Abstract: An elevator for moving passengers from a first, outside level to a second, inside level at a theme park, and for providing themed special effects during the journey is provided. The elevator includes an elevator car divided into a passenger compartment and a special effects equipment compartment. The passenger compartment appears to the unsuspecting passenger to be a conventional elevator. However, at least one partition in the passenger compartment is opaque when the passenger compartment is illuminated and becomes transparent to reveal illuminated special effects when the lighting in the passenger compartment is extinguished. Special effects equipment can include a pair of video projectors for creating a virtual image which appears to be located outside of the elevator car, along with audio speakers for generating appropriate sound to accompany a video sequence for creating an active visual and audio presentation which can be appropriately themed.