cfc
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Posts posted by cfc
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^Hmm--I wouldn't say that BGW has "never" had this problem before. I rarely attend a ride's opening day, but I made an exception for Curse of DarKastle. I waited three and a half hours (lots of technical problems), while the park handed out free water bottles to those in line. Even then, the ride still had sound issues, which were tweaked and resolved a week later. When I left after my ride, the line for DarKastle ran all the way down to Alpengeist.
Granted, DarKastle is a more complex attraction than Mach Tower--as is Cheetah Hunt.
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I'm not saying the layout doesn't ride well - I just don't like the layout itself. It just doesn't flow to me - I'm sure I'll get jumped on for thinking I'm better than the designers at Gerstlauer or something, which I certainly don't. I just don't like these layouts, how the elements are connected, etc. Not saying that they're bad rides at all, because that I certainly can't know until I've ridden.
Groucho agrees with you.
I'm kidding here, and I can understand why you might not care for the layout. I thought the same thing about Speed at Oakwood, until I rode it.
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^Thank you for defining what you meant by "thing thing."
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Was thing thing suppose to pause before the drop?
Er, what what?
Great report, Scott. I like the Eurofighters, and I'm looking forward to riding one with a lapbar.
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I'm glad that these rides are showing up at more U.S. parks--they're a nice variation on chair swings and observations towers. Thanks for the report, Rick.
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^The video gives you a better look. The two drop capsules are in the back of the tower on either corner, with the free fall slides up front.
Here's a view from the top of the free fall slides from the pics that the park provided that day. No photos of the skyboxes, though. Nitro Racer is in the background.
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Can't wait until Monday!
You lucky bastard!
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We already have a discussion thread for this park: http://www.themeparkreview.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52558.
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^There have been a few opinions expressed about the brakes. You can use the "Search this Topic" feature to find them.
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^You're right--better choice than Bruce Dern and three robots.
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^^Sometimes ops encourage that, sometimes they don't.
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I can't find Bruce Dern. Where's Bruce Dern?
Never mind. Here he is.
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To sum up: Mach Tower will not be opening on its scheduled day due to technical problems. Busch and Moser are working on it.
Nothing to see here, folks. Let's move on.
Thank you,
Chuck
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^Good for Dollywood; however, this is the BGW thread. Let's stay on topic, folks.
There could be any of a number of factors for the delay, and the park just wants to get the job done properly. They started testing, and they found a problem. That's what testing is for.
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Unfortunate, but if there's an issue, it needs to be dealt with. Busch just wants to do it right.
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And if you're curious about Water Country's other offerings, just head over to the TPR Park Index.
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Hell, I try to plank for eight hours each night. I can do it in my sleep.
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Chuck, they opened it... just for you.
They sometimes open the gates behind the funnel-cake shop in Germany, too, on busy days.
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Water Country USA has struck with Williamsburg's first new ride for 2011: Vanish Point, a 75-foot tower of "pure liquid adrenaline." The park debuted its new slides for thrillseekers on Saturday, May 21. Here's the official press release.
Thrill Slide Opens Saturday at Water Country USAMid-Atlantic’s Largest Water Park Debuts Vanish Point
WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (May 19, 2011) – Water Country USA opens for the 2011 season on May 21 with the debut of this year’s most anticipated water attraction, Vanish Point. The crest of this 75-foot tower challenges guests with two wave paths. They can step into a skybox and take a plunge when the floor drops out beneath their feet, or they can get horizontal on a 300-foot speed slide that drops them straight down as soon as they enter. Either way guests are sure to experience pure liquid adrenaline.
“Every step leading to the top of Vanish Point will get your heart racing,” said David Cromwell, vice president of Water Country USA. “That anticipation is another plus of the park’s new thrill slide.”
The addition of Vanish Point continues Water Country USA’s commitment of providing thrills and excitement at the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park. Vanish Point joins Water Country USA’s 43 acres of pools, children’s play areas, lazy rivers and water rides that make up the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park. Guests who want to relax can enjoy one of Water Country USA’s 1,500 free lounge chairs or rent one of the park’s 16 private cabanas.
Guests can pay the single-day admission of $46.99 and enjoy Vanish Point now through Sept. 5 with a Water Country USA Summer Sizzler pass. Visit http://www.watercountryusa.com for complete details and to purchase a pass.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates 10 parks across the U.S. including SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place near Philadelphia, Pa.; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg.
The 10 parks play host to 25 million guests each year and employ 26,000 people nationwide. To learn more, visit http://www.SeaWorldParksandEntertainment.com or call toll-free (888) 800-5447. Additionally, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment created the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research, education and animal rescue programs worldwide. Learn more at SWBG-ConservationFund.org.
