Re: The Illustrated Park
This is a concept that I've had in mind for a while. It's definitely a money no object, kitchen sink included kind of ride and is part dark ride, part rollercoaster and part water ride.
I've created a general storyboard of the ride concept. Each image is expanded upon in the corresponding numbered section below.
1. An overview of the ride vehicle based on a modified transport truck. The riders board the vehicle under the premise that they are being taken on a tour of the temple complex. Like Jaws and Jungle Cruise, each ride vehicle has a live actor playing the role of the tour guide and driver. The job of the actor is to provide ride narrative over the intercom and to heighten the sense of excitement during the ride by interacting with the riders.
2. The first section of the ride takes place outside. The vehicle winds its way up a dirt track surrounded by tall bamboo plants supposedly leading to the first stop on the tour. On the way, the guide tells the story of the lost Temple of the Cobra; a mysterious temple supposedly once sited at the complex. Very few records of the building exist but there are writings of a strange ancient religion dedicated to the worship of the King Cobra. The guide assures riders that despite extensive archaeological digs at the site, no evidence of such a temple has been found.
As soon as the guide begins to move on from this point, the ground beneath the vehicle gives way and the vehicle falls into the lost temple. Rubble fills in the hole above leaving the riders in darkness.
The effect of the vehicle falling into the ground is achieved by use of a shallow ramp leading onto the roof of the main show building. This is disguised by the bamboo plants bordering the dirt track as well as other items of road side theming. Once on the roof, the vehicle rolls onto a thirteen style drop platform, dropping the riders into the show building.
3. As the dust clears, the guide 'restarts the truck's engine' and the vehicle's headlamps spring to life illuminating a dimly lit corridor. After crawling forward for a while, the truck reaches a T-junction. Following deliberation with the riders, the guide opts to take a right turn and enter the snake chamber, coming to a halt in front of an altar.
Suddenly, the ground begins to rumble, the chamber is illuminated by a strange light and an enormous gold cobra slowly rises from a basket at the base of the altar, facing the riders. Panicking, the guide clumsily grinds the truck's gears before finding reverse causing the vehicle to shoot backwards out of the chamber.
4. Still in reverse, the truck rapidly winds its way through a series of twisty corridors as stone pillars and beams collapse in its wake. From the riders' point of view, this is happening just in front of the bonnet creating a series of near-miss effects. To increase the sense of danger, one of the spotlights on the roll bar is apparently knocked out of alignment by a falling beam.
Towards, the end of this section, the cobra suddenly re-emerges, rising up in front of the riders before the truck apparently drops down a hole in the floor, narrowly avoiding the cobra's fangs and coming to a bumpy halt.
5.,6. Once the riders have had time to gain their bearings, the guide points out a shaft of light pouring in from a gap in the temple wall. They announce that they're going to attempt to break out through it and the engine is revved dramatically.
The vehicle takes off forwards towards the light on a steep incline and successfully breaks through the wall. The riders emerge from the show building to crest an airtime hill, simulating a car jump before the track descends into a water splash. The riders have escaped the temple and the cobra is no longer a threat.
After a celebratory sign off from the tour guide, the vehicle wades out of the splashdown lake and returns to the station
This is a concept for the entrance of the ride that I coloured using markers. I'm quite pleased with the way they look so I think I'll have to invest in some more, particularly a few more shades of green.