OrlandoPete

You remember when this was? I'm just curious since now it's braked a ton and they won't even let 4 adults ride in a car... wonder if they got stopped sometime This was in 2001, the year Talon opened.

Wow, Orlando over the next few years is just getting crazy. It's going to be a fun decade!

I doubt USH will get both Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, so Orlando will still be the more compete HP experience.

Actually, the concept wouldn't go against the books or movies at all. The new area at USF would be London. The Hogswarts Express goes from King's Cross station in London to Hogwarts castle, but the train itself is already in the wizard world once you find the hidden platform at King's Cross station. It is one of many transitions from the world of "muggles" to the world of wizards. To get to Diagon Alley, also in London, you have to walk through The Leaky Cauldron pub to the secret entrance in the back. Diagon Alley is where Gringott's Bank is, which would be the new ride. So, if we are to believe the rumors the new area would probably have, among other things, King's Cross station and the Leaky Cauldron as fronts. King's Cross would take you by train over to IOA. Leaky Cauldron, aside from being a place to eat and drink, would transition to the new land of Diagon Alley full of shops and the bank.

The Wild Mouse at Dorney Park. 4 adults, easily a combined weight of 800+ lbs. We were hitting the corners so fast that the thing felt like it was going to rip off the tracks. We were all screaming for dear life!! Now, I am no wild mouse novice. I know that this coaster is supposed to feel like it is going over the edge, but this was ridiculous. I felt that perhaps we were over the weight limit because I have never had a wild mouse experience like it.

I've always thought a permanent ride-through horror attraction would be perfect for Universal since HHN is such a huge success. They have years of experience, and I think with the right technology they could make a scary attraction for teens and adults. Of course, I doubt that is going to happen so I think Harry Potter is going to invade USF. I really doubt the feasibility of the train idea. Screens for windows...I don't know.

My top wood, and top overall coaster, is El Toro. I got incredibly lucky to ride this coaster, as it was not supposed to be open to the GP yet when we went during our annual coaster trip back in the day. Then I saw them cycling trains in the morning, and I saw an employee on it. Then a whole train of people went by, which I assume was the media. Then, they just opened the line up for the GP. What a ridiculously intense ride it was! My top steel is Superman: Ride of Steel @ SFNE / Bizzaro. Pretty safe pick, but it really is the ultimate combination of speed, airtime, and wicked helices. I have not ridden it since the accident and conversion to Bizzaro. I have also not ridden Intimidator 305 which looks to be the only coaster in the States that I haven't ridden that could give it a run for its money.

Why can't it compete with Wet n Wild? I guess I don't share the opinion that Wet n Wild is that great because I don't think it is athletically pleasing. It does have the best thrill slides, but Fun Spot will have about the same amount of slides plus 2 rollercoasters and go karts. I think the two will be comparable factoring in all attractions.

I can't say I agree that this is the worst market for another water park. One could have said the same before Aquatica opened, and I know for a fact that SeaWorld has made major money from it. I also want to point out that this project is clearly much, much larger than the hotel water parks you are pointing out. Coco Key has 1 slide tower with a grand total of 3 teen/adult slides and a kids complex. No lazy river either. The other hotels you mentioned have only kids slides! On the plans for Fun Spot I am seeing at least 5 towers, over 15 slides, and a lazy river with several lagoons. IMO there is no comparing those hotels to Fun Spot's plans. Now, it is much more comparable to Wet n Wild which will be its direct competition. Comparing park maps it will actually have about the same number of slides as Wet n Wild, and a few look really thrilling to compete with Wet n Wild. Wet n Wild is unthemed and really not a very attractive park either, so I am not sure why Fun Spot won't be able to compete even at the same price. There will also be 2 rollercoasters and all those go karts on site as well. For a whole day of fun, I am thinking Fun Spot will be superior to Wet n Wild when people sit down and compare the brochures for both parks.

