What makes a great ride?

[fractal]

In my opinion, sometimes -

Nostalgic = boring.


I believe today's "theme park visitor" is much different than the theme park visitor of 20/30 years ago. Most "classic" or nostalgic dark rides place the rider as an observer. It worked then because it was so new and different. Today's rider wants to be a "participant" in the ride - they want to be part of the story. I think that's what makes Rock & Roll Roller Coaster and Tower of Terror work so well - yes they are thrilling but why do you love them more than other similar roller coasters or "drop rides"? I think it's because you allow your imagination to believe you are part of a story or an adventure - you are trying to get to an Aerosmith concert or are trapped in another dimension in a spooked elevator.

I remember the first time my daughter rode RRRC - after the ride she said "Yeah it was great but where's the concert?" she was that immersed in the story of the ride.

EE is another terrific ride - most especially when the Yeti is in A mode. You build up to the story of the Yeti and your "adventure" as you walk through the queue - you board the train - you are now ascending and something wrong happens to you – a track is broken, an ominous sign and your train rolls back out of control. Just when things settle down you get a glimpse of the creature you studied in the queue. Am I going to actually see the mythical Yeti? Once again your train starts to plummet and you are flying into a cave – and there it is – a giant hairy, fanged, roaring Yeti – as you are hurtled toward it the beast swings down with his massive arm and hand trying to snatch YOU right out of your seat. You scream and duck and barely escape alive. Wow! What a rush and what an experience!

In POTC , Malestrom, IASW and Nemo you are not in “the story” – you are an observer. Same with Winnie the Pooh. Haunted Mansion is better at this, same with Peter Pan. The really great rides are rides that take you into an adventure and/or a story

 

[JohnLocke]

I have to disagree with you on a few points at least. I do think rides are done best when you're more of a participant in them, but there are still some really good rides where you're just an "observer" and they're still very popular. POTC is kind of a hybrid in your example instead of the place you put it, imo. Maelstrom is definitely a ride that you're at least a partial participant in, with the trolls cursing your flume and everything. IASW is definitely something you just ride through, but it is still a classic and pretty good ride that keeps people coming to it.

 

[Edisto Pluto]

Of course everyone has their own criteria. I like the classics because it brings back so many memories. I like the new ones as well like TSM but sometimes we just like to sit and be entertained without any effort. We are getting older so maybe we don't have much energy.

 

[Fantasmic]

Seems like you think only a thrill ride can be a "really great ride"

 

[the-reason14]

Personally I would never categorize Rockin Roller coaster as a great ride or a great coaster. It has a decent story and it's executed decently, but the ride is just too short and too loud. I realize that it being short and loud fits with it's story, but it's just not a great ride or coaster imo. Even though California Screamin has no theme, I would put it miles ahead rockin because what you see is what you get. First time riders won't waste an hour+ in line just to get on what feels like a 30second coaster only to expect it to be longer. And it's just more fun.

end rant.

But a great ride to me is one that is themed like ToT, Indy, and EE. And or is one that is great to ride with the family like, IASW, Pirates, and SSE.

 

[MarkTwain]

For me, it's all about quality of design, and level of immersion. Generally, the more immersive and detailed an attraction is, the more I like it! That's why attractions like Pirates, Mansion, Kilimanjaro Safaris, Spaceship Earth, Jungle Cruise, etc. all score pretty high in my book. Having good music (Splash Mountain), good humor (MuppetVision), or being really relaxing (Liberty Belle, TTA) also get me to like attractions well. The opposite of this is that I tend to dislike attractions like Test Track and Primeval Whirl, which have none of these qualities, even though others really like them.

I also think that nostalgia, and historical relevance of the ride can also make a big difference in how much I appreciate it. For instance, many find the Carousel of Progress and Country Bear Jamboree hokey or uninteresting, but I find them interesting because of how CoP played into the '64 World's Fair and was supposedly Walt's favorite attraction, or how CBJ was a major work of Marc Davis and was planned for the never-built Mineral King Ski Lodge. Stuff like that makes them interesting to me.

I guess I have pretty weird taste in theme park rides. :ROFLOL:

 

[Fantasmic]

MarkTwain, I totally agree with you, when you find out the history of the attraction it makes it so much more special. Which is why I am chomping at the bit to go visit Disneyland!

To me, a great ride is immersive, with attention to detail and a good story. Doesn't nessicerily have to be thrilling as the story can do that for you. I.E. Splash Mnt, Haunted Mansion, Pirates.. I love the old dark rides.

 

[lilclerk]

MarkTwain, you're not alone, you explained how I feel perfectly.

 

[bamillerpa]

I think a good ride is one that draws you in. To me it doesn't matter if it's a thrill ride or one you just simply let go on by. I want to be drawn into it's theme. Haunted Mansion and Pirates are great examples of this. Splash is also. Even without the drop towards the end of Splash it would still be a great ride just because of the music and how great it's been themed. TOT is great because because it's spooky and imo has some of the best theming in all of Disney but I also love Peter Pan which is pretty much a ride where you just site and stare below but I like how you fly over the city, I think it was well thought out.

 

[Mukta]

I am not really into thrill rides. I do love Audio Animatronics though.
My favorite rides tell a story, make me forget reality temporarily and have AAs.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

To me what makes a great ride is:

- thrills
- attention to detail
- being immersed into the ride
- not seeing anything like it anywhere else

As far as I am concerned Disney succeeds at #2-4. Go and try and find anything remotely close to Pirates at any Six Flags park. Or try and find Haunted Mansion anywhere else. For those of us that live near Toronto you know exactly what I mean because when the "Ex" comes to town at the end of August the "haunted houses" are just pure pieces of junk that a 5 year old could have drawn up.

The thing is, I love rides like The Hulk at Universal. They have great thrills. But you know what, I'd rather ride Pirates. It is just so different from everything else. My brother in law really loved Peter Pan, even more so than E.T. at Universal which I think is equally comparable. Why is that? Well I think for a second you forget you are on a ride, much like you forget you are at a theme park in Disney. It has that aura like none other.

To the OP, I have no bones with thrill rides, I love them. TOT is great, but what makes it even better is the theming. Small World will always be a classic that people will continue to flock to because not only is it nowhere else in the world, but even old timers that have been on it before will go again if only for the nostalgia.