New Everest Info

[Lee]

Dox, \
Everest will be a roller coaster, not a Rocket Rod-type attraction.
That is, lift hill takes you up, gravity brings you down. Any LIM or LSM use will be minimal I suspect. It sounds like Universal is using LIMs as the only propulsion on the Mummy, which makes sense due to the fact it's housed in a building, with limited space.
The description of the ride is impressive. I can't wait to see if they can pull it off. Everest should measure up, however. The ride environment and show (Yeti, snow, effects, etc.) promise to match anything the Mummy has to offer, plus the added benefit of a great setting, not a building.

Corrus,
No. A shuttle just goes sort of out and back on the same piece of track. Everest will go out, change directions(and track) a few times, then return to the station in the opposite direction from which it left. Picture Big Thunder, with some swich track in the middle. Get it? It has never been done before.
C'mon, you have much better info than me on this one. Who ya kiddin'?

 

[dox]

Thanks for the comforting words. I guess in reality it benefits all theme park fans esp. disney fans if the mummy is groundbreaking, as it will force Disney and other theme parks to compete and raise the bar. But again we'll see if Uni can actually pull it off. The only two impressive rides they have, whcih is saying alot, are Hulk and Back to Future. I for one have never been to impressed by Spidey. There is way too much hype about that one.

 

[AndyMagic]

Originally posted by dox
Thanks for the comforting words. I guess in reality it benefits all theme park fans esp. disney fans if the mummy is groundbreaking, as it will force Disney and other theme parks to compete and raise the bar. But again we'll see if Uni can actually pull it off. The only two impressive rides they have, whcih is saying alot, are Hulk and Back to Future. I for one have never been to impressed by Spidey. There is way too much hype about that one.

I don't see how Back to the Future and Hulk would be the most impressive rides. In fact, they are both rather underwhelming when compared to Spider-Man, Men in Black, Dueling Dragons, T2: 3D, and Popeye and Bluto. I don't see how you would be impressed by Back to the Future but not impressed by Spider-Man?

 

[dox]

Hey Andy, you know i had a feeling you would respond to my comments. Obviously i'm in the minority on this issue, but hey my opinion. But i'll take each one separately:
Dueling Dragons: Good ride, but as a fellow New Jerseyite, who i'm sure has visited Six Flags Great Adventure...i don't find it any different than batman and not that much better either. And the one at Busch Gard., Montu i believe, is better.
Men in Black: IMO not any different than Buzz, regardless of which came first.
T2:3D: great show no question, but humaninteraction with 3d is dumb and script is almost as bad as the GMR script.
Popeye/Bluto: I agree with you it really is one of the best water rides, but again the theming is so cheap. But i rather ride this than the lame Kali. But Congo River Rapids at Busch is also just as good and even other parks throughout the country have this same exact ride - as does Six Flags.

As for Hulk - hulk is the greatest steel coaster out there right now. And is on dozens of top ten lists of coaster enthusiasts this one included. As for Back to the Future - this is still the greatest of all the simulator motion based rides. And still has the capacity to wow you.

I'm not saying i don't like spider man, i do actually. But i don't think it is that great. Yeah it has a novel idea. But i find the whole thing less than what people claim it to be. I'm sorry but this ride is all about the hype.

 

[CTXRover]

Originally posted by dox

Based on everything on-line today about Mummy at USF what are your thoughts about that ride in comparison to Everest? Will Everest also consist of LIM or will it be the rocket rods type technology? I have to admit i was excited about Everest when I first read about it, but now I'm a bit worried it might be too tame in comparison to Mummy.

The Mummy does sound impressive, but so does Everest with its bamboo forests, glaciers, snow effects, waterfalls, Yeti, etc. Perhaps these effects sound tamer than a 'fire ceiling' (does backdraft at USH have something like this? Just wondering if an effect like this has been somewhat attempted before), but don't forget how dangerous climbing the actual Everest is.

The description for mummy sort of reminds me of the Indiana Jones ride's tomb. Of course, the similarity may end simply with both being "tombs" with Mummy having more "wow" effects. Honestly, I think the Mummy description is a tad overzealous thowing in a lot of "most technologically advanced", "most elaborate themeing", etc. If it is really only going to take 80 million to build it (no small dollar, of course, but pale in comparision to the reports that M:S is costing 150-200 million), I hope Disney finds where they are overspending in developing rides. I am most excited to hear how the Mummy will jump on the car. But I am equally anticipating how Disney will get the Yeti as close to you as humanly possible, as mentioned by Joe Rhode.

