Razgriz-Specter
Member
Do we know about the update to Jurassic Park or is all just speculation currently?
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Theme Parks & Roller Coasters |OT| The Happiest Place on GAF
- Thread starter Goldrusher
- Start date
The Xtortionist
Member
I recall reading that JP was supposed to receive a wooden amber mine-themed coaster and flat ride, but the expansion was put on hold. Current rumors aren't saying anything about JP except for the entrance on one side moving closer to Thunder Falls/River Adventure due to Kong/Skull Island taking up space.
Rumors say that Spring 2016 is when Kong is opening, if anyone is curious.
I need more details on this. Are they remaking Kongfrontation or do an animatronic version of King Kong 360 3D
aparisi2274
Member
Part of me wishes that they were referring to an animatronic Jeff Goldblum, but from that description it sounds like a live action version of Kong 360 3D. As long as they have at least one full size Kong robot I'll be fine with it.
The Xtortionist
Member
It's a full original ride. Some stuff I've read:
-takes place both indoors and outdoors
-not much info on the vehicles, though they're said to be high capacity and tandem, like Great Movie Ride. Maybe something like Great Movie Ride x Indy?
-each ride vehicle will have a "tour guide" employee that may or may not get "eaten/killed" on the ride
-mix of AAs, sets, and 3d screens. Many 3d screens will contain little action and simply exist to add depth to physical sets, kind of like matte paintings/murals in older dark rides
-building is said to be huge, perhaps as tall as the JPRA building. Possible elevators?
Yah, that's the general impression I'm getting that Universal is kicking butt.
Does anyone know if Universal or IoA will be busy in the middle of Jan? Disney wasn't too packed when I last went around that time (in 2013) except for the South American tour groups which seemed everywhere.
Leeroy3101
Banned
Y'all should talk more about other parks instead of Uni/Diz all the time. There's tons more out there.
bucknuticus
Member
Went to Cedar Point and Kings Island thursday/Friday.
Gatekeeper was great, but banshee at Kings Island is up there as one of my new favorite coasters. There is this sweet really really slow barrel roll towards the end that completely caught me off guard first time.
bad part was a lot of the coasters were down on friday when I went: Diamonback, Fire hawk, beast for a bit, Invertigo, and even banshee got stuck on the lift hill and they had to get everyone out.
I also went to Cedar Point last week, was a ton of fun.
reasonable lines for everything (minus waiting in line for an hour on pipe scream what the fuck), everything was up and running too.
and I'll just add my voice to the chorus of people saying to demolish/RMC-ify/whatever Mean Streak and ditch the stand-up seats on Mantis. Mean Streak is a bit rough, but it seems a bit ridiculous to have the first drop, literally the only interesting element on the entire ride, trim braked to hell and back. then the rest of the ride you're just going around in circles a few times at a leisurely pace, zero air time, etc. Horrible, boring layout. Mantis' layout is fine, just need to get rid of the stupid stand-up gimmick.
reasonable lines for everything (minus waiting in line for an hour on pipe scream what the fuck), everything was up and running too.
and I'll just add my voice to the chorus of people saying to demolish/RMC-ify/whatever Mean Streak and ditch the stand-up seats on Mantis. Mean Streak is a bit rough, but it seems a bit ridiculous to have the first drop, literally the only interesting element on the entire ride, trim braked to hell and back. then the rest of the ride you're just going around in circles a few times at a leisurely pace, zero air time, etc. Horrible, boring layout. Mantis' layout is fine, just need to get rid of the stupid stand-up gimmick.
bucknuticus
Member
When i went on thursday longest I wited for anything was 30 minutes for gatekeeper. Mantis (which I think im done riding forever) and raptor. Everything else was around 10-15 minutes. i havent rode mean streak in probably 6 years, its a shitty wood coaster and destroys my back, nothing touches the beast.
SpacePirate Ridley
Member
So today Tony Baxter (project lead/lead designer for Big Thunder, Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones Adventure) waited 90 minutes standby for Gringotts and called it "the greatest thing ever".
Universal... *swoon* And Kong is said to be even better?
I can't even.
Bah, college. I can't make it back to Orlando until mid-December
Tony Baxter giving props where it counts.
Too bad he is retired and imagineers dont have any liberty to do what they want anymore.
Ok this sounds awesome. The random eating tour guide would be perfect for revisits.
I loved the details, like seeing TV's in the windows showing news reports etc.
