Dragon Khan

The last pages of this thread made me think about this (LOL) Would TTD be "better" ? Well, actually, it is probable. Does the existing one s*ck ? Absolutely not... really, there are lots of spoilt kids on here...

I wonder when this will stall for the first time...

^Sure she will, Elissa, as much as I'm sure she'd love Plopsaland De Panne (Belgium) where the whole indoor part is themed after Maya the Bee, and I must say it's a real success. You MUST visit this park one day on a European trip...

Totally forgot to add I love boobs and cute butts !

You know - people like what they like, and regardless if you agree with it or not, will form an opinion off a video using the experience of what they know. Personally, I happen to agree with Greg's assessment. I'm an "airtime guy", meaning I normally do not put coasters built for speed anywhere near the top of my list. That doesn't mean the ride won't deliver for some people. I mean, different strokes, right? Some dudes like cute butts, other like boobs. I think those people looking for the "airtime ride" will probably be in line for Behemoth, and those who like speed and more speed....I guess this is their thing. And while I haven't ridden it yet either, based on my having been on pretty much every single B&M in the world (minus only a handful), if I had to place a bet, I'm probably more of a Behemoth man myself...and that's not a bad thing! --Robb I understand , Robb... I might even agree since I much prefer Dutch Goliath to Millie... What I meant in my post, was that the "long brake run" issue seems to be the fashionable element to put this new coaster down... Seriously, are there many pages on this thread where the brake run isn't mentionnend and criticised as a "flaw" (which it is not) or a waste of energy ? My answer to that was just that TTD and KK could ALSO have a gigantic layout following their 400 ft drop. They just don't (would probably double the coaster's pricetag) yet, nobody says those 2 awesome coasters are "a dud" (not my words...). As for LEvi / Behemoth, I totally agree that the majority of coaster enthusiast will prefer airtime over pure speed... complimentary experiences in the same park, but certainly not a "dud"...

^For some reason, I'm more inclined to believing in the opinion of people who have ridden it already, and knowing one in particular(jason), I'm very tempted to believe him and his good coaster tastes... Wasted energy about the high brake run ? hmmmm maybe, but also, maybe not more than two American stratocoasters operating at SFGAdv and CP... I think Walter and Claude (and for that matter, Intamin engineers too) are waiting for advice from all of the marvelous coaster designers on this website...

Maybe good news for this "little" Dutch park. There are rumours on some Dutch and Belgian forums, that the park may acquire an Intamin launch coaster similar (an absolute clone, actually) to iSpeed at Mirabilandia ! Here is the link where I found the info, which is still a rumour so far. But since it seems to have a name (MEtropolis) and actual "blueprints" of the park and where the coaster is supposed to go, I'll keep my fingers crossed for this one, since it's within driving distance from where I live. Being a big Schwarzkopf freak, it would be nice for me to have this new coaster as well as all the Schwarzkopf flats AND the existing Looping Star... I'll keep an eye on this to try and get confirmation asap. here is a link of the forum on which I found the rumour: http://www.centralpark-fr.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=750

What I notice is that it will now be very possible to take pictures of my baby (Dragon Khan) from new angles. I had always found it a bit sad that you couldn't walk under Khan's track like say you can under Goudurix magnificient course (although abominable while riding). Something that would have been great too, would be a tunnel before the second vertical loop (the one that's not on Kumba). I also hope some vegetation comes back in Khan's perimeter. Any new (faster) tests have been done ?

After my first TPR trip (East Coast 2008) my computer crashed and I lost all my pictures (no back up, of course) but thanks to your site, I was able to kind of "rebuild" my album. your pics are always so nice and sharp, we can recognize every single trip participant on them. I'll go as far as saying you're responsible for my visual memories of this wonderful adventure (and Mid America 2010 too) Best photo shooter on the website, imho

or the other way round since this one opened first

^Thanks for the info. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, and what you have just written gives me hope. OK, I don't expect it to be the new Expedition Geforce, but it would be a big waste of money not to have the slightest bit of airtime, even if it's just floating one. I really liked Nitro a lot when it first opened and I'd be satisfied if this steel erection delivered the same amount of air. Maybe THE trick of this one will be the low to the ground speed hill. Does anyone think ejector is really wishful thinking ?

