The History of Dark Rides

When you think about visiting a Disney Park and enjoying your favorite attraction, is it Pirates of the Caribbean? The Haunted Mansion? Small World? Spaceship Earth? Many of the classic and well-loved Disney attractions all have something in common: they are dark rides!

dark ride, ImagiNERDing – What is a Dark Ride? A Brief History and Appreciation
The Haunted Mansion is a classic dark ride that pays homage to the early Pretzel and Laff-In-the-Dark carnival and amusement park rides.

What is a Dark Ride?

A Dark Ride is a predominately indoor tracked attraction through sets, taking its name not from being dark inside, but because of the use of artificial illumination throughout it: without it, the attraction would be dark.David Younger, Theme Park Design, p 401.

Seems pretty simple, right?

But when did dark rides start? What was the first dark ride and how did they evolve?

Check out my video on the history of dark rides to find out!

Dark rides are staple of theme parks, but there are more starting to pop up in regional parks like the Six Flags parks. Six Flags and Sally Corporation have been getting rave reviews for their interactive dark ride shooter franchise based on Justice League. The Amazing Spider-Man at Islands of Adventure is a motion-based dark ride that is still one of the best attractions on the planet.

Dark rides are everywhere!

The Whacky Shack at Waldameer Park, a famous Dark Ride
A classic dark ride with stunts and gags galore. After experience the Whacky Shack, you can see how early dark rides influenced the Haunted Mansion and Test Track.

The Whacky Shack at Waldameer Park (Erie, PA) is an example of a classic Bill Tracey dark ride. It’s based on the Pretzel and Laff-In-the-Dark rides of the 1940s and 1950s, but with updated designs and gags. If you find yourself near Erie, then it is more than worth it to visit Waldameer.


What’s your favorite dark ride? Have you ever ridden a Pretzel or Bill Tracey dark ride?


Looking to see some of the dark rides in California? Be sure to take advantage of Get Away Today’s incredible Halloween offer!

Halloween Ticket and Travel offer to Disneyland, and Kids Free in San Diego! 

dark ride, ImagiNERDing – What is a Dark Ride? A Brief History and Appreciation

Here are some links that you can use to promote our current Halloween Time specials and Kids Free Month for San Diego:

 

George Taylor
George has been obsessed with Disney theme parks since the first time he saw a photo of the Haunted Mansion in the early 70s. He started writing about Disney in 2007 and has amassed one of the world's largest Disney-related libraries.