It was pretty neat in terms of the scale and theming, but wasn't a ride that you'd want to go on more than once a trip. Just a tram ride past some explosions, a couple huge Kong animatronics and a couple little drops.
Twister's rumored to be replaced but Disaster just got updated 6 years ago, so I'd think it'd be a few more years before they replace that ride.
Yeah, that was the original vision, plus having a working TV/movie backlot at the Orlando park with the soundstages and the streets being setup like fascades of NY, San Francisco, Hollywood, etc.. There was even a tram tour around the soundstages but it was pretty crappy since 1) there wasn't much production going out outside of the Nickelodeon stuff (which was a separate tour) and there were no "ride areas"/"staged scenes".
I'm probably being picky but the Studio Tour in Hollywood could use a little bit more. It doesn't feel as grand as it used to.
On a related question, I'm planning on getting a Universal Studios Hollywood annual pass. The most expensive one is the only one that comes with parking (it also comes with priority boarding for the tour) and it's $179. Should I buy one now so that I have it when I decide to go or just buy it the day of, or is the parking and priority boarding not worth it and I should just hang on to my money or get the cheaper one?
Leeroy3101
Banned
Get out and go here
aparisi2274
Member
So, start up a dialogue about a park you've been to. Let us know why its a good park, what rides they have, ect..
This is an open discussion about theme parks, and right now Universal Orlando has the most projects in the works, so we discuss them at great length.
Last week, we were talking about Six Flags and all the new attractions they announced for 2015.
Freyjadour
Member
I think it's that, for the most part, Six Flags and the like are regional parks and not necessarily travel destinations.
Universal and Disney are the exception to that rule.
Universal and Disney are the exception to that rule.
Macho Madness
Member
Surprised this hasn't been posted yet:
Many people believe this will be a conversion to a floorless coaster rather than a removal.
Also, this is my first post as part of CoasterGAF or ThemeParkGAF whatever you call it.
Favorite woodie: The Beast
Favorite steel: Millenium Force
My home park is Kings Island and I have a Gold Pass for it. Going back this month some time once they open up for Haunt. Is it common to post trip reports in here?
http://youtu.be/IkkRRK_oAaQ
SANDUSKY, Ohio (Sept. 2, 2014) – It’s the “last stand” for one of Cedar Point’s steel scream machines. Earlier today, the park announced that the Mantis roller coaster will soon give its final rides.
Mantis was billed as the tallest, fastest and steepest stand-up roller coaster in the world when it opened on May 11, 1996. Featuring trains that secure guests in a standing position, Mantis provides its passengers with a unique ride experience. Mantis was built by the same legendary manufacturers that brought guests the Raptor and GateKeeper roller coasters – Bolliger and Mabillard (B & M), Monthey, Switzerland. In its 18-year history, Mantis has given more than 22 million thrilling rides.
“It’s time to say goodbye to one of the park’s coasters, and it’s certainly been a different kind of ride for our guests,” said Jason McClure, vice president and general manager of Cedar Point. “But we’re extremely excited about what the future holds here at the Roller Coaster Capital of the World™.”
Guests still have time to give Mantis a “standing ovation” before it shuts down permanently on Sunday, October 19 at 8 p.m. Additional plans for the 2015 season will be announced at a later date.
Many people believe this will be a conversion to a floorless coaster rather than a removal.
Also, this is my first post as part of CoasterGAF or ThemeParkGAF whatever you call it.
Favorite woodie: The Beast
Favorite steel: Millenium Force
My home park is Kings Island and I have a Gold Pass for it. Going back this month some time once they open up for Haunt. Is it common to post trip reports in here?
aparisi2274
Member
Well, summer is definitely over!!!
Gringotts ride time for today, 9/2.
NOTE: This is not my photo... it was sent to screamscape via twitter.
Gringotts ride time for today, 9/2.
NOTE: This is not my photo... it was sent to screamscape via twitter.
The Xtortionist
Member
Well, summer is definitely over!!!
Gringotts ride time for today, 9/2.
NOTE: This is not my photo... it was sent to screamscape via twitter.
Holy SHIT! A few days ago, I saw it was 45 min with only one or two rows of the outdoor switchbacks filled, but that's just crazy. I bet you could walk straight to the main hall.
The Xtortionist
Member
*grumbles*
We waited over an hour in that line! All those switchbacks...
Was fun as shit though.
Goldrusher
Member
Hansa-Park Kärnan promo poster:
Yup, still totally worth it! And since everyone I know is busy, I'll be going solo today. Was thinking about Hollywood Studios but seeing as how Universal has single rider for everything...yeah think I'll head there lol.
