List of Different Types of Theme Parks
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Amusement parks are as much a source of entertainment as they generate a ripple effect of economic activity; the United States, which has most theme parks, generated roughly $219 billion in 2011.
There was a total of $122 billion in economic activity generated by amusement parks and waterparks, including $40 billion in total labor income and 1.3 million in total employment in total.
In addition to the economic impacts, the attractions business also had a large fiscal tax influence on the federal, state, and municipal governments. For Florida alone, the tourist attractions business produced about $48 billion in economic output and approximately 489, 000 employees at the state level.
Although the numbers are US-specific, it still helps us to understand the potential impact of various theme parks in general.
Dark Rides
The first dark rides were built in the 1800s, originally known as “scenic railroads”, and were the forerunners of today's dark rides. Passengers would board trains or tiny boats and be taken through a variety of illuminated, painted scenery or short attractions, which would be accompanied by music and sound effects, on these rides. These rides were popular in amusement parks and fairs because they were either themed as haunted houses or romantic getaways. Futurama, a dark ride designed by Norman Bel Geddes for the New York World's Fair in 1939, depicted a world in the year 1960.
Dark rides are immersive story-driven experiences that take place within an enclosed area. Passengers are taken through a sequence of sceneries or tableaus by use of vehicles. The rides are not always completely dark, but judicious usage of light may hide technical equipment and create a more realistic environment, as well as focus the riders' attention. A ride vehicle may be a car on a track, an untracked vehicle, or a boat that travels through a water channel. Haunted houses, ghost houses, love tunnels, and pretzel rides are all other names for dark attractions.
The following are some more specific instances of dark rides:
Haunted Mansion
Opened in 1969, the ride celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. The Haunted Mansion was part of a creative explosion from the corporation and a high point in its history. When approaching the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, the grand but sinister structure draws you in. The mansion begins to reveal its secrets as visitors approach: a hearse is parked in the driveway, a giant planter has been toppled, and expressionless staff is seen milling around. The real experience begins later in “The Stretching Room” and “Scared Silly.”
Men In Black Alien Attack
Put on your "recruitment program" goggles and visit MIB Alien Attack to discover the ride. Traveling in high-tech cars through an alien-infested New York City, travelers are armed with laser rifles and may rack up points by destroying the bugs. Outside the building, the adventure really starts. Signs and banners promote the "The Universe and You" expo display, which is modeled after a kitschy, brave new world pavilion from 1964. Guests are greeted with a 60s-inspired theme tune as they enter the room.
Pirates of the Caribbean
On March 18, 1967, Pirates of the Caribbean opened at Disneyland Park. The extremely detailed scenery, elaborate special effects, and distinctive characters garnered the attraction outstanding reviews and have been a treasured classic ever since. In a shady bayou, you'll board a rusty boat to begin your journey. Pirates Grotto is a dark, ethereal place where you may float over a waterfall in the dark. As the town burns, keep an eye out for the frantic attempts of inmates who are confined to their cells to escape.
Flat Rides
Amusement parks, carnivals, fairs, and theme parks all include "flat rides," which are often circular attractions with a circular platform. To describe a wide range of rides, the word is often used. They may or may not be deemed thrill rides depending on their speed and other variables. Slow-moving, low-profile, and low-impact rides are sometimes referred to as "kiddie rides" since they are designed specifically for children.
A six-figure investment on a flat ride is all that most flat rides require of their backers. However, there are exceptions to every rule, such as Falcon's Fury at Busch Gardens Tampa, which cost the park more than $5 million to build when it opened in 2014, or a secondhand carnival ride, which although not the most dependable attraction, can be picked up for less than $50,000. Flat rides, on the other hand, are a less expensive alternative for parks wishing to grow without making a significant investment.
Flat rides include the following:
Spinning Teacups
Each vehicle has the appearance of a teacup, complete with vibrant colors and patterns. During the night, the teacup amusement ride is illuminated with bright lights, and pleasant music plays while the wheel is spinning. If you'd want the teacup to revolve at a quicker or slower rate, you may adjust its speed using the wheel within the teacup because the whole ride revolves around a central axis, and you are sure to have a blast as you whirl around in circles.
Scrambler
The original Scrambler was created by the Eli Bridge firm in 1955, and it was an instant hit that swept the entertainment industry. Centrifugal force is exerted on the suspended passengers as they spin on two distinct axes in this ride. At the top of the central platform, the riders sit in miniature carriages that are linked to each other by beams. All of the individual cars are rotated in the same direction, yet the whole ride rotates in the other way. In terms of design, there are several options. The other variants are Grasscutter, Sizzler, and Gee Whizzer.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant-Style
The original attraction opened at Disneyland on August 16, 1955, almost exactly one month after the park opened. A spinning hub connects the sixteen ride cars, each designed like Dumbo from the 1941 animated film, to articulated armatures. The "Dumbos" includes a joystick that controls a hydraulic ram that lifts and lowers the occupants. Counterclockwise rotation is maintained at a steady speed on the trip itself. The National Museum of American History has one elephant from the attraction, which was given in 2005 to commemorate Disneyland's 50th anniversary.
4D Rides
With the addition of extra sensory upgrades such as theatrical fog, water misters, and seat pokers, a 4D (or 4-D) attraction provides a more immersive experience for visitors. In other cases, a 4D "ride" is really more like a theater-based attraction like Shrek 4-D at Universal Studios Florida. At other times, visitors to the park ride 4D attractions in automobiles.
