Dragon Khan

^ If I'm not mistaken, I read somewhere that the ride would be "refunded" by Doppelmayr to Walibi, because the ride manufacturer couldn't offer a ride with the promised capacity, i don't remember the originally planned capacity, but they agreed to lower it to 800p/h and then only reached 400 AT MOST during the test rides ( in other words, empty, so imagine with loading and unloading time...) When the ride actually opened, some friends of mine (on a Belgian coaster site) timed the ride and counted the amount of gondolas on a miracle day ( meaning Vertigo was open on that day) and it seems the actual capacity was 160 pph !!! you even had to "book" your ride with a ticketing system... Well, back to the money problem. Maybe Walibi won't have to pay ( although I doubt they won't leave some feathers in the process !) but let's face it: they destroyed our Vekoma corkscrew (Tornado), put Vertigo, to remove it for next season, and it seems too late to fnd a new ride... that's 4 YEARS WITHOUT ANYTHING NEW ! So, like Robb said, I hope next time they think twice and buy a "proven receipe"

Gee...THANK YOU captain obvious! You have contributed SO MUCH to the discussion. I wasn't asking anyone to agree with me. But it would have been nice for people to explain their opinions the way I've explained mine so I could have a better understanding of why they have stated as such. Sorry you find that so difficult to comprehend. --Robb Robb, I think the people who say it would have been "cool" to ride this piece of cr*p ( half joke ) just want to express the fact it can be fun to have the privilege of being one of the rare people to actually have a go on one ride, be it good or bad... The parallel with KI's bat is obvious... this ride didn't work, was destroyed very quickly, but finally, Arrow gave us great rides like BBW or Ninja (or Eagle's Fortress, since I know you like it) I don't agree or disagree with the opinions above, since I always think the best way of rating a ride is ... well, riding it. Imagine we had had the surprise to ride Flying Turns on the ECT... I'm absolutely SURE everybody would have applauded before even boarding one of the bobsleds. And who knows ? Maybe this ride will be a failure too. ( on a side note, don't misunderstand me, ECT was my best vacation EVER, with or without FT, and I really don't care we didn't get to ride it) Other example: I remember seeing a rare video of the Pipeline ridden by some ACErs. I also read some comments -both good and bad- on this Arrow prototype. Maybe it was nothing cool either, but to be honnest, i would have LOVED to try it because it looked so "different". So I think I can understand both points of view: yours because indeed, probably this ride was no big deal, but also the people who like to try new things, even if just to dismiss the ride just after.

^ I' not even sure what to think of the ride itself. OK, I would probably have ridden it now and then if it had been operational, to relax and enjoy the view ( FROM the ride, not OF the ride, which looked ugly). I think it was courageous (but not clever) for walibi to try to trust a new concept. I just can't understand it took 3 ( THREE !!!) years to remove it. I just hope next time they'll rely on a proven receipe like a good B&M looper (guess which I'm thinking about ) or an Intamin like Dutch Goliath or something like Stormrunner if they ALSO have to remove Turbine (I HATE the thought but my beloved shuttle loop won't last forever) Now, Robb, I can understand some people believe this ride to be cool, even if you don't. (I wasn't too excited about this project myself either), because sometimes, everybody seems to praise a coaster or a concept, and I'm totally indifferent to it. (best example: Flying coasters: they are simply useless and overpriced to me)

YEAH ! 2 updates in one. Great pictures, as usual, Jason. I hadn't checked for some days, but this post brings back memories again... Oh, Jason, that's where you ate GARLIC PASTA... Remember John moaning about your breath for ages ? lol. Oh, by the way, what is the exact name of the dish you shared with us as a starter ? I think it was shrimps, but with coco coating , grilled with banana sauce or something of the kind... I could have stayed there for the whole afternoon, eating those non stop... Oh, for the INTAMIN SHIRTS, simply surf to www.coastershop.de, and you'll find what you're looking for. Be careful, S&S costs are NOT cheap, ask Chris !

^hey, another Belgian ! I had already visited the park in 2001 and on the pregame, and I went back on the second day Robb managed to arrange for us, spoilt kids. I just can't get enough of this awsome park. Sure, it's not Bush Gardens for theming, it doesn't have my favourite steelie. Nor does it have my favourite woodie, by the way... But who cares, when a single park features 3 rides that are in my top 10 out of 220 (I hesitated to write top 5), it's still an excellent park in my book. I'll never visit NY without at least one day in this coaster paradise... Oh, and the pictures are just so good, as usual, Bas...

Well, I know Bas is literally DYING to update this topic again, and I know he won't before anyone leaves comments on the latest pictures, here I go. SROS... the more I think about it, the more I love it, even if I was not that speechless after my first ride. Nice shot of the Cyclone too. I actually enjoyed my several rides on this coaster so many TPR members seem to bash. Don't see why. And YES, I rode the back seat. Flashback. I was on it when it broke... for one second you feel ill at ease, even if you know nothing can actually happen. STABLAND ! Well done Bas... But as I told you on our chat session, I'm soooo surprised people felt threatened (even if the term is a bit strong) Maybe I'm used to Walibi Belgium where fights can be witnessed every single summer... and this Zamperla flyer... one more for the list. Make scrap metal out of it, I really won't give a sh*t... Now Bas, you can update

^ Not bad indeed, but wait till you see THE picture (Nerd/geek/coasterporn picture, it's up to you). Bas showed me the photo on the bus ride that night... I nearly cream my pants everytime I think about it... Oh, by the way, a bit of advertising: I know Bas and Hano's pictures are absolutely fantastic. But have a look at the full sized HD version of the pictures on Hano's own website (look for the link in his signature). This is REAL coasterporn for all of you to enjoy. Every single EC2008 participant is on the pictures, what you see here on TPR is just a sample of the Magic he's able of...

