In the Dark

Well, Brandon, that's exactly why I started this thread. I was hopeful when I first heard about WMG at CW, but once I actually rode it I was completely disenchanted. I already knew that an interactive ride is not something I would like to see emerge at our park for reasons already mentioned, and this ride just doesn't cut it. You're correct about the coaster-aspect. There's certainly nothing "coaster-esque" about it, and that is an aspect that is completely missed on the ride (almost completely).

I'm curious what Tony thought, but it's certainly not his place to review it here, although I do hope he (and Cedar Point) are listening.

Kevinj said:
Not that it has anything to do with a dark ride, but someone mentioned some markings near the Point Pavilion. Out of curiosity, do they extend near/around the old Pirate Ride building?

If anyone's interested in me getting some pics,let me know. My next trip to the park is scheduled this Saturday the 21st. If I find them, I will post them.
I heard (not verified) that the markings stretched down the exit side of Raptor to its front entrance. I'll check.
BTW, any chance this new rumored dark ride is the proverbial "kill 2 birds w/1 stone"? You know the long rumored dark ride and at the same time getting an 18th coaster? Hmmmm.....
Don't think that would fit here (by Point Pavilion) but more by the Turnpike Cars/Cedars area.

Personally my preference for a dark ride would be a simulator style ride. Went to Disney this past December and loved the rides at Epcot. Particularly I loved Soarin. I had two ideas about how to put one of these into the park and not have to make a completely new structure. My first and by far the less likely idea is to completely enclose the all wheels stadium blow out the stands and place the carriages where the stands were. My second idea would be more feasible but probably less accepted. It would be to gut Good Time Theater and place the screen and carriages in there. You could then use the outdoor seating as a "flight briefing". You could even do a much more high tech updated version of Disaster Transport than was simulator instead of coaster.

Disney being Disney, I'd be willing to bet they have tied up assorted legal/trademark elements of the ride design, making it difficult for another park to duplicate the Soarin' infrastructure.

And too, the ride building for Soarin' is huge (most of the carriage structure is behind the riders and never seen, but takes up a lot of space)-- neither the stadium nor the theater would yield enough space.

The Soarin' building is not that big, and keep in mind anyway that it contains two rides. The Good Times Theater land could easily fit one, and maybe both. That said, it likely doesn't matter because it's proprietary tech that Disney isn't going to give to someone else.

My guess is that Disney does not own the rights to a Soarin style rides as there are three company's that make Panoramic Flight Theaters.

Dynamic Attractions (Who made Soarin) http://www.dynamicattractions.com/products/flying-theatre/

An Intamin version http://www.intaminworldwide.com/amusement/Simulators/Panoramic+Flig...fault.aspx

And a Vekoma model http://www.vekoma.com/index.php/specialities-and-attractions/panora...-simulator

Dynamic might have fabricated the ride, but Disney Imagineering has a patent. What you linked to is like seats hanging on a board, not nine individually articulating "gliders."

I will give you that Intamin's Is a two carriage and not nine but this is said about articulation:
"To further increase the experience each seat row can tilt +/- 15º as required. The flight experience can be enhanced with optional 4D effects such as wind, scent and aroma."

And the Vekoma model:
"9 moveable platform units for a total of 90 passengers (or alternatively with 16 platforms for 160 passengers.)"
-And "The sophisticated motion platform provides six Degree of Freedom (6-dOF). This means simulator can be moved in the six ways: heave, Sway, Surge, pitch, roll and yaw. The flight experience can be enhanced with 4d effects such as wind and spray mist."

Soo yeah I would say that's about on par with Soarin. Both even have the same aroma jets that Soarin uses.

For my taste, I would not go the simulator route. They can be enjoyable, but I would reiterate something already stated. If the park does build a dark ride sometime soon, it will be the park's one and only. I would rather that one and only not be 1) an interactive one, or 2) a simulator.

You just can't replicate the fun of sitting together in a car or boat and travelling through the dark on a little adventure of some kind.

+1, a simulator is not a dark ride and can't give the same experience.

By the way, here's an article that describes the potential influence of Cedar Point's old Pirate Ride on Disney.

Draw your own conclusions. :)

http://thedisneyrevue.blogspot.com/2011/05/secret-influence-on-pirates-of.html

Our own RideMan made a comment in 2011 that still stands. :)

If I had my wish, we would get an updated version of just this. After all, there a still a couple cannons just sitting up there waiting to be included.

Last year I made I post with some ideas for a dark ride in the now relatively inactive Dark Ride Possibilities thread, but I'll post it again here.

"I actually see a theme that could be perfect for the park: Snoopy/Peanuts. I have 2 possible options for this ride.