In some circumstances, the attractions are a cross between dark rides and 4D experiences. Some theme parks use terms like "5D," "6D," or a greater "D" factor to describe their attractions. Smell and touch, for example, are considered an extra dimension to the 3D, or three-dimensional, visual information that they target with effects like these.
4D attractions include the following:
Disney’s Toy Story Mania
As a milestone in interactive theme park attractions, Toy Story Mania incorporates cutting-edge video game technology, adds 3-D visuals, delivers a gaming experience that appeals to gamers of all skill levels, and does it with the help of endearing characters from the Toy Story movie. An exhilarating, very addicting riding experience is the outcome. Guests become frenzied, determined to beat their other riders and return time and time again to continue their dominance.
Muppet Vision 4-D
A copy of the Muppet Theater, from The Muppet Show, is waiting for you to take your place. As the lights dim and the stage lights up, the whole Muppets gang appears in stunning 3D. Their latest 3D filmmaking technology, Muppet Vision 3D, will be shown to you during a tour of their facility. On May 16, 1991, the first anniversary of Henson's death, the attraction debuted at Walt Disney World. The event is promoted as a tour showcasing Muppet Vision, the newest technology from Muppet Labs, and has been referred to as Muppet Vision 4D because of its unprecedented in-theater effects.
Motion Simulator Rides
In a motion simulator ride, the seats move in rhythm with the point-of-view media displayed on a screen to give spectators the impression that they are moving and physically engaging in the action. Theaters of varying sizes are used for most motion simulator experiences. Despite just moving a few inches in either direction, viewers may experience a variety of different feelings, including rapid acceleration, speeding, and even free falling. Most motion simulator rides are also 4D rides.
Rides with a wandering motion base simulator are a variation on this theme. You get the best of both worlds with this combination of dark ride and motion simulator ride. Scenes are staged using real-world props, much as in a dark ride. However, the sets also incorporate projection screens, which allow the trucks to move in sync with the action being shown on the screens.
Additional examples of motion simulator attractions include:
The Simpsons Ride
Located in a gaudy Krustyland structure with classic amusement park lighting, eye-popping colors, and a big head of Krusty the Clown at both Universal parks, The Simpsons Ride is a must-see for every Simpsons fan. In order to join the ride, guests must go through Krusty's mouth and along his "red carpet" tongue. Simpsons humor is found all over the place. A 30-minute loop of new Krustyland material, intermingled with clips from "The Simpsons," is shown on enormous television screens.
The Forbidden Journey of Harry Potter
With Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Hogsmeade at both Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando and the Wizarding World at Universal Studios Hollywood is regarded as the finest of its kind. At the end of The Wizarding World's Hogsmeade hamlet, you'll see Hogwarts Castle piercing the sky and stirring your soul. Fans of the series and readers alike were delighted to see a skyscraper that had previously only existed in their imaginations and on the big screen appearance in real life. Guests enter the magnificent castle via its gates to embark on the Forbidden Journey.
Transformers: The Ride 3D
The story revolves around the quasi-military N.E.S.T. agency enlisting us mere mortals to help the Autobots in their epic battle against the Decepticons that determine the destiny of Earth, and you're there to see it all in immersive, larger-than-life 4-D. If you fail, all of humanity will perish and the whole planet will be shattered into atoms. Guests make their way through the N.E.S.T. complex and board the ride with that upbeat concept. As with other Universal attractions, this one will leave you stunned and puzzled.
VR Rides
Virtual reality or VR rides are a relatively new industry development. Most VR rides began as retrofits of already-existing roller coasters, with riders donning VR goggles. Riders on the roller coaster would witness a virtual, visual world that was synchronized with the motions they would experience. Virtual reality coasters made their debut at Six Flags amusement parks. In part because of the enormous delay involved in loading and unloading passengers, the coasters received mixed reviews. VR overlays on coasters have been removed from a number of theme parks, although some remain.
Other attractions, such as drop towers, spinning flats, and motion simulators, have had VR integrated by designers. When rides are created with VR in mind from the beginning, it's probable that the idea will improve. As virtual reality technology improves, so will the quality of the images and the size of the gear. As a tool for amusement park designers, augmented reality (AR), which overlays virtual material on top of the actual environment, has potential.
Other Types of Theme Park Rides
Theme parks and amusement parks provide a wide variety of ride types. These are a few of the more notable examples:
Drop Tower Rides
Disney's The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Six Flags' Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, launch riders up a tower at great speed and then let them freefall down, or a mix of both.
Water Rides
Log flume rides and river rapids rides are two examples of water attractions that make use of water-based vehicles to produce thrills.
Flying Theater Rides
Domed displays and rows of seats rise into the air to imitate the experience of flight in flying theatre attractions like Soarin'.
Pendulum Rides
Arm-mounted platforms swing people from side to side as they sway back and forth. Harley Quinn Spinsanity at Six Flags America in Maryland is an extreme example of a pendulum attraction. The ride is scheduled to launch in 2021 and will reach a peak speed of 70 mph and swing as high as 150 feet at a 120-degree inclination.
633 Wonder World is a family entertainment’s newest home of ultimate destination for indoor fun and amusement in the Twin Cities. Experiences include motion gesture-controlled 6D rides; flying immersive theatres; water rafting and aqua play areas; digital and fully interactive dark rides which allow users to control their experience through sophisticated AR/VR options; and the region’s largest trampoline park.