BDG

Goudurix is probably the only modern coaster in the world, containing "stretched track". Vekoma manufactured a piece or two mirrored or something and they didn't bother to redo them, so they twisted & stretched them a bit. This was told by an engineer / designer at the Vekoma HQ in Vlodrop, The Netherlands ! Not a rumor, not a joke. They weren't too happy with the end result either... http://www.parkfunworld.be/coasters_reviews/pictures/Goudurix2.jpg (warning: disturbing ! )

1. Colossos 2. Expedition GeForce 3. Tonnerre de Zeus If possible, backseat and after an hour of rain.

Most Macks brake way too abrupt. From mice to indoor coasters. And the Caripro batflyer at Plopsaland. 5 or 6 brake "elements" at the end, but only the first is used...from about 20 mph to 0 in only a few feet. Go see the Blackpool ~ Steeplechase video featuring Robb and his you know. Then imagine a much much more violent brake. And finally Loup-Garou (Belgiums Vekoma woodie) and Tonnerre de Zeus (Astérix) could do with a smoother stop as well.

What are you talking about, Disneyland Paris is one the world's biggest theme parks !

15G can be done...but the riders should be tilted back about 30 degrees. And stay in that position. That's what a Gerstlauer designer told us once. (at presentation of the Typhoon Eurofighter at Bobbejaanland)

Colossos didn't have trim brakes when it opened, but when it got up to speed Intamin added a few magnetic ones on the first and second drop...as well as on the flat section before the helix. That was 2002 I think... All three have been removed again somewhere in 2003 or 2004... Without brakes, Colossos procudes some very very brutal airtime. I think El Toro will open without brakes, but if the ride becomes too intense, the park could decide to install them.

OMG...

Unfortunately, those things can happen, but I wouldn't be surprised if this is another one of those made-up stories to sue and get rich. Being in a totally different country and working for a company like Disney, those men simply could not do this. We'll see...

1. Variation in height, speed, elements & g-forces. 2. Precision in calculating and building the ride. 3. Maintenance.

1. Brake failure. 2. Getting hit by something. 3. Getting sick or a headache.

Yup... They didn't really have any "complaints", but several people that live there have mentioned the screaming from the coaster. Since the park has a very healthy relationship with people that live there, they did that... Exactly.

The main contractor - Besix, a Belgian company by the way - says 705m not counting spheres or antennas. So 2310 feet. An amazing place, Dubai.

Not bad, but the photos don't do the park justice. It's véry green, with alot of gardens and flowers in the summer. And alot of animals, lions and tigers are what the park is known for. Great river rapids too. I don't see that in your photos. However, the park is getting old and boring due to the lack of new exciting rides. We got a Topple Tower last year,which replaced an older swing ride. A step in the right direction, but next season we might get a rubbish Breakdance from the Dutch Walibi (formerly Six Flags Holland). The park needs cleaning up, bigger animal areas, a new coaster (the newest one is an '84 Boomerang), a new darkride, new scenery for the tow boat ride, etc. The park has so much potential...It could be a Belgian Chessington.

Any park willing to "come and get it", could have it for free. But it was just too expensive to refurbish it.

Our Tornado is now gone forever. It was the second ever Vekoma roller coaster and for many Belgians, their first "upside down experience". Since it's opening at Walibi in 1979 this Vekoma Corkscrew has thrilled many many visitors. It was a copy of the first ever Vekoma coaster, which opened just a few months earlier at a German funfair...and was later moved to Holidaypark where it still operates as the Superwirbel (Supergerbil to some) Along with the Tornado, a Schwarzkopf Looping Star - named Looping Star - opened the very same season at another Belgian park, Bobbejaanland. The Looping Star gave its final rides at the end of the 2003 season during a big nighttime event, organised by the park and fans. It was replaced by a Gerstlauer Eurofighter, which opened the next season. The Schwarzkopf itself, was carefully dismantled and has been in storage ever since. The Tornado on the other hand was closed suddenly at the end of 2002...then reopened for a few weeks...and was closed again. Nobody knew it was going to operate in 2003. It did not. The area was closed off in 2004 as well. Trees grew between the track, shrubs and bushes covered the station. When it's trains were used as Halloween decoration, we knew the end was near. In 2005, the entire ride was used as the backdrop of a new Halloween walkthrough. And only a few days ago... (click the image for more horror) Requiescat in pace, my friend. I had - along with many others - a love/hate relationship with this ride. I liked it as as a fun attraction, a classic, something that was always there when you'd visit the park. An icon alongside the highway. Now it's gone. On the other hand, it had it's rough days, a typical Vekoma. And after 24 years of fun and 3 years of death row, it's probably time for a replacement, a worthy successor. A Doppelmayr Mountain Glider has been announced for 2006 and it might use some of the new free space, but I doubt that that "wannabe coaster" will live up to a "Tornado II" job.

jan 13: http://www.dlrp.fr/actularge.php?id=314 jan 14: http://www.dlrp.fr/actularge.php?id=318 (on-site)

That helix looks great.

I think French is easier than Spanish for Americans. But the pronunciation is probably a pain in the ass.

Have a great day Robb !

Christmas holiday is over and it's back to school. Nothing special happened today. I laughed alot...but I always laugh alot. Wednesday new episode of Lost ! Yay !

January 2. (photo taken near "It's a small world", how interesting) January 6. Only a few feet to go. (photo taken on the plaza between WDS and Disney Village)

And for those who don't: An old fort, used since 1990 as the setting of a famous (here in Belgium, France and recently the UK) tv gameshow.

It's safe for everyone, but it's going to be reallllly close. Every inch around the clearance envelope is being used.

The new view out of the Robinson Treehouse.

Yes... It will be, minus subtle color changes and details, the same as the one in California.