HatetoFLY

Couple of pics I took from today, also as seen in the pics they are painting and touching up the area of the lost continent that leads into the WWoHP.

Not much going on, lots of work on the lift, citywalk section, paint touch ups, and station work including work in the transfer track bays.

A couple of pics I took today, just thought I would share. Manta has definitely flew into my top ten just an awesome coaster.

Ha, I am willing to bet money on it, thanks for all the information I really appreciate it. I can't wait to go, 20 days and counting.

Thanks guys for the info, Electerik I have been following your awesome report about the area. My fiance tells me that the whitewater rafting is only like 30 minutes away but upon further review I found out its more like 90. Were probably still going to go because she wants to real bad, and since I am a coaster junkie and she puts up with my habit I guess I will let it slide. Those pancakes look awesome, I will be sure to show them how we eat in Florida upon my arrival. Any other restaurants we might want to hit up while were there. Oh and as far as the Lake Winnie and SFOG I would love to go to lake Winnie and SFOG for Goliath and acrophobia but I only have time for one and she loves the B&M speedcoasters so I told her they have one and that's that. thrillerman1, thanks for the info on zorb it looks cool. We will have to see how time goes. Then again everyone should make time to be put into a giant ball filled with water and rolled off a cliff

^^The splashdown is purely visual. And it just lights up the whole area. It really draws a crowd into this entire new area. ^I would have to say the themeing of this coaster is amazing and is among the best out there today.

I arrived at the park today around 2:15 and waited around the coaster for about 25 minutes and all of a sudden HERE WE GO!!!!! First off the themeing around the coaster as all can see is absolutely breath taking. Pictures and video don't do the area complete justice, and really hats off to the team at sea world for completely revitalizing a dead zone in the park. The queue house is fantastic and completely different than anything I have ever seen. When Kraken was being built this is how I hoped the queue would turn out. Now most of the aquarium tanks are uninhabited but once full it will complete an amazing experience. There are also lighting effects that were simulating an underwater environment through the second portion of the queue house which I thought was a great touch. Once we passed all the aquariums we went up a flight of stairs to our right and arose into the station house. We were placed in row four on the third train to be dispatched for the day. Now I have seen photos of the trains but man let me tell you they have to be the sexiest coaster trains I have ever been on. After about a 5 minute delay we were CLEAR FOR DISPATCH!!! Now let me start off by saying I have only been on one flyer before and it was superman at SFGradv. It was a cool experience but not really my thing. Manta on the other hand actually made me scream and laugh the whole way through. The lift is quiet and quick, and the drop whips around picking up just smooth as glass speed. The pretzel loop is by far the most intense inversion I have ever been on, and I was in the middle! The g-forces were just kicking The second inversion isnt intense but still somewhat forceful. The downward turn into the third inversion is fast and forceful. The midcourse breakrun doesn't even slow ya down. The splash down effect is amazing. The second half is nowhere near as intense but just graceful and with some great near misses. All in all this ride is a welcome addition to Sea World, it very well may be the best coaster in Orlando. I know thats alot to say but man it just kicked butt. I'm a universal fan boy and I'm here to tell ya HRRR has its work cut out for it. A couple of pics from today, they are from my phone. I forgot the camera at the house, yeah I'm ashamed

Courtesy of Universal Orlando Sweet Jesus!!!

^Thanks guys I really appreciate the info. I do plan on going on the zip lines at dollywood. I have always wanted to do a zipline and while 40 bucks is up there for an upcharge attraction, I still think its worth it. The fiance is all about the thrills but no so much about the credit whoring and themepark travels. I would love to make detours to Lake Winnie and Carowinds but I'm still getting crap about our 2005 trip. BGW,PKD,SF Great Adventure,Hershey Park, and Dorney Park. Man that was a trip over 50 new credits, and all I heard was my feet hurt. I'm pissed about the beer but hey what ya gonna do. The jury is still out on the aquarium I am leaving it up to her. Guys thanks again!!!!!

