Monsters, Inc. Hollywood Studios rumor

[TalkingHead]

They have ATLEAST one E ticket bluesky idea shelved for each park...
- Monster's Coaster
- Fire Mountain
- Excavator
- New world showcase pavilion / WOL opening / Imagination redo

If they just did two or three out of four I could instantly see the "Potter Swatter" everyone seems to talk about.

I realize the notoriety of "ticket" discussions...

But I never got the impression from Lee or anyone else who would know that the Monsters coaster was intended to be an E-ticket.

 

[Timekeeper]

But why do we want each park to have the same experiences? Im kinda sick of disney giving parks the same rides because it takes away from the unique factor at each park? thats the only reason im against the ratatouille and carsland thing at disneyworld.

How about an Indiana Jones ride at the Studios, or even a Transformers ride at Universal? Both of those would be re-themed ride experiences of their "duplicates" in the sister parks.

 

[invader]

I realize the notoriety of "ticket" discussions...

But I never got the impression from Lee or anyone else who would know that the Monsters coaster was intended to be an E-ticket.

Okay, let me rephrase. A boost to each park.

 

[RSoxNo1]

But why do we want each park to have the same experiences? Im kinda sick of disney giving parks the same rides because it takes away from the unique factor at each park? thats the only reason im against the ratatouille and carsland thing at disneyworld.

I'm far more interested in the trackless ride system than whether or not it's a clone of an existing trackless ride. It's a highly sought after ride system and it's exactly what the Studios need to help offset the demand of Toy Story.

I'm sure excavator was the shelved coaster at AK that was seen in the park's concept art... I may be wrong

Excavator was the $120 million alternative to Dino rama that was passed up in favor of the capacity of Dino Rama. It was a wooden roller coaster that was supposed to be built on what ended up being an excavation site. While it's no guarantee, I would guess that if it was built, Everest wouldn't have been built.

 

[Figment1986]

Im still gonna roll with this. IF this order is true, then WDW is really the logical place. SeaWorld is getting a dark ride, what Potter love is coming is believed to be from Priemer(if im not mistaken), Fun Spot bought an existing coaster, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is supposed to get a Drop Tower in 2013 like Mach Tower at BGW.

It might not be for Monsters, but until something changes, I believe its for WDW.

That sounds like the kissimme fun spot, what about the "other" fun spot on I-Drive though... they just got tons of land and announced a water park and two coasters were coming... :lookaroun

 

[ctxak98]

There is really nothing known about what the Attractions are going to be for Avatar at this point because I am sure the insiders this forum has would have leaked them by now in terms of people like Lee, and Raven as examples.

Oh yah ok excavator...remember it now. slipped my mind! But there could be big things that we dont know about yet!? I mean james cameron himself said he wants us to be able to ride on the creatures....im sure thats gotta be some indication as to a ride they are thinking about! right?:veryconfu

 

[maxairmike]

Excavator was the $120 million alternative to Dino rama that was passed up in favor of the capacity of Dino Rama. It was a wooden roller coaster that was supposed to be built on what ended up being an excavation site. While it's no guarantee, I would guess that if it was built, Everest wouldn't have been built.

My one gripe with the Central Florida area is the lack of good wood. Gwazi - by all accounts I've heard - runs horribly, even with the new/refurbed trains. All I ask is for a Gravity Group or GCI on the size of the Cyclone, or even Blue Streak. I don't need a Voyage or El Toro (although Voyage is amazing, and my #1 overall coaster), just something with a good amount of airtime and that classic wooden feel.

 

[stitch2008]

That sounds like the kissimme fun spot, what about the "other" fun spot on I-Drive though... they just got tons of land and announced a water park and two coasters were coming... :lookaroun

I am talking about Fun Spot on I-Drive. They really are the only other candidate. But they recently purchased a SBNO coaster from another park in hopes of refurbishing it and opening in Feb 2013.

And in all honesty, if this initial report is acurate, 24 months is way too long for a coaster scheduled to open in Feb 2013.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You say that but you forget about the Central Florida area...

Nope. Teens still have little disposable income. Trying to attract more would have to include reducing the cost of admission. That is not desirable. The number of guests increases, but average guest spending decreases because the teens will not be buying much while in the park. This is just speaking purely in terms of money and not including negative stereotypes which would likely arise as well.

