robbalvey
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Posts posted by robbalvey
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The barcode system would eliminate any arguments from guests to CMs. If it's green, go ahead. If it's red, too bad, you missed your window.
That's exactly what FP+ already does. That's why I was curious why they developed a bar-code system instead of going with the already existing RFID test system that they used at WDW. The question wasn't about the functionality of what this is, the question was the medium they will use on the end product. I'm VERY curious as to why they would spend the money and development time to create a bar code reader if the end result will be RFID. And if the end result won't be RFID, that seems a little disappointing to me.
With all the money they've spent on FP+ already, why would they spend more money developing a lower tech version that has less potential? I mean, it's pretty damn cool to go ride Space Mountain and without having to do ANYTHING at all, your photos just automatically appear in your app under PhotoPass.
I really, REALLY hope this was just some cheap mock-up they did and didn't spend a lot of money developing it and the end result will be a super cool RFID system that can do more things that just serve as a replacement for paper FastPass tickets. -
Intamin was not involved with Viper at Six Flags Great America. Stand Company was a short-lived design firm by Dennis Starkey who used to work for Summers/Dinn. He and Larry Bill worked together on a few ride designs that other construction companies built. Larry Bill later went to help form Gravity Group. Six Flags managed the project and had Gurnee based Rygiel Construction construct the ride.
Intamin was not involved.
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Keep in mind that this is not an RFID system that was seen in the video. Its simply a bar code scanner on a pole. But I am excited to see testing in Disneyland! But I'd guess this is more for a guest flow test and not an actual FP+ test, based on that this is a bar code reader and not RFID.
Do we know will the final version be RFID? I just ask because the initial tests even at WDW used the RFID system from the very beginning. Seems weird that they would spend the time and money to have written new software for a lower-tech version of the system for a "test" when we know they have those little RFID stickers they could just slap onto all the FastPass tickets if they were just going to test guest flow.
Should be very interesting to see how this progresses...
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My thing is, why is universal making a big deal about it but Disney isn't?
Because people don't come to Orlando to go to Universal, to go to SeaWorld, to go to Skyplex. They come to Orlando go to to Disney, and then they do those OTHER things as well on their extra days. Disney is the tentpole in this market, always has and always will be. Disney does not even concern themselves with what Universal does (as many people would argue against that) because Disney knows that one of their parks alone gets more attendance than both of Universal's parks combined.
Skyplex wouldn't be potentially taking away customers from Disney, they'd be taking it away from Universal. And that's why Disney doesn't care and Universal does.
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Sorry, I will try a new host. I can can see them when I post from my live.com account but apparently nobody else can.
It's odd because I can see the picture too... And it loads immediately for me too. I can't see the first one you originally posted though, just the new one.
*edit* I can't see the new one you just uploaded though. Weird.
Sorry, I'm terrible with posting pictures. lol It's working for me now but we'll see if others can see it.
I just uploaded it to TPR for you. I'm not sure why you just didn't do this in the first place as it's the quickest, easiest way to upload an image here and guarantee 100% that it will appear with no problems.
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And yeah, Kumba and Kraken are pretty much clones. not direct clones, but clones nonetheless.
What are you talking about?!?!? Kumba and Kraken are two totally and completely different layouts!!! Kumba has a curved drop, Kraken has a straight drop. Kraken features two vertical loops, Kumba has one. Kumba's lift hill goes through the loop, Kraken's lift hill does not. Kumba has two interlocking corkscrews, Kraken has one. Kraken has floorless trains, Kumba has floored trains. I could go on...
The two rides are so completely different and not at all clones of each other.
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So, it's a simulator without a video with which to interact?
No but if you're lucky you might get given a TV remote so it feels like your on a real couch!
"Couch Potato: The Ride."
Why would we want a ride themed to Jeff Johnson?
I don't get it.
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Ready to boost profits with a low-cost, low-maintenance American-made kids' ride?
Skyline Attractions enhances company's portfolio with Crazy Couch
19 October 2015
Orlando, FL - Another year means another new product from Skyline Attractions. The company excitedly announced today a new kids' ride, lending its quality American design and manufacturing expertise to a market desperately in need of something new.
"We've been hearing from operators how rare it is to find something new and reliable for kids that is American-made and supported," the Skyline team said. Accepting that challenge, Skyline applied its clever design techniques to achieve fun new motions unique to the industry in a simple and easy-to-maintain package. The result: Kids and adults tilt side-to-side and up-and-down in the zany experience of Crazy Couch!
Interest has been crazy big, resulting in a purchase of Crazy Couch even before it rolled off the production line! The ride seats up to 10 kids per cycle, or up to eight kids with two adults. Mobile and fixed-site models are available, which are both crazy simple to operate and ridiculously easy to maintain. With fixed-site models under $99,000, operators would be crazy not to take a look.