Couple of pics from today April 29, 2009 ^A camera has been set up overlooking Hogsmeade with Hogwarts in the distance. I imagine this will be a time-lapse photo system. ^Hogsmeade has several new structures going vertical.

Update from today April 29, 2009 The track is COMPLETE!!!!! The facade fly through minus some cosmetics is also nearly complete. Crews were really active today. I was amazed how much had been done since the last time I was here and that was only three days ago. On to the pics.

Hello to all, I have done a search about Dollywood and SFOG and have gotten some great info but would like to get a little more from anyone please. While this is not our first road trip by a long shot, neither I nor my wife or soon to be wife(yes the ball and chain is being attached shortly) have ever been to Tennessee and would love some info. As for Six Flags I haven't been to this one since Batman was new and she has never been. Really looking forward to Goliath. This is our itinerary for the trip. May 24-Leave Central FL and Arrive in our beautiful cabin in Pigeon Forge May 25-Unwind and Sight see May 26-White water rafting/ober gatlinburg May 27-Free Day May 28-Dollywood May 29-Depart Pigeon Forge early am and arrive at SFOG for the day May 30-Atlanta Aquarium/Return home I have already purchased the cabin, dollywood tickets, sfog tickets, hotel in Atlanta, and booked our white water rafting. I am really wondering if anyone has any info on some other things we can see or do in Pigeon Forge? Any good places to eat we might not think to go to? Is the Atlanta aquarium worth a visit? Please any info or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Also, could I get some tips for Dollywood and SFOG. Such as, Is the early buffet breakfast at Dollywood good or even worth it? Do they serve BEER????? Average Wait times for a summer Thursday visit, I know there is no way to know but maybe an estimate please. And can someone give me a game plan for SFOG like go here first then here etc.....And do they serve BEER??? I would really appreciate some info, anything you can give me some insight on would be greatly appreciated. Thanks a ton!!!!

Pics over at Orlando United Lift track installed, only two more pieces and the track will be complete. I'm going out tomorrow to get some pics... http://www.orlandounited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10&page=52

Track is being installed on the lift now...Pictures soon

Couple of pics from today April 25, 2009

Update from today April 25, 2009 Nothing really new there still working on the station, conduit on the lift tower, and brake runs. Oh does anyone know if the top of the lift and the lift track has always been in the staging field. I look every time I go and just saw it today for the first time.

Yeah I thought of all the people on here you would, thanks for the tips I will try that on Saturday.I always feel weird being sneaky, every time I turn around people are staring at me because all they see is some random dude sticking his camera and sometimes his head in and behind fences and walls. Pretty soon I am just going to bring a damn climbing pack and repel off the dragons castle and Sinbad theater to get those exclusive shots. ^^^The opening is still there you just cant see anything in there.

