I thought of a couple of possible symbolisms for the theme park ride ... it goes around in a circle, so maybe this could reprsent the passage of time? Like the earth revolves, you are awake for a while, then go to sleep, underground so to speak, then re-emerge again? It could also represent maybe life or death, life above ground, death below ground? So when you fly away, you leave the passage of time behind, and also leave the barrier of life/death behind?

So maybe that is why you are able to see the friend who passed, and also why you are able to play with the band you hadn't had time to play with, becasue life/death/time are no longer barriers when you fly away?
