Zweiland
Well-Known Member
At least 17 times, not counting the posts deleted or moved to other threads.
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Spirited News, Observations & Thoughts IV
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ThemeParkJunkee
Well-Known Member
It's really odd but as I get older, my tolerance for roller coasters has increased. I used to get seriously car-sick as a kid and now I can ride almost anything...I'm 56. That is kind of why I go to theme parks more now. Yeah, the back and the ankle are not so accomodating but...there are work-arounds.
JenniferS
When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
This is really funny - I can't go backwards on the Monorail. I actually stood on our most recent trip, even though the backwards facing bench was almost empty. And, I can't go backwards on TTA. Also can't do Star Tours.
But RnRC, ToT, and Space Mountain, I can do all day. EE, I can only do 3 times in a row because of the backwards component.
I ride Behemoth and Leviathan, (front row, no hands the whole way!) all day long at Canada's Wonderland. Here are Leviathan's numbers: 306' (height), 92 (mph), 80 degrees (max. vertical angle). No shoulder restraints.
(Behemoth #'s: 230', 77 mph, 75 degrees)
raymusiccity
Well-Known Member
It's British. They drive on the wrong side of the tracks.
I'm betting the train will be similar to the monorail system, with an 'engine' at each end. You'll see the locomotive pull into the station, without seeing that there's a similar engine at the other end of the train. There aren't any windows, so the illusion is easy to pull off. The train is 'push-pull' without having to switch or turn around. There can be spurs to run as many trains as the demands call for. They could even have a dummy locomotive that never physically pulls away from the station.... Only the passenger compartments move!
The_Mesh_Hatter
Well-Known Member
But do you ever actually fly through the mountains through tunnels and such? Just saying, a mountain doesn't make any more logical sense than what is currently there. Since the supports are kind of a "go-away-grey" it's pretty easy to censor them out on the ride to capture the sensation of flying unsupported. The mountain would just draw MORE attention to the ride's structure.
JenniferS
When you're the leader, you don't have to follow.
Wow, that's a scary (but happy-ending) story.
Did you have your actual heart attack on MS? In the capsule? After the ride? Was your heart ailment a known pre-existing condition?
So glad you're doing better, and are still determined to enjoy the parks. Good for you!
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
Considering they went over budget by $15 million doing what they did, another $150 million in rock work hiding an amazing pair of coasters doesn't seem realistic. In a perfect world, Little Mermaid wouldn't suck. I'm personally interest in seeing what a $500+million Potter land brings since they have twice the funds now that the lame sucky cheap Potter World has blown the roof off of their expectations.I'll always take impressive theming over thrills any day (provided the ride itself is actually good, such as Splash Mountain or even less thrilling ones like Imagination). A mixture of both thrills and incredible theming is great though, but i'm not a fan of mostly unthemed exposed coaster track like Hulk and Dragon Challenge (some aren't too bad, but given the choice I would always prefer the level of theming in rides like Forbidden Journey or Big Thunder and even Everest). I'm glad Universal is beginning to see the merits in building rides heavy on impressive theming such as Forbidden Journey and Gringotts (along with the rumored King Kong ride and whatever else awesomeness they decide to do).
That's not to say I'm dissing people who like coasters (I totally get that and enjoy them to extent myself). But If given the choice between two amazing rides- one with incredible thrills but sparse theming and the other something like a great old fashioned dark ride with little to no thrills but amazing theming, i'll choose the latter. When visiting a theme park, I value theming (it's part of the name after all). Coasters can stay around, but I think many of them would be improved a lot by thematic improvements.
I just can't agree with anyone that would make a claim that a ride like Dragon Challenge wouldn't be infinitely more amazing had they taken the initiative to pull off something similar to this instead of keeping it naked-
592 and counting, yet I remain on 'holiday' ... Look for Spirited News, Observations and Thoughts V coming to a MAGICal realm near you in November 2013 (not 2067 like Pandora as James Cameron said the other night at UNI) I do hope Mrs. Ricky is enjoying her free cruise!!!!
There will be plenty of ripping on both UNI and Disney for promoting and tolerating boorish behavior at their seasonal events. There will be plenty of talking up a certain Tampa park. And there may even be a location for WDW's Club 33, which will likely have a very different name. And word on exactly when Wishes will end. And who knows what else.
Until then, please enjoy this thread ...did the Sentinel really put a story on the JC holiday overlay on its front page and didn't even mention how many vacations for once in a lifers would be ruined by this?
