The Official TPR Spain & Mini-Europe Trip 2007 Thread

[seb&rox]

Let's be honest up front, we have nowhere near the hundredth of the experience of theme parks that the most accomplished TPRers have amassed throughout the years (let alone their beloved founding fathers who can now enjoy true parenthood and who shall never be thanked enough for everything they give to the nerdy internet community) BUT (you knew a "but" had to come) when we rode Black Mamba in the summer of 2006, shortly after its opening, we didn't find it lacked any *punch* and had all blood down in our feet by the time we rode it for the third time...

Which leads to a few questions: are we so pathetic and inexperienced that what still feels like the craziest coaster we've ever rode is not so good ? Could it be possible (please, don't let us be that pathetic) that the Phantasialand powers-that-be have somehow toned down Black Mamba over the course of a year ?

Anyway, thanks a lot again, we curse our 8-hour a day 6-day a week work responsibilities that always prevent us from taking part in a TPR trip... We know you'd like us, we're so likable (and hopefully, we'll start contributing more to the forum soon).

Thanks for reading (and sorry for the spots of dodgy english)

[Groteslurf]

Great video MrMorgan.

[larrygator]

^^everyone is affected differently by coasters and each person has different tolerances and thresholds for g-forces.

[OldJJman]

I thought that Black Mamba had a great start to it. I stayed (like Jimmy) in the back 2 rows for 4 or 5 consecutive rides, and then headed for the front. I got in 3 front seat rides and 2 more on the outsides of row 2.

 

First couple of inversions were nice, but after that it just petered out. In the back rows (where you really can't see much) it was like BBW at night - wandering aimlessly thru the village. Kind of pointless.

 

On my first ride, I kept expecting that there would be a seriously intense inversion at the bottom there, but it never came. It's like they were so intent on making it visually appealing, that the actual ride part was forgotten.

 

Because of that meandering around the last half or so of the ride, it's like being on a bus with no windows. Nothing to even look at (ala BBW at night).

 

So the other drawback for me, was that it was basically ONLY a front seat ride.

 

It's a middle of the road B&M, that looks really pretty.

 

I'd take Nemesis, Montu, Fire, Ice etc.. (you get the idea) before BM. Actually I rank it about even with Raptor (which I NEVER understood why people think that it's so good!).

 

But, I'm anxiously awaiting the ones in Japan and, especially Korea. I just hope that the one in Korea doesn't have the BM syndrome. Looks really good, but is kinda bland.

 

 

JJ

[SharkTums]

I pretty much echo what Jeff said.

 

As for being 'jaded', I totally believe that happens. I remember several years ago riding Chiller for the first time and it gave me that feeling in my stomach from the launch...now it feels slow and lame!

[The Bat]

Morgan --

 

Great video! I cannot believe you got my wipe out. Larry is right -- it looks like I about took everybody out!

 

Toverland was great and Phantasialand was amazing. LOVE the rapids footage. That rapid ride owns all others!

 

-- Dave

(healing nicely by the way from my Triangle experience)

[ParkTrips]

we didn't find it lacked any *punch* and had all blood down in our feet by the time we rode it for the third time...

yeah, I got that sensation a little bit at the bottom of the first drop, and only after riding probably 6-8 times... but then there is, say, Batman or Dueling Dragons which gives that sensation on every single ride, and not just at one brief moment, at several places along the track. That to me is an intense ride, not an intense moment.

 

But like Larry said, every person's reaction is different. Look at not-so-cool Rich, I bet he loved this sissy ride

 

I agree with Jeff, I'd put it in the middle of B&M Inverts - I thought the zero G roll was really good, and it was a great front row ride, but I'd rather feel something than see something.

 

Black Mamba was the only ride we had ERT on that I wasn't bummed once ERT ended... well, with the exception of Booster Bike, but I didn't ride during ERT

 

"What, did they replace Black Mamba with an intense ride?" - another fine Dave Thomas quote

[TheRapidsNerd]

Now we know what the babies would look like if KI's Bat and Thunder River got together. I dig the Bat Boats. Anybody have a good still pic of that ride that might make a good desktop?

[TheRapidsNerd]

Oops! Meant White Water Canyon but you get the idea.

[MrMorgan]

Morgan --

 

Great video! I cannot believe you got my wipe out. Larry is right -- it looks like I about took everybody out!

 

Toverland was great and Phantasialand was amazing. LOVE the rapids footage. That rapid ride owns all others!

 

-- Dave

(healing nicely by the way from my Triangle experience)

 

Thanks Dave. Yes, I was proud to feature you taking a dive. It could have been so much worse and we're all glad there were no serious injuries. Imagine ending the trip with a broken wrist or something...

 

And I agree with you, the rapids ride at Phantasialand owns all other! Can anyone compare it to Grizzly River Run, (is that what it's called), at DCL? Similarities?

[TheRapidsNerd]

Just from what I saw in your video Mr.Morgan, Grizzly River Run seemed to have a bigger second drop. Grizzly's 1st is probably the same as the first in your video. This is based on a podcast and youtube footage I've seen. Not riding either discredits me greatly, unfortunately. DCA's Grizzly River Run does have a pretty big finally hill however.

[BeemerBoy]

I agree with Jeff, I'd put it in the middle of B&M Inverts - I thought the zero G roll was really good, and it was a great front row ride, but I'd rather feel something than see something.

