LUDPAT IN CHARGE: EPISODE 3 - MERLIN'S CASTLE MAGIC TOUR

APOLOGY: Dear non-Italian-speaking readers, I haven't  translate Episode 2 as it requires VERY specific knowledge of Italian theme park Gardaland, of which some of you might have never even heard of, to be fully appreciated. Still, if at least one reader would be interested in an English version I might do it, just ask ;)
While the following attraction is inspired by a former show in Gardaland, it requires little to no previous knowledge thanks to its very generic nature.

MERLIN'S CASTLE MAGIC TOUR

TYPE: Trackless dark ride

PARK: I imagined this ride for Gardaland (near Verona, Italy), but, as it involves a fairly generic fantasy theme, it could fit in any park with a fantasy or medieval theme.

Merlin's Castle in Gardaland, source: Gardalandtribe.com 

INTRODUCTION AND IDEA: In 1995 Gardaland opened the attraction IL CASTELLO DI MAGO MERLINO (Merlin’s Castle) . It was an animatronic show that, in 6/7 minutes, told a story (in many ways similar to the one you will read further on) culminating in a battle between Merlin and evil wizard Syberius.

The show actually should have been the preshow of a - never built - major medieval-themed attraction that was to be built in later years.

The show was dismissed in the early 2000s and replaced first by several magic shows and at last, in 2014, by a restaurant (formerly Speck Stube, now Merlin Stube). Some scenery is still visible today.

Driven by nostalgia, I re-imagined an attraction themed to the wizard's castle. In the story of my own version some elements remain from the plot of the original attraction, but I added an “introductory” part inspired by Mystic Manor (at Hong Kong Disneyland). Another source of inspiration for the plot is THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE, a 2010 film.

The premise is very simple: Merlin decided to allow us to visit his castle. But something will not go as intended...

THE EXPERIENCE

QUEUE: First we walk through Merlin's greenhouse, then we enter his Castle, walking through corridors furnished with paintings (some of them are animated), tapestries and armors. Inside the castle we are told, via images and inscriptions, the story of how Merlin defeated the wicked Morgana Le Fay and imprisoned her in a vase.

Gardalandtribe.com 

PRESHOW: Merlin (in the form of video) welcomes us in a simple living room with a few books and some armchairs. A window is open facing “outside”, you can see the moon in the sky. The wizard welcomes us, but he apologizes immediately because he can not take us through his home because he has to go to the moon to get some stardust. Barely an inconvenience: it will be Ortagus, a pig with bat's wings and Merlin's helper, to take us on a tour of the castle.

The character on the bottom right inspired Ortagus, source: Gardalandtribe.com

Merlin then makes a ladder magically appear from nowhere and, passing through the window, makes the ladder stretch till the Moon. He waves us goodbye and begins to climb the ladder.

Ortagus is happy not to be under the oppressive supervision of Merlin for once and already plans to have fun and entertain us with magic ...

LOADING AREA: in a stone corridor illuminated by torches and candelabras, with some paintings, we embark on 4-seat wagons (magic armchairs). They leave the station 3 at a time.

Gardalandtribe.com

Vehicle for Mystic Manor trackless dark ride, source: wdwradio.com

Themeparkinsider.com

SCENE 1. We are in the library. Ortagus decides to open Merlin's Magic book and utters a spell of which he ignores the effects. Nothing seems to happen (Ortagus doesn't notice that, but the pot of a plant behind him catches fire). He goes on to try another spell so some books in the bookcase begin to move and some pieces of furniture move as well . We move on to enter the laboratory.

USites.google.com

S2. The laboratory is full of strange ampoules and bottles. A big cauldron is in the middle of the room. The vehicles travel around the room and different effects are activated in front of them (each magic armchair will see different effects). Meanwhile, Ortagus utters another spell and evokes a creature from the cauldron. While a big paw with claws is coming out of the cauldron and smoke fills the room, we flee to the next room, passing by a window from which we see Merlin climbing the ladder to the Moon.

Laboratory, source: Stock.adobe.com 

S3. We pass briefly through a room full of mirrors that reveal to us that we are surrounded by butterflies, fairies and elves.

S4. [Scene with screens] We arrive in a room full of Eastern (Chinese and Egyptian) amulets, vases and armors. Here Ortagus breaks a large vase from which the wicked Morgana Le Fay, who had been imprisoned in it by Merlin, comes out. Nothing can stop her if she manages to find the parchment featuring the spell that will grant her dominion over the whole world! (We get to know that because she tells us) To prevent us from hindering her, she turns the armors  (now animated by her magic) against us and then she disappears. As we flee, Ortagus has an idea…

Morgan Le Fay, designed by Anikó Salamon for the videogame "King Arthur II: The Role-Playing Wargame", source: Wikipedia.com

S5. Ortagus takes us to the basement where several threatening magical creatures are kept in cages. There are giant spiders, griffins and so on. Ortagus opens a large cage kept in the darkness. We do not know what has been freed, but two large yellow eyes can be seen opening from the furthest side of the cage. As we move away, we hear a loud roar.

What mysterious creature might be in the cage?, source: Tokkoro.com

S6. [Scene partly on screens] We go back to the library, now ransacked by Morgana. The sorceress  has found the spell and is pronouncing the magic formula. The room is filled with clouds made of magical smoke, but suddenly a crack is opened in the wall and the head of a huge dragon (animatronic) enters through that crack. The dragon turns Morgana into a statue with his breath and then sets fire to everything. As the dragon is about to turn its attention to us, Merlin comes back, casting a spell to make the beast fall asleep.

The dragon that used to be part of the Merlin's Castle animatronic show, source: Gardalandtribe.com

Gardalandtribe.com

S7. In a destroyed laboratory and with Morgana who has now become a statue, Merlin reproves Ortagus for putting us in danger, while the dragon sleeps peacefully. Then the magician and his helper wave us goodbye and we go back to the loading/unloading area.

Gardalandtribe.com

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