GeorgeT

Nooooo It`s nothing new and to a certain grade "normal" that people tend to overhype or are not able to deal with criticism when it comes to coasters of their own country or homepark...but for me, this thread takes it to a whole new level, really

Don`t forget about all the germans (like me) who wated it to fail from the beginning, too Talking about failure : I hope you noticed how many times robb repeated that smiler would probably be a lot of fun and that it`s like putting two GREAT coasters together ???

Well...I also think that though being much shorter than Smiler for example this thing could turn out to be really good... The underground launch is a "plus"...the heigth of the "inverted tophat" looks sweet...the stengel dive thingy looks fun....and the inversion in and then out of the tunnel at the end looks just great IMHO. Besides...the last track pieces will be mounted tommorrow ! EDIT : Not to forget this will be lapbars only

So...here are some recent pics from tripsdrills new gerstlauer launcher...looking good so far (Source : Coasterfriends.de)

To me this is just "Looping-the ride"...not more. It wouldn`t be my first, not even my second or third stop at Alton ! It`s good to hear that a lot of the english enthusiasts like the ride...really...but I`m totally with robb thinking that (layout-wise) it`s absolutely NOT innovative...but gimmiky. But I`m shure having this huge amout of loops will bring many extra visitors to the park so that financially it probably was a very good descision

Well...have fun dude !

I think that`s absolutely WONDERFUL

Wonderful dining rooms...and on the tables...just fast food Anyway...the ride itself loks beyond awesome

Guy...sorry cause this isn`t new to you....but I have to say your sense of humor is absolutely AWESOME

Oh boy....sorry to say this....but if there`s one thing showing that the engeneers of our modern coasters are not perfect at all is that there are still so many new coasters showing up whose restraints make a whole lot of problems Of course it`s technically possible to build them in a way so they don`t get tighter during the ride. How many complaints about wingriders are nescessray so that will be changed ??? After riding with so many different people through the loops, corcscrews and heartline rolls on Blue Fire an NO ONE having any kind of problems with those restraints, I just don`t get it, really. So it`s just annoying to read complaints about uncomfortable restrains again and again and again... On another note : Gatekeeper looks excellent, really. Good length, and the pacing seems to be really good !

Honestly....I`m NOT impressed. Loop after loop after loop. MANY small ones. I would definitively prefer fewer lops, but a bigger variety of elements. And to me it looks shaky in parts. I think this is a fun coaster....yes...but I don`t see this ranking high in the polls. Greeds....GeorgeT

Sorry Kooky....but I have to say that starting with Wodan is NOT (!) a good advice...because Wodan is so much slower in the morning ! If you want a good ride on Wodan then you have to wait until the (late) afternoon or early evening...the later, the better. The difference is HUGE !

Oh yeah...there´s even a song about it..."Safe the best for last"...

Robb...thanks a lot for the GREAT "NEW TPR Video every day in April" concept...much appreciated

You`re welcome ! I guess the higher speed is a mix of running for a few month more (so more "breaking in") AND the new wheels ! Having ridden it today I have to say Wodan is clearly the most intense coaster now at Europa IMHO. Amazing...I just hope it`s not falling into pieces

Little "update" on Wodan : Wodan is running on different wheels this season. While it started last season on polyurethane wheels Europa Park changed to a harder kind of plastic to lower their maintenance costs. The effect is that Wodan became rougher (especially in the middle area of the train AFAIK), louder AND a lot faster !!! Oh boy....the difference compared to last year is huge. If you´re interested to compare...then have a look at this ! This is Wodan in 2012 when TPR visited Europa Park...watch at sec. 5:15 the pacing in the final curves : And this is what I filmed today. Sorry I had problems uploading this on Youtube....so I used Dropbox for these two AVI video-sequences : From a distance : https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31071856/WODAN.V1.25.04.13.AVI Closer : https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/31071856/WODAN.V2.25.04.13.AVI I have to admit it`s NOT smooth anymore, no, but the intensity ist just WOW Greeds...GeorgeT (EDIT : Sorry for the poor quality of the video )

I would definitively sh** in my pants when riding that

It`s VERRRRY green...yeah...

I think this is really awesome ! Though it`s from the german TV I think the video speaks for itself. This guy built as a "hobby" for about 20.000 Euros his own private ghost train in his cellar. The special thing about it ? It really looks as if it`s an GREAT one...I have to say I`m impressed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Rv_KBCARQQ Greeds...GeorgeT

GREAT coverage of Wodan Besides...Wodan is travelling on harder wheels this season. Still not metal...but a harder type of plastic. As I am a regular visitor of Europa I can clearly see that Wodan has become significanty faster, especially to the end. But I have to admit that it became rougher too... Greeds...GeorgeT

Robb...I remember the katschunk...katschunk...katschunk...those little but intense "bumps" in the helix being Colossos biggest downside. Was it still there when you rode it last summer ? Apart from that I second what Robb and chuck wrote...Colossos is a VERY good and intense coaster....but the other prefabs are the strongest "competition" you could possibly have to be honest Oh yeah : Colossos...first drop...last row...and wheeeeeee

Great report...love your comments. More please

There`s the first onride...and I have to say...GOOD job Bellewaerde Park ! Greeds...GeorgeT

I found this on the german TV, you can watch it for a few more days in the media store. It`s a documentary about Roland Mack and his way of managing Europa Park ! And although only little of you will understand what is said, there are soooo (!) many wonderful scenes of Europa Park...Day and Nighttime...there`s Wodan, theres Bell Rock, Dinner in the sky...just wonderful to look at IMHO AND (!) theres a scene where the plans of Artur-The ride are shown...looks detailled and GOOD ...it`s at 22:12 minutes. And don`t forget to choose HQ Mode ! Have fun guys...and it there are concrete questions what was said in any scene...it will be a pleasure for me to translate ! http://swrmediathek.de/player.htm?show=e77242f0-8ff9-11e2-8113-0026b975f2e6 Greeds...GeorgeT

Trims...by a laaaarge amount