Spinning off from this comment

it made me wonder what we would all agree is considered a dark ride.

Does Jungle Rush qualify as a dark ride? I don't feel like it does, though it has an indoor themed portion. But if JR doesn't qualify - does Scooby? or Space Mountain?

I think the answer is a matter of degree, so I don't think there's one hard and fast rule - but instead based on a series of factors. I had a little google and found Darkride Attraction and funhouse enthusiasts who seem like they'd be a relatively good authority on the subject. They themselves highlight that there are a number of considerations per the following:

What is a Darkride?

(Please note that DAFE will be using darkride as one word to indicate rides of this genre.)

That question seems to come up quite often. Of course everyone knows what one is, but not everyone agrees. Asking this question in the amusement industry will bring about a myriad of answers. Opinions range from "any ride that is in the dark, is a dark ride" to "only the traditional Pretzel or Tracy type rides are true darkrides".

A half century ago William F. Mangels had this to say about them: "Greatly popular at some resorts are the attractions known as Dark Rides. In these, passenger-carrying vehicles, which may be boats, cars, or small trains, pass through dark tunnels or closed-in passages at a very slow speed. Along the way, surprise scenes such as mechanical ghosts, flirting devils, and similar devices pop up to scare or amuse the slowly passing riders. These devices bear various names. The well-known Tunnel of Love is typical."

While that description may have sufficed when Mangels wrote his book THE OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY in 1952, things are not quite that simple now.

Today's rides combine elements of many traditional ride types and blur the line that once clearly defined what attractions are.

DAFE considers the following as important elements that all darkrides share.

• A darkride requires an enclosed structure. It may have open areas, but the majority of the ride remains in the building. In general, the interior is dark or dimly lit. The lighting that is used could be spotlights triggered by the passing ride vehicle, black light effects, or low-level general illumination.

• The ride system uses a passenger-carrying vehicle that is guided by a track, waterway, or other method that follows a seemingly random path.

• The darkride depends mainly on scenery to produce the ride experience. Scenery can include simple pop up or boxed "gags" or "tricks", stationary or animated figures, paintings, complex animatronic scenes, and special effects.

• Sound effects also play an important role in most darkrides. These may range from simple horns and buzzers triggered by the passing ride vehicle, to isolated sound bites for each gag, or to a complex musical score complete with narration.

  Note that simply enclosing a roller coaster, Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, or other common ride in a dark building would not generally create what DAFE considers a darkride.

So using this criteria - and only in my opinion...

Jungle Rush - Not a dark ride

1. The majority of the ride is not inside the building

2. The ride system does not seemingly follow a random path as the track is very clearly visible

3. The ride does not depend mainly on scenery. Though the rollercoaster is very heavily and well themed, the rollercoaster is the ride experience, not the theming.

4. Sounds do play a role in the ride experience, but again - the rollercoaster is the experience, not the audio track.

Scooby Doo - Dark Ride

1. The entirety of the ride is inside the building, the interior is dark or dimly lit

2. The ride system somewhat hides or attempts to hide the track from view, even though it is still a rollercoaster track.

3. The ride experience is still a rollercoaster, but relies heavily on scenery (especially in the ghost train and finale sections) for the experience

4. Sound effects and music underscore the entire experience

Space Mountain - Dark Ride

1. The entirety of the ride is inside the building, the interior is dark or dimly lit

2. The ride system somewhat hides or attempts to hide the track from view, even though it is still a rollercoaster track.

3. The ride experience is still a rollercoaster, but relies heavily on scenery (though much of the experience is lighting and projections) for the experience

4. Sound effects and music underscore the entire experience

What do you think? Do you agree? Or do you consider JR to be a dark ride (and if so, why?). What other rides are contentious contenders for the 'dark ride' title ?

4 minutes ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Does Jungle Rush qualify as a dark ride?

If JR is a dark ride, WWF is a dark ride. Having a themed section indoors doesn't make it a dark ride. It's a roller coaster with themed indoor section.

Scooby's first section and ending are dark ride, the wild-mouse section is just an indoor coaster, but it would count because of the ghost-train start of the ride. It's a hybrid.

SE is a roller coaster with a dark-ride section at the beginning. Like Scooby, it's effectively a hybrid coaster/dark ride.

Space mountain is an indoor roller coaster not a dark ride. The ride's primary experience is the coaster, not the scenery/theming/story. It doesn't rely on the theming for the experience - the ride would still be thrilling with the lights on, or no theming. It's a well done experience, but the theming is there to enhance the coaster experience.