Hmm, I guess people have had some rough rides on Gwazi then, huh. Perhaps it was that cocktail I had before riding...I don't know. I am usually pretty intolerant of a rough woodie. Maybe it is hit or miss? Affected by humidity? I remember I rode the Voyage three times one day, and the first two were smooth and wonderful. Then the third time I have no idea what happened, but it was as violent a woodie as I have ever ridden. I walked off with my head hurting from the vibration. I think overall the layout of Gwazi is as good as Roar, so I hope they can get it all sorted out one day. Back on topic, I would love to see a Big Fun in Orlando. It would be really unique to the area. I wonder what the steel coaster might be?

Have you been on Gwazi with the Millennium Flyers? I rode it this past week and thought it was awesome. I didn't find it to be rough in the least for a woodie. Either way, very excited about this news!

That's actually not what they said...they said it will be the most thrilling family ride in Orlando. This could definitely fit the bill. Sure it would be the same concept as another ride in another park, but they could still take it to the next level with better theming. If Verbolten turns out to be a great ride I will definitely be excited about the possibilities.

Let me backtrack and say that I don't think this exact ride is going to be installed in Orlando. I just meant the same ride system. The Legoland ride is in a different country and if a similar ride was installed here it would be completely unique in the Orlando area. Manta, while having a completely unique theme and queue, didn't have new coaster technology. It's not like there aren't other flyers out there, Morrow's team just did the best job implementing it. Griffon and Sheikra are pretty much the same ride, so it's not like these parks don't tend to follow each other while introducing new ride technologies to their respective areas. All 3 Atlantis rides use the same ride system, even though they have gotten progressively less impressive thematically with each iteration.

This image is from the IAAPA thread. Wow, could this be more obvious? I think we have an open and shut case here: Polar X-plorer - Legoland Billund http://www.legoland.dk/en/Explore/New-in-2012/ Facts: 1. This ride is being installed at Legoland Billund, a family park and this ride shows a family riding it. "Family" requirement met. 2. This ride is a rollercoaster with a 15' vertical drop. "Thrilling" requirement met. 3. This ride is shown as interacting with "Live Penguins" in a cold environment. Uh, yeah. 4. Verbolten is an indoor Zierer coaster with a vertical drop just like this one, and SeaWorld Parks like to share ride technology across parks. That said, anyone think this is not going to be the Antarctica ride for SeaWorld?

removed

Did they actually mention that at the press conference? I "heard" that was an idea, but I didn't see anything in print. Based on what I've heard, I'm more excited about this than Fantasyland 2.0 . Orlando Pete- Remember they said, "thrilling FAMILY ride" .... ..... ( you aren't shooting the penquins, you are saving them from predators or directing them to their next destination) Yeah, I noted the family part, however Sally doesn't make a ride that could be considered thrilling. Unless they plan the visuals to be the thrilling part? If they did a Sally shooter, it would be no more thrilling than other family shooter rides in Orlando such as Toy Story Mania or Men in Black. Anyway, I guess I just don't want to see a shooter in any way, shape or form.

Hmm, I don't see how a slow-moving, on-rails Sally shooter could ever be the most thrilling family ride in Orlando. However, I have not been on any of their new ride systems so maybe they have come a long way. I love the idea of a Pooh's Hunny Hunt-type ride system! Imagine that roving around a big room of ice encountering predators. It would also definitely be unique in America.

Yeah, I guess it is possible they don't consider Spidey and FJ family rides. They did qualify that statement right afterword by putting the emphasis on family. The next few years in Orlando is going to be great. Don't forget to add Avatar for '15 as well. I also expect to hear from Universal about WWoHP expansion plans in the next couple years.

Exactly. Brian Morrow stated that this will be "the most thrilling family ride in Orlando". That's quite a bold statement right there as it would have to be more thrilling than Spiderman and Forbidden Journey. Heck if he can just match those rides thrill-factor and have it in a really beautiful physical environment I will be happy. After seeing how good of a job they did with Manta I have faith.