^Yes Elissa, on its 3rd season if i'm not mistaken. After several flops (they even invited Jean Claude Van Damme to officially inaugurate it) they removed it, which in my view is a good thing since it was literally disfiguring the skyline. The park hasn't had any significant upgrade since... They keep removing rides (shame) and add nothing... so far. it was about time for Turbine, but the majority of the public is dying to see a new coaster. The park to follow and stay tuned on right now in Belgium, seems to be Plopsaland. They do an awesome job there, adding something new every year, and they even have a new coaster planned for next year (rumoured = Zierer ala Legoland) All the budget of Compagnie des alpes seems to be gone with OzIris this year. Fortunately, this one is not too farfrom home for me either

As stated (or rather asked) before... this coaster might run faster in the coming weeks, depending on break in , wheels, lift speed (although not that much i guess) . I'll ask again: has Leviathan seen consistent speed increase compared to the very first test rides ?

Excellent initiative, dude ! Hope it gets the success it deserves !

^funny you mention this because that's EXACTLY something i wondered: I also find it a bit sluggish on the video (and if even the B&M fanboy I am says so, it must be, LOL) so I wondered if Leviathan's first runs had also been slower than on later tests. So in a nutshell, can we really expect Shamby to run faster ? is it feasible and is it really usual to have first tests slower than the actual potential speed the ride can reach ? If anyone is familiar with the subject, I'm all ears (and eyes to read) your replies. Thanks a lot !

While Black Mamba is certainly not Batman the Ride, it's also NOT the least forceful among the inverts even if there is a consensus on some sites to say so... I would say Patriot is. Followed by Alpengeist, nearly crawling at the end of the ride after the MCBR...(only forces I felt were in the Cobra Roll) I can tell you you feel the blood rushing to your feet on Oziris in certain spot. OK, you won't black out on it, but it's more forceful than Mamba, Talon, or Alpie in my book. I guess we feel forces differently depending on the day we ride and the conditions we are in, too... TBH, I love nemesis but couldn't understand why it was sooo highly ranked among enthusiasts. The hype often plays against a ride... my biggest letdown being SROS / Bizarro... Expect much and you're disappointed. Go with no high hopes and you can only be positively surprised

My pleasure. I ususally avoid writing too many trip reports since most parks have already been reviewed by many of you fellow TPR members, but I decided to give it a (little) try this time since it was "real" opening day (after last year's preview for the people who had won admission on Asterix's facebook) So I wanted to give my impressions on one that hasn't been ridden by many so far, and I could not resist stating again how amazing Zeus is these days, to bring some TPR EXCITEMENT for the European trip participants coming next june. Glad you liked it. One thing to keep in mind also: the park is not HUGE and can seem a bit crowded sometimes, but June should be perfect since lots of French (and Belgian) pupils and students might still be at school taking exams when you hit the park. All in all, here's a summary of my visit: Oziris: 3x Tonnerre de Zeus: 2x Goudurix: 1x Trace du Hourra: 1x swinging ship: 1x beer stops: I lost track...

Now I see Khan's trains on the track, I finally dig their new colour scheme as they look a bit more "dragonish" in the end. My baby has not been disfigured and I cannot wait for my pilgrimage in August

About the roll: Agreed: Talon's the least abrupt of the ones I mentionned. (Khan's being the "strongest", and I hear Kumba's very similar... maybe the train type) One inverter that REALLY did that to me was Giovanolla's Eurostar though, the feeling visually accentuated by the coaster's structure and compactness around it. I think I should have worded my thoughts better... I know zero G rolls are supposed to be "zero G's", but on Khan or Batman for instance, it feels as if the train is actually trying to throw you out of your seat. So technically, Oziris' might be better achieved as a zero G, whereas I prefer Khan's, Talon's or BTR's because of the wild feeling of pushing you against the OTSR. Got the idea ? As for OPERATION: Oziris has been an example of perfect operation all day, whereas they waited for a very long time before they put a second train on TdZeus... which led to a 1,5 hours wait for a back seat ride on it before 2 PM !!! But to find it was back to its former glory, I would say it was worth it. OMG I'm in love with it again. As far as woodies are concerned, there's nothing coming close in the area. I dare say it's my favourite European woodie by far. My hips are bruised the way I like !

