Everest Ride System

[wishiwere@wdw]

Actually, I think the other 3 are WED enterprises are they not? Paris is the only Mine train by Vekoma in a Disney park last time I checked. I also don't know how much I believe this 3 coaster deal stuff. Its been mentioned all over the various coaster board sites that no such deals exist.

Personally though, I think that S&S Arrow would be a runner up because this will involve a custom and radical design that they are very well known for. Vekoma is more of a out-of-box type of company. Even RNRC can be found without its building at Six Flags in Holland. Exact same layout without being enclosed. http://www.rcdb.com/installationdetail769.htm

How many hang'n-bang SLC clones are there? (Mind Eraser) Oh, what about the boomerangs?

Regardless, I agree with Dogsrule! that Disney is not going to build a 100million dollar coaster that is bad. Vekoma, B&M, Intiman, S&S-Arrow, or whoever, I'm sure we will all enjoy it!

 

[Lee]

True, in most places, Big Thunder is listed as being by "WED Imagineering" or some other name for Imagineering.
However, as most people know, WDI does not fabricate roller coasters. They design the layout and setting, and the manufacturer builds the ride. All Big Thunders were designed by WDI, and acturlly built (the ride system) by Vekoma.
There was a three coaster deal with Vekoma, but it has been fulfilled (Space in Paris, 2 RnRCs). If Everest is a Vekoma, it is part of a new deal.

Vekoma does do custom layouts, see the link I posted above. Even RnRC was a custom design that was later sold to six Flags with severe restrictions on themeing, etc.

 

[pyschotropic]

According to the information released I believe it says the ride will go both forwards and backwards though still continue to be a full circuit coaster, this leads me to believe that the ride system will use a number of mechanisms to handle the cars onto forward and backwards track segments of the circuit. As many people know when Disney builds a ride they usually own the patent that could keep any other park from building the same thing so the coaster must be a custom design built for Disney, Intamin or Vekoma would probably be the most likely however I am guessing Intamin because of their ability to make custom designs unique to an individual park.

 

[Coasterbp]

Originally posted by Lee
True, in most places, Big Thunder is listed as being by "WED Imagineering" or some other name for Imagineering.
However, as most people know, WDI does not fabricate roller coasters. They design the layout and setting, and the manufacturer builds the ride. All Big Thunders were designed by WDI, and acturlly built (the ride system) by Vekoma.
There was a three coaster deal with Vekoma, but it has been fulfilled (Space in Paris, 2 RnRCs). If Everest is a Vekoma, it is part of a new deal.

Vekoma does do custom layouts, see the link I posted above. Even RnRC was a custom design that was later sold to six Flags with severe restrictions on themeing, etc.

I don't think that Vekoma had ANYTHING to do with the two original BTMs. These rides are 25 years old. What year did Vekoma start manufacturing coasters? I don't know, but I'll have to check. And if Vekoma DID manufacture the first two BTMs, how come they don't list that as something they've built? Seems to me that if you built two of the most famous coasters in the world, that I would want to put that on my credits.

If Vekoma DID have anything to do with the first two BTMs, I think that they only thing they did was manufacture the track, which I doubt, because the ride system is all Disney, and the track isn't that complex at all.

Also, as a side note...the article that was released in Amusement Business about EE, lists Vekoma as the manufacturer.

-=BP

 

[DigitalDisney]

Riddle me this....

Okay, we still don't know how the trains are going to turn around.

The trains could:
a) Stop on a section of track that rotates., so the train still progresses in the same direction on the track (although facing the opposite direction)
b) Stop on a section of track while a piece of track behind the train switches to another track, so the train actually changes directions when it leaves the track.
c) The cars actually rotate while they're on the track

If option C is the case, then the coaster may very well be made by Arrow and it may be a modified version of X, where the vehicles rotate on a different axis

Although Disney has done a lot of business with Vekoma of late, I suspect this will be an Intamin attraction.

Intamin has worked with Disney recently, so they already have their foot in the door.

Intamin has also created some creative rides, such as bobsleds, water coasters, super-launch rides (Superman: The Escape and Top Thrill Dragster) and Disney's own Indiana Jones coaster in Paris (note that this goes backwards).

 

[Lee]

Originally posted by Coasterbp
I don't think that Vekoma had ANYTHING to do with the two original BTMs. -=BP

Yep, they did.
Vekoma changed from an industrial steel fabricator to amusement rides in the 1960's, then began to focus mainly on coasters in the 1970's.
They did not "design" Big Thunder Mtn., but did fabricate the track and build the ride systems. The reason they don't mention it, is the same as with other vendors Disney works with, Disney discourages it. They want to keep up the illusion that WDI creates and builds attractions.
Of course we now know that isn't true, even as far back as Arrow's involvement with pretty much every ride in Disneyland on opening day.

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Originally posted by DigitalDisney


Intamin has also created some creative rides, such as bobsleds, water coasters, super-launch rides (Superman: The Escape and Top Thrill Dragster) and Disney's own Indiana Jones coaster in Paris (note that this goes backwards).

How did the Indiana Jones Coaster in Paris go backwards?

 

[Moustronaut]

Originally posted by Hank Scorpio
How did the Indiana Jones Coaster in Paris go backwards?

The just put the car on the track backwards. the whole ride runs backwards so there is no switching

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Originally posted by DigitalDisney
Riddle me this....

Okay, we still don't know how the trains are going to turn around.

