Arthur's About Theme Parks

I will be taking off the next couple of weeks. See you later in September. This is the 35th year that Universal Orlando has invited guests to descend into the darkness and marvel at the macabre (and about the 25th year that I’ve attended).

When Walt Disney first conjured Disneyland, there were no theme parks. There was no design vocabulary for him to adopt, no protocols to reference, no roadmap to follow. With an unwavering sense of mission and purpose and by sheer force of will, Disney developed a new form of experiential and immersive entertainment and the prototype for what would become known as theme parks. The themed entertainment industry that Disney pioneered is well established now.

There really was a berry farm. For that matter, there really were farmers whose surname was Knott. Unlike most theme parks, which rely on fictional backstories to drive their narratives, Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California is rooted in reality. Mrs. Knott’s Chicken Dinner Restaurant, which sits at its front gate, is an integral part of the park and its fascinating and compelling history.

From augmented reality experiences to roving motion base simulators to mechanical monstrosities that subject passengers to extreme forces, amusement parks and theme parks often feature the latest whiz-bang technology. Some parks have been around for a long time, however, and offer antique carousels and other classic rides as well. As much as they can’t wait to hop aboard the newest sensation, park visitors also enjoy reveling in nostalgia by getting back on tried and true attractions.

Some kids want to be firefighters when they grow up. Others might want to be astronauts, movie stars, or sports heroes. Me? I wanted to work at an amusement park. Specifically, I wanted to operate roller coasters. My fascination with thrill machines began at a very young age.

Roller coasters and their trainloads of screaming passengers hog skylines and get most of the glory. Spinning carousels, with their majestic prancing steeds and lively band organs, project auras of charm and nostalgia. Towering Ferris wheels, bathed in colored lights, sparkle against night skies. Bumper cars, however, are housed inside buildings away from the tumult of the midway and typically get lost in the shuffle.

For this article, I’m going to go back a number of years and share memories from one of the highlight events of my career. It was a surreal moment in a day filled with surreal moments. Rounding a corner in the room containing Walt Disney Imagineering’s art history archives, there it was: the famous 1950s concept drawing of Disneyland that designer Herb Ryman completed in one weekend with Walt Disney standing over his shoulder. It all started with Herb Ryman’s concept art.

It’s time for this month’s “Rode It! Loved It!,” my reviews of established attractions. Let’s head over to Adventureland at Disneyland for a highly regarded and rollicking ride with Indiana Jones. An E-Ticket tour de force, Disneyland’s Indiana Jones Adventure immerses guests into the world of the popular movie series through the use of Disney’s innovative “Enhanced Motion Vehicles,” highly elaborate sets, and a stunning array of effects.

After teasing what it had in the works for a few weeks, Holiday World made it official and announced that Cannonball!, a water coaster from Mack Rides, will be debuting next season. The Indiana park says that the $22-million attraction, which will be the fastest and tallest ride of its kind in the country, will represent the largest investment in its 80-year history. Everybody in the pool! Cannonball will feature a splashdown finale.

I will be taking next week off to celebrate the Fourth of July week. Here’s to a great 250th celebration! Look for my next article the following week. With summers getting hotter, more humid, and just plain stickier, visitors have been making a beeline to water parks at places like Carowinds. Jammed with water slides and other refreshingly cool attractions, its Carolina Harbor is a happening place.