There will be plenty of ripping on both UNI and Disney for promoting and tolerating boorish behavior at their seasonal events. There will be plenty of talking up a certain Tampa park. And there may even be a location for WDW's Club 33, which will likely have a very different name. And word on exactly when Wishes will end. And who knows what else.
Until then, please enjoy this thread ...did the Sentinel really put a story on the JC holiday overlay on its front page and didn't even mention how many vacations for once in a lifers would be ruined by this?
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Do you ever travel to ET's planet or see all the other weird alien animatronic life from the ride in the movie? Nope, but it didn't stop them from adding a bunch of stuff to the ride that wasn't in the movie (that just happens to work incredibly well). Nor do I recall the film version of Jurassic Park's tours taking place on a river in boats. A ton of elements were added to Splash Mountain that weren't ever seen in Song of the South as well (most of the animatronic characters and scenes from the ride aren't from the original stories or movie at all).
Flying through mountain caves and seeing a couple of (perhaps animatronic) trolls, spiders, dragons and other such magical creatures as you fly past them at breakneck speeds could be some truly fantastic stuff to add to such a coaster. Having stuff to look at while you were on the ride like Randy's art above shows would only plus the ride (I don't think it would make the supports any more or less obvious at all) as well as give non-riders a more immersive and non-distracting environment to enjoy and walk around in.
I never said it was realistic given budget restrictions, what they accomplished within that budget is unquestionably great. At the time, Universal was less willing to take huge risks with money to build attractions and lands like this that they didn't know would be such successes. They appear to have opened their minds with Potter 1.0's success (and hopefully Gringotts is even better and also attracts serious crowds if it is). The $500 million a year pledged by Universal for rides sounds amazing.
But no one will convince me that Dragon Challenge as it is isn't a major distraction and doesn't stand out poorly next to the rest of the brilliantly designed Hogsmeade and Castle. Nor will anyone convince me that it wouldn't have been an improvement to have been covered with a rockwork mountain range. I think that would have been well worth $150 million to iron out the thematic blemishes the land currently has.
And i'd say that had it simply been built 20-25 years ago, Little Mermaid wouldn't suck (i'm not completely of the opinion it sucks outright but agree it's disappointing). That wasn't a perfect world either (perhaps a better one in many ways but not perfect by any means), just one where Disney still made world class rides at all of their parks and didn't waste money and value engineer everything (and still had an amazing imagineering department).
Disneyhead'71
Well-Known Member
But they didn't have $150 million laying around to use not building new attractions. Another $150 million May get something better than a broken Yeti and a bird on a stick. Woulda, shoulda, coulda, has no relevance in what could be in light of what has been produced.
Bairstow
Well-Known Member
You don't have to answer this if you don't want to (or can't), but did you sign any sort of hold harmless agreement with Disney before or during your receiving this care?
the.dreamfinder
Well-Known Member
We were discussing Dueling Dragons/Dragon Challenge's exposed track and entrance/queue. I thought if you had time you may be interested in sharing your perspective.
MerlinTheGoat
Well-Known Member
Not entirely sure what point YOU are trying to get across there, but my point was that intricately well themed coasters (regardless of thrills) are better than unthemed naked ones. At least in parks on the level of Disney and Universal. Some people seem to think theming is unnecessary in such attractions, and I disagree entirely with that idea. I brought Dragon Challenge up as an example of how having an unthemed coaster can be inappropriate, ugly and distracting.
It's how I feel about Chester & Hester at Animal Kingdom, clashes and doesn't fit at all with anything else in the park (regardless of the story they came up with, it's ugly and stupid looking). I don't think just because the rest of a project is awesome and amazing, the blemishes should be forgotten and forgiven. I do think that in the future Universal should revisit Potter 1.0 and address the thematic intrusions caused by the exposed and unthemed coaster track.
Broken Yeti is just a byproduct of poor maintenance and was likely avoidable had the builders just done their job properly (likely wouldn't have needed to spend much if any more money as it sounds like it was a manufacturing mistake and not a case of value engineering or anything). I would imagine people never felt it seemed half assed when it actually worked (considering how we've got a topic about it and people still miss it). It's the completely unthemed exposed framework inside of the tunnel I take offense to regarding the original plan, one they should have spent some more money to fix. Moreso than some bird on a stick (or lack thereof).
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Bairstow
Well-Known Member
I don't think anyone's ever been able to fully theme a proper B&M coaster. Their inverted and flying designs simply require too much clearance to let you hide most of the supports.
There are a couple examples of parks that have used buildings and terrain to partially obscure the supports, but it's just the nature of the beast.
