www.parkworld-online.com
Ride Profile
continued. “And with Treasure Hunt, you immediately see the artisanship, time and skill put into this queue scene. Flickering lanterns, many different textures, worm-eaten looking wood, exposed brick – they are parts of the 360-degrees of theming our teams included. Our guests get a show even as they walk down the steps to officially begin their ride.” The nearly 20-minute experience officially kicks off with a tongue-in-cheek
pre-show video that regales Captain Bouchard’s tale about sacking Monterey and leaving with the town’s resident drunk, Molina. The video also lets guests know that maybe, just maybe, Bouchard left his treasure behind in the ‘newly discovered caverns’ beneath Cannery Row they are about to explore. “We have operated one of our interactive shooting galleries in this building
for the past few years,” shared Ron Daniels, president of Daniels Wood Land. Cannery Row is a popular destination for tourists – particularly for families - and we saw a gap in opportunities and activities for them to do together. When this space became available, we knew we could create something memorable. Coming together with Sally Dark Rides and blending their dark ride artistry with our theming and scenic expertise allowed us to go all out. We leaned into the lore and history of Monterey and Captain Bouchard and became modern-day pirates ourselves gathering and collecting everything that now fully surrounds our guests the moment they step foot at the ticket counter.” Daniels points to small details like the mermaids on the posts surrounding
Sharkbait Sam. The four miniature figureheads were hand carved from 2,000-year-old sequoia redwood, and each is one of a kind, down to their own facial expressions. After viewing the pre-show video, guests move into a large elevator. A ride
crew member shares they will soon descend 300 feet to the caverns, and that’s where the real fun begins. The elevator goes slightly awry before safely coming to a stop “far below.” Guests are then immediately greeted by Molina himself, alongside his donkey, Don Pedro. Molina welcomes guests to his caverns. He says there is treasure to be found, but the ghost of Captain Bouchard and his pet sea monster, the mighty kraken, may be lurking around the corners, and so everyone should beware. Before moving forward, eagle-eyed guests can spot a nod to Cannery Row’s history being carried by the lifelike burro. “We thought of everything,” Daniels continued, “There are more than
150,000 gold coins, each strategically placed throughout our caverns, that make up Bouchard’s lost treasure. We transformed every inch of this basement. There are cave walls and skeleton bones, booming cannons, and chests teeming with jewels, pearls, and gold. Everything is cool – and interactive.” To move through the ride, guests climb aboard four-passenger Cavern Car
vehicles. Each car is equipped with onboard, interactive Treasure Collector devices. Designed to look like pirate flintlocks, guests aim the collectors at everything as they seamlessly move from scene to scene throughout the
ride course. They aim at real objects and the events taking place on the multimedia screens, and it proves an innovative experience that evenly blends traditional and new technologies as they collect treasure and battle the ghosts of Bouchard’s crew – interactive pirate skeletons that blast cannons, and even hide in the ceiling. Traditional interactive elements including dancing crabs, spitting clams and empty toe-tapping boots also respond to the treasure collectors, providing the perfect blend of screen and “real” life, and moments that surprise and delight guests of all ages. “We all are crazy, creative dreamers,” shared Lauren Weaver,vice president
of business development and marketing for Sally Dark Rides. “When Ron first shared the space on Cannery Row with our team, we were inspired and intrigued. We embraced the unique layout and immediately began to figure out how we could make it all happen. This is probably the most themed ride we have ever developed. It is even over your head! The full environment our two teams have created is truly something special.” Sally is known for employing onboard interactive technology to its dark
rides, creating friendly competition for riders. With Treasure Hunt, the team added a new aspect aimed at attracting video gamers and repeat riders – the Power-Up Token. DWL designed an exclusive gold coin that can be purchased as an add-on to the ride experience. The token increases the power and ability of the Treasure Collector, so that scoring and point collection takes place at a faster – and higher – rate. The Power-Up Token also gives the team additional ticketing options for the
standalone ride. Guests can purchase a regular ride and add the Power-Up Token to enhance their experience and increase the ticket per cap. The option is also an easy selling point add-on for groups and special events. As the owners and operators of Treasure Hunt, DWL and Sally employ their creative minds and business savvy to welcome tourists and locals alike for their pirate adventure. To fully celebrate their new chapter in dark ride development and
partnership, DWL and Sally hosted a full-scale public pirate invasion in Monterey. Cosplay pirates from all over the state of California descended on Cannery Row to join in the fun, including actor Henry Yamada from the blockbuster film, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End. Together guests of all ages rode Treasure Hunt, hailing stories of pirate life and embracing the new theme park ride that is not hidden behind a park turnstile. Giving a nod to both the freedom that pirate life is often known for, and
the standalone dark ride that has united DWL and Sally, Daniels led a spirited toast to officially christen Treasure Hunt, shouting: “To the sea, to the sailors of old, to the caverns below.” And with that, to the ride below the guests can now go.
AUGUST 2023
41
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
