Johnny Upsidedown Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The day finally arrived for the First To Ride event on the Led Zeppelin the Ride Roller Coaster. The Hard Rock Park did an auction for people to be the first to ride the new roller coaster at this brand new park. The day began with a short speech from CEO Steven Goodwin. We then headed for the Q house, once inside there were large Zeppelin displays and lots of music. Once in the Q house you are shown a small video and then into another room where you are shown some concert footage of the band. Then it was time for our ride on the new Led Zeppelin roller coaster. Lots of media were on hand for the historic first ride with lots of photo ops and interviews. After our ride we were given our other prizes that were part of the auction including: park hat, Zeppelin T'shirt, bag tag and the signed Led Zeppelin poster and a couple extra tickets to get back into the park for its Sound Check later in the day. All in all it was a great experience and always great to do a little for charity in which almost $10,000.00 was raised. These are just a few of the photos from the days activities, make sure you check out the rest here http://www.johnnyupsidedown.com/eventHRP.html The ride The train In the exit and shopping area Rear of buildind EXIT Inside the Q CEO Steven Goodwin makes the annoucement Memorbillia and signed Zeppelin poster Couple of onride and photo ops Certificate Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the ghost Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 AWESOME!!!! Was the ride good becuase it looks pretty cool but kind of like all the pther B&MS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 So how was the ride? Honestly. Guy "Coaster Enthusiasts around the world are wondering." Koepp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 The ride is pretty much what you would expect from B&M. Medium forces and smooth as silk. The camelback and zero G are among the best. Both flow very nice. The camelback is smooth with out the slamming around that occours on some. The sound adds to the ride and makes things very intersting. Like driveing a fast car on a twisty road jamming to the radio. No real complaints except I always like them a bit more intense then the medium of most rides today but thats becuase I am a COASTER A HOLIC. The ride is very reridable and will be enjoyed by all who take it for a spin. One of the cool things is when you are watching the ride you dont hear the coaster you hear the radio blasting as it runs the course. It is really a cool effect as the train loops or runs the helix you hear the music louder and quiter like a passing car. Basically, good medium sized drop nice floaty loops, good Z g roll and a couple of helixes. Great medium speed looping ride by B&M J> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Excellent report, Johnny! We appreciate the detailed review of it all. Oh, and that signed poster is frickin' sweeeet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I like the "zeppelin" look of the trains--a nice touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 ^ I do, too. And the black, white, and gray color scheme. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NINCUB Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Great update! I couldn't imagine how exciting it would be to be the first to ride a coaster at a brand spankin' new park! I'm not too thrilled with the color of the restraints... after a few good days of sweaty nasty hands.... they will not be white any longer! :0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanks4me05 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The ride is pretty much what you would expect from B&M. Medium forces and smooth as silk. The camelback and zero G are among the best. Both flow very nice. The camelback is smooth with out the slamming around that occours on some. The sound adds to the ride and makes things very intersting. Like driveing a fast car on a twisty road jamming to the radio. No real complaints except I always like them a bit more intense then the medium of most rides today but thats becuase I am a COASTER A HOLIC. The ride is very reridable and will be enjoyed by all who take it for a spin. One of the cool things is when you are watching the ride you dont hear the coaster you hear the radio blasting as it runs the course. It is really a cool effect as the train loops or runs the helix you hear the music louder and quiter like a passing car. Basically, good medium sized drop nice floaty loops, good Z g roll and a couple of helixes. Great medium speed looping ride by B&M J> Just wondering, since you said Led Zep is of a medium intensity, I would like to have a comparison: What would your rate these rides in terms of intensity: Incredible Hulk Dueling Dragons Great Bear (save for the S bend "finale") Talon Raptor Mantis Montu Kumba SheiKra Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Nice update! If you don't mind me asking, can you give a range of what the auction winner's bid? Of course I would completely respect your right not to share that info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 Just wondering, since you said Led Zep is of a medium intensity, I would like to have a comparison: What would your rate these rides in terms of intensity: Incredible Hulk Dueling Dragons Great Bear (save for the S bend "finale") Talon Raptor Mantis Montu Kumba SheiKra Lets see how to describe this. With out makeing an arguement with a bunch of people. I guess I would have to say its more or less about certain parts of a ride. Take Montu, I love to