Poll: What Type Of Dark Ride Will Kings Island (other Cedar Fair Parks) get?

[kingsislandfan1972]

What type of dark ride do you think Kings Island ( and other Cedar Fair Parks) should get? I personally think its going to be another coaster, a haunted house themed ride would be nice.

[bkroz]

What type Kings Island should get, or will get?

 

It seems pretty certain it'll be from Triotech since Cedar Fair has partnered with them for the Amusement Dark initiative thing. Their products are priced well, one can imagine, for regional parks like Cedar Fair's and offer "budget" versions of well-known ride systems.

 

So far, Guardian at Wonderland is

essentially a very, very, very short version of Escape from Gringotts with laser guns and without a discernible story or physical sets. It's a short coaster drop, a short dark ride section in front of a very long, continuous screen, then a vertical free-fall drop track like Verbolten (which, strangely, didn't seem to be celebrated or talked about on Guardian). It's a roller coaster train with cars that swivel to face two identical screens like Toy Story Midway Mania.

 

Voyage to the Iron Reef at Knott's isn't open yet, but it will probably be

somewhat similar. The difference is that it appears to be placed entirely on one level (so, maybe JUST a dark ride with no coaster elements at all, more like a budget version of Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, but doubtlessly plot-free) in Triotech's version of Spider-Man's SCOOP vehicles.

 

 

Alternatively, it could be a small coaster like Guardian with a very well-disguised small coaster element (though probably not a vertical drop since the coaster would then have to return back up to the second floor of the building where it loads). More than likely, it'll just be a SCOOP dark ride like the video above.

 

Given those two examples and pending any others, Kings Island would likely get an interactive indoor dark ride that's mostly (if not entirely) screens and may or may not include a very short roller coaster section. Boo Blasters' building seems more fitting than The Crypt's unless they make a very compact ride split between two levels. Or worse, a very SHORT ride on one level with the rest of that tall building standing for no reason. Of course, a new building could be constructed, too. At Cedar Point, could be a new building or the remains of one of the park's lost dark rides. 

[Steph88]

For what they SHOULD get, I'd really want them to make it more like a coaster. Ideally, not relying so heavily on screens, but actual physical design and theming. Screens just seem like the cheap way to do things. And if I want to look at a screen I can do that at home or go to the movies.

 

For what they WILL get, I have to agree with goodyellowkorn182.

[bkroz]

Especially today, dark rides have a hundred thousand different forms.

 

I think Kings Island should get a SCOOP based dark ride like Spider-Man. In the same vein as Busch Gardens' SCOOP ride, DarKastle, they'd doubtlessly need to farm out the creative process, animation design and storytelling of the ride (I shudder to think what Cedar Fair would create in-house with just the technology to work off of). But those rides can be family rides and thrill rides and are much more accessible than they were 15 years ago financially. That said, I expect that a SCOOP ride is exactly what Knott's Voyage is going to be. But with interactivity and without physical sets integrated in, it loses most of its wow factor.

 

Alternatively, a dark ride / coaster hybrid budgeted for a regional park (i.e. Verbolten or Thirteen) would be a welcome family addition.

 

Truthfully, even a classic dark ride like (a more well-done) Boo Blasters, Phantom Theater, or Enchanted Voyage. But that seems entirely unlikely. The SCOOP and coaster can be marketed like crazy, but Cedar Fair's people would take one look at a classic dark ride and go, "We can't market this!" 

 

Realistically, we're not going to get an IP-based dark ride or something on par with Revenge of the Mummy. But if we can get ANYTHING without lasers, I'll be ecstatic.

[Tr0y]

For what they SHOULD get, I'd really want them to make it more like a coaster. Ideally, not relying so heavily on screens, but actual physical design and theming. Screens just seem like the cheap way to do things. And if I want to look at a screen I can do that at home or go to the movies.

 

For what they WILL get, I have to agree with goodyellowkorn182.

As great as physical design and theming may be, KI will not do a great job maintaining it, therefor the screens would be better suited.

[The Interpreter]

Boo Blasters On Boo Hill doesn't effectively use working lasers.

Terp, running for....a great adventure.

[purdude86]

I don't think they need to take over the Boo blasters building. I agree that Voyage looks like it will be a SCOOP vehicle type ride with interactive elements.

Whatever we get will probably be mostly screens as it allows them to change it up some or special events or make it feel newer. Though I'd hope there is some actual scenery. Don't need full animatronics but some set theming around the screens. The Universal ones are great and don't really have too much outside the screens that moves. It's mostly lighting effects and fog.

 

The Action Theater building could house a dark ride like that as well. The Crypt building could hold something like WMG.

Personally I would prefer something with the SCOOP type vehicles, they are fun and can be intense and allow more movement than just a quick coaster swoop and slowly passing by photos.

Think Crypt building is perfect for a noninteractive dark/ride coaster hybrid though. Either a wild mouse or preferably a Eurofighter (similar to Mystery Mine at Dollywood).

[FutureThrills]

I have to say, Nights in White Satin: The Trip, was one of my favorite dark ride experiences. I'm just glad I had the chance to ride it as it only lasted one year. I was lucky enough to be stationed in Charleston when the park open and took the opportunity to visit the park. The ride was really well done. 

[homestar92]

I'm just glad I had the chance to ride it as it only lasted one year.

So much for "Nights in white satin, never reaching the end"...

[rhyano]

I have to say, Nights in White Satin: The Trip, was one of my favorite dark ride experiences. I'm just glad I had the chance to ride it as it only lasted one year. I was lucky enough to be stationed in Charleston when the park open and took the opportunity to visit the park. The ride was really well done.

agreed but Cedar Fair would have to by licensing agreements but I think that would be awesome if they did that