The Yeti

^I don't know about that..I think that actually sounds better for Disney's Animal Kingdom, even though they already have a few iconic structures. I guess it's more that when I think of Africa, I never think of volcanoes and - as if Falcon's Fury won't be iconic enough - I'd rather see a 300 ft coaster in the BGT skyline!

I really did love the Wilderness Waterboggan, but I definitely remember long lines (or SDC) of at least 45 minute waits on almost every visit. One other thing I remember was that your group had to be weighed on a scale prior to boarding, so you were often paired up with other riders or your group could be split up depending on its weight/size. I know I rode it before and after 2003, but I never noticed any changes to the ride. I do remember trying to get as much air as possible on every turn by leaning into the turns, but consequently I got soaked. As for the tower that still stands there, I am very surprised that the structure has not been removed seeing how SDC is such a beautiful park. I actually would bank on it being used for a future attraction, though I'm just not sure how. The last two times I visited the park Wildfire was a walk on with a 1-2 train wait for the front row. I really like that they tend to run two trains even when the park is relatively empty, but it's also a little surprising because Wildfire is a pretty short ride. However, one thing I remember about waiting in long lines for Wildfire was the fairly elaborate story that goes along with the ride and it really does add to the experience of the ride. I'll hopefully be visiting the park later this month! I can not wait to ride Outlaw Run again!

I think I've only ridden a Parachute Tower (if the one at SFOT was Intamin) and a First Gen Freefall. I'd vote for the First Gen Freefall easily. On my first trip to Cedar Point I think I rode Demon Drop four or five times as it had no line and because the drop was pretty insane. It was better than the blue side of Power Tower for sure.

I heard that California actually has in bill in place to make Shamu wear OTSRs...

Holy crap...I was not expecting that. Though not as tall or as fast as NTAG or IRAT, I feel like RMC has a freaking monster on their hands.

If El Toro's lift is running at full speed (13 m/h) the velocity at the bottom of the hill (eliminating all friction & air-resistance) would be approximately 73.8 m/h. If the lift was running at 5 m/h, the velocity at the bottom of the hill (again, eliminating all friction & air-resistance) would be approximately 72.8 m/h. That's a 1 m/h or 1.4% total velocity difference. Friction & air-resistance affect a rides speed more than the lift does. Source: physics. Source: English Sorry...I had to correct you. It affected me that much!

Sarcasm for the win!!!! But really though it just makes me think that Raptor backwards would be really, really cool, yet not if it stayed that way forever.

I think the addition of Prowler basically accomplished the medium sized family coaster product that they needed. Sure the coast may not have a pull for crowds after 7 years, but the park lists Spinning Dragons as a more intense coaster than Prowler on their website. Maybe it's because WoF is my home park (for now), but I think they could use a good thrilling coaster. They already have a ton of flat rides and water rides for families, not to mention more than 10 rides in Planet Snoopy for littler children plus Dinosaurs Alive (for now). The only rides requiring riders to be over 48 inches are Detonator, Patriot, and Thunderhawk and, while a 48 inch height limit means little about ride intensity, those height limits go a long way for families. That being said, I could care less about the height limit to ride a new coaster. I'm just hoping Worlds of Fun adds something that makes me need to go back there.

^From my understanding, not based on the person quoted by you and adding that I don't know enough about the ride to truly back this up, the seats are supposed to be tilting to an upright position during breaking and not during the pre-break section. The problem is that the seats are tilting back too quickly causing that arm to break loose, and they either need to adjust/reinforce something in the arm or somehow adjust the breaking to prevent that from happening. On a side note, the seats tilting back to normal has to add extra positive g's while the ride is breaking. Perhaps a pre-break section is needed to make the ride comfortable. I honestly have no idea though...maybe there is no pre-break section and that area is actually intended to move the seats to an upright position. I wish they would just lock those arms and let us ride it out face down all the way! Actually, I'll be plenty happy if the ride opens even without tilting seats!

Yet by your judgements I can tell you are American (as am I) because 7 of the people in those pictures were in fact overweight Great pictures, Hanno! Love the rider shots! I can't wait to say that to you again!

I could see how people with shorter legs could have that problem if the ride was rough. Look at the person in the second row in your picture. However, I don't think that Powder Keg is rough at all really. I will definitely say that Thunderation is rougher than Powder Keg. TnT's turn before the lift alone is brutal, and I felt that a majority of the ride was shaky. I will say, though, that I am a proponent of the old Buzz Saw Falls track on Powder Keg being converted to S&S track!

Oooooh baby!!!!! That pretzel loop looks like something else...but the drop before it? OMFG!

Wow, Mack is just so impressive. This ride looks great, especially the second half. Hanno, I have to say you take some amazing pictures. The rider reaction shots, though, are easily my favorite. Those pictures are pure awesomeness

Mr. Freeze has lower leg/shin bars...though I still couldn't tell you why exactly they are there. I feel that on some rides people whose legs do not touch the ground may need some sort of protection to keep their feet from flying in the air.

I originally thought that I loved this idea of a new Six Flags park that is built from the ground up (even if it's one I'll never visit). Then I realized that Six Flags could end up just sending some recycled rides from other parks to a brand new park, which seems likely even if that brand new park is built Dubai. Seeing other (semi) recent major projects in Dubai though, I feel that a new Six Flags park could actually turn out to be fairly impressive!

I hope this thing ROARS!

Am I the only one here who feels like they experience negative G's on the transitions between Maverick's first few turns? It's almost in the same sense as a barrel roll. Maybe I've kept my body still while riding it, but I never felt as much of a lateral shift during those transitions as I've felt actual airtime. Edit: And apparently not...that was explained on the last page

They say "Size doesn't matter."

I remember hearing that the writers of Fast & Furious rode the current version/portion of the ride/tram tour, and they thought it was so dumb that they demanded something else. Really though...watching videos of it on YouTube shows that they have a valid point. I'm looking forward to see what they can produce. I honestly watch videos of the ride just because the current version makes me laugh every time that "Gasolina" song drops as it is just that stupid. From the description of the new Fast & Furious ride, I have to think it will be a simulator or something similar to the Forbidden Journey robot arm technology. I've never been a big fan of the F&F movies, but a new coaster could certainly warrant my first trip to USF. I've never been to Universal in Hollywood, but it seems that it has made and is making a drastic change - which is very exciting!

That is one awesome log flume. I feel that a visit to Phantasialand is finally justified! I also think I just realized that I'm a log flume enthusiast...

That backwards Togo coaster looked awesome, I must say. It had some pretty sweet looking drops. The family coaster doesn't look bad either. I would actually love to see a higher quality, well-themed version!

The restraints on Outlaw Run were already pretty tough to pull down and push back up, so you usually need help from the ride attendant since they have a better angle. I haven't been this year, so I don't know whether they check the buckle first and then do a second check for the restraint. On a side note, I've never been able to pull down my own restraint on Powder Keg either - but those restraints are fairly different and far more comfortable.

I think the test run makes it look pretty darn good. I'm still disappointed with the zero-g roll despite its massiveness...it just looks boring compared to B&M's old style. The rest of the ride does look like it's taken at a good speed, and with Banshee's size it could even be moving faster than it looks. Of course, the ride could be testing without trims...

Are there any steel coasters that duel with wooden coasters? I don't think it's probably for this project, but just a thought!

Hahaha! YES!!! I kinda felt bad for Emma Watson at that part...