New Harry Potter Coaster Confirmed for 2019 (Dragon's Challenge Closing Sept 4th)

[Disneyhead'71]

Racing Raptors?

After Lighting Rod, I don't know how excited the industry would be to pair up RMC with a launch anytime soon.

They should have had Intamin do the launch mechanism. You could bolt some Intamin style LSMs to a raptor rail pretty easily. And I wasn't meaning dueling Raptors. Just duel load platforms and a track switch like the Mummy has.

 

[matt9112]

Normally I don't have an issue with unthemed exposed coaster track. However, Rockit, like Dragons, is an ugly coaster. It throws off the forced perspective of the New York facades, it's in dire need of a paint job and a new banner, and it contributes to the trashy look of the entire front of USF. It also has an excessively loud lift motor so the entire front area of the park hears a constant motor noise. Oh and the playlist hasn't been updated since it opened in 2009, even though that would be the easiest thing to do. I would not mind if Rockit was removed for a better coaster.

Dragons was not a themed coaster, only the queue was themed. The coaster itself was a tangled mess of steel over a mucky pond and no landscaping. Compare this to Montu, which actually dives into themed trenches and tunnels.

Hulk, Manta, Kraken, and Mako, everything at Busch Gardens, and even Slinky are all examples of how to do an "unthemed" coaster that is still aesthetically pleasing and doesn't detract from the area it's in.

i agree rock it looks bad from many angles however to be fair i think the linited view from outside the park actually looks nice. to your point i think the vertical lift was choosen ironically to be smaller and have less impact but the noise is excessive.

 

[Tom Morrow]

While on Montu you can really only see the theaming if you ride in the front row. The rest of the seats on the coaster block all views of pretty much everything. That’s why Dragons didn’t matter to me or Raptor or other inverted coasters. And to be honest, most people don’t ride Rocket for its theming.

...but either way, Dragons would have been better if it had similar tunnels and trenches.

 

[JoeCamel]

...but either way, Dragons would have been better if it had similar tunnels and trenches.

But the replacement will be worlds better than either. Unless you are into thrill coasters but that is what IOA is isn't it? At least that is what I have heard somewhere......

 

[Disneyhead'71]

But the replacement will be worlds better than either. Unless you are into thrill coasters but that is what IOA is isn't it? At least that is what I have heard somewhere......

Uni is splitting the dif. Replacing 2 very similar thrill coasters with one highly themed family coaster and one thrill coaster in JP. That way everyone gets something.

Well except the Disney fans who think any ride that moves is an insane death machine. They prefer "rides" like Philharmagic.

 

[MisterPenguin]

Well except the Disney fans who think any ride that moves is an insane death machine. They prefer "rides" like Philharmagic.

What?! I'm constantly arguing with "Disney fans" who hit a park's three 'thrill rides' and then moan that there's nothing to do and every WDW park is just a half-day park because if it doesn't move, it's not a ride, and rides are the only thing worth doing over and over and over again.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

What?! I'm constantly arguing with "Disney fans" who hit a park's three 'thrill rides' and then moan that there's nothing to do and every WDW park is just a half-day park because if it doesn't move, it's not a ride, and rides are the only thing worth doing over and over and over again.

The mantra I keep hearing is, "All the rides need to be family friendly including lap sitting for infants and won't hurt Grammy with the pacemaker."

 

[OG Runner]

The mantra I keep hearing is, "All the rides need to be family friendly including lap sitting for infants and won't hurt Grammy with the pacemaker."

Yes, I have often seen people with lap sitting infants and Grammys riding Rock n' Roller Coaster and Everest. Sorry, but there
are time when I really can't believe, you believe, some of the stuff you type.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Yes, I have often seen people with lap sitting infants and Grammys riding Rock n' Roller Coaster and Everest. Sorry, but there
are time when I really can't believe, you believe, some of the stuff you type.

In this very thread @DarleneBurrows has been having a fit because this is a ride that doesn't accommodate the entire family.

 

[lazyboy97o]

In this very thread @DarleneBurrows has been having a fit because this is a ride that doesn't accommodate the entire family.

Jordan is an obnoxious troll.

 

[DarleneBurrows]

In this very thread @DarleneBurrows has been having a fit because this is a ride that doesn't accommodate the entire family.

My crux, is after travelling with my parents (who aren't thrill seekers, but don't enjoy tame kiddie rides either) that Universal does suffer massively to get that middle ground in making attractions for everyone. It used to, but now it's either cheap lazy screens, or attractions for very small children, or a adrenalin thrill paced attraction that puts off alot of the 'middle of the road' people like my family members.

This Harry Potter coaster is essentially just another thrill seeking attraction - they simply have struggled these past few years to make that top tier attraction that anyone in the family (from small children, to thrill seekers) can be satisfied. My parents for example, can do none of the two major Potter attractions.