The Xtortionist
Member
standing ovation hahahah
good riddance
sit-down trains would be perfect, replacing with another ride would be fine too (though I think it has a small footprint... Mean Streak seems like it would be a much better/higher maintenance demolishing project if they were getting rid of the ride completely.)
good riddance
sit-down trains would be perfect, replacing with another ride would be fine too (though I think it has a small footprint... Mean Streak seems like it would be a much better/higher maintenance demolishing project if they were getting rid of the ride completely.)
bucknuticus
Member
Thank god mantis is awful roller coaster.
aparisi2274
Member
Great Adventure has a stand-up... Green Lantern. It was moved from some other SF park, and had a different name down there...
I dont mind stand up coasters, I just don't think there is any sort of plus to a standup over a sit down.
I dont mind stand up coasters, I just don't think there is any sort of plus to a standup over a sit down.
Green Lantern was Chang at Kentucky Kingdom at one time.
aparisi2274
Member
None at the moment, but it'll probably be similar to the one that will be built in Spain:
http://disneyandmore.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/paramount-park-murcia-project-in.html
Aside from that here's an old concept displaying what will be on offer, although it doesn't say what the themed lands will be:
BertramCooper
Banned
We didn't have an outdoor queue when I went two weeks ago. I think we were only in line for about 40 minutes or so.
Macho Madness
Member
I thought Mantis was a shitty experience when I rode it a month ago, so I welcome any improvement whether it's a new ride or new trains. The layout is fine, but the stand-up gimmick ruined it.
aparisi2274
Member
If your trip in Nov is during a time when everyone is working, or in school, then the lines should be pretty short!
BertramCooper
Banned
It's definitely a cool layout. I love the little dip turn before that first drop.
But I can't believe they failed to realize how awful those bicycle seats were before the ride opened back in the 90s. Pure torture for one's Charlie Browns.
So I'm not into roller coasters, but a few days ago I went to Flamingo Land which is a theme park in the UK. At first I was apprehensive to go on anything as prior to this visit I had only had ridden one coaster pretty much, Corkscrew. However at the end of the day I had ridden a few of the big ones there and enjoyed myself,
The first ride I went on was one called Hero.
Next I went on Kumali. This was the big one. It's probably small fry for all of you but for me this was some next level stuff
After that I went on Cliff Hanger which was the one I was most fearing.
Finally last but not least was Velocity. This was really fun.
Overall I enjoyed them a lot! I'm sure these are unimpressive among these parts but for me these were just insane and I'm surprised I even went on them! Hopefully next year I can go to some more theme parks and enjoy some more stuff! Sorry for the large post, just didn't know if these rides were well known here so I thought I'd post a bit about them!
The first ride I went on was one called Hero.
Factsheet
It was a pretty cool ride I have to say. I 'sat' on the outer-side so it felt a bit rough but over all I liked it.
Next I went on Kumali. This was the big one. It's probably small fry for all of you but for me this was some next level stuff
Factsheet
After that I went on Cliff Hanger which was the one I was most fearing.
Factsheet
Finally last but not least was Velocity. This was really fun.
Factsheet
Overall I enjoyed them a lot! I'm sure these are unimpressive among these parts but for me these were just insane and I'm surprised I even went on them! Hopefully next year I can go to some more theme parks and enjoy some more stuff! Sorry for the large post, just didn't know if these rides were well known here so I thought I'd post a bit about them!
BertramCooper
Banned
I made a thread about the park a while back, but I feel it's more suited here now.
Here's some new concept art for the Paramount theme park in London:
So Paramount is getting back into the theme park biz?
They sold off all of their American parks (most notably Kings Island) about a decade ago.
Macho Madness
Member
The only reason they died in the US is because they got handed off to CBS when Viacom took over and CBS did not want to operate theme parks. Perhaps under new management, they want to try again in Europe.
Leeroy3101
Banned
Mantis will most likely receive sitdown/floorless trains. A section of the track appeared painted in test colors for a new coloring scheme.
So was at Epcot today and went on just about every attraction they had. Test Track was cool but was underwhelming after riding Radiator Springs Racers. Soarin was still Soarin, awesome ride but same thing as California Adventure and I live in the state they fly through lol. Maelstrom was nice ride but it's just really short, liked the story though. Aside from those, Epcot really does having nothing to do aside from seeing things and eating food.
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