Many companies have had a hand in designing famous amusement park rides. Among the most influential through history are Arrow Dynamics, Walt Disney Imagineering, and Universal Creative.
The design of amusement park rides has evolved dramatically over the decades. Early pioneers like Arrow Dynamics pushed engineering limits. Disney and Universal later expanded the industry with immersive storytelling and themed environments. What started as mechanical thrills grew into fully designed guest experiences. Today, that same spirit of innovation continues in modern formats like inflatable theme parks and modular ride systems. These newer attractions make high-impact entertainment more accessible to venues around the world.
At Galaxy Multi Rides, we have a deep appreciation for the history of amusement park rides and the companies that shaped them. Their accomplishments serve as inspiration for modern ride manufacturers. Galaxy strives to bring the same creativity and professionalism to the creation of amusement rides and inflatable theme parks for entertainment venues around the world.
Famous Designers Through History
Some of the biggest leaps in ride design came from a few key companies. They pushed both engineering and creative boundaries, influencing how attractions are built even today.
Here are more details on three of the most famous amusement park ride designers. Arrow Dynamics is considered a pioneer in the amusement park ride design business. Both Disney and Universal design shops have introduced breakthrough attractions and continue to operate to this day.
Many of the best amusement rides came from a spirit of competition among companies. Each aimed to provide guests with the latest and most exciting experiences.
Arrow Dynamics
This former Utah-based company first got into designing roller coasters with the Matterhorn Bobsleds at Disneyland in California. The company went on to participate in the design of such iconic rides as Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and the Corkscrew at Knott’s Berry Farm, the first modern inverted roller coaster. The company also developed the Anaconda at Kings Dominion, the first looping roller coaster that also featured an underwater tunnel. The company built 102 roller coasters around the world, according to the Roller Coaster Database. Arrow Dynamics, which changed hands four times between 1945 and 2002, also worked with Walt Disney Imagineering on Space Mountain.
Walt Disney Imagineering
Known as Disney Imagineering or WED, this is the research and development arm of the Walt Disney Company. WED designs everything that customers experience at Disney theme parks and was originally created to oversee the development of Disneyland. WED is credited with developing the audio-animatronics that feature on many Disney rides, as well as overseeing the development of 12 theme parks.
These companies pioneered steel coasters, animatronics, and immersive environments. The principles behind their work still shape modern attraction design across the industry.
In a famous workshop in 1991, “10 commandments” for WED were issued and credited to then WED vice president Mickey Steinberg. They are of interest to anyone in the amusement and entertainment business.
- Know your audience
- Wear your guest’s shoes (try to experience the parks from the guests’ point of view)
- Organize the flow of people and ideas (tell a story that is organized and logically laid out)
- Create a “Wienie” (Walt Disney’s term for a “visual magnet”)
- Communicate with visual literacy (use a dominant color or shape or building to reinforce a theme)
- Avoid overload (do not offer too much detailed information)
- Tell one story at a time (put one “big idea” in each show so guests leave with a clear understanding of the theme)
- Avoid contradictions – maintain identity
- For every ounce of treatment, provide a ton of treat (take advantage of the distinction of theme parks, which is that it encourages active participation, compared to passive entertainment)
- Keep it up (don’t become complacent or allow things to run down)
Universal Creative
This company was known as MCA Planning and Development from 1968 to 1997. The name then changed to Universal Creative. Like Disney, this is another big design company with engineers, architects, artists, writers, designers and builders. Some of the most famous attractions built by Universal Creative include Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey at Universal Islands of Adventure in Orlando; The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man, also at Islands of Adventure; and film rides such as “Jaws: The Ride” and “E.T. Adventure.”
Ride design has continued to evolve beyond permanent steel structures. Modern attractions now include modular and inflatable formats. These systems allow venues to create large-scale interactive experiences with greater flexibility and faster installation.
Galaxy Multi Rides
This evolution in attraction design has opened the door for modern manufacturers to build on these foundations. Today’s companies combine classic ride design principles with new technologies and systems that make innovative attractions more practical for entertainment venues worldwide.
At Galaxy, this attention to detail and sense of fun is brought to the creation of every ride the company makes. Some of the standouts include the dozens of options for mechanical bulls, the massive amounts of entertainment contained in an InflataPark and, interactive action games.
For 28 years, Galaxy has provided amusement park rides to companies in more than 45 countries. Headquartered in Great Britain and Florida, the company continues to offer some of the most innovative amusement park rides for businesses that want to stay ahead of the competition.