I'm really excited for both. I do think however that Everest will be more immersive in environment themeing, but I could be wrong. I think both will take coaster themeing to the next level.

 

[AndyMagic]

Originally posted by CTXRover

The description for mummy sort of reminds me of the Indiana Jones ride's tomb. Of course, the similarity may end simply with both being "tombs" with Mummy having more "wow" effects. Honestly, I think the Mummy description is a tad overzealous thowing in a lot of "most technologically advanced", "most elaborate themeing", etc.

I agree. Universal sure is hyping this thing and I am worried that it won't live up to what they are saying. I like to see a company that has confidence but the press release really went all out. As for the 85 million figure, I have a feeling this is incorrect. If you read the Orlando Sentinel article, it also states that Spider-man cost only 75 million which it obviously didn't. If Spider-Man did cost only 75 million then Universal sure knows how to get a bang for their buck!!

 

[AndyMagic]

Originally posted by dox
Hey Andy, you know i had a feeling you would respond to my comments. Obviously i'm in the minority on this issue, but hey my opinion. But i'll take each one separately:
Dueling Dragons: Good ride, but as a fellow New Jerseyite, who i'm sure has visited Six Flags Great Adventure...i don't find it any different than batman and not that much better either. And the one at Busch Gard., Montu i believe, is better.
Men in Black: IMO not any different than Buzz, regardless of which came first.
T2:3D: great show no question, but humaninteraction with 3d is dumb and script is almost as bad as the GMR script.
Popeye/Bluto: I agree with you it really is one of the best water rides, but again the theming is so cheap. But i rather ride this than the lame Kali. But Congo River Rapids at Busch is also just as good and even other parks throughout the country have this same exact ride - as does Six Flags.

Great Adventure is my home park and I visit it all the time. But I think comparing their rusted, hideous, but fun compact inverted coaster to a near miss, dueling coaster with one of the best queue's ever built is a bit of a stretch. As for Popey and Bluto's theming, it is very well done and is located in Toon Lagoon so of course the themeing on an Asian river expedition will look more impressive no matter what. (Although I will say Disney did an incredible job themeing Kali.) Lastly, how can you say that Men in Black, an 80 million dollar, highly themed adventure with 30+ animatronics and a thrilling, interesting ride system is the same as Buzz. Last time I checked, Buzz was a fun dark ride with cheap cardboard cutouts and some flashing lights with ride vehicles and guns that are made out of light-weight plastic.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Originally posted by AndyMagic
Great Adventure is my home park and I visit it all the time. But I think comparing their rusted, hideous, but fun compact inverted coaster to a near miss, dueling coaster with one of the best queue's ever built is a bit of a stretch. As for Popey and Bluto's theming, it is very well done and is located in Toon Lagoon so of course the themeing on an Asian river expedition will look more impressive no matter what. (Although I will say Disney did an incredible job themeing Kali.) Lastly, how can you say that Men in Black, an 80 million dollar, highly themed adventure with 30+ animatronics and a thrilling, interesting ride system is the same as Buzz. Last time I checked, Buzz was a fun dark ride with cheap cardboard cutouts and some flashing lights with ride vehicles and guns that are made out of light-weight plastic.

It's about Magic...and appeal. Buzz Lightyear appeals to the whole family...Men in Black is slightly more mature. As for Dueling Dragons, like Batman (although Dueling is better), while there may be theming in the queue (clearly moreso in Dueling), the story in both attractions comes to an abrupt end the second guests leave the station. That is a major flaw/discontinuity. Universal seems to be saying that the story will NOT end with Mummy--I will believe that when I see it, but I definitely cannot see this out-doing Indy...lastly, EVEREST will have more than one Animatronic, for the person who asked. It is not JUST the Yeti...there is no telling what magic awaits in the rather large temple built on top of the mountain in front of EVEREST.

 

[Tim G]

Originally posted by Lee


Corrus,
No. A shuttle just goes sort of out and back on the same piece of track. Everest will go out, change directions(and track) a few times, then return to the station in the opposite direction from which it left. Picture Big Thunder, with some swich track in the middle. Get it? It has never been done before.
C'mon, you have much better info than me on this one. Who ya kiddin'?

