Time-configurable water park amusement ride

Abstract

A time configurable water amusement ride of a type including a water course having a floor and upstanding walls for sustaining and directing a flow of water along a water path, a first set of water features along said water path and a second set of water features along said water path. The water course is divided into several thematic zones of activity such as depth charge zone, pipe forest zone, tipping bucket zone, etc. The ride includes a first set of features and a second set of features arrayed along the ride. A timer coupled to the second set of features includes an activation period having a start time and an end time wherein the second set of features are only active during said activation period. Accordingly, the ride can be configured to have repeatable periods throughout the day where only more sedentary features are active, and other periods where more extreme features are active to cater to different participants throughout the day.

We claim:  
     
         1 . An amusement ride comprising: 
 a first set of features;    a second set of features; and    a timer coupled to said second set of features, said timer including an activation period having a start time and an end time,    wherein said second set of features are only active during said activation period.    
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for creating a turbidity within a body of water, comprising: 
 a body adapted to float on a surface of the body of water;    a switch affixed to a bottom of the body of water;    means connecting the floating body to the switch, said switch activated responsive to movement of the floating body relative to the surface of the body of water; and    pump means coupled to a water source for forcing a quantity of water substantially vertically into the body of water in substantially vertical alignment with the floating body.    
     
     
         3 . A feature activation apparatus for use with an amusement ride including a water course having a floor and upstanding walls for sustaining and directing a flow of water along a water path, a first set of water features along said water path and a second set of water features along said water path, the apparatus comprising: 
 a timer for tracking time of a first period and second period contiguous with said first period, said first period and second period repeating over time;    a switch coupled to a water valve for supplying water to the second set of water features, said switch activated only during said second period.    
     
     
         4 . A method for operating a time configurable water amusement ride of a type including a water course having a floor and upstanding walls for sustaining and directing a flow of water along a water path, a first set of water features along said water path and a second set of water features along said water path, the method comprising: 
 programming a timer to include a first period type and a second period type;    coupling said second set of water features to the timer;    activating said second water features only when the timer is on said second period type.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said first period type is longer than said second period type.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second period type is between 1 and 30 minutes long.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the first period and second period combined are between 1 and 2 hours.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the step of only activating the first set of features when the time is on said first period type.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the step of activating the first set of features during the first and the second period type.  
     
     
         10 . A water dousing apparatus comprising: 
 a container having an open top and one or more sidewalls bounding a bottom surface;    a water dispenser positioned above the open top for dispensing water into the container thereby filling the container with water;    means outside of the container for displaying the amount by which the container is filled, said means including a demarcation indicating a designated fill point;    means for tipping the container at the designated fill point to thereby pour water out of the container downward onto participants adjacent the water dousing apparatus.