southpuddle

Because with every new coaster, regardless of how soon construction is started, and no matter what stage it is in, there's always someone who thinks there's no way it'll open on time.

The comparisons are actually really interesting. Anyone who enjoys roller coasters for their architectural/engineering aspects and who don't just love roller coasters because they're "OMG crazy kewl YOLO" would appreciate the comparisons. Thanks, KarlaKoaster for doing it *Edit* it appears that she took down the comparison photos.

^I think you're right. It's probably some sort of brake that is only engaged if it's sensed that the train is going too slow, so rather that letting the train go over the first hill too slow and risk a roll back later in the course, it slows the train enough to force a roll back, and the launch can give it another go.

If only I could get the time back that I have wasted checking this thread for unread post about unfunny running boat jokes.

Mrenata, you may have already explained, but you live in Brazil and are buying a season pass, so I'm assuming you'll be visiting again this year, correct? I'd count your blessings that you're able to make such a long journey twice in one year. *edit* you answered my question while I was typing my original post. I'm still scratching my head as to why, after so much frustration with purchasing the pass online, you didn't just decide to buy it at the park on your first visit. I believe that Dollywood honestly didn't know until today that LR wouldn't be ready for Friday. Unfortunately, the worst part seems to be that they made the announcement after the resort cancellation deadline.

Carowinds did it at every major coaster this past summer and did not let you wait extra for any particular seat, which was maddening considering they did it in the name of "capacity", but did a piss poor job of even attempting to fill whole rows or pair groups of two together on the 4-across B&Ms - or whole rows going empty because they were too slow to fill them. I saw first hand a Fury train dispatched nearly half empty all while waiting an hour and a half to ride, then be denied waiting extra to ride in the front row. I asked why, and the grouper told me I couldn't choose my row "because it makes the line move faster". Needless to say, I'm still a little bit bitter after driving all the way from Florida and getting three rides on Fury all in random middle rows. Cedar Point will always let you wait for a particular row if you request it.

Comparing those two pictures, you can clearly tell that this isn't a 100% exact copy-paste. The support connectors are in different locations on the corkscrew in relation to where the track sections come together. That's not to say the actual track and rails are in the exact same location, but there are some minor changes.

I don't remember Hulk's corkscrew having much of a snap in its original state to begin with, but that's just me. I mean, none of their above-the-track models' corkscrews have that "Batman the Ride corkscrew snap" by any means.

Didn't Iron Dragon crash two trains together at one point (during testing) and it's gone without the third train ever since? I seem to remember something like that...

I'd venture to guess that close to none of Blue Streak is original, save for some footers and parts of the station structure. Wood on a wooden coaster gets quite a beating and is constantly being replaced. When I worked at Cedar Point, I remember hearing that there was some formula that park management used to determine whether or not a ride would be removed. It took into account ridership and maintenance cost, and the end result had to equal a certain dollar amount per rider. I can't for the life of me remember what that dollar amount was, but once it reached that point, it got the axe. And so, some rides that cost next to nothing to operate would have to have their ridership decrease catastrophically to be considered for removal. I'm sure that there are other factors to consider, but this formula was a main one.

And it's pretty obvious that if any coaster is leaving the Point, it's that larger pile of wood at the very back of the park.

What blows my mind is that dueling still can't happen, even though each rider now submits to a full, comprehensive rectal examination to be sure that no objects can fly out and injure someone.

I'd be completely okay with Dragons being sold and relocated to a new park in favor of something truly spectacular taking its place on that huge plot of land. Maybe the new park would duel it again. Of course how many parks are able to purchase what are essentially two complete B&M coasters? Not many, I'd guess.

No more Raptor?! Wow, it's been early entry since the beginning. Makes sense with Valravn next year though.

Yeah, what I meant was let's skip the three pages of people accusing me of knowing better than the engineers who designed the ride, not skip your take on why B&M designed the supports the way they did

Valravn's support structure for the first drop and pull out seems lopsided and unstable. Let me be clear - I know that it's not and that B&M are well aware of what they're doing so let's skip all of the "armchair engineering" comments - but with all of those angled supports, it seems like there needs to be a vertical one thrown in there to balance everything out. The other two big dive coasters have a vertical beam where the pullout starts. Maybe B&M figured out how to have the track itself hold the drop and pullout in place, I don't know. Maybe some of the engineers on the site can shed some light on how they were able to achieve this or why they may have gone a different route this time around

Really the only trick to Magnum is sitting in the middle row of any car. It's a much smoother ride, and the airtime isn't as violent in the middle rows, so you don't have to worry about your lapbar being too tight. My personal favorite seat is the middle row of the last car in the right hand seat. If you can't be bothered to choose a middle row because you "shouldn't have to learn how to ride it" then I don't know what to tell you. This ends my annual quest to educate the internets on how to ride my favorite Cedar Point coaster

I also don't see why supports would need to be removed unless something about the layout was changing.

Raptor has always had the same color scheme. Any difference you've noticed is a result of sun bleaching and/or the way different cameras capture colors differently. The only change that has occurred is the rails were originally unpainted, but when the ride was repainted in the 2000-2001 offseason, the rails became the same shade of green as the ties. Thank god TTD and Raptor aren't switching color schemes though

If me thinking that two coasters in the same park built within three years of each other by the same manufacturer with similar train style should not have repeating elements makes me one of those "entitled enthusiasts" folks around here lament about, then so be it. I apologize. I'll shut up and submit to the unimaginative minds at B&M and Cedar Point.

Just wish that one of the inversions on Valravn was different than Gatekeeper. That alone - even without the addition of a tunnel or splashdown - would have eased my disappointment. Immelmann - check Dive loop - check Heartline roll - check

You must be a master of Where's Waldo. Contact the park ASAP. They need to be made aware of this hidden land!

Gotta love the complaints about the complainers! Wait, now I'm complaining about the complainers complaining! In all seriousness, this looks like a great addition. Am I disappointed in the absence of any sort of theming or tunnel? Yeah. Am I surprised? No. (Not talking about an underground tunnel - there are plenty of above-ground tunnels). What I'm most worried about is that according to the animation, it looks like the gorgeous big tree lined marina gate entryway is being completely leveled and Cedar Fair-ized. That was one of the prettiest, most peaceful, and oldest untouched areas left in the park. Oh well. The trees that they'll plant will look great and huge in 50 years...

In the case of the Batman incident, wasn't Six Flags found to not be at fault? Should be a prescident.

I'll start salivating in four years when they are one year away from opening But seriously, looks fantastic!