Full Press Release NEW HOLLYWOOD RIP RIDE ROCKIT ROLLER COASTER WILL ROCK UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT High-Tech Ride Features Personalized Music, Take-Home Video, First-Ever Maneuvers Orlando, Fla. (April 2009) - Universal Orlando Resort is getting ready to unveil one of the most radically innovative roller coasters ever created - Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit - set to open late spring/early summer. The coaster combines hit music, breathtaking first-ever maneuvers and highly sophisticated audio and video for a one-of-a-kind ride experience. Riders will pick their own soundtrack and listen as it blasts through individual concert-quality audio systems - all while hurtling through a series of never-before-attempted maneuvers and at speeds up to 65 m.p.h. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's audio system will carry songs representing five genres of music: rap/hip-hop, country, classic rock/metal, pop/disco and club/electronica. Each rider's song pick will also be featured on a ride video they can purchase that uses a network of sophisticated cameras to mix music, moves and special effects. Since announcing Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit last year, Universal Orlando has not revealed details of the ride - until now. Universal Orlando's Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is the tallest, largest and fastest X-CAR style roller coaster in the world. The X-CAR coaster vehicle is more maneuverable than other coaster vehicles and uses innovative restraints that are less restrictive, more open and more exhilarating. That X-CAR design also means Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is capable of maneuvers other coasters are not. The coaster design also allows for more vehicles on the track at one time than with other coasters - creating non-stop movement and action. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features 3,800 feet of steel track, a 17-story vertical lift and six maneuvers - three of which have never been built before. For the first time, Universal Orlando shares details on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's signature moves below. For more information, visit http://media.universalorlando.com/ripriderockit - a Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit-dedicated media site, complete with news releases, video and RSS feeds. But in the meantime, brace yourself for Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit's catch-your-breath maneuvers. Vertical Lift You strap in, select your soundtrack and race 11-feet-per-second at a 90-degree angle toward the sky. You conquer all 167 feet of the vertical lift, the tallest point of the coaster, in just 16.5 seconds. At the top, you will be at the highest point of any coaster in Orlando. Double Take - First-Ever Maneuver You drop from the vertical lift at 65 m.p.h. and ascend into the Double Take, the world's largest non-inverted loop. You zoom along the inside of the track until you reach the top, where you twist to the outside of the track and ride over the top of the loop. You then twist back inside the loop for your descent. The Double Take stands at 136 feet tall and is 103 feet at its largest diameter. Treble Clef - First-Ever Maneuver You rock out to music during your Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit journey, but when you reach the Treble Clef, you get to ride a music symbol. Universal Orlando engineers and designers worked to bend the steel of the track into the shape of a treble clef music symbol. Not only is it the first time this maneuver has ever been done, but the Treble Clef also bursts through a building facade, sending you roaring over the New York area of the park. Fun fact - this move was first sketched out on a paper napkin. Jump Cut - First-Ever Maneuver Typically, a negative-gravity maneuver is straight up and down (often referred to as a camelback). Instead, the Jump Cut is a spiraling negative-gravity move, making it a first-ever coaster maneuver. When you reach this point on the track, you feel like you are experiencing a corkscrew without actually going upside down. Crowd Surfer Soaring 33 feet above ground, you are turned at a 95-degree angle as you fly over a crowd cheering you on from the load platform as they jam to in-queue music. Drop Tuning As you barrel past the Blue Man Group theatre toward Universal CityWalk, you'll drop underground and emerge from a chasm near the entrance to Universal Studios. Plot Twist The final maneuver is an inclined loop - meaning it leans at an angle to the ground - and has a 150-degree banking turn as well. You also fly around a complete 360-degree turn before heading back to the station. Now sit back, strap in and select your song! Universal Orlando wants you to be one of the first to rock out on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Additional information will follow soon. To stay connected, visit http://media.universalorlando.com/ripriderockit - a Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit-dedicated media site, complete with news releases, video and RSS feeds. It will be continuously updated with all of the latest attraction news.

Its two different elements. The crowd surfer is directly after the jump cut.

Update from today April 22, 2009. There is steel structure going up in multiple locations in the Hogsmeade area. Work continues around the outside of the castle and it continues to grow. There is also 4 cranes on site now. And no none of them are the HRRR's crane. Just to nip that in the but before the rumor brigade takes off. Enjoy the pics and I think we will see steel structure atop the box with a month, or sooner. Sorry about the last two pics, I couldn't see where my camera was pointed since there was a wall in between us.

Continued.. More to come on Saturday... Thanks for reading or I mean looking.

Here is an update from today April 22, 2009. Today crews continued to work on the station and evac towers. Crews were working on the lift all morning long and the scaffolding is down around the fire house but you will notice from the pics they are not completely finished with the other side. Progress continues and also the area around the firehouse just looks great with new paint, fences etc.. Now onto the pics!!! More to come!!!

Yes I snore like a freight train.. Do you own a pair of cowboy boots?

Great photos, I have never been to SFNE but would love to go. And that selection of beer was wonderful, makes the Bud in my hand jealous.

^Never mind those photos from rcdb.com. I just got word that the heart line is just not going to work, instead premier has been brought in to tear down the lift and install a new double ferris wheel lift. Since the tower is to close this is now the only fix. Construction is set to begin tonight at Midnight with Jesus making a special appearance. Believe it this is serious!!