Dragon Khan

I'll be more than content if they now build a rip off of Kumba too. They can even paint it the same colour scheme... as long as they don't choose a FORCELESS INTAMIN like Cheetah to build a copy, we're safe...

Just ask Jeff Johnson to know if it's a credit or not !!!

Considering Khan is 45 meters high with a 49 meter drop (dips into a small trench) and the bottom of the hyper's first drop is even lower (deeper trench / tunnel), combined to the fact the camelback hasn't reached its apex yet, though it already seems taller than Khan in general, I'd estimate it above 50 indeed. The second camelback (prior to the splash zone) should be about the same height as Khan's vertical loop, which is 36 meters high if I remember correctly. Those curvees really start to look sexy, especially the caroussel thingy which looks like a figure eight. I really cannot wait to ride this beauty, cookie cutter or not...

^I secretely hope it will be LOL . So I have my two favourite B&M's in the world at my favourite theme park I agree though that more recent B&M's are less forcefull than old school Dragon Khan but if this one delivers decent airtime (equivalent to Nitro's) , I'll be more than satisfied !

Of course it might just be a perspective effect, but the second hill looks sharp in the last couple of pics. Also, it seems Shambhala is getting a low to the ground elongated hill before it reaches the second camelback. Very reminiscent of Leviathan hill through the trees. I have never ridden a B&M with this kind of low to the ground speed hill, as the others all seemed to be filled with hills of decreasing height one after another. Let's hope this part of the ride is surprisingly good, althoug I expect the carrussel helix to remove a large part of the energy the train has when hitting this element. But I'm very pleased with what I see so far !

you mean sky blue and pink, right ? Although the same can be said about Madrid's gayish Superman...

Cannot wait to see the trains for the Schwarzkopf, since I guess the same trains will probably land in Belgium for the alledged restauration or my beloved Turbine... in 2013 (fast country, isn't it ?)

Exotic parks to say the least. La Feria looks a bit Ghetto, but hey, they got not one but TWO Schwarzkopf looping coasters ! Montana Infinitum is excellent (rode it as Magnum Force @ Flamingoland and it hauled a**, maybe even better than acclaimed and excellent Olympia Looping) and I have a soft spot for launched (shuttle loop). Definitely worth stopping by ! and even better at night from Youtube videos I see) Oh, btw, am I alone to think a single red car on a blue train looks cheap ? kind of a quick fix

What a FANTASTIC update ! Thanks for the links, pics, videos. Looking at those columns really give an impression of how massive Shamby will be. I cannot wait to ride it next summer. The video also shows how some people's fear about Khan being disfigured may now be relieved, as really, except the lift and drop of the looper, nothing in the new hyper will really stand in Khan's way. For those who have already been to this park, when you're on the great wall of China, Khan is just in front of you, whereas the new coaster will plunge and then really disappear to your right (left turn if you take the rider's pov) OK, the lift towers over everything else, but I can't think of another place in the park where it would be less apaarent anyway. It will be a new game to take pics of both trains negociating their first drop, just like for instance KK and El Toro in the same picture. Very excited after seeing this and the steepness of the huge drop !!!

I won't post pics because of no real progress, but the sites from which the previous pictures come has some new pics of Shambhala from another angle, which give a good perspective of the height of the lift hill and of how tall the 3rd camelback (so normally before the splash-pool) are going to be. Those give me a wOw effect. This small update shows how the station has started erection

Walibi Belgium also has 4: Werewolf, Calamity Mine Train, Cobra and Vampire. but they used to have 5 !!! before the remoival of Tornado (Corkscrew). At least they had Turbine to compensate. Hopefully the renovation project is still "on track" (2013 is the alledged date but what if it collapses before then ? lol)

When I wrote ten days, I didn't mean ten seconds though LOL...

Good thing people seem to "cool down" a bit. Anyway, any reader here who would be interested in daily updates can just surf to the 2 websites those pictures come from, which I automatically do when I log on. This is not against TPR since TPR has plenty of other threads about all kinds of coasters being built right now beside Shamby. When you see the progress in the last week, I'm sure in 10 days from now, a good update will be worth it, since supports seem to have appeared everywhere, so now the most difficult part (lift) has been assembled, it will probably accelerate the same way Oz'Iris accelerated, after a very slow start too. (same RCS team)

Suggestion: If I were bored (which I'm not) with the daily but slow updates (progress has been very slow at first indeed, but the pace is better now, although not lightning fast), what I WOULD do is quite simple: I would read this thread less regularly. Every other week for instance. I would then have more progress to observe and would be happier. It's as simple as that. Just an idea, though As boring as those updates may seem to some (no criticism, I respect those who think so), maybe the intention of shooting same angle daily pictures has a purpose: stick all those pics together in a fast slideshow to create a kind of timelapse of construction. I remember this being done for other coasters like raptor for instance. Maybe I'm the only one to actually enjoy the daily pics. Yet I'm no Spaniard. I confess being a big fan of Port Aventura, my favourite European park, though

I LOLed at that, Jason. But believe me, there's no chance you can avoid this one if we visit together one day. It IS my favourite drop tower because of its combination of height / tilting seats. No chance to chicken out like on SFNE's and KD's this time Back on topic with B&M's hyper/giga 2012, let's keep our fingers crossed so they both deliver a good airtime filled ride. If not, well, ther's still almighty Khan to ride (for me) and Behemoth (for you) to enjoy. As for Shambhala, interesting things start to appear with the bottom of the first drop, as well as some scarce rails for the entrance / exit of the "carrusel" have been installed today

Drop is 36 feet longer though not too bad, imho. I am aware though, that size is NOT everything (Expedition Geforce and Dutch Goliath both being better than Millennium Force and _dare I say it ?- Bizarro in my book) If Shambhala is as good as Nitro in its first couple of seasons, I'll be more than satisfied with this one. I do not expect everybody to love it and even I (an affirmed "old school" B&M fanboy) would have prefered an Intamin creation over this one. But I'm glad I can still rejoice about other manufacturers' coasters, meaning I'm not "blasé" yet and don't have to find another hobby right now...

