Patent ID: 8517847

Claim:
A system for providing an amusement ride with a generally circular path, comprising: a stationary and centrally-located platform for loading and unloading passengers; and a turntable assembly comprising: a turntable with an upper surface substantially coplanar with an upper surface of the platform, wherein the turntable has a centrally-located hole defined by an inner sidewall for receiving the platform; a plurality of passenger vehicles mounted along an outer edge of the turntable, wherein each of the passenger vehicles is coupled to the turntable with a translation mechanism; and a drive mechanism rotating the turntable about a central axis extending upward through the platform at a substantially constant rate during operation of the ride system, wherein the passenger vehicles are moved through a station space and a show space during a rotation of the turntable about the center axis and wherein the passenger vehicles are loaded and unloaded in the station space via the platform with the drive mechanism operating to rotate the turntable.