Abstract: An apparatus or method for draining fluid from an amusement attraction while helping prevent substantial portions of fluid from splashing out of the attraction. The apparatus may be an end component for a shutdown lane that has one or more areas or catch basins for flowing the fluid thereon or therethrough. Various sidewalls, hills, ridges, and/or drainage surfaces may be implemented by or on the end component to ideally keep water from splashing outside of the end component and to help maintain rider safety as the rider slides towards the end component. One or more stages of drainage areas or surfaces may be utilized for the end component. The apparatus may be in the form of an end component, a larger portion of an attraction, such as a shutdown lane, or discrete components that may be connected within or to a portion of an attraction.

Abstract: A wet play structure including a non-harnessed course and a harnessed course. The wet play structure can be located in an amusement park. The non-harnessed course and the harnessed course can be completely, or partially integrated to increase interaction between users. The wet play structure may include an elevated path configured to allow a user to traverse the elevated path. A track is configured to connect to a harness worn by the user while the user traverses the elevated path. In one aspect, the wet play structure may include a fluid conduit configured to transmit water onto the user while the user traverses the elevated path. In one aspect, a pool positioned beneath the elevated path and configured to contain water.

Abstract: An attraction capable of incorporating user interactivity. The attraction utilizes a slide for supporting a rider, with a ride vehicle or without. The ride vehicle may be a mat or slideboard with handles that allows the user to manipulate its position or other associated elements while on the attraction. Upon manipulating an element, a signal may be transmitted. This signal may aid in determining whether a rider has successfully manipulated the element, for example, at an appropriate time. Sensors along the attraction may also be configured to track the user and/or ride vehicle via determining vicinity of the user and/or ride vehicle at a known location. Various rewards and/or features may be enabled based upon successful manipulation and/or user position. The attraction may include one or more illuminating features. Statistics or other information may be determined, stored, and/or provided (e.g., using mobile applications and/or scoreboards) relating to user performance.

Abstract: An interactive amusement attraction capable of sensing ride vehicle or user interaction or position. The attraction can track user performance and/or location, through use of a ride vehicle or without, and can include a slide for supporting water and a sensor connected with the slide for sensing an interactive element. The tags or interactive element may be passive (e.g., sensed by the sensor merely when within a predetermined proximity) or may require user manipulation (e.g., a button to be pressed when within a predetermined proximity of the sensor). Various lighting elements may be connected or embedded in the slide and may be controlled to illuminate with various colors. These lighting elements, such as LED light strips, can be used to indicate the presence of a sensor and/or that a sensor has been successfully or unsuccessfully interacted with.

Abstract: A system for shielding a rider's back from a ride surface. The system includes a slide ride having an entrance and an exit and configured such that the rider's back slides substantially parallel along a slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance towards the exit. The system includes a plurality of shielding devices disposed relative to the slide ride such that the rider may put on one of the plurality of shielding devices prior to sliding on the slide ride, each of the plurality of shielding devices configured to be worn by the rider such that the shielding device covers the rider's back, and adapted to slide upon the slide ride surface to shield the rider's back from the slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance to the exit.

Abstract: An entertainment venue, amusement attraction, or interactive play center configured to provide a variety of activities for users. The attraction may include blaster cannons, sorting stations, fountain components, registration stations, video monitors, targets, and other interactive elements. Several of these components may receive and/or propel elements (such as foam balls, water, light or lasers, etc.) and accumulate points for users based upon this activity. A registration and tracking system can keep track of specific users and their activities for the purpose of generating or compiling statistics or generating a score for the users. A mobile application associated with the interactive play center may be used during play to indicate additional information or features about the amusement attraction or to allow for continued entertainment by users even after they have left the entertainment venue or interactive play center. This may be conveyed via augmented reality or other visual/audible notification.

Abstract: A waterslide attraction configured to display illuminated visualizations to a rider traveling thereon via one or more lights or LEDs. The waterslide attraction utilizes a slide for supporting a rider, either with a ride vehicle or without. The ride vehicle may be a mat, tube, or board with interactive elements, such as buttons, that allows the rider thereon to manipulate the interactive elements for providing rider input while on the slide. Upon manipulating an element, a signal may be transmitted, the illuminated visualizations being modified in response to such manipulations. Colors, shapes, and/or patterns may be displayed that animate or appear to shift or move in position along the waterslide. Gaming features, such as manipulating the interactive elements that corresponds to one or more displayed illumination visualizations may cause rewards or penalties, for example, based on position of the rider, as the rider travels on the slide.

Abstract: The present Invention provides a surfing device comprising at least one energy projecting means and at least one energy projecting structure for supporting and positioning the energy projecting means. The energy projecting structure positions the energy projecting means at one or more energy projecting positions. Energy is projected from the energy projecting means from positions to enable a person to surf at least partially solely via the projected energy. The present invention also provides a surface for a surfing device, either the device of the present Invention or another surfing device. The surface, is designed for a person to surf on either via the projected energy of the surfing device of the present Invention or by at least partially direct contact with the surface via fluid projected out of, over or upon it. The surface has an Impact absorption material.

Abstract: A trapdoor mechanism and method of providing a trapdoor mechanism for initiating descent into a slide ride is disclosed. Aspects of invention are directed to an energy efficient mechanism capable of dropping slide riders into the entrance of a slide ride. The trapdoor mechanism utilizes momentum produced by the force of gravity to swing the trapdoor to an open position, to a closed position, and back to the open position. A control device may be utilized to apply force to the trapdoor during its transit between the open position and closed position.

Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and system for expandable modular raft and a water ride using the same. In one embodiment, the expandable modular raft can include a raft, and a base unit attached to the raft and configured to receive a building block. The building block can be configured to be force fit to the base unit and/or each other. Furthermore, the building block could be formed from various shapes. The expandable modular raft can be used in a water ride and can float along a path such as a river. Interactive units such as water guns can be placed along the path to allow observers to interact with the riders. Furthermore, a raft area can be located adjacent the path to store the rafts, while a building block area can be located adjacent the path to store the building blocks.

Abstract: A participatory water play structure including a water eruption effect device. The water eruption effect device may include a water eruption jet, lighting devices, sound devices, light towers, mist or smoke devices and fountain devices. The water eruption effect device imitates a geyser, volcanic eruption, or large water spray, dousing play participants in a participatory play structure with a cool deluge of water. The water eruption effect may also be used as a show feature during night-time operation of the participatory play structure. Responsive water play devices may also be used, including RFID and motion sensor systems that respond to the presence of play participants and to identifying characteristics of the play participants.

Abstract: A system for shielding a rider's back from a ride surface. The system includes a slide ride having an entrance and an exit and configured such that the riders back slides substantially parallel along a. slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance towards the exit. The system includes a plurality of shielding devices disposed relative to the slide ride such that the rider may put on one of the plurality of shielding devices prior to sliding on the slide ride, each of the plurality of shielding devices configured to be worn by the rider such that the shielding device covers the rider's back, and adapted to slide upon the slide ride surface to shield the rider's back from the slide ride surface when the rider slides from the entrance to the exit.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an interactive ride, such as a flume within a flume. In one embodiment, a water ride can include a first flume ride and a second flume ride. The first flume ride can include a first middle section, while the second flume ride can include a second flume section. The second flume ride can pass through the first flume ride by having the second middle section pass through the first middle section. Thus, the second middle section can be located within the first middle section. The first middle section and the second middle section can form a pass-through section. The second flume ride can be partially supported by the first flume ride.