^basically what i said in my post too Elissa, BUT understand for the majority of Europeans, we cannot call that cookie cutter since it will still be Europe's tallest when it opens... Don't forget that NOT everyone has been to CP / SFGAdv and for a majority of readers, the tallest thing they've ridden is Silverstar, which I AGREE is rather forceless. I'm excited to ride this one next summer even if I do not expect it to be better than beloved EGForce. Looks can be deceptive too, and IF B&M make more forceful hypers one day, they have to start somewhere and Shambhala COLD be just that one...

As a European member, I do NOT have that feeling. I for myself enjoy watching this one (of course) but I enjoy watching Skyrus, and Leviathan just as much, even if I'm not riding them next summer. Also, Europe is not only Port Aventura, look at all the positive comments Wodan is receiving. And let's be honnest, it works both ways, surf on European websites and you'll notice Spain, Germany, Holland, and so on all have their speciality threads whereas US / Rest of the world are gathered under a single one. It's a matter of proximity, no misplaced "patriotism" (or so I hope)

Yeah ! Shambhala has been topped off ! I was not sure if it was a good idea to build it "on top" of my baby (look at my screen name, and you'll have an idea of how much I adore Khan) but even if I agree it will probably make it look less massive, the only part of Khan that will be "hidden" is its lift and part of its first drop, since the track will then immediately turn to the left, heading towards the Sesame Street area of the park. The only parts of the hyper crossing with DK's track will be situated behind the looper's first loop and mid course brake run, so I don't think (or so I hope) my baby will be disfigured. Wait and see. I like the fact that some areas that were not possible to reach will now be open to the public, allowing for new picture opportunities

I have actually heard this from others as well, so you're not alone! I'm in the "Raven" camp, which appears as #7 on my list, so I can kind of understand where you're coming from. About Raven Robb. I remember you asking us on the bus if we also thought Raven was running errr... poorly that day. Do you know if it's back to its former glory ? Just curious to know if wonders can be made on a slightly neglected woodie (if that is the reason), since I don't want to lose hope for Tonnerre de Zeus, which was fabulous in 97, and let's say less fantastic last summer. It was not rough but also sluggish compared to what it used to be

Nice results overall. I've been on 6 out of the top 12 and agree all of the listed rides were very good to excellent. I have to agree with Jake Tex, Boulderdash is the Holy Grail for me, and I'm also in love with Phoenix and US Toro. I'm a bit surprised that Troy ranked so well though, but maybe I rode it on a poor day. To answer Larry's comment on Bouldie, I probably rank it my number one due to the fact I just rode it at night on East Coast 2008 (ERT) and this has to be my most memorable coaster moment ever, closely followed by Phoenix ERT and Prowler ERT in 2010 too. My conclusion is that club atmosphere really contributes to a ride appreciation. As for Voyage, I might have expected too much of it, as I have to confess I prefered LEGEND ! (am I alone ?) edit: I now understand why a coaster can climb or simply fall in the polls: a favourite of mine was Tonnerre de Zeus, (rode it opening year) and even if it is still a "good" woodie, it's just the shadow of what it was before. It's high time they maintain it properly, it's so sad to see a gem like this one neglected...

Nobody forces you to look at the pictures, I say ... And I can't personnally wait for more, so let them coming, since I at least enjoy every single of them ...

After a very dormant progression, things are finally getting exciting and the pace seems faster. As a shameless B&M fanboy, I cannot wait to see the first drop take shape, which should happen quickly now. Are there members testing it this summer ? I'll be in Salou on property for the last 10 days of August in case some of you want to meet up !

painting the track of my baby in different colours would just be sacrilegeous imho... As for mountain ranges, this would be neat indeed, but I doubt they do it all along the track... maybe around the station and under the lowest hills. I don't see them building TALL themeing but this is pure supposition. Maybe they should save this budget and theme the log flume / mine train a bit more since I consider those areas the "birthmark" or "birth defect" of this superb park

I agree it is heavily inspired or maybe copied, Elissa. But seriously, which colour would fit this theme better ? Look at Egyptian iconography and the colours that will come the most are just those. Or maybe turquoise and gold would have been as good to match pharaons treasures, I admit. Lemme explain my thought: If I wanted to theme a coaster on fire or lava or anything really hot, I'd probably paint it in red / orange shades, if I wanted to theme it after a lizard creature, I'd paint it in greenish shades... I'm sure you know Jean Marc (Toussaint). He often works and contributes to Asterix rides' storyboards, and I can promise you you'll find subtle humor touches not found on Montu. on the downside, no crocodiles here. (Elissa, I'm playing devil's advocate a bit too, admitedly), but I think the square where the coaster is will be centered around the "lake" part and the Frengyptian (just invented !) architecture. Be prepared for an AMAZING station building. This combined to the fact that the layout is quite original for a B&M (element order), my point was just that there are enough differences NOT to call it a knock off. In the end I think it will be a very different coaster. I just wish it was AS GOOD, which will be very very difficult, since Montu is so highly rated