knaiwear

.mp4 is an open standard so it should play fine for the majority of humanity. You don't have to have QuickTime to play it. It works fine for me on my iPad and android phone so I think that should cover most people. Though I really don't understand why people don't just upload it to YouTube and post a link

The launch stops about 3/4 of the way up the hill. After it hits max launch speed it coasts up the top, slowing as it goes. There are also brakes up there that they could use to slow the train if it's going too fast. Since you're "not into physics" I'll say it again: There is no reason that they would have trouble with the train going too fast. The launch speed is controlled and there are brakes at the top to correct it if it's over speeding.

If anyone believes that 80mph stuff then I guess they deserve to be disappointed. This sounds like the classic rumor crap that starts when little info is available on a busted ride. If you have any knowledge of physics you can quickly calculate that on a 165' drop you need an initial velocity of 20mph to hit 73mph. Which is totally reasonable. To go over 80 you need just shy of 40mph. Launching to the point where the apex is twice as fast as expected just isn't going to happen kids. And as for the rumors of 90mph, you'd have to crest at almost 60. Not. Happening.

I agree that the park shouldn't be detailing a list of everthing that's wrong. But they really shouldn't be saying "a few weeks" when they don't know. Maybe they had a good feeling about it, maybe not, but the smartest thing to do is post a few things here and there saying "hey we're working hard on LR, we want it open just as bad as you, we just need more time to get it right." No promises, no approximations, but a good faith effort to show that they're engaged and they want us to ride just as much as we do. That's what a best-in-class park would do. Not ignore 99.5% of posts on social media. Even those comments unrelated to LR - I'm constantly shocked at how little they engage with people on Facebook, it's just not how you do business in 2016. They may be getting record crowds now, but the best long term strategy is to build brand loyalty through customer engagement.

There are a whole lot of things that can be wrong with a ride but still allow the occasional rider or film crew. What if they can only one one train every 10 minutes or something due to mechanical or electric overload? The ride is technically safe for passengers but maybe it's just not ready for prime time and public operation...

I've been hearing that DW is going to have a media day on the 6th to coincide with Dolly's visit. Looking forward to this ride finally opening up!!

Why wouldn't they just reduce the launch speed?

Fantastic news! I hope people post pics and video soon! Were there any rollbacks?

I posted this earlier, but yes, Joris is 1.1 m accompanied by an adult, 1.2 m unaccompanied. I doubt RMC has much to do with the GP's tepid response, given that there are no RMCs in the mid Atlantic area. I would say it has far more to do with the fact that BGW hyped up a family coaster as though it was a major thrill ride. Had they just stuck with marketing that targeted kids and families then things would have gone more smoothly. While the ride could deliver White Lightning style thrills (and I hope it does), the layout and POV don't really look conducive to that...

I would guess that they're not going to schedule testing and commissioning of a prominently delayed attraction based around Dolly's schedule. If it's done before it'll open before, and if it's done later it'll open later. They are almost certainly in ASAP mode now.

^ That doesn't even answer the question. Also up to this point you could just as easily say all testing took place before the park even opened. The lift has been under construction and cars were removed from the site, so it doesn't look like they've been doing much train movement.

I keep hearing people say this, but I can't think of any examples of a park being so secretive about testing. Most parks test when it's time to test so they can get things open asap. Why would DW need to avoid testing during operating hours? I've never heard of a park avoiding testing just so people don't get "confused" (as someone suggested). I've been at plenty of parks when yet-to-open attractions were undergoing testing.

How do you know they didn't?

So the ride is a few weeks late - weeks, not months - and you think the MOST LOGICAL thing to do is completely scrap an expensive launch system and replace it with one by another vendor? The photos posted today certainly don't support that theory. They're adding brakes and the existing launch looks like it's still there.

The company that is doing the ride controls posted and said they weren't even at the site anymore and have been over at Storm Chaser. I'm pretty sure Dollywood can't just test a ride on their own without the controls people there. It has to be totally done, like turning over the keys to the park, before they can run it themselves... Plus if they really want to get this thing open, they're not going to limit testing to just overnight hours. They'll run it round the clock so we can ride!

Dollywood has postponed the Thrills in the Hills event for April 8-9. Doesn't look good my friends http://www.dollywood.com/themepark/Festivals/ThrillsintheHills

I looked into some of the other GCIs around the world. Joris en de Draak at Efteling has a 1.1 m height requirement, or 43.3", for accompanied children. Apparently they also have to sit in middle cars but that may not be as much of a problem on a shorter train like it looks like BGW's ride will have. Granted, different country, different insurance and all, but it does prove that the GCI train CAN be certified for lower than 46", at least in some locations... are there other examples of this on GCI coasters? 44" is fairly reasonable for this style of ride.