Here are a few facts about the slides:
Get ready for the slide of your life on Water Country USA’s epic new drop slide: Vanish Point. Inspired by the point on a wave where water and gravity form a perfect partnership, this summit supplies two wicked wet ways to drop out of sight.The crest of this 75-foot tower challenges you with two wave paths. You can step into a skybox where you drop down when the floor drops out. Or get horizontal on the 300 foot speed slide where you drop down as soon as you flop down… straight down.
Brace yourself for pure liquid adrenaline.
TYPE OF RIDE: Slide Tower
2 free-falls
2 super loops
HEIGHT: 75-foot drop
SLIDE SPEED: Nearly 40 mph
SLIDE LENGTH:
Free-falls 285 feet
Super loops 390 feet
FREE-FALL SLIDE ELEMENT: Drop and roll movement slide
SUPER LOOP SLIDE ELEMENT: Launching skybox and break-away floor
HEIGHT REQUIREMENT: 48 inches
LOCATION: Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Va
MANUFACTURER: Proslide Technology – Ottawa Canada
Water Country couldn't have asked for a better day to open their latest attraction--highs in the 80s, bit of a breeze, and only a few clouds. This was a pretty low key affair. Z104 DJ "Shaggy" did a bit to warm up the crowd, followed by a brief speech by David Cromwell, Water Country's vice president. Four people were chosen as the "first" official riders, then Shaggy led the public up the tower to experience this "liquid adrenaline" themselves.
The slides themselves are a lot of fun--especially the "Super Loop" slide with the trapdoor. The initial drop really catches you off-guard, then it's like Water Country's Jammin' Jukebox slides on crack! The free fall slides offer a completely different experience, and although they aren't as intense as, say, the Summit Plummet at Disney's Blizzard Beach, they're a lot of fun. All those I chatted with that day had nothing but good things to say about Vanish Point--usually involving the words "crazy" or "insane"!
Vanish Point is part of the park's Quick Queue "skip-the-line" system, but there is a bit of a glitch here. Both the skybox and the free fall slides share the same queue, but diverge one level below the top of the tower. Many guest were running up the Quick Queue line, which is pretty clearly marked, then climbing over to get to the steps for the free fall slides, thus avoiding the longer, slower-moving line for the skyboxes. The park may have to do a bit more "traffic control" to straighten this out.
Here's a look at Vanish Point's debut.
[coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=110521_Vanish_Point_2jhp[/coastertube]
Video courtesy of Water Country USA
To attend a new ride's media day, one must first find it. Hmm . . . I wonder where Vanish Point could be?
I do believe I'm getting close!
Eureka!
"Me Big Kahuna tiki god. Get to wear bush for hat. Tiki god behind me dumb. He get brained by surf board."
Noted.
"Dance with me! C'mon dance with me! That's it blonde chick! Shake it!"
Yoinks! It's Shaggy the DJ (not the cartoon character).
"Up there is where we must go, my children--toward heaven!"
David Cromwell, the park's VP, welcomes the crowd.
The new slides are a great addition to the park's lineup, which provides a good balance of family-friendly rides with thrills.
The official first riders are ready and rarin' to leap over the edge (or get flushed down a big pipe)!
Here they come!
What? They haven't "vanished"?
"Follow him! Follow Shaggy to Vanish Point--and glory!"
"But those who wish to experience 'glory' must abide by these rules. Thank you."
"Glory! Glory, I glug-g-g-g-g!"
"Aghh! Save me, Shaggy!"
There's a human being in there, somewhere. I think.
"Help! I've been flushed! But I love it!"
You're doing it wrong.
Let's take a closer look at the inner workings of Vanish Point, shall we?
Vanish Point shares an entrance with Meltdown, the park's three-person toboggan-raft slide.
Let's see . . . you go around here . . .
. . . and come out here.
Or you could come around this-a-way . . .
. . . and come out that-a-way.
But there is a lot to be said for the direct approach, . . .
. . . which takes you straight up the middle.
One last look at Vanish Point on the way out.
Here's a map to orient yourself a bit, . . .
. . . height requirements for Water Country's various attractions, and . . .
. . . a peek into the near future for that other park just down the road. Thanks for reading!
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^Yeah, you should at least get time-and-a-half for working that day.
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^I'm looking forward to traveling with you and Cassie again, too--thanks! Great job on your TR, especially the names of the various embassies in Canberra.
Thanks to everyone for reading.
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RIP, Macho Man--one too many leaps off the top rope of life.
Photo TR: Rainbow Magicland
in Photo Trip Report Archive
Posted
I thought the same thing when I read this TR; let's hope this park doesn't suffer the same fate as Hard Rock.
It does look like a nice place--thanks!