(BIG grin) I was just wondering what your argument was
on the "shutle thing" that's all...

But you made yourself clear...

 

[FourFourSeven]

Originally posted by dox

As for Hulk - hulk is the greatest steel coaster out there right now.

I disagree - while a great steel coaster, off the top of my head, as a coaster I'd put it behind:

-Millenium Force (Cedar Point)
-Magnum (Cedar Point)
-Desperado (Middle of nowhere, Nevada/CA border)
-Superman: Ride of Steel (Six Flags New England)
-Raging Bull (Six Flags Great America)

I'd also put it behind a bunch of wooden coasters. Still, it is a great coaster

Interestingly enough, while I think few coaster enthusiasts would argue that Hulk is a better coaster than Rock 'n Roller, I would argue that Rock 'n Roller is a far better and entertaining theme park attraction, with the preshow, the darkness, the music, etc. And frankly, Rock 'n Roller isn't all that themed compared to some Disney stuff.

I'm pretty enthusiastic about Everest not as a roller coaster, but as an attraction. I can ride great coasters at Six Flags less than an hour from home, and phenomenal coasters at Cedar Point less than a five hour drive away. I can only experience great attractions to Orlando. A new cool coaster won't make me visit Orlando any quicker. A new cool attraction will.

 

[Lee]

Originally posted by FourFourSeven
I disagree - while a great steel coaster, off the top of my head, as a coaster I'd put it behind:

-Millenium Force (Cedar Point)
-Magnum (Cedar Point)
-Desperado (Middle of nowhere, Nevada/CA border)
-Superman: Ride of Steel (Six Flags New England)
-Raging Bull (Six Flags Great America)

OFF TOPIC ALERT!
Gotta throw my 2 cents in here:
Coasters are very much a matter of taste, so it's hard to disagree, other than to state your preference.
I like Hulk quite a bit. In fact I like it better than at least 2 on your list.

Magnum - Yawn. Historically important, but too rough now. Not all that fun to ride.
Desperado - Ouch! Ranks up there with it's cousin in Vegas, the Man-hurtin' Express, as the most painful coaster in the west. (Except Ghostrider, the wooden mugging)

Millenium Force - Great coaster. Tall. Smooth. Fast. But hard to compare a giga with Hulk for me. Hulk offers a totally different experience.
I haven't been on Raging Bull, or any other B&M hyper, nor have I been on the Superman, but as an Intamin hyper, I see it as a junior Millie.

To make a long story short (too late), they are all good coasters.

But...........you'll find me hanging out at G-Force Records.

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by Lee
Magnum - Yawn. Historically important, but too rough now. Not all that fun to ride.

i gotta agree. Magnum is slipping. Last summer, when i went to CP, I walked on it.... THRICE (that's 3 times for those of you who didn't know.. )

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

Originally posted by mkt
i gotta agree. Magnum is slipping. Last summer, when i went to CP, I walked on it.... THRICE (that's 3 times for those of you who didn't know.. )

Yeah I have done that. But then again,Cedar Point ( less than a 2 hour drive for me by the way:animwink: ) still has hands down, the best coasters. MF, MXL200, Raptor, Mantis, Mean Streak, not to mention the brand new Top Thrill Dragster! Nothing in my honest opinion can compare with CP when it comes to thrill rides, Universal spends to much time competing with disney (who they obviously cannot ) while they should be concentrating on CP.

 

[AndyMagic]

Originally posted by ArchiDanDisney
Universal spends to much time competing with disney (who they obviously cannot ) while they should be concentrating on CP.

Why would Universal compete with a park 1000's of miles away that poses zero threat to them?

 

[mkt]

Originally posted by AndyMagic
Why would Universal compete with a park 1000's of miles away that poses zero threat to them?

Bragging Rights... who has the #1 coaster. So on, so forth...

 

[ArchiDanDisney]

Originally posted by AndyMagic
Why would Universal compete with a park 1000's of miles away that poses zero threat to them?

Simple...ACE ranks Cedar Point NUMERO UNO. Top Dog in the coaster world. Universal appears to be trying to create a themed thrill park. But they a skippin on the thrills and losing to CP.