The 2014 Theme Park Insider Tournament: Mystic Manor vs. Droomvlucht

March 17, 2014, 10:32 AM · Theme Park Insider readers love dark rides, and it's always a pleasure to help draw attention to some of the great themed ride experiences awaiting fans in theme parks around the world. In the first round of the 2014 Theme Park Insider Tournament, you voted on eight top-rated dark rides from theme parks outside the United States. Today and tomorrow, you'll decide which two will face off starting Thursday for the Dark Ride bracket title.

The first semifinal vote? It's Hong Kong Disneyland's Mystic Manor versus Efteling's Droomvlucht.

In round one, Mystic Manor defeated Pooh's Hunny Hunt from Tokyo Disneyland, and Droomvlucht took our Fata Morgana, also from Efteling. Follow those links for descriptions and analysis, or just enjoy the on-ride videos again:

Mystic Manor

Droomvlucht

Time to pick a favorite! You don't need to have ridden either one to vote. Just go with whichever best captures your imagination.

Voting is open for 48 hours in all tournament votes. Tomorrow we will offer the remaining semifinals, in the roller coaster and dark ride brackets.

Replies (13)

James Rao

March 17, 2014 at 10:56 AM · Mystic Manor looks breathtaking. Droomvlucht, not so much. From the outside looking in MM gets my vote. Easily.

Amanda Jenkins

March 17, 2014 at 11:16 AM · Couldn't agree more with James. Mystic Manor is one attraction I would love to experience!

David Brown

March 17, 2014 at 11:40 AM · James and I might have disagreed elsewhere but you'll find no disagreement on this one!

James Rao

March 17, 2014 at 12:01 PM · Phew! I can't handle another debate this week!

TH Creative

March 17, 2014 at 1:38 PM · Mystic Manor looks amazing. But (as always) Rao doesn't know what he is talking about.

Rob Pastor

March 17, 2014 at 1:52 PM · Not very debatable. Mystic Manor looks great and is probably even a lot better in person. I would love to see that as an attraction in the World Showcase at Epcot. Chances of that is close to nil, though.

Daniel Etcheberry

March 17, 2014 at 1:58 PM · Droomvlucht looks corny and low tech. Mystic Manor looks magical and has the latest in technology. Easy choice.

James Rao

March 17, 2014 at 2:02 PM · TH Creative, you are a scholar and a saint. And you are right, I don't know what I am talking about.

How's book 2 coming along, sir?

David Brown

March 17, 2014 at 2:09 PM · James and I might have disagreed elsewhere but you'll find no disagreement on this one!

James Rao

March 17, 2014 at 2:32 PM · ^Agreed x 2!

166.137.156.148

March 17, 2014 at 3:48 PM · Well, I do like to play devil's advocate, and since no one else is defending Droomvlucht... I am sure that that ride is awesome in person. Trippy and kinetic (esp the spiral at the end) and I love that vines and branches pass in front of the ride vehicles, as if we are peering into another world but we are not participants. The music is weird but good. Overall, that ride appears to be a darker more fully-realized version of something like Maelstrom, another ride I really like that doesn't get much love. I, did, however, vote for Mystic Manor, because duh.

James Trexen

March 17, 2014 at 5:20 PM · When's the last time we needed to pull out the mercy rule? In any event, Mystic Manor once again doesn't need my help yet.

Amanda Jenkins

March 17, 2014 at 8:55 PM · Perhaps it is just me, but do the faces of the fairies in Droomvlucht remind anyone else of characters from The Dark Crystal? Had a bit of an 80's flashback while watching the ride video.

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The 2014 Theme Park Insider Tournament: Mystic Manor vs. Droomvlucht

Replies (13)

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