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Post by Stu on Sept 18, 2004 13:13:55 GMT
hey hey photos from inside pirate adventurethis is a fantastic dark ride at drayton manor, it's good that a uk park went to such effort to create a modern dark ride it just proves how special a place drayton manor really is |
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Graeme
Looping Coaster Rider
Posts: 71
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Post by Graeme on Jun 17, 2005 12:51:50 GMT
It's quite remarkable that a UK park has a ride with that much detail. It's nice to see it, as I've never actually been to Drayton Manor. Now let's have Smuggler's Adventure at Blackgang Chine and Fishermen's Adventure at Pleasurewood Hills!
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Post by Stu on Jun 20, 2005 19:59:29 GMT
I believe the initial investment was £4m which is astonishing, not many parks have modern dark rides, with a few exceptions, I don’t think at the present time any park would commit that kind of funds into creating an indoor ride as elaborate as that, which is a great shame as that what theme park rides should offer, an adventure all the family can enjoy together thats not the same as any other generic amusement park
I remember John Wardley commenting that they had problems with the 5th dimension ride at Chessington, as the general public were unsure about what was inside the building, some thinking it could be a roller coaster or a simulator, and that’s why the decision was made to re-theme it into the terror tomb, as “horror” themed rides were more understandable b the public
This perhaps explains why Tussauds have never installed too many dark rides, and why there aren’t too many modern ones about elsewhere, I guess the challenge is for the parks to educate the fickle public and get them inside to ride these amazing attractions
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Graeme
Looping Coaster Rider
Posts: 71
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Post by Graeme on Jun 22, 2005 22:47:17 GMT
I think the answer is to physically put on show part of the mechanical ride, then people can see the ride system. For instance, River Caves with its drop out of the cave is perfect. I think if you applied this to a pirate ride, perhaps with the building themed as a huge pirate ship (the drop coming out of it), it would be very successful at conveying both the experience and theme.
I think most boat rides can afford a little drop at the end, and still not be proper water rides.
Obviously, non-water rides are much more difficult, as they often don't have drops to showcase.
5th Dimension was actually one of the main reasons I wanted to go to Chessington, and it was one of my very favourite rides once I got there. I can understand people being unsure of what was inside. Even worse, I took many a friend on it and they just couldn't see what was good about it!
Also, one of my friends was pretty nervous when we first went on Terror Tomb! As we went up the "lift hill", he said "We're going on this ride and we have no idea what it is!!!"
Seriously, I think parks should not underestimate fear of the unknown; they should work to make sure peope have a really good expectation of what the ride will be like.
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