Universal Destinations & Experiences filed a patent for an interactive ride system that would give guests a customized experience.

Universal’s Custom Ride System Patent

The patent, titled “Choreographed Ride Systems and Methods,” is a continuation of their previous carousel patent. It describes a system that may “adjust a trajectory or traveled course of the ride vehicle” based on obstacles, rider weight, obstructions attached to the vehicle, and, most interestingly, rider inputs. Examples of rider inputs listed include a rider shifting their weight, turning a steering wheel, or adjusting the vehicle’s speed. Guests could also potentially input a desired intensity level that would affect how close their vehicle would approach obstacles, vertical movement, and roll. The control system would be able to account for all of these factors and more.

“For example, if the rider selects a theme related to birds or aircraft,” the patent states, “the ride path of the ride vehicle may simulate the flight of a bird or aircraft. Other preferences that may be provided via the rider inputs include language selection, character selection, the rider’s height and/or weight, and other similar preferences.

The patent also states that the choreographed movement of the ride vehicles could be viewed by guests who aren’t riding, including those waiting in line, adding extra entertainment.

In some embodiments, the ride system may be an amusement ride system that may provide entertainment for the riders riding the amusement ride system and the people viewing the amusement ride system. The amusement ride system may have a particular theme, such that the ride paths of the ride vehicles and/or certain decorative aspects of the ride vehicles and the ride system generally match the theme.

The ride system is accomplished with sensors tracking the positions of the vehicles.

CEO Dennis Speigel of International Theme Park Services noted to Orlando Inno, “On any ride, you get a crosscut of demographics from children and teens to young adults and older adults, and different people are looking for different experiences.” 

Speigel pointed out that customization could satisfy more guests and encourage guests to ride an attraction again. “If I liked the ride at level one, how am I going to feel at level four? That’s going to bring me back to the same ride for a different experience.”

It’s possible, but not confirmed, that the patent is connected to an upcoming Epic Universe attraction. The former carousel patent certainly seemed to foretell Constellation Carousel. The customizable ride experience could, for example, be used as part of the Universal Monsters-inspired attraction Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment in the Dark Universe land.

The ride sees Dr. Victoria Frankenstein, great-great-great granddaughter of Dr. Henry Frankenstein, invite guests to see her latest experiment. She has already brought her own Creature back from the dead and is now working to “rehabilitate” the village’s other monsters. Of course, everything goes wrong when she tries to tame Dracula.

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