The release of Crazy Couch comes a year after Skyline's introduction of the revolutionary GamesURide product line. "Our two debut GamesURide - Strike-U-Up and Spin-U-Win - have been operating all summer, making money for parks. We have the data to show that they are fun additions to facilities - with crowds of onlookers and queues forming - and, most importantly, can generate serious profit, too."
Crazy Couch will be at the IAAPA Expo next month in Orlando, and Strike-U-Up will be making a return alongside. Come ride and play at booth 3873!
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Yes! More videos of the log flume song!!! LOVE IT!!!!
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Here's the latest Wildfire update.
I absolutely LOVE these videos they keep posting!!!
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So a lot of track replacement probably happens on a lot of coasters that we don't even know about.
THIS! I know there have been quite a few coasters that have replaced sections of track over the years (California Screamin' loop for example), but parks don't make a big deal out of it, because it's just part of routine upkeep, and a lot of times it's done while the park is closed, so there isn't any real media around it.
This one just happens to be VERY visible and the park itself has issued press releases about the improved version of the ride so of course it's getting a lot of attention.
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I'm normally not into online petitions, but the Skyplex company has reached out to me to ask our readers to help them out by signing this one:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/let-skyplex-become-a-symbol-of-orlando-let
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Robb is probably being 'snide' with you because of your attitude and not listening.
This. I'm happy to have a discussion with someone if the discussion is based around logic and actual REAL information about rides. But if you're going throw out some made-up "facts" in an effort to prove me wrong when all you're doing is showing everyone how you know absolutely NOTHING about what you're talking about, yes, I'm going to be snide with you in my response to show you just how stupid you're being. And if you don't like that, there are other forums to post to and we won't miss you at all.
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it is only 16 years old and despite year-round operations, there are many, many more steel coasters with more use.
Name one.
Sure, I can name a lot more than one...
SNIPPED a bunch of made up stuff that shows he knows nothing about the operations of roller coasters.
In any event, how about the following rides to start with:1. Dueling Dragons / Dragon Challenge
You said it yourself this ride has fewer ride cycles, which is correct. So why would you even list it??? #dumb Not even to mention this ride got a HUGE rehab when the original Potter land was built!
2. Kumba.Kumba has received SEVERAL lengthy maintenance rehabs over the years. It also does not run anywhere NEAR the ride cycles that Hulk does, and I've been to the park when it's so empty, they are only running one train on it.
3. Demon. SFGAM or PGA. The corkscrew tracks have been in place since 1976 and never replaced as far as I know -- that's nearly 40 years of cycles. The loops and parts of the drop since 1980 - 35 years of cycles - no complete track replacement. That's a competitive cumulative cycle history with Hulk, but with engineering and track fabrication standards that are 45 years old.These parks are closed during the winter where these rides get an extensive rehab if needed. The parks are open 6 and 5 months out of the year, respectively, and daily for only 3 months out of the year. So even though these rides are 40 years old, 24 years older than Hulk, they have actually cycled LESS times than Hulk!
4. Lochness Monster - 1978. 37 years of cycles. Same issues as above.This park is closed during the winter where the ride can get an extensive rehab if needed. This park is closed 5 months out of the year and only open daily for 3 months out of the year.
5. Mindbender - 1978. 37 years of cycles. Similar issues as above, but non-Arrow issues.This park is closed during the winter where the ride can get an extensive rehab if needed. This park is closed 3 months out of the year and only open daily for 2 1/2 months out of the year.
6. Viper - SFMM. 1991This ride has not only received extensive rehabs, including having all the track from it's loops and first drop replaced, but also is closed Mon-Fri during the off-season where additional work can be done if needed.
There are many more.No, actually there are not. There are NOT many more rides that have had the same amount of ride cycles in the same amount of time as Hulk WITHOUT getting any annual rehab. Your attempt at making a point is impressive. It's just a shame it's all totally incorrect. Nice try, though!
Does anybody really believe that...SNIPPED a bunch more embarrassing stuff that shows you don't know how coasters work... I love how someone in Chicago is trying to tell me what the operating practices of coasters in Orlando are. Like, how do you even know??? It's clear that you don't.
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it is only 16 years old and despite year-round operations, there are many, many more steel coasters with more use.
Name one. I can't really think of many other coasters of this size that have had this many cycles. B&M has actually said themselves that Hulk is the most cycled coaster they have ever made. Hulk has not had any sort of significant re-hab since it opened in 1999. Other than maybe a week or so to get painted a few years ago before the original Potter land opened, I can't think of a time where the ride has been closed at all.
It has run continuously, almost always running three trains, usually fully loaded, 365 days a year, open every private event the park has, since 1999.
Outside of some of the coasters at Disney parks, which are less aggressive rides, and which usually get some sort of annual rehab, I don't think there has been another steel coaster of this size that's ran as much as Hulk has.
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I wasn't given the impression that the ride would be toned down at all.
