The term "dark ride" has always bothered me. In the industry, it refers to any attraction in which a vehicle moves through an indoor space. Classic scary dark rides such as Coney Island's Spook-A-Rama were once amusement park staples. Many parks also had a tunnel of love that offered refuge for young (and not-so-young?) paramours who welcomed the dark hideaways. Contemporary dark rides have evolved into highly sophisticated attractions. Some, such as Disney's Haunted Mansion, maintain a scary theme, but others are decidedly sweet. It seems odd, for example, to refer to the gentle, colorful, and bright It's a Small World as a "dark ride."
Whatever they may be called -- story-based attractions, themed rides, theatrical rides, dark rides -- the Seasoned Pros List Show run down the top 10 best ones on the latest podcast. The Seasoned Pros include Doug Barnes of the Season Pass Podcast, Joel Bullock of The Coaster Critic, and me. Joining us to offer his expertise and picks for the best themed rides is Robert Niles of Theme Park Insider. Give a listen, and see if your favorite attraction made the list.
No comments:
Post a Comment