So you're saying it's a B&M version of Expedition Everest then? Take away the theming from both, and they're average rides at best. I guess that's a pretty fair assessment.

[ginzo]

So you're saying it's a B&M version of Expedition Everest then? Take away the theming from both, and they're average rides at best. I guess that's a pretty fair assessment.

 

Black Mamba not being a top ride does disappoint me a bit, but it's really not that big of a deal. I still have Nemesis, Katun, and Pyrenees to look forward to.

[larrygator]

So you're saying it's a B&M version of Expedition Everest then? Take away the theming from both, and they're average rides at best. I guess that's a pretty fair assessment.

 

Wait you can't knock a B&M ride or BemmerBoy will.. oh wait never mind

[ParkTrips]

So you're saying it's a B&M version of Expedition Everest then? Take away the theming from both, and they're average rides at best. I guess that's a pretty fair assessment.

funny, because when I looked at my ballot for Mitch's poll after I got back, I figured it would settle in the 30s range... right near Everest

[RCFreak]

While Grizzly River Run has a bigger drop (I think?) River Quest's felt a LOT steeper. Both are really good rapids, but it seems like RQ was focused more on the drops more then actual rapids, and GRR has a very fun (albeit a bit dry) rapids section with a couple of drops.

 

 

As for Black mamba, it's a very fun ride. Haven' been on many B&M Inverts so I can't really compare many of them, but it's definitely a front seat ride for the visuals which doesn't say much about the actual ride.

 

 

Talocan and Winjas are easily the best rides in the park!

[TheRapidsNerd]

I've heard Popeye and Bluto's Bilgerat Barges (sp?) at IOA has a wicked drop at the end while Kali River Rapids at DAK is so-so.

 

Love the boat theming on RQ! Is it just a bunch of drops strung together or a decent mixture of water elements with drop or two? How was it compared to the other rapids rides on the trip?

 

Anybody else notice that more parks are going to the cauldron style boats with no backrests? Unless they're themed decently or painted, the design seems kind of cheap and bland. The older style with the backrest just have more charactor to the look, though I don't get the handles on either side of the headrest.

 

But then, I don't get a lot of things...like powedered water. What exactly do you add to that?

[robbalvey]

But then, I don't get a lot of things...like powedered water. What exactly do you add to that?

Milk

[TheRapidsNerd]

Hmm...milk with powdered water...(cringe) Bleeeeck! Oddly, why does that give me a Carabba's lasagna craving? Mmmm....Carabba's....

 

Hey, this is about the spain trip video. I need to stay on topic, not muse about food like homer, though a cheeseburger wouldn't be bad right now...

[sfne2005]

But like Larry said, every person's reaction is different. Look at not-so-cool Rich, I bet he loved this sissy ride

 

You peckah.....it's no where near as good as Hydra

Yes I liked Black Mamba. It was quite re-rideable. Its no Nemesis, oh wait, you can't compare BM to that can you Mr. Paper Filer. Did you lose the quad boobs because of fear of getting them caught in the shredder?

BM is definately NOT forceful. I tend to grey out easily on rides with moderate-high intensity, and I didn't grey out once. Now Laser on the other hand, damn near killed me.

[RonFrost]

Anybody else notice that more parks are going to the cauldron style boats with no backrests? Unless they're themed decently or painted, the design seems kind of cheap and bland. The older style with the backrest just have more charactor to the look, though I don't get the handles on either side of the headrest.

 

 

These "cauldron" styled boats, while really cool looking, don't allow for much wetness. The boat are also reticulated, so the water is channelled along the division toward the center. Only the couple of people sitting on either side of the channel get wet. Personally, I prefer a lower profiled seat, so that a splash down produces a massive wave that soaks everyone on that side of the boat. It's much more fun that way.

[MrMorgan]

Anybody else notice that more parks are going to the cauldron style boats with no backrests? Unless they're themed decently or painted, the design seems kind of cheap and bland. The older style with the backrest just have more charactor to the look, though I don't get the handles on either side of the headrest.

 

 

These "cauldron" styled boats, while really cool looking, don't allow for much wetness. The boat are also reticulated, so the water is channelled along the division toward the center. Only the couple of people sitting on either side of the channel get wet. Personally, I prefer a lower profiled seat, so that a splash down produces a massive wave that soaks everyone on that side of the boat. It's much more fun that way.

 

That's a good point, Ron. With those major drops, you'd think we would've gotten wetter, but because the sides were so tall, it deflected everything. The only time we actually got some splash action was when a huge spout came up through the hole in the middle of the boat!

[TheRapidsNerd]

Bummer about the high sides. The whole idea is to get wet on a rapids ride. That concept just doesn't make a splash with me or hold water.

 

You know, even Roman Rapids at Busch Gardens Europe had 3 of the 4 waterfalls dialed back this May. Only the last one really got you wet.

 

We used to have contestests to see who could get dowsed by the most falls on a ride. It took a few trys, but I got all four...and ruined shoes. So worth it!

 

Well, wet or not, RQ looks fun as do the other spanish park rides.

[Chris Benvenuto]

The thing about Black Mamba is that it's fun and nothing more really. It's fast and fun but when I went on in last summer when it opened it really was just a 2 hour wait for a normal junior inverted coaster.

 

Nothing too bad and nothing too great, it's just right!

[egffreak]

Thank you Mr.Morgan for the great Video of my both favorite parcs.