Amusement park ride with passenger loading separated from vehicle insertion into simulators

A ride system, comprising:

• a closed-loop track;
• a plurality of vehicles configured for traveling along a ride path defined by the closed-loop track;
• a simulator positioned adjacent to the closed-loop track;
• and
• a vehicle transfer mechanism receiving a first one of the vehicles and transferring the first vehicle a distance away from the ride path and into the simulator,
• wherein a second one of the vehicles trailing the first vehicle travels along the ride path past the simulator while the first vehicle is positioned within the simulator and
• wherein the vehicle transfer mechanism comprises a turntable with a first track section for receiving the first vehicle and a second track section for guiding the second vehicle along the ride path when the turntable is rotated to transfer the first vehicle into the simulator.

A ride system, comprising:

• a closed-loop track;
• a plurality of vehicles configured for traveling along a ride path defined by the closed-loop track;
• a simulator positioned adjacent to the closed-loop track;
• and
• a vehicle transfer mechanism receiving a first one of the vehicles and transferring the first vehicle a distance away from the ride path and into the simulator,
• wherein a second one of the vehicles trailing the first vehicle travels along the ride path past the simulator while the first vehicle is positioned within the simulator and
• wherein the vehicle transfers mechanism comprises a lift device for lifting or lowering the received first vehicle the distance away from the ride path and a second track section for guiding the second vehicle along the ride path.

A simulator-based amusement park ride, comprising:

• a track;
• passenger vehicles moving on the track at a first speed;
• a simulation assembly configured to present a simulation to at least one of the passenger vehicles while positioned within a simulation space located apart from a ride path defined by the track;
• and
• a mechanism for transferring at least one of the passenger vehicles from the track to the simulation space,
• wherein the transferring mechanism comprises a body for first receiving the at least one of the passenger vehicles and second moving the at least one of the passenger vehicles out of the ride path defined by the track into the simulation space, whereby another one of the passenger vehicles may pass by the simulation assembly on the ride path, and
• wherein the body comprises a transfer table with a first track for capturing the at least one of the passenger vehicles and a second track for guiding the other one of the passenger vehicles along the ride path when the transfer table is moved from an extended position into an inserted position.

A simulator-based amusement park ride, comprising:

• a track;
• passenger vehicles moving on the track at a first speed;
• a simulation assembly configured to present a simulation to at least one of the passenger vehicles while positioned within a simulation space located apart from a ride path defined by the track;
• and
• a mechanism for transferring at least one of the passenger vehicles from the track to the simulation space,
• wherein the transferring mechanism comprises a body for first receiving the at least one of the passenger vehicles and second moving the at least one of the passenger vehicles out of the ride path defined by the track into the simulation space, whereby another one of the passenger vehicles may pass by the simulation assembly on the ride path, and
• wherein the body comprises a turntable rotatable from a first position for receiving the at least one of the passenger vehicles to a second position in which the at least one of the passenger vehicles is positioned in the simulation space.

A simulator-based amusement park ride, comprising:

• a track;
• passenger vehicles moving on the track at a first speed;
• a simulation assembly configured to present a simulation to at least one of the passenger vehicles while positioned within a simulation space located apart from a ride path defined by the track;
• and
• a mechanism for transferring at least one of the passenger vehicles from the track to the simulation space,
• wherein the transferring mechanism comprises a body for first receiving the at least one of the passenger vehicles and second moving the at least one of the passenger vehicles out of the ride path defined by the track into the simulation space, whereby another one of the passenger vehicles may pass by the simulation assembly on the ride path, and
• wherein the body comprises an elevator with a first surface for receiving the at least one passenger vehicles, a lift device for moving the first surface vertically to place the first surface within the simulation space, and a second surface with a track portion for guiding the another one of the passenger vehicles along the ride path.

A ride system, comprising:

• a closed-loop track;
• first and second passenger vehicles each with a multi-degree of freedom base, the first and second passenger vehicles adapted for moving along a ride path defined by the track at a first speed;
• a simulator assembly with an immersion environment located outside the ride path;
• and
• a vehicle transfer mechanism capturing the first passenger vehicle, transferring the first passenger vehicle from the track into the immersion environment, and, with the first passenger vehicle in the immersion environment, guiding the second passenger vehicle along the ride path past the simulator assembly,
• wherein the vehicle transfer mechanism rotates the first passenger vehicle during the transferring step such that the first passenger vehicle is oriented differently in the immersion environment than on the track.

A ride system, comprising:

• a closed-loop track;
• first and second passenger vehicles each with a multi-degree of freedom base, the first and second passenger vehicles adapted for moving along a ride path defined by the track at a first speed;
• a simulator assembly with an immersion environment located outside the ride path;
• and
• a vehicle transfer mechanism capturing the first passenger vehicle, transferring the first passenger vehicle from the track into the immersion environment, and, with the first passenger vehicle in the immersion environment, guiding the second passenger vehicle along the ride path past the simulator assembly,
• wherein the vehicle transfer mechanism comprises a table with a first track and a second track each alignable with the ride path and
• wherein the vehicle transfer mechanism is operable to first capture the first passenger vehicle in the first track and to second move the table to position the first track in the simulation space and concurrently move the second track into an aligned positioned with the ride path, whereby the second passenger vehicle is guided along the ride path.

A ride system, comprising:

• a closed-loop track;
• first and second passenger vehicles each with a multi-degree of freedom base, the first and second passenger vehicles adapted for moving along a ride path defined by the track at a first speed;
• a simulator assembly with an immersion environment located outside the ride path;
• and
• a vehicle transfer mechanism capturing the first passenger vehicle, transferring the first passenger vehicle from the track into the immersion environment, and, with the first passenger vehicle in the immersion environment, guiding the second passenger vehicle along the ride path past the simulator assembly,
• wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a lift device or a robotic arm each operating to lift the first passenger vehicle vertically upward off of the track when the first passenger vehicle is transferred into the simulation space.