Visioneer

I agree ... their first installations (i.e. the smaller ones) aren't so pretty. Power Tower and other larger multi-tower projects have a monumental feel to them. Mach Tower looks great from a distance. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product and reading your report.

Excellent point there. The rest of the area is still more refined, but I'll give you that. Carny for BGW still looks like Disney vs. Six and Cedar. Again, I'm glad they are getting a drop tower regardless. It's a smart investment.

Those attached plates and especially those clamps create the mechanical and flat 6 sided look. It looks carny. Yes, they are big poles, but this is the first big pole I felt looked bad. It's magnified even more being based in BGW! I think that's why I've expressed my opinion. It's BGW. If it were Six Flags, carny works. S&S Towers look great due to their lattice design. It's like Intamin box track. The structure looks good from an architectural standpoint: architect or GP. They don't feel mechanical and clunky.

Hmmm ... the color works and also blends with the sky well, but I can't help to feel the structure looks too mechanical. It looks clunky. Looking at the Tivoli videos, the overall look isn't aesthetically pleasing. Basically, everything at Busch has a refined look. Intamin does a great job with aesthetics on their towers. Even S&S has a nice feeling to it. Up close, this sticks out like a sore thumb. It isn't finished, so maybe they will attach covers and refine the feel of the seat ring. The mechanical tower look most likely won't change I grew up at BGW. I'm glad they finally have a drop tower. It just looks carny vs. everything else.

That article is all over the place. One example: it sounds like the loop caused the accident, so they removed the loop. It was the smoothest part of the ride The timing of this article is interesting with a recent opening in Texas. I know I'm stretching that connection, but I'm willing to bet it will happen with SOB. SOB has the potential to become the most popular ride in the park. That's worth the investment. Salvaging the sound parts of the ride and replacing the problematic areas would still cost far less than a total tear down and rebuild. The loop was great, but I wouldn't plan to see it return. Random Concept: Go old school ... in Cedar Fair style! - Create a new section on the backside of SOB if possible, SOB Plaza, if you will. - Create a major path through the structure allowing coaster overhead interaction with riders and non-riders. Can you imagine looking up at that structure right below it? That's a [insert # here more than 7] World Wonder. - Showcase the transformation on permanent displays along the walk. At least some GP will read this and learn it's a different coaster. - The entrance should be at the back of this plaza (i.e. like milk and eggs at the grocery store) - Add a couple of family flats and another tower style ride. - Make this the wooden hyper it could be ... an airtime machine. - Put an awesome lighting display on that massive wood structure (i.e. Millennium Force) IMO, this would have greater long term reach than a new multimillion steel looping thingy with a similar investment.

I guessed this would be rejected. I may love roller coasters, but this was always a bad idea. Can we say Six Flags from a decade ago or so? This is why Legoland, over in far far away, will be successful versus this proposal no matter where the thrill park is located. The only chance this park could possibly survive is smack in the middle of Disney property ... and that's survival by default of convenience.

crazywolf88, I created and posted that pic to show a similar effect of dropping down into an anything - open or closed doesn't matter - the effect is a benefit. It had nothing to do with proof However, nothing wrong with wishing and dreaming. Proof, not so much.

^IMO, he's using the word "lazy" more like "resting on your laurels" (i.e. Walt Disney quote). Dropping into the mouth of the Krake would enhance this ride. Can anyone really argue that? Look at the POV - you stare down onto track vs. the Krake commercial or Oblivion. Looking down into a seemingly tiny Krake mouth, even if that's all it is - a ring with teeth, would be the cherry on top of a solid attraction. People would talk about "you drop into teeth" ... "it looks so small" ... head chopper effect, etc. giving more powerful word of mouth excitement. I hope they do "finish" it, but ultimately it's their decision. Thanks Hanno for all your coverage! It's very much appreciated. Side by side comparison - Krake v Oblivion

All of this for a family coaster?! Really?! YES and I love it. If a picture of an attraction makes you smile, that's serious long reach immersion. The detail on the train is impressive. Fantastic job Hansa Park!

Best TR I've read in a long time! Awesome job w/ a little South Park style ending. Good words.

Agreed, though I'd say Cedar Fair went for a consistent blended feeling vs. Six Flags more carnival or fair random theming. Six Flags can take any liberties. That's their style. I'm not saying Cedar Fair themes like Disney, Busch, etc. just they're going for a ... Cedar Fair atmosphere or sophisticated carnival.