 

[stitch2008]

My one gripe with the Central Florida area is the lack of good wood. Gwazi - by all accounts I've heard - runs horribly, even with the new/refurbed trains. All I ask is for a Gravity Group or GCI on the size of the Cyclone, or even Blue Streak. I don't need a Voyage or El Toro (although Voyage is amazing, and my #1 overall coaster), just something with a good amount of airtime and that classic wooden feel.

Wooden coasters are much cheaper to build compared to steel. They also usually have higher maitnence costs then steel coasters. Building and operating a wooden coaster is not just a science; its almost an artform. The cuts of the wood, the construction, the annual maitenence. All of that goes into not only opening a good wooden coaster, but keeping it good.

Gravity Group is developing their Timberliners. But those are still a few years from mainstream use. They will appear on Voyage next year. But itll be a few more years before we see them else where.

 

[stitch2008]

One other thing about this rumored "order".

If its true, the recipient of this track has some cash to toss around. Steel coasters are outrageously expensive. Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland alone costs $28 million. Wild Eagle at Dollywood costs $20 million. And thats just to build the darn thing. That doesnt count the cost of years of planning and design it took to create these rides. So if a park is going to S&S, they are taking a gamble. Not only are they going to spend a lot on the coaster, but they are going with products that dont have the reputation.

Really, designer reputation is huge in the industry. Just ask Intamin what Xcelerator, Shoot the Rapids, and I305 did for their reputation. And with massive expense of a steel coaster, you really have to go with who has the best rides and reputation for good rides. A client in this market going for a suspended coaster from S&S is really odd. It says to me, whoever the client is has money to throw around and isnt afraid to take a chance. Because their suspended coasters, while providing different experiences, arent as proven as others.

 

[Absimilliard]

Actually, the Timberliners appeared on two wooden coasters in 2011 and both are great success!

The one thing Disney could build that is a wooden coaster and still "fit" them are the Intamin prefabricated track wooden coasters. El Toro at Six Flags New Jersey is the one existing model in the US.

The prefabricated track wooden coaster use comfortable polyurethane wheeled trains, so they are silent. The track is not cut up and assembled at work site. Instead, a specialised wooden mill in Germany press together wooden pieces and glue them so they are a rigid solid block of wood. Then, they use AUTOCAD to give directions to laser guided saws to cut each piece precisely to what the design says.

 

[Captain Chaos]

Actually, the Timberliners appeared on two wooden coasters in 2011 and both are great success!

The one thing Disney could build that is a wooden coaster and still "fit" them are the Intamin prefabricated track wooden coasters. El Toro at Six Flags New Jersey is the one existing model in the US.

The prefabricated track wooden coaster use comfortable polyurethane wheeled trains, so they are silent. The track is not cut up and assembled at work site. Instead, a specialised wooden mill in Germany press together wooden pieces and glue them so they are a rigid solid block of wood. Then, they use AUTOCAD to give directions to laser guided saws to cut each piece precisely to what the design says.

El Toro is a great wooden coaster... and yes, pretty silent..

 

[ScoutN]

One other thing about this rumored "order".

If its true, the recipient of this track has some cash to toss around. Steel coasters are outrageously expensive. Leviathan at Canada's Wonderland alone costs $28 million. Wild Eagle at Dollywood costs $20 million. And thats just to build the darn thing. That doesnt count the cost of years of planning and design it took to create these rides. So if a park is going to S&S, they are taking a gamble. Not only are they going to spend a lot on the coaster, but they are going with products that dont have the reputation.

Really, designer reputation is huge in the industry. Just ask Intamin what Xcelerator, Shoot the Rapids, and I305 did for their reputation. And with massive expense of a steel coaster, you really have to go with who has the best rides and reputation for good rides. A client in this market going for a suspended coaster from S&S is really odd. It says to me, whoever the client is has money to throw around and isnt afraid to take a chance. Because their suspended coasters, while providing different experiences, arent as proven as others.

Like a $54,000,000.00 Verbolten from Zierer?

 

[stitch2008]

Actually, the Timberliners appeared on two wooden coasters in 2011 and both are great success!

The one thing Disney could build that is a wooden coaster and still "fit" them are the Intamin prefabricated track wooden coasters. El Toro at Six Flags New Jersey is the one existing model in the US.