If you're going to have a roller coaster that's actually worth a darn, people are going to see and (and are probably going to want to see it).
A couple of examples of the best that's been done.
Alton Towers Nemesis.
This one is a product of local ordinances and agreements restricting ride height.
It uses both a natural and artificial canyon to hide a lot of its structure.
Moreover, it incorporates the shape of the track into the design of the massive alien corpse the attraction is themed around.
Phantasialand's Black Mamba.
Not much in the way of obscured track here, but it does weave in and around several buildings and small trenches.
Happy Valley's Crystal Wing
Probably the most ambitious attempt at obscuring a B&M track layout.
Even still, there are plenty of visible supports, and a large section of the ride leaves the castle/mountain structure entirely.
I would love to know what it would cost to build something like this in the United States.
Alton Tower's Smiler (not a B&M)
Similar to Nemesis, this one tends not to hide the track structure so much as explain its existence in context of its fictional world.
There are a couple examples of parks that have used buildings and terrain to partially obscure the supports, but it's just the nature of the beast.
If you're going to have a roller coaster that's actually worth a darn, people are going to see and (and are probably going to want to see it).
A couple of examples of the best that's been done.
Alton Towers Nemesis.
This one is a product of local ordinances and agreements restricting ride height.
It uses both a natural and artificial canyon to hide a lot of its structure.
Moreover, it incorporates the shape of the track into the design of the massive alien corpse the attraction is themed around.
Phantasialand's Black Mamba.
Not much in the way of obscured track here, but it does weave in and around several buildings and small trenches.
Happy Valley's Crystal Wing
Probably the most ambitious attempt at obscuring a B&M track layout.
Even still, there are plenty of visible supports, and a large section of the ride leaves the castle/mountain structure entirely.
I would love to know what it would cost to build something like this in the United States.
Alton Tower's Smiler (not a B&M)
Similar to Nemesis, this one tends not to hide the track structure so much as explain its existence in context of its fictional world.
stevehousse
Well-Known Member
Speaking of news, yahoo had a story about "never built" structures, including art work for the never built Disney Sea in Cali...this would have been amazing!
stevehousse
Well-Known Member
Also I would like to say, that if anyone does look at the artwork, you will see giant aquarium bubbles...I think if they added an ocean land to AK, this would be perfect for it! It's really beautiful looking...
RandySavage
Well-Known Member
It's an interesting discussion. I'm the Goat's camp (I drew that mountain illustration), in that if you're going to create a place as transporting as Hogsmeade and the approach to Hogwarts, the naked mega-coaster tracks need to be addressed in some way in order to help complete the illusion... even if it's just theme-ing the pylons around some story that it was a contraption built by goblins to keep the dragons penned up(?). I illustrated something to this effect:
As it stands, you've got two strong conflicting visual signals - (a)you've entered Potter's world vs. (b)you're still in an amusement park. The former will only get stronger after arriving by train from London.
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Regarding fully-theme-ing a major B&M coaster, once you enter the Machine Age (for the ride's and area's theme), the opportunities open up. Easy to imagine a Steampunk land with a coaster housed around an abandonded sprocket-factory... all you'd have to do is apply character rust to the coaster pylons.
I think Hulk works fine in Super Hero Island because of the heavily-stylized nature of that environment.
As it stands, you've got two strong conflicting visual signals - (a)you've entered Potter's world vs. (b)you're still in an amusement park. The former will only get stronger after arriving by train from London.
***
Regarding fully-theme-ing a major B&M coaster, once you enter the Machine Age (for the ride's and area's theme), the opportunities open up. Easy to imagine a Steampunk land with a coaster housed around an abandonded sprocket-factory... all you'd have to do is apply character rust to the coaster pylons.
I think Hulk works fine in Super Hero Island because of the heavily-stylized nature of that environment.
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
Today is the day I'm going to WDW! I plan on converting my 1-day pass to a park hopper. Just in case I end up in just one park, which one should I go to? I'm thinking if I end up in only one park, it will be Magic Kingdom because I still haven't seen what they've done to Haunted Mansion. But I want to go over to EC to investigate what's going on with Imagination and monorail footers. As sad as it is, I really have no desire to return to EC until they get that park fixed up. I also want to head out to DHS and see what juicy information I can get on Star Wars Land and/or Cars Land. I still have not yet seen TSMM there or Star Tours 2. At AK, I still haven't seen EE yet. I'm going to have to upgrade my pass to do all that...
PeterAlt
Well-Known Member
What's the link?
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