Should CP add a dark ride?

Ok, ok I'll admit I do miss the Pirate Ride and even Earthquake (from what I can remember of it), but I think it's time CP puts in a dark ride to put all others to shame. I realize Disaster Transport was sort of a let down especially when the effects were removed year after year but trying to build onto an existing ride can be a gamble. There are some parks out there that have very popular dark rides/coasters with great themes... surely The Point can always do better and blow everyone else out of the water in yet another ride category.

I don't know that they need to "blow other parks out of the water" but I am sure that a themed dark ride would be very successful for them. Especially as it would fit very well with the amusement industry's new "focus on the family."

I love dark rides and I wish CP had one but a dark ride comes with some inherent problems...not the least of which is safety. Cedar Point, unlike a Disney let's say, has a high number of teen groups that come into the park.

Dark rides are notorious for trouble making. Kids getting out of the vehicles and running around for one. It happens at Disney and they have motion sensors to help detect some of it but I would guess it would happen a lot more at Cedar Point.

Now, if they designed a ride with a restraint system that discouraged people from getting out of the vehicle then it would become more feasible.

The other issue with a dark ride is the cost of themeing and maintaining the ride. We all have seen what has happened to Disaster Transport, the Maggie light and smoke effects, etc. It doesn't seem to be a high priority for Cedar Point.

I think that taking the Pirate Ride out was one of the biggest mistakes in Cedar Point history. That ride was a favorite of everyone, and seeing that building vacant every time I go to ride Blue Streak is absolutely saddening. That area was perfect for the ride- it brought people over to that "little area" and most importantly it was a fun, family-oriented ride! No excuse for its departure- storage or no storage!

But you can always see some of your favorite Pirate Ride characters as "grave zombies" during Halloweekends!

Does anyone know how successful the Scooby ride has been at PKI?

I could see that same concept, except with a Snoopy theme, at Cedar Point.

Exactly, a Sally ride like Scooby was exactly what I had in mind.

Haven't ridden the Scooby ride but I was referring to the Spiderman Ride or Cat in the Hat ride at Islands of Adventure, CP could go that route with a Snoopy theme as well.

Chief Wahoo, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. When the "new" administration came in during the mid 1970's the furture of both the Pirate and Earthquake were sealed. First, they were old style rides with relatvely low rph. Second the were maintainace intensive. We used to have an animation shop there, with four people assigned to handle those rides and the scenes on the Western Cruise and CP&LE. I don't know for sure now, but I'll bet that dept. doesn't exist anymore. Then there is the aforementioned vandalism problem, which has caused the demise of a great many dark rides. Many parks would assign staff to hide in the ride to keep things in check. Some now use closed circut TV. What probably was the clincher was the walk through fire at Great Adventure. The insurance companies came down hard on parks with dark rides after that. Could CP install a state of the art dark ride? Undoubtedly. The question is do they want to.

I know for a fact that the Pirate Ride had problems with riders getting out of the vehicles and vandalizing the ride. Dangerous and stupid, and that is probably the main reason the ride was removed.

Do any of the new dark rides have locking restraints? That would solve the problem, but since the ride is in a building, riders would be trapped if there ever was a fire. Are there any good solutions to get around the fire escape problem?

I, along with Tilt-a-Whirl, would agree that every time I walk past that building it makes me sad to think about the Pirate Ride. We have rode the Scooby-Doo ride and let me tell you.....it was a big waste of time. I think we waited an hour and it was really dumb. THe idea of going ghost hunting was pretty neat but I was very surprised when the "ghosts" were cardboard cut outs that popped up. THen half the time our "guns" didn't even work or calculate that when we hit one.
I think that Cedar Point could come up with something way more creative and worthwhile than that. I just started riding roller coasters last year. I will go on them but the tilt-a-whirl is my most favorite ride in the park. I wish that next year they would have a new ride that is not a roller coaster. I know thats what they are all about, but sometimes I feel like those of us who don't live to ride roller coasters are getting left in the dust.

You would have to have the fire suppression system tied into the ride operating system. If a fire/smoke is detected the ride is stopped, the house lights go on and the restraints released. This could be done from the master control, or it be done in a failsafe manner by having them release when the track power is killed. You would have to have a great many fire escape doors with the paths clearly marked inside. Todays fire suppression systems work quite well, coupled with use of fire retardent materials you should be able to keep a situation under control.

I,m with Walt, take a page out of PKI's book. While they have the book open, grab a Huss Giant or two.

They could design the ride like SDatHC at PKI, but make it look more realistic, not cardboard cut-outs. Something like Buzzlightyear in Disney or MiB in Universal.

MIB would be much better than Buzz Lightyear. The Buzz ride is way too childish for cedar point.

I think the biggest case against a dark ride is that expectations would be impossibly high. Once you've been on something even as simple as The Cat in The Hat at IOA (let alone something like Spiderman), you expect something of that level.

The Scooby ride at PKI actually isn't bad. They went a little nuts with the fluorescent paint, but it's not bad. I suppose something like that would go over pretty well, and the capacity has to be relatively good.

I was never that fond of the Pirate Ride, but Earthquake was the bomb. I always remember the part of the "falling" pillar. I still find it amazing that it fit in the building now occupied by the Snoopy Boutique.

And just remember that they already have a sorely neglected dark ride: Disaster Transport. *** Edited 6/8/2004 9:17:46 PM UTC by Jeff***

If I recall, the Disney Haunted Mansions all have pressure pads near places where people are tempted to walk amongst the spirits. Step on one of those pads when the ride is operational and you get an immediate E-stop plus invocation of the Voice Of God telling you that you are in big trouble. I have also heard the Voice Of God on Pirates of the Carribbean warning people to sit back down. On the other hand, the apple in Snow White often goes missing each and every week, so apparently even the Mouse doesn't cover all of the bases.

While I would *love* a decent darkride, I don't see CP bothering. CP&LE, Paddlewheel, and especially DT are shells of their former selves. The theming even in Camp Snoopy (the best kids area) is minimal at best, even compred to your average six flags loony tunes ride grouping, and that's just sad.

As is with many companies, it's all about money (Don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with that).

For many years (maybe even decades), CP has brought in the crowds with the "biggest-tallest-fastest" coasters. To build the "bestest" dark ride in the world would cost just as much (if not more) than a highly visable outdoor coaster, but would it bring in the crowds? They probably fear that it wouldn't and have resisted building one.

JMHO.

MrScott

I think a good dark ride would be perfect for Cedar Point. I know if the Point had a MIB type ride, or something similar to it, my whole family would ride, and my mom would be more apt to wanting to go the Cedar Point. My mother doesn't like the big rides, so I always feel bad for her just standing around. Yet, a dark ride would fill that guilt I have and let my ma have a good time.

-Eagle-

I guess that goes back to Cedar Point's philosophy of not being considered a "theme park" and remaining an amusement park keeping the focus on the thrills of the rides and not "over-theming" the park.