The prefabricated track wooden coaster use comfortable polyurethane wheeled trains, so they are silent. The track is not cut up and assembled at work site. Instead, a specialised wooden mill in Germany press together wooden pieces and glue them so they are a rigid solid block of wood. Then, they use AUTOCAD to give directions to laser guided saws to cut each piece precisely to what the design says.

You are right. But the coasters that have them are for testing reasons. The next big test for the TImberliners is to be run the second generation versions of the trains on Voyage next season.

El Toro is a great wooden coaster... and yes, pretty silent..

It's a great coaster. Can't believe that some people are so prejudice of the ride.

Like a $54,000,000.00 Verbolten from Zierer?

Yes. Exactly what I mean. This is a great example of reputation. BGT just opened Cheetah Hunt. But BGW didnt trust them and went with Zierer. Verbolten is supposed to be very similar to Thirteen at Alton Towers, which Intamin designed. But its up to individual parks, part of a chain or not, to decide which designer they wish to use. Lets play park owner for a minute. How many of you would choose to not go with a designer who has had a massive history of problems? Just about every single Intamin coaster is delayed for some reason. On top of that, Xcelerator's constant cable issues, Top Thrill Dragsters insane maitenence budget(following two years of costly repairs), Kingda Ka's almost never ending problems(their launch engine just exploded), steady stream of compliants and law suits about their resistraints, massive miscaluclation of a section of Maverick at CP, struggles with every aspect of the Shoot the Rapids ride system(including designing and building the wrong sized boats; and then telling CP it was ok to run with the wrong boats), and the big design problems that plaggued I305 its opening year, are just some of their other problems. So you as the owner, do you wanna work with them?

 

[The Legend]

I am talking about Fun Spot on I-Drive. They really are the only other candidate. But they recently purchased a SBNO coaster from another park in hopes of refurbishing it and opening in Feb 2013.

Which coaster did they buy?

 

[stitch2008]

Which coaster did they buy?

I read on another board, as well as heard from a friend, that Funspot purchased Pedro's Mouse from Pedroland in South Carolina with the hope of refurbishing it. Not that much work to do on it I dont think. But thats the rumor.

I know that isnt a big steel coaster. But the GCI wood coaster is the highlight of what FunSpot is doing.

 

[ScoutN]

Yes. Exactly what I mean. This is a great example of reputation. BGT just opened Cheetah Hunt. But BGW didnt trust them and went with Zierer. Verbolten is supposed to be very similar to Thirteen at Alton Towers, which Intamin designed. But its up to individual parks, part of a chain or not, to decide which designer they wish to use. Lets play park owner for a minute. How many of you would choose to not go with a designer who has had a massive history of problems? Just about every single Intamin coaster is delayed for some reason. On top of that, Xcelerator's constant cable issues, Top Thrill Dragsters insane maitenence budget(following two years of costly repairs), Kingda Ka's almost never ending problems(their launch engine just exploded), steady stream of compliants and law suits about their resistraints, massive miscaluclation of a section of Maverick at CP, struggles with every aspect of the Shoot the Rapids ride system(including designing and building the wrong sized boats; and then telling CP it was ok to run with the wrong boats), and the big design problems that plaggued I305 its opening year, are just some of their other problems. So you as the owner, do you wanna work with them?

SWP&E's new kiddie coasters are all Zierer. You just pointed out the Intamin coaster issues. Take a look at some of their towers, flats, and Escape from Pompeii. I was thrilled to hear that BGW was not going with them. The i305 trim disaster was pretty horrendous. I have ridden it in both trims. If S&S pulls off Ring Racer then they will be golden.

 

[stitch2008]

SWP&E's new kiddie coasters are all Zierer. You just pointed out the Intamin coaster issues. Take a look at some of their towers, flats, and Escape from Pompeii. I was thrilled to hear that BGW was not going with them. The i305 trim disaster was pretty horrendous. I have ridden it in both trims. If S&S pulls off Ring Racer then they will be golden.

Exactly.

Take into consideration the timeframe mentioned by OP as well. Usually that would mean the final section of track is due to be delievered by that said time. So that would mean construction would be taking places 2 years from now. If true, you are looking at an attraction due to open in 2014 or later.

 

[marni1971]

I hope Monsters inc gets going soon because this ride will be spectacular!

You sure about that?

M:I would be a rather short, family thrill coaster based dark ride. A D ticket.