Based on what you pasted above, a dark ride is when the scenery, theming and story are the primary experience, and are indoors in a controlled atmosphere and lighting environment. The ride itself is secondary to all the stuff you look at and it typically enhances the story/viewing experience rather than the other way around.

People love certainty, clear lines, and labels, even when reality is a whole rainbow of nuance.

Edited February 19Feb 19 by New display name

For me a dark ride needs to be at least 90% indoors. For example, Bermuda Triangle I’d consider as a dark ride as the only outdoor portion was the splashdown and load/unload area.

Superman and Jungle Rush, they’re coaster with shows scenes/indoor sections. Not a dark ride.

Storm Coaster is probably 50/50 on indoor vs outdoor, but it ain’t a dark ride.

I found a dark ride that perfectly matches your requirements. //s

JR isn't a dark ride, it just has a dark ride "section", its no more of a dark ride than Superman Escape or Storm (i'd argue you probably spend more time indoors on those rides).

The only coaster that would be considered a dark ride on the GC is Scooby.

Justice League would be considered a dark ride.

and thats pretty much where the GC dark ride list ends...

6 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

Spinning off from this comment

it made me wonder what we would all agree is considered a dark ride.

Does Jungle Rush qualify as a dark ride? I don't feel like it does, though it has an indoor themed portion. But if JR doesn't qualify - does Scooby? or Space Mountain?

I think the answer is a matter of degree, so I don't think there's one hard and fast rule - but instead based on a series of factors. I had a little google and found Darkride Attraction and funhouse enthusiasts who seem like they'd be a relatively good authority on the subject. They themselves highlight that there are a number of considerations per the following:

So using this criteria - and only in my opinion...

Jungle Rush - Not a dark ride

1. The majority of the ride is not inside the building

2. The ride system does not seemingly follow a random path as the track is very clearly visible

3. The ride does not depend mainly on scenery. Though the rollercoaster is very heavily and well themed, the rollercoaster is the ride experience, not the theming.

4. Sounds do play a role in the ride experience, but again - the rollercoaster is the experience, not the audio track.

Scooby Doo - Dark Ride

1. The entirety of the ride is inside the building, the interior is dark or dimly lit

2. The ride system somewhat hides or attempts to hide the track from view, even though it is still a rollercoaster track.

3. The ride experience is still a rollercoaster, but relies heavily on scenery (especially in the ghost train and finale sections) for the experience

4. Sound effects and music underscore the entire experience

Space Mountain - Dark Ride

1. The entirety of the ride is inside the building, the interior is dark or dimly lit

2. The ride system somewhat hides or attempts to hide the track from view, even though it is still a rollercoaster track.

3. The ride experience is still a rollercoaster, but relies heavily on scenery (though much of the experience is lighting and projections) for the experience

4. Sound effects and music underscore the entire experience

What do you think? Do you agree? Or do you consider JR to be a dark ride (and if so, why?). What other rides are contentious contenders for the 'dark ride' title ?

I don't want to sound pedantic, but what type of ride would you call Murrissippi Motors a light ride? causes it's essentially a dark ride just outdoors right?

59 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

JR isn't a dark ride, it just has a dark ride "section", its no more of a dark ride than Superman Escape or Storm (i'd argue you probably spend more time indoors on those rides).

The only coaster that would be considered a dark ride on the GC is Scooby.

Justice League would be considered a dark ride.

and thats pretty much where the GC dark ride list ends...

Totally agree! JR really isn’t a full dark ride, just has that one section.

10 hours ago, New display name said:

I found a dark ride that perfectly matches your requirements. //s

That’s not indoors! Standing under a roof doesnt mean your indoors because you’re still exposed to the elements from the sides.

7 hours ago, Brad2912 said:

and thats pretty much where the GC dark ride list ends...

Sky Voyager?

7 hours ago, STRAWS said:

Murrissippi Motors

Thats just a vintage car ride, it’s in its own category

Got it, The ones at Timezone are a dark ride, ones in the picture aren't.

9 hours ago, STRAWS said:

I don't want to sound pedantic, but what type of ride would you call Murrissippi Motors a light ride? causes it's essentially a dark ride just outdoors right?

Just go to a theme park at night and every ride becomes a dark ride.

12 hours ago, New display name said:

I found a dark ride that perfectly matches your requirements. //s

I know it was sarcasm (nice to see you're reading my posts again by the way) but you couldn't have found a ride that is further from fitting the criteria. The closest this comes is "has a roof" and that wasn't even one of the criteria.