It's probably not what they're going for, but the B&M of today is different than the B&M of old. If they're re-shaping track sections...I'm not an engineer, but I would imagine that the difference between a forceful ride and a fluff ride are not too radical in terms of track profile. It would probably only take a tweak here or there to turn Kumba into Kraken.
From what I understand this is exactly what is happening. Should be interesting to see just how much the ride feels different, even though the track layout will remain the same.
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If the developer wanted to build this thing without any challenges, he should have bought property within the convention center overlay and then he could have built whatever he wanted to.
You know absolutely NOTHING about how construction projects work, do you? If you had any sort of actual knowledge with any of this, you would know just how absurd your entire response was. I will only tell you this "zoning gets changed ALL.THE.TIME. in construction projects."
Beyond that, it's not even worth my time explaining or responding any more to you.
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FYI - Fright Fest is open until 1am tonight and the park is not affected by any of the SoCal Freeway Closures!
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I'm very interested to see what The Incredible Hulk looks like once it returns... I wonder if it will be a carbon copy of the previous ride, launch system and all, or if they will use rebuild as an opportunity to make any changes to the ride layout or launch mechanisms.
The layout won't be changing from what we were told, however there is a possibility that some sections could be reshaped. There will be something different about the launch system and the trains are getting some modernization.
Was back there again today. Not sure if this has been posted but this piece is clearly marked as scrap. Looks like there are red and blue dots now marking other sections.
Image is not showing up. Can you upload the image so this doesn't happen? Thanks.
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The developer is basically saying "this is taking too long...I want to build now. K thanks. Bye."
For one, the developer has been presenting this to the I-Drive committees for well over a year, maybe two years now. They initially wanted to start construction on Skyplex after Mango's opened, which looks like it's opening next month, so I can see why they are getting a bit anxious. You make it sound as though the developer is being obnoxious, but in reality they aren't, they have been very patient for a long time.
I would think what is actually best for Orlando is to meet in the middle and think of I-drive as a giant shopping mall: anchor tenants (Universal, SkyPlex, i-drive 360, Pointe Orlando) should actually be working together to ensure all the area around them compliments them and improves the area.The thing is, Universal wasn't even really a part of this until just recently when they announced that Wet N Wild was closing and the assumption was made that someone else would be built on that property. I agree with you that they all should be working together, and I feel that they all have UNTIL Universal got involved. I've been to some of the I-Drive meetings (I think there might be reports in this thread about it) where it was clear the I-Drive people were really on board with this whole project...until recently. I'm hopeful they still are, but it really does seem that Universal, out of the blue, has done some serious lobbying against the project, which is kind of a dick move, IMO.
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their biggest issue is that the developer is trying to strong-arm his way into a zoning change before the new I-drive master plan is finalized. I don't get all the comments of "Universal is being a bully, etc..." when in reality the developer is trying to bully his way into a new zoning classification to get what he wants
Show me where you have proof of any of this. I've been to some of the I-Drive meetings myself, had several one-on-one conversations with Joshua Wallack and I have seen zero evidence of what you are implying.
So unless you can back up your statement, I think this is you just making some assumptions that aren't factual at all where on the other hand, you can easily point to articles written and eyewitness reports from other people have been at these meetings that Universal has been very vocal about trying to shut down this project.
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Thanks for the info Robb. Didn't realize it was that far away. My second guess would be this has to do with Wet'N'Wild redevelopment, which is still odd since a revitalized (not ghetto) I-Drive will only help whatever they do to that property.
And even Wet n Wild, while closer than Universal, is still 1.3 miles away at the other end of I-Drive with a LOT of stuff in between.
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Just an observation, but how many tall tower attractions do you know of that are abandoned? Off the top of my head, none. Everyone loves to go to the top of towers and look around. The complex below is a bit different, but I cant see the tower itself failing really.
These two came to mind:
To be fair, though, the Landmark was torn down years ago and it's not uncommon for World's Fair buildings to be left to rot after the event has ended.
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Sounds like the main thing Universal is against is the height variance. Which makes some sense, since the ride will be visible from their parks and most certainly draw attention. It will still probably be approved, since I-drive is such a mess and needs more possible "anchor" things to do.
Side Note: If I was Universal, my biggest concern would be what happens if the project fails? I'd hate to have a 500ft closed roller coaster tower looming over my property.
While you can see it from some places at Universal (parking garage, top of a roller coaster, etc), it is almost 3 miles away from Universal's property. You can also see the Orlando Eye, Fun Spot's Skycoaster and Magic Midway's Starflyer. I don't think that should be too much of an issue nor should Universal have a say.
Personally, I think they are being kind of jerks to oppose it and I hope it goes through!
But it is close, at only 2 miles away.It's 2.5 miles from the edge of Universal's property. Closer to three miles away from anywhere inside the park where you could maybe see it.
Sorry, but The argument of "it shouldn't be built because you might be able to see the structure from inside of another property miles away" is insanely stupid.
Disneyland Resort (DL, DLR, DCA) Discussion Thread
in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
Posted
^ Megan.