Dark Rides
www.parkworld-online.com
ETF: Imaginative Engineering
Park World talked to the smart folks behind the new Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride at Cadbury World.
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hat opportunities do Dark Rides offer operators?
Especially with the trackless dark rides, the operators have much more choice compared to traditional track bound dark rides. Much more complex manoeuvres like dead ends, splitters and joints or even round-abouts can be realised. We have even installed dark rides where the guests can follow multiple routes within the same dark ride or even where the routing is dependent on the points collected within the interactive system in the different scenes.
Have there been any notable new developments in the Dark Ride format? It is all about guest experience. Developments made have been focussing on this aspect. At the IAAPA Expo in Amsterdam and later this year the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, ETF will launch a new vehicle providing more experience to the guests. I only can say; come and see it live at our booths at both trade shows (IAAPA Expo Amsterdam # 10625, IAAPA Orlando # 4827).
What are the current trends in Dark Rides? Parks are more and more looking at inclusivity. ETF has addressed this important point by adapting the design of the vehicles. For many for much easier access. However, next to this adaption we have also already installed dedicated vehicles in various rides where the guest enters the vehicle with his own wheelchair. Of course, boarding will be done in a separate parallel station to provide the guest more privacy during boarding and deboarding. The separate parallel station
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prevents the interruption of the dispatch pace of the ride. This thoughtful design ensures that guests requiring extra assistance can embark with ease. This dedication to accessibility ensures that all guests can fully enjoy the adventure without any limitations, setting a new standard for inclusivity in the theme park industry.
What's next in the evolution of Dark Rides? The evolution ETF went through is that - contrary land into the water. ETF has developed a vehicle - record and made it suitable for water. With this providing much more design flexibility for the parks compared to traditional water rides. A revolutionary evolution on dark rides, so to say.
Tell us all about your latest ride. The new Cadbury Chocolate Quest ride at Cadbury World near Birmingham takes budding chocolate makers on a fun, interactive journey to source the ingredients to make a Cadbury Dairy a wild, interactive journey to source ingredients and make world-famous chocolate. One of the most commendable aspects of Cadbury Chocolate Quest is its commitment to inclusivity. The attraction features nine ETF Multi Movers, including four standard vehicles, four equipped with foldable seats for seamless transfer from a wheelchair, and one vehicle designed to accommodate an (electric) wheelchair with a companion. For this vehicle a special boarding station is available. The electric wheelchair vehicle
is stationed in a separate side track, allowing for unlimited boarding and disembarking time without disrupting the flow of other vehicles on the main track. The thoughtful design ensures that guests requiring extra assistance can embark on their chocolate-filled adventure with ease. This dedication to accessibility ensures that all guests can fully enjoy the adventure without any limitations, setting a new standard for inclusivity in the theme park industry. With a capacity of 600 people per hour, the attraction ensures that guests can enjoy the adventure without long wait times, enhancing overall guest satisfaction.
What can you tell us about your next project? There is another beautiful project to follow this year. Unfortunately, we cannot release much on that for obvious reasons. However, we can say that there will be an ultimate unique ride to be installed at "Six Flags Qiddiya City" in the Middle is designed and manufactured by a consortium between Jora Vision and Alterface. The story influenced by the local culture and region. There is also a message of love and growth that infuses every aspect of the ride. The ride contains 12 ETF vehicles and will be unique as it contains animatronics, 14 multimedia projectors and a new effect that has never been seen in an interactive dark ride before. The ride goes beyond a traditional competitive shooting interactive ride; instead, it is a journey that encourages cooperation between guests to discover the magical biosphere around them. Each ride vehicle will work together to change the environment, like changing colours, influencing behaviours and illuminating creatures.
AUGUST 2024
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