So I won't start a new topic since this one is hot already, no need to add another one and I prefer putting my mini trip report and pictures in this one. I arrived at the park for the opening of the gates, literally ran to the coaster but had to wait a wee bit because they were shooting some "celebs" and recording for French radio programmes. However, on first dispatch, screams were heard (who would have thought ?) and operation on Oziris was great and "fluent". I waited for front row on my first ride, which meant something like 45 minutes, but later in the day, I rode the back twice and the wait was about 15 minutes. So no worries about poor operation some might have feared. Impressions on the ride: SMOOTHEST EVER !!! and for the peeps who would be tempted to assimilate this as "forceless"...you're WRONG ! While it's not Batman the Ride intense, it's really packed with strong positive G forces in the (first on an invert) dive loop, vertical loop, and the helix. The first drop is better in the back seat of course, and the back generally offers decent doses of airtime (on an invert, I insist... rare enough to mention) Places like the lake tunnel drop, and the one prior to the last inversion. Good footchopper on this one but I'l a bit sad I cannot find the "b*tch slap roll" felt on Khan's, Talon's or BTR's zero G rolls. That might be my only criticism on the new coaster. Themeing is top notch, the queue is full of humour although I doubt non native speakers will understand many of the puns (to be found everywhere in the park by the way) All in all I rank this coaster quite high and am sure it will be a hit for Asterix. I PREFER IT IN THE REAR (so Laura can quote me). Goudurix was rough as ever, but I need my s&m fix everytime I hit the park. BUT THE BIG BIG AND EXCELLENT NEWS IS... Tonnerre de Zeus has now recovered its former glory ! OMFG I'm in love with it again. Last year's visit with my US friends made me feel ashamed because I had praised it so much, and was a letdown on that specific day we rode it. But winter rehab has made it awesome again, so this is good news for fellow TPR members on the European trip next June. Enough of my blah blah I guess, on to the pics now. Hope you enjoy

^indeed, I wouldn't be surprised to retheme it as Speed of Sound like in Holland. I really hope they'll include strobe lights since the whole coaster will now be enclosed. I remember seeing a POV of Tower of Terror in Australia with fantastic light effects. I'm daydreaming

Holy crapolla ! those night pics are wonderful. Cannot wait to ride it in... less than eleven hours !!! This will be my son's first B&M !!!

Parc Asterix tomorrow, for Oziris of course, but I wanrt to check what Tonnerre de Zeus rides like after the winter rehab. Last year, TdZ was just the shadow of its former own. Impressions to come on TPR tomorrow

^they do... now ! Before the Plopsa era though, everything was nearly falling to pieces with un painted rides and water that smelt like gutters... But this place started as a family day out destination and slowly turned into a park later. The big draw was the waterfall 'cascade de Coo" and kayak / canoeing in the river Ambleve. I have always wanted to try the bobsled ride but was unfortunate as they didn't seem to operate it in rainy weather. I have the "Coaster" credit though...

After months (years) of rumours and speculation, FINALLY I am happy to report that the park has made it OFFICIAL on their own website that the Legend Is Back in 2013: Turbine will reopen next year under a new name, this time totally enclosed as had been rumoured some months ago. here the link to their official website with the sign placed in front of the coaster former entry. This is finally good news for my home park. Anton Schwarzkopf is alive ! http://www.walibi.com/belgium/be-fr/blog/le-mythe-de-walibi-revient What I have been dreaming of for years now...