Abstract: An amusement attraction is housed within a building. The building contains several different settings. Each setting contains a variety of scenic elements. One setting acts as a pre-show and includes an audio-visual presentation. A second setting is designed to resemble a tornado-damaged building. A third setting contains various scenic elements designed to resemble an outdoor scene. In the third setting, a special effects show takes place that includes a man-made tornado. Other special effects are used to simulate the effect of the tornado on the scenic elements in the outdoor scene. Guests can safely view the man-made tornado from a guest viewing area.

Abstract: A roller coaster includes a plurality of ride vehicles that ride along a track. Each vehicle provides seating for at least one passenger. The track is elevated off the ground and includes a variety of hills, curves, loops, rolls, drops, inversions and the like. The vehicles are totally enclosed and preferably designed to represent a space capsule. Sight line controls and a yaw mechanism are used at the load platform to prevent passengers from seeing the other ride vehicles. In addition, the track at the load platform is angled upwards to allow for easy access to the ride vehicles. Portals in the cabin are designed to control sight lines to focus the passengers' attention on show elements that are placed along the track. An on-board audio system enhances the realism of the ride experience. Adjustable restraint systems are provided in each vehicle to keep the passengers in their seats and inside the vehicle during the ride.

Abstract: A film to live-action theater includes a screen facing an audience seating area. The screen has exit and entrance openings and movable panels to open and close off the openings. A screen elevator lifts the screen from a lowered position, wherein the entrance and exit openings are concealed behind a stage, to an up position, to allow an actor and/or a prop to move through the openings. The audience views a film presentation projected onto the lowered screen. At a predetermined time, the screen is quickly raised and a live actor and/or a prop move through the screen to a front stage area, on a track. The opening of the door panels is preferably partially concealed through special effects such as fog or lighting. As the film presentation is preferably made with three dimensional film technology, the audience perceives a film-to-live transition.