YOU LUCKY B*TCH !!! After riding the coolest coaster around, combined with the coolest chick around, I guess one can die ...

Dunno if it has been said already, but there MUST be something with the Dutch and their talent in photoshooting... Can't wait for your "SROS airtime wheels off the track " picture... well done Bas...

Well, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for NOT telling me about the restroom... I especially remember 3 idiots laughing and grinning like madmen when I came out of it. And Apollo's halt on the MCTB was funny too. I agree with you when you say it was one of the best parks on the trip. There is absolutely NO DOUBT it was the most beautiful, actually. So clean... Even the smells around the park were great, something that can't be said in all the parks. No, I won't give the name of the park where it smelt like diarhea everywhere. Those on the trip will remember anyway...

This is all FAKE !!! I visited the Great Wall, and there was a huge red B&M looper when I was there. WHERE IS DRAGON KHAN ???

Thanks Jay. I guess I just associated the pain with Vekoma. I corrected the captions. That was the Freudian slip I was talkin'about, Eric. one point goes to Jay, who found it.

^Hey ! Did it REALLY take 3 quarters of an hour ? Moreover, John and Selwyn really enjoyed confusing me ! And you know what ? I saw an even better shirt when I went back on the Saturday ! I guess we have to return to GAdv one of these days... Oh, wait... I have to cross the ocean for that

^ ahahaha, No, I wouldn't say Khan is better, Jay... I'd just say Khan is the best steelie though ! I will remember the face you pulled on top of Kingda Ka when our Qbot flew out of your pocket forever ! I think this is the ride which removed my hair clip too, if I'm not mistaken. Sorry if I disfigured or blinded a back seat rider ! And You forgot to mention one thing about this day ! kind of advice to other TPR members... NEVER GO SHOPPING WITH OLIVIER !!! lol

Nice pics again, Eric and Candace ! As for the captions, there is a Freudian slip. I wonder who finds it first ! (well, second )

will sound like our last Phoenix ride, but... WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE ! WE WANT MORE !

Not bad at all Sam ! Good job ! A very good sample of the great coasters we rode. I wish I had filmed more, I ended up shooting pics only. And actually, I shot the buddies much more than the rides themselves. Can't wait for more of your pics, as well as for Robb's DVD.

Bas, you showed me some AWSOME pics on the bus rides... If all your pics equal the close up of SROS ( wheels off the track on an airtime hill ) I can't wait to see the others...

^ I actually believe this SLC was rather violent and can't imagine how it rode before they replaced the rerstraints ! (did you feel how the whole track was shaking in the brake run ? the train went on bouncing even when completely stopped !) The one at SF America stank too (but was at least beautiful to look at). Now I'm glad the one we have in Belgium is GLASS SMOOTH compared to the ones I have ridden in the USA. Very strange indeed, because Walibi has never been renowned for excellent maintenance... but ours rides quite well, actually.

^was my pleasure, old chap ! As well as riding some of the wettest rides with you too... Do you think WE sank the boat on Pompei (lift top) or is it just the way this thing is supposed to ride ? I also wanted to kick your ass after our ride on Roman Rapids... you know ? When Selwyn and I were drenched because YOU wanted to ride it ? lol. As for the beer on a next trip, you can count on me for doing the same as this year: knock on your door with a couple of bottles... Can't believe I forgot some in the hotel room's fridge. Oh, and if you want the video interview of us being stuck on Apollo's Chariots' mid course brake run, just tell me, it's on my pc already ! lol

^^ Indeed, I might have exagerated a bit saying ten... I'm sure you got the point though... Some of my favourite coasters are in Europe: Ex: Khan, but when you look at it, Port Aventura has this wonderful coaster, then, an accelerator coaster you can only sit on half of the seats to enjoy (the other half will kill your back), then a woodie which has been ruined by stupid new trains, and a senseless minetrain. So, yes, Khan is FANTASTIC, but I'd rather have a day in which I can ride Medusa, Nitro, Toro, Kingda Ka, Batman, Superman (well, it's just ok) and still have some other cheesy coasters I don't care much about (GASM, RT and so on). That's still 6 good coasters in one park... But you're definitely right: the park itself is not particularly beautifully landscaped...

^ aaaaaaaah, theming, at least something our European amusement parks can be proud of... I'd say our themings are often better than at US parks, but most of our parks have 1 or 2 good coasters whereas you sometimes have 10 good ones at your parks... Maybe we should start trading: some of your coasters against our theming skills

Oh, by the way, Jay... You triggered something in me... and this is NOT sexual lol. I was not a flat ride freak before... but riding so many spin'n'pukes (or whatever we may call them) with you was GREAT fun. The 3 different Frisbee-types, the insane Maelström, my first ever (!) Rotor at Compounce, the "dunno how this ride is called" at Knoebels, the Pirat Ships at several parks, but probably one of the funniest moments was when I had the honour of riding 2 (yes, TWO !!!) drop towers with you. (the double shot at Playland, and the slow scary thing at Morey's Piers). I promise you will ride Dalton Terror one day. Yes Sir, you WILL !

Nice TR so far, dude ... and yes, KHAN RULES THE SKIES !!! lol. Well, at least in the steelie league. But I have to admit some rides came really close, and sometimes rides I didn't expect anything of. Jay, please tell me you got pics of our raid at the bar near Dorney... This moment was priceless. I miss you dude

^I LOVED the way you started laughing about that during the "this or that" game on the party bus... For that reason I'll always think about you when I order Sierra "Mist"