 

[Jon81uk]

My crux, is after travelling with my parents (who aren't thrill seekers, but don't enjoy tame kiddie rides either) that Universal does suffer massively to get that middle ground in making attractions for everyone. It used to, but now it's either cheap lazy screens, for small children, or a adrenalin thrill paced attraction that puts off alot of the 'middle of the road' people like my family members.

This Harry Potter coaster is essentially just another thrill seeking attraction - they simply have struggled these past few years to make that top tier attraction that anyone in the family (from small children, to thrill seekers) can be satisfied. My parents for example, can do none of the two major Potter attractions.

It is at least replacing an even more thrilling rollercoaster.

Gringotts isn't as much of a rollercoaster as people think before they ride. It only has a 42" height restriction and I would say any kid who is old enough to read the Harry Potter books and understand the content is old enough to experience the ride. "Family-friendly" doesn't have to mean a slow moving boat ride, many many families have now grown up with rollercoasters being normal.

 

[Princess Leia]

It is at least replacing an even more thrilling rollercoaster.

Gringotts isn't as much of a rollercoaster as people think before they ride. It only has a 42" height restriction and I would say any kid who is old enough to read the Harry Potter books and understand the content is old enough to experience the ride. "Family-friendly" doesn't have to mean a slow moving boat ride, many many families have now grown up with rollercoasters being normal.

All of the warning signs in the queue for Gringotts prepared me for a ride that I definitely did not experience. Compared to Everest (and maybe Space), it was much tamer, or at least that’s what I remember.

Forbidden Journey, on the other hand, is probably okay if you happen to take a lot of Dramamine or Bonine before you ride (like I did).

Would it be nice to get a slower moving HP ride at some point? Of course. But I think the point should be made that Gringotts isn’t as bad as the warning signs make it out to be.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

My crux, is after travelling with my parents (who aren't thrill seekers, but don't enjoy tame kiddie rides either) that Universal does suffer massively to get that middle ground in making attractions for everyone. It used to, but now it's either cheap lazy screens, for small children, or a adrenalin thrill paced attraction that puts off alot of the 'middle of the road' people like my family members.

This Harry Potter coaster is essentially just another thrill seeking attraction - they simply have struggled these past few years to make that top tier attraction that anyone in the family (from small children, to thrill seekers) can be satisfied. My parents for example, can do none of the two major Potter attractions.

Why would you assume Universal is trying to make rides for everyone. I believe that Universal is actively trying to dissuade the stroller brigade. They know people will bring toddlers anyway, so they build cool playgrounds for the knee high screamin' snot monsters.

Just like you say, if you want coasters go to 6 Flags. Universal says, if you want to bring toddlers to a park go to Disney or Legoland.

 

[lebeau]

My crux, is after travelling with my parents (who aren't thrill seekers, but don't enjoy tame kiddie rides either) that Universal does suffer massively to get that middle ground in making attractions for everyone. It used to, but now it's either cheap lazy screens, for small children, or a adrenalin thrill paced attraction that puts off alot of the 'middle of the road' people like my family members.

This Harry Potter coaster is essentially just another thrill seeking attraction - they simply have struggled these past few years to make that top tier attraction that anyone in the family (from small children, to thrill seekers) can be satisfied. My parents for example, can do none of the two major Potter attractions.

If I were tasked with designing a ride to keep @DarleneBurrows happy, I wouldn't even know where to start!

Non-thrill seekers who don't like "kiddie" rides is an incredibly narrow niche. What qualifies? Fallon? You seem to hate that. You can't seriously expect Universal (or anyone) to tailor a theme park to that demographic.

I think Universal's marketing makes it pretty clear they are not in the "everything for everyone" business. They play up the fact that the place is accessible to families with kids, but the children have to grow into it.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

All that said, Universal's goal for this coaster isn't to cater to toddlers, but to blow Everest and Tron out of the water.

 

[DarleneBurrows]

If I were tasked with designing a ride to keep @DarleneBurrows happy, I wouldn't even know where to start!

Non-thrill seekers who don't like "kiddie" rides is an incredibly narrow niche. What qualifies? Fallon? You seem to hate that. You can't seriously expect Universal (or anyone) to tailor a theme park to that demographic.

I think Universal's marketing makes it pretty clear they are not in the "everything for everyone" business. They play up the fact that the place is accessible to families with kids, but the children have to grow into it.

JAWS (Japan)
SPIDERMAN
HAUNTED MANSION
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN (Shanghai version)

Old Universal attractions : Kong, Jaws

Attractions that anyone can ride, but still provide a thrill seeking experience to satsify everyone. It's lazy to not attempt more of these attractions.

 

[MisterPenguin]

All that said, Universal's goal for this coaster isn't to cater to toddlers, but to blow Everest and Tron out of the water.

It seems like Universal is really saying, "We'll only do high-quality '''E-Ticket''' rides and attractions if and only if they're Harry Potter related."

 

[Bairstow]

It seems like Universal is really saying, "We'll only do high-quality '''E-Ticket''' rides and attractions if and only if they're Harry Potter related."

What do you call Kong?

 

[lazyboy97o]

What do you call Kong?

Disappointing.