Option One: It's like an arcade style, shooting ride where you ride in cars designed like an airplane, and you are "flying" like the Snoopy Red Baron. The goal will be to shoot other aircraft while flying around various scenes including episodes from the major Peanuts holiday specials like the Great Pumpkin and the Christmas one. It's interactive, has a storyline, and would entertain all ages.

Option Two: Instead of an interactice dark ride, this option focuses more on special effects, and would be more like a traditional ride. Guests could wear 3D glasses (maybe this could be added to Option One, too) and would be a scaled down mix between Spiderman at Universal and the Forbidden Journey. It would also be focused on the Snoopy Red Baron theme, and you would ride in "airplanes" and would soar through different Peanuts scenes. Special effects could be used such as misters, water, fire, fog, scents, etc. I think this could be pulled off very well. Like Option One, this option has a storyline and would entertain all ages. The only difference is that it would not be interactive but would have more special effects.

I think having a dark ride like one of the ones I've mentioned would be pretty cool. It would fill the dark ride/family ride gap the park currently has, and would also fit into the park's atmosphere due to the Snoopy and Peanuts theme."

These are just 2 possibilities revolving around 1 theme that I could see working at the park. Yes, one of them would be interactive, but if done right I feel like it could be pulled off.

I agree with the whole discussion how interactive rides are more of an individual experience rather than an all-inclusive, family experience. That's why I believe that if a park has an interactive dark ride, then that park should also have a traditional dark rides like Haunted Mansion, for example, that does not involve shooting/interactions. I would rather have a traditional dark ride before an arcade style one for this reason. Right now the park is desperate for more attractions and rides the entire family can do together, made memories together, and share the same experiences together, and an interactive dark ride falls short of this. Yes, it's still a much needed dark ride, but add an arcade style one 5 years from now once a traditional one has already been installed.

Regarding WMG, I had high hopes for this ride and was very excited about it. However, after seeing the video and hearing all about it, it seems to have fallen short of what I've expected. Up until I watched the video I had hoped that CP would get a similar version, but now (unless the concept and theming are COMPLETELY changed and improved) I hope the park doesn't get anything like it.

I'd also love to have classic style dark rides like with a spooky theme. I would really love for a new, modern version of Earthquake. Something that's unique, innovative, allows all ages to share fun experiences together, and is memorable. It needs to maintain its novelty forever. I don't want a dark ride that I go on once and never want to wait in line for it again, which is what WMG looks like.

Well, at least according to this article, Guardian is proving to be a hit with families:

http://www.yorkregion.com/news-story/4577938-bragging-rights-up-for...dian-ride/

One other thing about this kind of ride, it can be reprogrammed for new stories/theming.

Well, seeing as cedar fair just spent a lot of time and cash refurbing the mine ride and log ride at Knotts, I would like to see a western or frontier themed dark ride, maybe along the frontier trail near thunder canyon.

You can reprogram Guardian all you want, but it would just be a different cartoon on the same ride. I'm not at all saying that these rides do not appeal to some people; I'm sure they do. What's the paper going to print? An article that bashes the ride? It sounds like a PR plug from the park. For what it is (an interactive dark ride), it's fine, it's just not something I enjoyed, nor is it something I want to see at Cedar Point.

The quality of the theming done was definitely sub-par, which is quiet amazing seeing as how the mountain was already built there for them. Dollywood and Busch Gardens WIlliamsburg(to mention two non-Disney parks) would never allow this level of quality in their park. Disney would just laugh at it.

I'm only speaking from my own experience and expectations (and my daughter's), like the two kids and two moms the reporter interviewed.

^
I would also not mind a western-themed experience. A haunted mine would be a lot of fun. :)

There's enough effective Soarin' clones that I think it is clearly a ride concept that could be installed at Cedar Point...if they wanted it. Yes, it wouldn't be *exactly* like Soarin', but the actual ride experience wouldn't be much different. There's several such attractions internationally: Vancouver's Cruise Port, Ferrari World, some of the Happy Valley parks I think too. I'd rather have than than WMG. At least then there'd be some capacity.

^^so you think Dollywood's Mystery Mine is far superior to this?

Oh my yes. In fact, when I mentioned Dollywood, that's what I was thinking of.

Not even close.

Of course, I'm talking quality of theming here (apparently theming is not a real word, by the way, at least according to auto-correct).

In fact, even though these are two different ride-types, it's worth mentioning the difference I'm talking about. From beginning to end (and even outside the ride), something like Mystery Mine (or Darkastle at Busch Gardens) captures you in the environment. It's not as seamless or detailed as Disney, per se, but it's very well done.

That is just not the case on this ride. The video posted earlier pretty much displays that, although in real life it's much more noticeable.

Oh boy. That's disappointing. I would think CF would be on the level to install a ride of that quality.

(I noticed that "theming" issue with auto-correct as well.)

There's no reason to believe they could not. They haven't, but they could.

And how cool would it be if they just would.