Anyone else notice the Vekoma / B&M connection? The OTR's. Best picture I could find.

Thanks for showcasing this! I think it's time GG or GCII stepped up and made a modern wooden wild mouse just like that! Talk about instant hit for the whole family. What park in the U.S. is willing to take this bet? I bet this small modern investment would be as or more popular than some mega-millions tech machine. Dark horse.

From Hanno's opening day TR, it looks like each side follows a mirroring path: One side twist in and swings out of an inversion while the other side does the opposite - swings in and twist out. Nice balancing with variety! @WFChris which is why KI needs something like this. Cedar Point is my destination for modern thrilling coasters. Kings Island is more family oriented and yes, dated no-as-popular coaster tech. Cedar Fair is balancing the Ohio market well. KI has a lot of long term potential ... squeezing it out slowly.

Finally a serious return to actual theme and design of roller coasters and attractions! I thought Manta and Harry Potter were a flub in the new industry system. This and Raptor at Gardaland are showing what should always be. A total and complete experience from guest watching or waiting for riders, queue and actual ride experience including train theme and blended incorporation of attraction into or beside main walkways. The train is the last extension of the experience. That's what people focus on when waiting around or walking by! These parks will continue to make money. People remember the experience of immersion, but not always why. It's in the details.

Smartest teaser I've seen in a while. Why smart? It was straight forward - no fancy editing, different, ballsy and got a chuckle out of me. They probably could have shortened it a little; the clip and sign were good points. For one time, it worked. I wouldn't try to continue on this path though. If you're not doing something different, you're not doing anything.

Not pointless at all! Awesome actually. I do these data and trend analysis all the time, but never for roller coasters. I've done rough semi-feasibility studies for a dream, yet realistic, modern U.S. theme park project (i.e. market penetration, per cap, capacity, etc.). Data is king for success! Looking forward to seeing more.

LOL @ginzo

This will "ride" just like any other B&M. They wouldn't ruin their reputation taking such a chance. They engineer further than most companies would consider. Their coasters are smooth vs. the majority of other roller coasters. Are we really doubting them now? Overall, I agree it's no different than a floorless (or one could argue an inverted). You may have a few "newer" sensations based on that final inversion. I'm not sure U.S. parks will flock to install these. The trains look great though! It's funny to see them in reality. I drew a train concept just like this back in the 90's. I called it "Hammerhead." I dropped the seats to level with the track by way of a downward structured "bent" arm. Should be a fun ride!

This design isn't new. It's actually older than Fahrenheit and was posted on this site sometime prior or during construction. Tried to search old topics and couldn't find it.

Why didn't the company take a page from their own backyard? "Manta" ... totally worked, simple, to the point. Why not just drop "Hunt"? "Cheetah" Just checked: Forgot the one at Wild Adventures. Do they own a trademark on it? Drat. I'm done now. What's in a name? Now, I no longer care.

New name! Hungry Cheetah ... and you get free Cheetos on the exit ramp. Problem solved. This discussion, as yet another example, proves the world really is coming to an end. Cheetahs will be the only survivors. Smile! BTW: Original Superman hypers have straight stretches of track; great coasters and fun.

Look at the top steel coasters on anyone's list. They are non-inverting coasters. Look at the longest lines with roller coasters (i.e. even if you adjust for capacity). The most popular roller coasters are typically wood and non-inverting steel coasters. Inversions aren't as important as they once were. Maverick only has two inversions. Sheikra only has one. The most popular have zero. This ride will have lots of airtime hills, an actual "first" drop, multiple launches (i.e. Volcano) and "twisty". It will be extremely popular to the thrill and family base and a welcome change to all the similar multiple inverting steel coasters in Florida.

I decided to play with this one anyway, so just .jpg and no .zip A little research helped, but this is a tough challenge! This is a “one size fits almost all” background. It’s a quickie design (so I enlarged / stretched photos, blurs, etc.). Maybe it’ll spark some more ideas. I think TPR created the monster of all Photoshop contest here. The various sizes are a tough fit. Smallest 1024x768 Largest 1600x1200 The basic background

Wow! Very few things shock me, but this did. He, his family, Holiday World certainly made and makes an impression on me and within this industry. I've never met him, yet I've learned much from him. Truly a loss and very grateful for what he's done ... and will continue to do! I would certainly give him Amusement Industry Legend status. Very few deserve it. He proved it. "Under promise. Over deliver."