The Definition of "dark rides"...

[Timon/Pumbaa fan]

After seeing confusion to what a "dark ride" is, or even the difference between a "Fantasyland-like dark ride" or a "bigger dark ride", here, it got me thinking into that it would be interesting to make an entire thread that determines the "definition" of a dark-ride.

Well, first heading over to the "relieable" Wikipedia it says:

A dark ride or darkride is an indoor amusement ride consisting of a vehicle traveling past animated scenes.

So basically it's a closed attraction that has a story-line. Well many of Disney's rides are like that, even some of Disney's roller-coasters, so are those "dark rides"?

Well to get more information, I headed over toTheme Park Insider. Here are the following rides at all 6 USA Disney Parks(I'll skip the foreign ones) that are considered 100% "dark rides":

Magic Kingdom:Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, It's a Small World, Snow White's Scary Adventures and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.

Disneyland: Indiana Jones Adventure, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan's Flight, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, it's a small world, Alice in Wonderland, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin

Epcot: Journey Into the Imagination With Figment, Spaceship Earth, Ellen's Energy Adventure and Maelstrom. (El Rio del Tiempo is considered a "boat ride")

Disney MGM-Studios or Disney <strike>MGM</strike> Studios: Believe it or not, there are NO dark rides in the park. (The Great Movie Rides is considered a "tour")

Disney's Animal Kingdom: Dinosaur

Disney's Califonia Adventure: Monsters Inc: Mike and Sulley to the Rescue

So those are all the dark rides at all 6 U.S. Disney Parks.

Now, Loomis wanted include "simple dark rides like the ones in Fantasyland". So how do you define a "simple dark ride"? Well I guess this is where it comes down to personal opinion. Here's how'd I would rank the dark rides:

Fast Dark Rides: Indiana Jones Adventure and Dinosaur- These rides are more about "thrills" then story and theme(though both story and theme are strong points with both of these rides) so they go what I call "Fast Dark Rides".

Dark Ride Extravaganza: Haunted Mansion(either version), Pirates of the Caribbean(either version), Ellen's Energy Adventure: These rides are "slow moving dark rides", yet, they take them to next level I feel. Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean offer amazing special effects than typicals dark rides and since they somewhat have more "thrills" to them, I consider them "extravaganza". Somewhat same thing with Ellen's Energy Adventure, except it's really a long 17-mintue show told with dark ride elements. Just for it's lenght, I consider it an "extravaganza".

Fantasyland Simple Rides: Peter Pan's Flight(either version), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Roger Rabbit's Car-Toon Spin, Buzz Lightear(either version), Winnie The Pooh(either version), Journey Into Your Imagination, Spaceship Earth, Pinocchio's Daring Journey, Monster's Inc.: These are the rides Loomis was trying to get. These are rides that stories and theme are their main feel. Now of course they do offer thrills and special effects, they really aren't considered "must-sees" by most people so that's why they don't go in the "extravaganza" department. They're simple rides in general, yet many can offer great fun, even more fun than some "must-sees" in some opinions. Though, some would argue Buzz is considered a "interaction" ride and deserves to be in a whole other list, but since not very many rides are like that, I put it in this list.

Dark Rides that don't really belong in the three lists: Malestorm, It's a Small World: Simple boat rides, they don't really offer much, IMO, and go in this category.

Well that way my long essay about different types of "dark rides". It's what you call time you have to waste.

[Loomis]

Thanks for the comprehensive definition, T/P.

Now, Loomis wanted include "simple dark rides like the ones in Fantasyland". So how do you define a "simple dark ride"? Well I guess this is where it comes down to personal opinion.

Perhaps I should have phrased it "Favourite FANTASYLAND dark ride", as I was purposely trying to avoid the "E tickets" that technically fall into the 'dark ride' category. If I had placed Indiana Jones and PotC on the same poll as Snow White's Scary Adventures, the latter would not have even got a look in.

I know that anything that follows a track indoors and has scenery you go past is technically a dark ride. Following this, bits of the Disneyland Railroad could technically fit into the 'dark ride' category (Primeval World and Grand Canyon parts specifically). I would also say that It's a Small World would fit somewhere between the definition of 'Simple' and 'Extravaganza'. It may be brightly lit, but it is an INDOOR ride, and that is half the definition covered. In many ways, it falls into the same category as Pirates, although less thrilling.

As you've shown, however, the term 'dark ride' is pretty broad. I personally use the term to refer to the Fantasyland (Anaheim) collection of rides, as they all follow a similar pattern. I guess I was trying to determine the favourite ride of THAT type.