up into the air with nearly limitless motion simulation? The answer to this question, of course, is our robotic arm dark ride. Its compound motion profile allows for a variety of sensations never possible before. This capability truly begins to eliminate the limits of traditional dark ride physics. All of these attraction ride systems are part of the ongoing evolution of what started out as a thing we all call ‘dark rides.’ Existing even before theme parks themselves existed, dark rides are a dominant presence in true theme parks, comprising arguably more than 40% of all attractions if you exclude shows and playgrounds. But the greatest limitations of this method of story-telling have been the format itself. It is, by nature, very linear. The scenes are presented one after the other. The timeline is directly related to the physical space. The further along you are in the ride, the further along you are in the story. Rides systems of yesterday were physically forced along a bus bar, each car following in sequence behind the others like widgets in a factory. Straying from the path was not an option. Interacting with the space was all but impossible. Moments of thrill and excitement were unheard of. And above all, non-linear storytelling was just a dream. That was then. Now, things are about to change considerably. What if a dark ride
could...sorry. The next answer to
that question is still confidential! But all of us at Dynamic Attractions can tell you that something very exciting is coming soon to IAAPA this November!
46
AUGUST 2017
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