• A darkride requires an enclosed structure. NO

• In general, the interior is dark or dimly lit. NO

• The ride system uses a passenger-carrying vehicle that is guided by a track, waterway, or other method that follows a seemingly random path. NO

• The darkride depends mainly on scenery to produce the ride experience. Scenery can include simple pop up or boxed "gags" or "tricks", stationary or animated figures, paintings, complex animatronic scenes, and special effects. NO

• Sound effects also play an important role in most darkrides. These may range from simple horns and buzzers triggered by the passing ride vehicle, to isolated sound bites for each gag, or to a complex musical score complete with narration. NO

10 hours ago, STRAWS said:

I don't want to sound pedantic, but what type of ride would you call Murrissippi Motors a light ride? causes it's essentially a dark ride just outdoors right?

You don't sound pedantic at all (trust me we know what a pedant is here). MM would most likely fall under 'transport rides'.

1 hour ago, New display name said:

Got it, The ones at Timezone are a dark ride, ones in the picture aren't.

Jesus christ you're trying so hard to be an asshole that you've gone past obtuse and straight to Reflex.

1 hour ago, New display name said:

Just go to a theme park at night and every ride becomes a dark ride.

Except they aren't enclosed, don't have an interior to be dimly lit, aren't guided around a seemingly random path, don't rely on scenery or sounds as being integral for the experience.

The whole point of this discussion was you suggesting DW didn't need to build a darkride because they already did that recently. JR is categorically not a dark ride by any stretch, and DW could really do with a dark ride in the lineup.

To add to this @themagician

Dark rides are evolving hard right now and the lines between ride types are melting. Parks have cotton onto it because it's cheaper than adding expensive animatronics and theming. Instead of sitting in a slow little train watching a story they are making you a character in the story.

This form of dark rides are becoming more common, blending physical sets, and ride systems into one seamless experience. Parks have caught on because these designs can deliver big, immersive storytelling without relying entirely on expensive animatronics. Instead of just watching scenes go by, you become part of the adventure, with the story unfolding around you. Attractions like Jungle Rush show this shift well.

Dark rides are all about immersion and it's only dark to help with the immersion, when you leave the temple on JR, the immersion continues as you round the plane through the Jungle. SE could never be a dark ride as the immersion ends as you exit the shed.

Walls and a roof are just tools.  If you can control sightlines, choreograph the lighting, shape the soundscape, and guide the story beat by beat, you’ve followed the recipe. Whether it sits in a warehouse, a canyon, or under a tangled canopy of steel and scenery it doesn’t matter.

A dark ride is less about darkness and more about direction. It’s storytelling on rails. If you can aim the guest’s eyes and emotions like a spotlight, you’re already there.

The magic isn’t the shed. It’s the control.

What ride in a shed do you want at DW?

Note that simply enclosing a roller coaster, Scrambler, Tilt-A-Whirl, or other common ride in a dark building would not generally create what DAFE considers a darkride.

☝

9 hours ago, New display name said:

What ride in a shed do you want at DW?

They already had one, The Big Red Car Ride at the end of its life.

15 hours ago, themagician said:

Sky Voyager?

Not IMO . No track system = not a dark ride

On 20/02/2026 at 8:48 PM, Brad2912 said:

Not IMO . No track system = not a dark ride

I'm conflicted on this one. I guess it depends on whether you take the criteria explicitly or with flexibility.

• A darkride requires an enclosed structure. It may have open areas, but the majority of the ride remains in the building. In general, the interior is dark or dimly lit. The lighting that is used could be spotlights triggered by the passing ride vehicle, black light effects, or low-level general illumination.

• The ride system uses a passenger-carrying vehicle that is guided by a track, waterway, or other method that follows a seemingly random path.

• The darkride depends mainly on scenery to produce the ride experience. Scenery can include simple pop up or boxed "gags" or "tricks", stationary or animated figures, paintings, complex animatronic scenes, and special effects.

• Sound effects also play an important role in most darkrides. These may range from simple horns and buzzers triggered by the passing ride vehicle, to isolated sound bites for each gag, or to a complex musical score complete with narration.

SkyVoyager

1. Has an enclosed structure

2. The interior is dark\dimly lit

3. The ride system uses a passenger carrying vehicle that is guided by an 'other' method that follows a seemingly random path

4. The ride depends mainly on scenery to produce the ride experience

5. The ride has a complex musical score, playing an important part in the ride experience.

Arguably it fits the criteria given by DAFE - however DAFE's own website has a catalogue of dark rides across America, and what is telling is that neither Soarin' models nor any of the Brogent flying theatres appear to be on it, so while i'm leaning towards SkyVoyager technically fitting their criteria, they certainly don't consider it that way.