The trains could:
a) Stop on a section of track that rotates., so the train still progresses in the same direction on the track (although facing the opposite direction)
b) Stop on a section of track while a piece of track behind the train switches to another track, so the train actually changes directions when it leaves the track.
c) The cars actually rotate while they're on the track

If option C is the case, then the coaster may very well be made by Arrow and it may be a modified version of X, where the vehicles rotate on a different axis

Although Disney has done a lot of business with Vekoma of late, I suspect this will be an Intamin attraction.

Intamin has worked with Disney recently, so they already have their foot in the door.

Intamin has also created some creative rides, such as bobsleds, water coasters, super-launch rides (Superman: The Escape and Top Thrill Dragster) and Disney's own Indiana Jones coaster in Paris (note that this goes backwards).

I vote for B...

A seems like it would take too long (although...this will have slow elements...so...maybe)

C would be neat but...I'm looking at the concept art...and for this to actually feel like a "Train" or "Minetrain" like shown...the cars wouldn't actually "turn"

B would be the best bet (In my eyes)...if the train went and came to a stop, then the track switches behind it...it goes careening down backwards...making it seem like it's out of control

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by WDWFREAK53
I vote for B...

A seems like it would take too long (although...this will have slow elements...so...maybe)

C would be neat but...I'm looking at the concept art...and for this to actually feel like a "Train" or "Minetrain" like shown...the cars wouldn't actually "turn"

B would be the best bet (In my eyes)...if the train went and came to a stop, then the track switches behind it...it goes careening down backwards...making it seem like it's out of control

That's what I had been arguing. This would allow for a nice show scene when the train stops, and guests would not even notice the track behind them switching around. That's the type of switch over I was talking about--the ones that allow for you to load guests onto two trains at the same time in queues, by switching to connect with one track for one train, and the other for the next train. It's a fast system, has been used for years, and makes it possible to make the train change from heading forwards to backwards w/o the guests noticing.

By the way, if you look closely at the picture, which screamscape has a nice zoom in on, you can clearly see that the trains will have five cars, three rows each--that is the style of the Vekoma mine train coaster car, so that may clear up any issues of which company Disney has chosen

 

[Coasterbp]

Originally posted by DigitalDisney

Although Disney has done a lot of business with Vekoma of late, I suspect this will be an Intamin attraction.

It's VE-KO-MA. VEKOMA. It's already been published in Amusement Business that the company building Expedition Everest is VEKOMA. There's no question about it anymore.

-=BP

 

[Lee]

The trains are very interesting looking, what with the engine in the back, and all.

 

[jwbeck3]

So is this not going to be a big "thrill" ride anymore? All the releases say family attraction, and kids 42 inches can ride......so will it not be too thrilling?

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by jwbeck3
So is this not going to be a big "thrill" ride anymore? All the releases say family attraction, and kids 42 inches can ride......so will it not be too thrilling?

all Disney attractions are family attractions... it just depends on the family...:lol:

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

Rob is right, ToT and RNRC are still family attractions

 

[CTXRover]

Originally posted by jwbeck3
So is this not going to be a big "thrill" ride anymore? All the releases say family attraction, and kids 42 inches can ride......so will it not be too thrilling?

Well, let's just put it this way, it looks like it will be pretty "thrilling". Consider the fact that part of it runs backward and has the longest drop at any WDW park. I think I'm pretty safe saying it won't have inversions, but it does look like there will be some pretty intense turns and drops, etc.

 

[ISTCrew20]

In another post, i said it was vekoma. I still think it is, but notice the track and the way its shaped. It's triangular steel. Same as Millenium Force and the Superman coasters, Which were designed by Intimin. Very Interesting.

 

[ToTBellHop]

This will certainly be the most thrilling ride at Animal Kingdom, and with the backward portions, moderately high speed of 55 mph (fast for a mine train ride), and the tallest drop at Disney World, I would expect it to be thrilling. This ride is, as Michael Eisner explained, geared toward teenage males (I believe he called it "testosterone-driven"...interesting choice of words, but we get the picture). Even though it is geared toward that group, technically most kids over age 5 or 6 will be tall enough to ride, so they can call it a "family thrill ride". And with the child-swap, technically all Disney rides will cater to all families--doesn't necessarily mean your entire family will actually RIDE, but this ride will not, necessarily, separate families

 

[CTXRover]

Originally posted by DogsRule!
This will certainly be the most thrilling ride at Animal Kingdom, and with the backward portions, moderately high speed of 55 mph (fast for a mine train ride), and the tallest drop at Disney World, I would expect it to be thrilling.

Isn't RnRC like 60mph? I think that is pretty fast. Obviously EE won't have a fast lauch, since that wouldn't fit the story or look, but careening 55mph through a mountain will seem pretty fast (especially if you are going backwards at 55mph). Can I ask where you got the info it will be 55mph? I'm pretty sure I read that before too, but I'm just wondering if it is confirmed.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by CTXRover
Isn't RnRC like 60mph? I think that is pretty fast. Obviously EE won't have a fast lauch, since that wouldn't fit the story or look, but careening 55mph through a mountain will seem pretty fast (especially if you are going backwards at 55mph). Can I ask where you got the info it will be 55mph? I'm pretty sure I read that before too, but I'm just wondering if it is confirmed.

It was in an Orlando Sentinel article that you can find on another thread. Here is the part of the article pertaining to EVEREST:

"Rohde, who headed the Disney creative team on the Expedition Everest project, said the ride will be a "fast, freezing" adventure. Although the coaster's top speed will be a relatively modest 55 mph, he said, the thrills will come when riders "fall fast in the darkness and the cold."

The ride's theme "story" involves the folklore of the legendary yeti, or abominable snowman. Guests will ride an old mountain railway from the foot of Mount Everest's icy canyons for a "face-to-muzzle" showdown with the creature. "

Cheers!