Challenge Overview
The Toronto Thrill Design Competition is an annual event hosted by Universal Destinations and Experiences (UDX) for aspiring themed entertainment creators.
We were tasked with designing an attraction based on "The Emerald City of Oz" by L. Frank Baum. This month long qualifier pushed our team and me to create a dark ride while managing real-world deadlines. We created two interacting attractions based around the Nome King's journey to attack Oz and Dorothy's exploration of wacky towns outside the Emerald City.
I was charged with modeling a unique ride system for guests to follow Dorothy's tour of Oz. Then we created a 40 page document outlining both the technical and story elements for these rides. We have been invited to compete this November in Mechanical Design and Coaster Design! I will be part of a five-person team going to Orlando to participate in person.
Vehicle Design
A guest’s interaction with a dark ride vehicle can dramatically shape how a story is experienced. Because the transportation is always in view, it is one of the most important aspects of storytelling. Whether soaring through the skies or burrowing underground, a suitable vehicle enhances the narrative. When brainstorming an attraction based on The Emerald City of Oz by Frank Baum, we understood this carrier needed to be unique. In the story, Dorothy brings her aunt and uncle into Oz. She takes them on a tour of this magical land in Ozma’s Red Wagon, exploring remarkable areas.
While this seems like a good fit for a classic dark ride vehicle, we wanted to separate this attraction from the Nome King ride. After much consideration, a suspended carrier was chosen to give guests a unique perspective of Oz and its inhabitants. We decided that Ozma would use The Magic Belt to supersize a picnic basket and bewitch it to carry guests. This aligns with the food themes of Utensia and Bunbury.
Track
This ride vehicle is secured using suspended roller coaster track. While it is never gravity-driven, an established system allows for greater familiarity when constructing or making repairs. The cart is driven by rubber wheels along the track. Adjustments in speed are crucial for story elements in the ride. It also allows for adjustment to align with the Nome King attraction.
Many new transportation systems use multiple motors to orient the vehicle. Though this complicated system works, it is prone to malfunction. To address this, the propelling motor is the only electronic component (other than ride safety systems). Instead, two smaller orientation rails are attached to the suspended track. Through a series of linkages, the changing position of these rails pitches or pans riders.
Mechanism
A Y-shaped joint encloses the pitch orientation rail and allows it to pivot at its base. For the tilting function, this joint rotates a rod. This motion causes a crank to drive a link up or down. It is attached to the chassis and pitches the riders. For the pan orientation rail, another Y-shape joint is used. The joint is attached to part of a large segment gear. This is meshed with a sister gear connected to the chassis and rotates the riders.
The linkage system gives passive control of the ride vehicle in two degrees of freedom. Eliminating the need for onboard power distribution, controllers, sensors, and software simplifies the overall system.
Safety
A dark ride vehicle must have safety systems to combat any catastrophes that arise during operation. Bench lap bars are used to ensure guests do not drop out. This system would be closed by default, so power is needed to open the bars. Even in the event of a power loss, there is no risk of falling. A normally closed brake system is also utilized in case of emergencies. This stops the transportation until trained personnel can escort guests off the cart. Doors on both sides allow for greater flexibility when disembarking guests in the air. Team members can push the vehicle to unload stations scattered throughout the attraction.
Results
Ultimately, this suspended dark ride vehicle shows how engineering and storytelling can work together to create a more immersive attraction. By combining suspended coaster technology with linkage-controlled motion, the system allows guests to smoothly pitch and pan throughout Oz without relying on complicated onboard motors and electronics. This gives riders unique views of the environments while also keeping the vehicle practical for maintenance, reliability, and emergencies. Through this balance of creativity, safety, and mechanical simplicity, the enchanted picnic basket becomes more than just a way to move guests through the attraction. It becomes a part of the adventure itself.
We have been invited to compete this November in Mechanical Design and Coaster Design! I will be part of a five person team going to Orlando to participate in person.
(art credit to April Berry)
