robbalvey Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Hey everyone - I'm helping out with another theme park show idea and I could once again use your input. This one is more based around theme park attractions, technology, operations, science, and psychology of how things work and are put together not only from an actual attractions standpoint, but everything that goes on "behind the scenes." They would like the attractions to be a mix of domestic and international, however for the first season they are looking at: Florida, California, Texas, Las Vegas, England, Germany and Dubai. A focus on those areas would be great, however feel free to mention others and maybe we can get the producers to add a new other locations as well? Here are some example stories and ideas for what the producers are looking for. Please feel free to submit ideas for specific attractions, things you'd like to see more 'behind the scenes of', things you like to see more details on how they operate, etc. You can be as wild as you'd like as some really great ideas come from everywhere! - How a waterpark keeps its water clean and flowing through the park - How xx ride was built, how it operates, what it takes to maintain it, what it does to a riders body/physiology (What stand-out rides would you like to see? Not just roller coasters!) - At a huge park, how does the staff communicate and get around? - The nerve center (Utilidors) at Disney World. Are there other places like this? What are other parks nerve centers like? - How fast is too fast? Xxx ride is the fastest around, how did the park/designers decide how fast to make it and what would be going too far? - Psychology, engineering and stakes of a midway - Science of fear: the scariest haunted house there is and how it was built to be so scary - lines: how parks keep their visitors happy, people hate to wait but what eases the burden? Those are just some top level ideas. How we need your help to fill in the blanks! Thanks again everyone! --Robb Edited March 20, 2014 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bert425 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 The first one that pops in my mind is a focus on Fiesta Texas, since that particular location is incredibly unique. I'd love to hear specifics of how they chose, what went where, within the quarry, how they decided what rides would interact with the quarry walls (and if the cost is more or less to customize something like Superman so it interacts with the quarry). a specific focus on the RMC treatment of Rattler, how they chose what to keep from the original layout (the Tunnel!) and what to take out. Fiesta bills itself as a showpark, so how does it compare attendance wise with the other parks in the Six Flags chain that DON'T focus mainly on shows? how about staffing? Is it harder to staff a park when you have such a reliance on shows? that kind of stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I would be interested to see more of the operational and safety aspects of rides in general. How do some of these incredible rides actually work, the training that is involved with the staff that operates them, how does a maintenance staff at a large park with almost 20 coasters (SFMM) handle keeping everything running smoothly on a daily basis, and the systems that actually control the ride and all of the redundant safety features built into a ride. I think it would be important to focus on just how very safe these rides are and show this to anyone/the GP watching. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 a specific focus on the RMC treatment of Rattler, how they chose what to keep from the original layout (the Tunnel!) and what to take out. I think both of these attractions, Rattler and Texas Giant would be fascinating to do an episode on about how you transform a ride as massive as that. And not to mention they did TWO of them back to back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markysharky17 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I think it would be cool to do something with the Congo section of Kings Dominion and show how they time the fire and water affects right on the Crypt. Or how they get the fire to blast out at a certain time on Volcano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) I have a few ideas: - Discuss how parks communicate/coordinate with manufacturers to get the parts they need (Logistics) - Discuss different types of launches and the pros/cons to each. Also cover the different components that go into making said launches function. - Get insight from different departments within a park. Interview managers from Custodial, Foods, Ride Maintenance, Grounds Maintenance, Guest Relations, Security, etc... - Discuss ride control systems (PLCs) and how they operate. In addition to that, discuss what components are required so that it does operate properly. (Sensors, Brakes, Pinch wheels, Drive tires, etc... - Discuss how the purchasing departments decide what food, drinks, and merchandise to sell. Also talk about how those product sales are tracked. Edited March 20, 2014 by DJeXeL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 How they handle the "timing" on rides like Spider-man and Transformers could be interesting, too; that is, how do they make sure that certain effects are triggered at the right time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Turbo Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 It would be cool to show how parks maintain their wooden roller coasters, including retracking Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DenDen Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 As a former casino employee, I know a lot of the answers to my scenerio, but I'm sure there are answers that I don't, and would be interesting to a lot of people... The power of the senses... and the power of suggestion... Do theme parks use these things to persuade patrons to do things? Casinos do it, a lot. (No, the "oxygen pumping in the gaming area" is not one of them.) Colors, odors and sounds can play powerful roles... shopping malls even use subliminal audio... so what do theme parks do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yay101 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I instantly thought of Busch Gardens Williamsburg. People could talk about Escape from Pompeii, the psychology behind Verbolten, plus it's newer (kind of), and how to blend a European authentic atmosphere with major thrill rides. I think Busch Gardens Williamsburg is an extemely psychological park that has, a result, a good effect on most of its customers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coasterposter41 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 They should use Ohio, it's a bit of a bland state but there is a lot of cool science behind the Beast and how it's still this