Loading turntable systems and methods

A method to load passengers into ride vehicles, comprising:

• directing a ride vehicle along a loading path at a first location of the loading path toward a second location of the loading path;
• determining an occupancy status of the ride vehicle;
• and
• based on the occupancy status of the ride vehicle, controlling a track switch to direct the vehicle along either the loading path or along an attraction path at the second location along the loading path.

An attraction loading system, comprising:

• a turntable configured to rotate about a vertical axis;
• a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the turntable, wherein a ride vehicle is configured to move along the loading path;
• a first track switch disposed along the loading path, wherein the first track switch is configured to direct the ride vehicle to a main portion of the loading path from either a secondary portion of the loading path or an attraction path;
• and
• a second track switch disposed along the loading path, wherein the second track switch is configured to direct the ride vehicle from the main portion of the loading path to either the secondary portion of the loading path or the attraction path.

An attraction loading system, comprising:

• a loading and/or unloading area comprising a conveyor;
• a loading path disposed about a perimeter of the conveyor, wherein a ride vehicle is configured to move along the loading path;
• an attraction path coupled to the loading path;
• and
• a controller configured to direct the ride vehicle from the loading path onto the attraction path based on a first occupancy status of the vehicle or to direct the ride vehicle to re-loop the loading path based on a second occupancy status of the ride vehicle.