Since we occasionally meet members of the general public that don't know what a "darkride" is, we asked members to name a common darkride that they would use as an example to explain it. The most common answer was Disney's Haunted Mansion.

We asked what was the most unique darkride in operation today and The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman at Universal's Islands of Adventure in Orlando, FL was the popular answer beating out Hard Rock Park's Nights in White Satin by only a couple of votes.

What were the scariest attractions? Frankenstein's Castle at Indiana Beach, Monticello, IN was the scariest walkthrough while Dinosaur at Disney's Animal Kingdom was the scariest darkride.

On the flip side, Knoebel's Haunted Mansion was voted as the darkride that was the most fun to ride.

Digging into the past, Le Cachot at Kennywood was the favorite defunct darkride and Allotria at Williams Grove was the favorite defunct walkthrough attraction.

Favorite "Dark Attraction Park"

• Kennywood Park (West Mifflin, PA)

The Top Ten Favorite Darkrides

• #10 Pirates of the Caribbean - Magic Kingdom (Orlando, FL)
• #9 Curse of DarKastle - Busch Gardens Europe (Williamsburg, VA)
• #8 Haunted House - Trimpers (Ocean City, MD)
• #7 Haunted Mansion - Funland (Rehoboth, DE)
• #6 The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman - Universal Islands of Adventure (Orlando, FL)
• #5 Whacky Shack - Waldameer (Erie, PA)
• #4 Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Disney's Hollywood Studios (Orlando, FL)
• #3 Ghostwood Estate - Kennywood Park (West Mifflin, PA)
• #2 Haunted Mansion - Magic Kingdom (Orlando, FL)
• #1 Haunted Mansion - Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA)

Top Ten Favorite Walkthrough Attractions

• #10 Nightmares (Niagara Falls, Canada)
• #9 Ripley's Haunted Adventure (Gatlinburg, TN)
• #8 Mysterious Mansion (Gatlinburg, TN)
• #7 Confusion Hill - Idlewild Park (Ligonier, PA)
• #6 Pirates Cove - Trimpers (Ocean City, MD)
• #5 Funhouse - Jenkinson's Boardwalk (Point Pleasant, NJ)
• #4 Ghostly Manor (Sandusky, OH)
• #3 Pirate's Cove - Waldameer Park (Erie, PA)
• #2 Frankenstein's Castle - Indiana Beach (Monticello, IN)
• #1 Noah's Ark - Kennywood Park (West Mifflin, PA)

Top Favorites By Type

• Classic/Traditional Darkride: Haunted Mansion - Knoebel's Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA)
• Modern Darkride: Haunted Mansion - Disney's Magic Kingdom (Orlando, FL)
• Interactive Darkride: Ghostwood Estate - Kennywood Park (West Mifflin, PA)
• Water Darkride: Ye Old Mill - Playland (Rye, NY)
• Crossover/Hybrid Darkride: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - Disney's Hollywood Studio (Orlando, FL)
• Park Halloween Event: Phantom Fright Nights - Kennywood Park (West Mifflin, PA)

 

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For a description of each type of darkride see our What Is A Darkride? section.

Complete survey results are in the Spring 2009 issue of Barrel O' Fun.