great after all these years. They may want to consider also asking about the Son of Beast and how that ride failed and if any other wooden coasters over 200ft should be made. They could also use Cedar Point, a lot of its secrets are already out but I'm sure they've got a few more. As for new topic ideas, they should look at how better themed rides add thrill and how certain rides act to fit a certain theme. Can't wait for the new show to come out, I love theme park shows that go behind the scenes of parks I can't easily get to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterkyle Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I think showing how Cedar Point gets ready for each day and show how some of the most advance rides at their time came to be and how the operate. After working at the park it still amazes me at all the work that goes on behind the scenes as well as how Maverick and Dragster operate on a day to day basis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krakenmaniac Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I would love to see a "behind the scenes" on all things RMC, the designs, the ideas, the manufacturing, the transformations, the technology. And I think seeing how a classic wooden coaster is made, ex. manufacturing track onsite, would be great. Lastly the Intamin Plug-n-Play track intrigues me, I would love to see how it first came to be and how they make the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmiemac02 Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 How about behind the scenes at Dollywood? They do a bunch of stuff in house that a lot of other parks don't do. For example, they make their own ride vehicles for the mountain slidewinder in their boat building shop. They also run a full scale operational coal fired steam train on a daily basis. They could go behind the scenes with the eagle sanctuary and show how Dollywood rescues/rehabilitates/breeds bald eagles. And of course last but not least, take a look at how they make the Cinnamon Bread and other food at the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbottgen Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 The behind the scenes of the food service. Not that much the quick serve, but the catering, and sit downs. The prep, the chefs and the amount of food needed, etc. Along the same lines, how do they come up with new products. An off shoot of this is the same idea, but with animal care, like a zoo or aquarium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 The behind the scenes of the food service. Not that much the quick serve, but the catering, and sit downs. The prep, the chefs and the amount of food needed, etc. Along the same lines, how do they come up with new products. An off shoot of this is the same idea, but with animal care, like a zoo or aquarium. Actually I fully agree with this. When you have resorts like Universal, Walt Disney World, or even Dollywood or Silver Dollar City that have such a huge emphasis on food and eating in the parks, it takes quite an amazing operation to be able to project how much to make and how to feed THOUSANDS of people every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RCjunkie Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 I would like to see the decision making process of how a park decides what type of ride they will add next. (Preferably a coaster. ) What all factors into the decision:, decide how big the budget will be, ride placement in the park, marketing campaign to support the new ride, naming the ride, how much influence does a park have in the decision if it is part of a chain that has HQ input versus a solo owned and operated park, how they work with the manufacturers and what help do they get from them when choosing a new ride. I just don't think any company would want to share information like this though. Maybe Circus Circus could share their story for El Loco since it is new and they will be in Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbatboy Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 Park operations of parks we HAVEN'T already seen ad nauseum over the years (ie CP, MM, BGT, Coney Island, Kings Island). Parks that are awesome and big forces in the industry but the general public may have never heard of a Kings Domnion, a Knoebels, or a Dorney Park Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted March 21, 2014 Author Share Posted March 21, 2014 Here's one - An episode on how the hell Universal Orlando managed to build and open a giant ride like Transformers in 9 months!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 I like the idea of a film crew following the construction of a new coaster from beginning to end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rubysparkles Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Hex at Alton Towers isn't the scariest ride in the world but it could be interesting in regards to some of these points. The queue is really a part of the attraction. It's main focus is to scare and make you feel disorientated you. The madhouse is a mixture between ride mechanics and psychology so it makes it feel like it is doing more extreme movements than it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 How about how ride manufacturers deal with the terrain while designing and constructing the ride? Rides like Outlaw Run, S:KC, Prowler, Lisebergbanan and Boulderdash came to mind. Also a show about the 60s-90s amusement parks would be interesting. Shows us how Arrow and Anton dominated the whole industry and how rides get bigger, smoother and more extreme. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbatboy Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 I like the idea of a film crew following the construction of a new coaster from beginning to end. I loved the ones they did for Kingda Ka and Tatsu, though be even better if they documented more of the planning phases from coaster motherland Switzerland...with sub-titles and all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her0ofLime Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Simply Hogwarts at Uni Orlando and the ride inside of it. The architecture, the moving paintings etc. This could probably go for whatever effect they have to get to platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross whenever that opens too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krakenmaniac Posted March 21, 2014 Share Posted March 21, 2014 Also an in depth at all of the Orlando technology. Like just the tech part like ride vehicles the timing, the screens, the effects, the simulators. -Test Track -Omni-mover -Spiderman/Transformers -Forbidden Journey -Tower of Terror -Star Tours -Simpsons -Antarctica -Dinosaur -Mission Space -ET -Peter Pan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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