horootle

Delays on the CF refurbished flat rides have come from the place in Europe who was doing the refurbishment before the ride was shipped to the park, so it's not really CW's fault in this case, but has nothing to do with the Canadian weather. Dorneys ride didn't open on time either

You think it's "perfect" to wait until three days before opening to announce something that's been pretty apparent to anyone watching for a couple weeks? While we all conceded that there was a *possibility* that the ride might make it, all signs pointed toward a slight delay. No testing videos, no reports of endless cycling, not even a second train on the track until yesterday. I have no doubt that they all wanted, hoped and wished that this thing could be up by Friday but that was always the long shot and they should never have planned media days on Thursday, a "grand opening" countdown to the ride on the weekend and even a coaster club event with Lightning Rod ERT on Saturday. That's just crazy for any new ride let alone a prototype trying to open in mid March! (And yes this is a prototype. It's velocity magnets first launch) There's been almost no sign of serious testing. Meanwhile Dollywood got on the news YESTERDAY trying to drum up opening day business by talking about the new ride. Pretty convenient to cancel with under 72 hours to go before pass holder day. I'm sure it's not just a coincidence that the cancellation refund policy at their fancy new resort is 72 hours in advance. No, the "perfect" thing to do would be to set a Grand Opening and media day in mid April and allow for a little bit of buffer. If the ride soft opens, great! That's a bonus perk. Say "lightning rod, coming later this spring" on the news instead of getting the GP excited. They don't follow the construction like us and they wouldn't have any reason to expect it to be closed based on what the park put forth. Pretty shameful. I can't think of a time when a park was so sloppy about handling the delay of a major attraction.

Pretty sure both Goliath and Medusa opened late. (Goliath for sure)

This is great news!!!! The PR rep definitely was positive about the ride opening Saturday! No way would they get up there and say all that without it being close to ready!!! can't wait to ride!!!

I'm mixed... when thinking about the outward banks that are more like 45 degrees instead of 90... the ones on Twisted Colossus don't do anything for me, but the first one on Wicked Cyclone is really intense and cool. But then the second one is wimpy because the ride is so slow by then. We can see they added more flattish banked turn track in the last update so I'm starting to wonder if they left it out entirely, maybe after seeing how slow WC was at that point of the ride??

oh don't get me wrong, I think there's still room for it, but the location has definitely shifted relative to the animation (which may not have been all that accurate to begin with)

like a mushroom?! it's pretty clear looking at the rendering versus the track - the rendering showed about a 90 degree flat curve before the hill, and we already see almost 180 degrees of flat turn. It looks like the design has slightly changed which is typical of RMCs.

Dollywood is posting a countdown on their facebook page... but still not answering questions about whether the ride will be open! What do you guyys think??

I had the same experience last June. I couldn't figure it out at first but once I figured out to sit in the front rows of the cars I was a little better off. OR is a great ride but unfortunately those "potholes" I felt really kept me from riding it a ton :/ I never felt that on any other RMC (ridden all but Medusa).

because I can read blueprints. All other inaccuracies (and there are many) in your post aside, look at the attached image and tell me this: if the queue enters from the green star, follows the yellow path, goes up a flight of stairs, passes through a building, and then on the other side follows the red arrow down an ADA-accessible ramp back to the starting point... ...WHERE else do you suggest that the loading area might be?

the steps were outdoors, the loading zone was not in a 35 foot long building, and the cars were at ground level - clearly not the case here as the queue walkway cuts between the two buildings. if you really think those plans support a le mans revival then I really just don't know what else to say, except that you're wrong.

Are we looking at the same plans? Ive never seen an antique cars ride with a 35 foot long loading station elevated 14 steps off the ground. not to mention the logistics of crossing over the train tracks several times.

just now seeing this, but this is REALLY weird (then again, the whole project is weird) They don't even have the staircase or the catwalks. I've never heard of that being added after-the-fact but I guess anything's possible This coaster really needs the midcourse brake since it doesnt have a traditional lift hill, otherwise it cant really be dispatched until the entire course is completed and first brake run is cleared!

why would the elevator lift be at the end of the ride? plus we already know those two buildings are 23-feet tall

the plans clearly show "layout" shaped clearing on both sides of the train track.