Intamin, a creator of record-breaking amusement rides, is celebrating the opening of Danse Macabre at Efteling in the Netherlands.
This much-awaited, groundbreaking attraction uses the world’s first dynamic motion stage ride system, and marks a new milestone in Efteling and Intamin’s longstanding partnership.
The new attraction opened on 31 October and was constructed on the site of the popular Spookslot (Dutch for “Haunted Castle”). Together, Intamin and Efteling sought to create a novel and incredibly distinctive ride system. This needed to perfectly reflect the storyline, which revolves around Camille Saint-Saëns‘s iconic 19th-century composition, Danse Macabre.
The story begins when eccentric conductor Joseph Charlatan‘s whole orchestra disappears at an international music competition on Friday the 13th, in 1876. Following a spectacular performance of Danse Macabre, they were brutally devoured by “The Unnamable,” a malevolent, hideous, feline beast that still prowls the area today.
Dynamic Motion Stage
The “Danse Macabre” ride system, also known as Dynamic Motion Stage, has a capacity of 108 persons, with six specially designed church stall cabins that can accommodate 18 visitors each. Alternative seating arrangements are also available.
The ride system includes an unlimited individual cabin rotation with a maximum tilt of 25 degrees on the 18-metre-wide main platform and an endless rotation of the main platform itself. The hydraulic system enables platform movements of up to 3 metres in height, with heave speeds of up to 1.5 m/s and drop speeds of up to 3 m/sec.
The overlay of movements enabled by this ride system opens up a whole new realm of possibilities, allowing for storytelling on multiple levels.
A spokesperson from the firm says: “The Intamin team extends its heartfelt thanks to our long-term partners at Efteling for trusting us once again to push the boundaries of our industry together.”
Intamin’s Dynamic Motion Stage cabins can be enhanced to further the storytelling with an on-board music system and 4D effects such as fragrance and butt kickers.
Recently, Intamin joined Dreamworld, Australia’s biggest theme park to announce a new thrill ride, ‘King Claw’, at IAAPA Expo Europe in Amsterdam.
