Voyage to the Iron Reef at Knotts...

Dream on, Kevin, dream on!

Hey, that is my kind of gift shop! Put Kevin in charge of merchandising.

I really just don't want to ride a video game and I don't think my kids do either. They play the video games enough as it is so this wouldn't be a thrill for them.

I'm right there with you, but in this case you really have one best option; embrace the positives and hope for the best. In this case, the biggest positive is that Iron Reef looks to be a big improvement over Guardian, which was just really poorly executed from my perspective.

Who knows what they have in store for Cedar Point's installation, which could still be a couple years down the road?

I rode Toy Story Mania once, and frankly, that was enough for me. I don't enjoy these interactive rides. I'm old. I just want to sit there. :-)

Unfortunately for me, I'm not the core demo amusement parks are after. Clearly these interactive rides are popular with many visitors.

And who is this "core"? I think I know the answer to that.

Just saying that aged mildly autistic gay guys who like roller coasters, Star Trek, cooking and making lists of things they like are not the park's biggest audience. :-)

A dark ride that resembles a video game may not be something that every guest is interested in but it's also only one attraction. As long as it's something that brings people (and their wallets) through the gates then we'll all benefit in some way.

I'm fine with an interactive dark ride, but they MUST keep the guns working...

My biggest gripe about Boo Blasters at Kings Island is that half the guns don't work...

I just hope that Cedar Point can maintain it and keep all elements in good working order. Their track record with that isn't exactly good.

I rode Disaster Transport the year it opened (remember when it had working video screens going up the stairs?), and I rode it in its final years. I know how the theming withered away over the years.

That said, under Ouimet Cedar Fair is a company that's doing a lot of things right. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt on maintaining new attractions.

Personally want CP gets a shooter dark ride in the future. A buddy and I kept going into the single rider line for Men in Black at Universal one day and did a 4 hour and then a 3 hour session in the same day. Done right there rides are full of eater eggs, different enemies you missed, high score for yourself, your train, for the day. There addicting because your always trying to beat yourself or someone else. Lots of reasons to ride multiple times.

The only thing about these rides is keeping the guns in check. Universal even had issues with this at times. I've never heard of any complaints about midway mania guns not working.

As far as playing a video game while at the park. yes it's a big interactive video game, but its not the same as being in front of a tv all day. It's an experience your never just going to have in your living room.

Aren't the Midway Mania guns just a string you pull and something you move back and forth? Lots less wear and tear than something people can drop from 5 feet in the air to the ground like on most of these dark rides.

I have a buddy who owns a laser tag arena. I know it's not an exact paralell, but it's somewhat similar...

His #1 issue? Keeping guns and vests working. Every day I drop by to see him he's working on them. They get a lot of wear and tear.

I recognize that keeping that stuff "up to snuff" is a maitenance nightmare...

So as much as I think the interactivity is cool... I kinda sit in the camp with those who say "go non-interactive". Until someone comes up with a laser-gun that can withstand the brutal abuse of an amusement park, why deal with the headache?

^^ You're exactly right GDdashROM. The guns are mounted to the car on a swivel and there is a ball on a rubber "string" that you pull to fire. It's actually a very clever way to even out the playing field for everyone. They can take a pretty good beating, from what I understand.

But once again, we're all the way back to your definition of a family ride. I personally find the interactive dark rides a bore, and dislike the very premise of them. My daughters both had zero interest in Toy Story Mania (I partly take that back; they were in awe of the queue, but not the ride itself, so Noggin you have some kids who agree with you) , and from what I observe one spends so much time trying to rack up as many points as possible that there is zero interaction among the people in the car with you, one might as well be lost on Facebook or texting someone else while you ride together.

Part of the beauty of a ride like Pirates of the Caribbean, the old Pirate Ride at CP, or White Water Landing is that not only is it a ride that everyone can enjoy, but they are/were rides you could enjoy together. You are constantly talking/laughing/interacting and enjoying the experience together.

A video game is a way of leaving reality from your surroundings. I get that, and that's fun.

A themed dark ride is a way of leaving reality from your surroundings and going on an adventure together.

What don't I need? A video game built into a dark ride that is a way of leaving the already artificial reality created by the dark ride itself. But, I do understand that other enjoy these; your opinions are just as valid, I just don't get it.

I'm not in denial that this isn't coming to Cedar Point, but I find it really disappointing that after waiting decades for a dark ride, this is what's coming.

It really is for a niche audience. Not all teenage boys are going to like it either. If someone has never experienced a real dark ride, it might seem like something good.

Kevinj said:

I'm not in denial that this isn't coming to Cedar Point, but I find it really disappointing that after waiting decades for a dark ride, this is what's coming.

I've been doing my darnedest to look on the bright side with the Triotech rides but I can't help but feel the disappointment creep in. Like you've said, this is almost certainly what we're getting so the best route is to accept the attractions on their own terms.

I'm not still not sure if Cedar Point and/or Cedar Fair could build and maintain a new large "classic" dark ride given the somewhat limited resources of a regional amusement park. Knott's would have been the obvious choice considering their history for something like that but they still ended up with Triotech. The reviews generally seem positive for Voyage to the Iron Reef so I guess we can't fault Cedar Fair for feeling like they've gone the right route.

I actually think the interactive video game type dark rides are spot on for the type of society we have now. Wherever I go, I just see kids staring at their phones texting or playing video games no matter where they are or what they are supposed to be doing. My friend's son was in a panic because he couldn't find his iPhone before going to dinner with his family, he finally found it and was back on an even keel.

Over or constant stimulation and interactive computer based activities is what the norm is for kids now, for better or worse. A ride like Pirates of the Caribbean or the old Pirate Ride would probably bore many and certainly wouldn't be a candidate for a lot of rerides by kids. The interactive rides are always a new challenge by riders trying to get a new high score, etc. I can see kids marathoning those rides if the shoot-em-up experience is good enough.

This may not be what the old timers think of when it comes to a charming family activity, but I do think this is the new normal and the shoot-em-up dark rides will be very popular.

I dunno... I grew up going to Cedar Point. I rode roller coasters all my life. I love thrill rides. It's in my blood.

But...

My Junior year of high school I got to go to Walt Disney World / Universal Studios for the first time. The thing I remember the most is the Spiderman ride. It blew my mind. I couldn't get enough of it!

About a week after I came home we went to Cedar Point. I remember feeling kind of let down that CP didn't have anything similar. This was around 2001, so Millenium Force was there (and new!).

I've never gotten to go back to WDW / US, but I'd love to. The Spiderman Ride would be #1 on my list. I loved the attention to detail all the rides down there had... Like squirting you with water, or vibrating the seats... And how the queue lines actually were interesting...

I think a non-interactive dark ride done well would be a hit. Spiderman wasn't interactive. I know I'm getting old, but still...

I'd love to see a really well done dark ride... I think CF is underestimating the sophistication of their guests on this one.

EDIT:

This video doesn't do it justice. At the end you really feel like you're falling and about to hit the concrete! This is what I was hoping for when I heard CP was getting a dark ride...