be crushed in the seat on the Bat Wing and I would put Montu in the more of an intense range leaves me breath less everytime.. Kumba well I would say is one of the most intense on the list and I would considered it an intense ride versus what I deam a medium ride (maybe add Hulk in there to the intense list). Sheikra, I would put in a thrill ride catigory. Mantis I would say is intense but for the wrong reasons more like pain. Raptor I would put more in the intense range, the helix at the end while the camelback is intense I put it more in the slamming around range. Talon seemed to be more in the medium range same for great bear. Hulk has an overall intense ride experience with some above average Gs and a good long ride expereince. The zep does have a few weak spots which brings down its intense level, the helix could be stronger and a few other things but there is no real wow point in the ride to make it into an intense catagory. Except intense fun. For me its about the whole ride experience, when you come into the station and you are out of breath or you legs a shaking from the adrenaline rush you just got thats when I put them in the intense range. While some rides are intense in pain some are intense in just fun like Sheikra. Really its about prefferences, I love rides to have parts where the Gs are above average but I also like some parts where quality airtime is appreciated take Goliath at Six Flags Georgia, while medium in intense for the most part it is a perfect Air machine best floaty air. LARRYGATOR, From what I followed in the auctions, the front row went for about 600, second row I think was in the 300 range and the rest of the seats were in the 200 range, back row I think was in the 300 range. I dropped 255 for my seat. I did it mostly for the experience, the photos and the memorbillia. Its hard to get on some of the park media lists to get in for special events. Its really about the experience of going and being at what I consider my favorite time in life, being in a park rideing a ride while the park is closed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Hey, hey what can I do? Ramble on to the that misty mountain hop, with my black dog, hope for no communication breakdowns, and get a whole lotta love. Otherwise, I'm just a fool in the rain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 ^Where you'll stand till you're breathless, dazed, and confused in the evening when the levee breaks . . . ^^I think the overall ride experience tends to trump "intensity." My main criterion for any attraction--Is it any fun at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I think the overall ride experience tends to trump "intensity." My main criterion for any attraction--Is it any fun at all?My thoughts exactly, Chuck. It may be a "mid-level" beemer, but for me, it's the sum of its parts. The awesome queue, the "re-ridability," the location, the color scheme, the trains, the onboard audio.....and IT'S THEMED TO LED ZEPPELIN! To me, this has just looked like fun from day one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjaco Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 ^ Excellent. The layout reminds my of Kraken, which I know I'm in the minority, but didn't care for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Thanks for the TR, it sounds like you had a great time. I also love the look of the trains, but overall it's a coaster I'm not going to rush out to ride. I'll probably wait a year or two before visiting the park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyweird Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Sounds like a good ride. If I ever make it down to Myrtle Beach (yeah, right), I'll have to check this out. I have yet to ride a roller coaster with an on board sound system. BTW, Johnny Upsidedown said that the ride is of medium intensity. When was the last time B&M made a roller coaster that's truly intense? I'm curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speeddeamon128 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Awesome pics. I'll be going to Hard Rock Park this summer and can't wait! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sfmmrules! Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'd rather go on Incredible Hulk. Plus Hulk IS ten times better anyway if you compare them on rcdb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coastercrazed49 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Led Zeppelin sounds awesome. Also the trains design are crazy looking, at first they sounded stupid, but they came out really nicely. Looking forward to seeing what other people think of the ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraken613 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Sweet! Im looking forward heading down and riding it! I dont know how soon that would be though. It looks pretty good Im still one wishing B&M would go back to the pure intense rides but no matter what if its B&M its going to be a good ride! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemmy Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'd rather go on Incredible Hulk. Plus Hulk IS ten times better anyway if you compare them on rcdb. Ummmm...what? I like the Hulk, and unlike many people on this site think it is the best ride @ IOA, but no way you can compare rides by looking at stats on RCDB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slither37 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Thanks, this was a very fun and interesting read. I agree with Beemberboy, the signed poster is extremely (x10) cool. Can you choose the music or does the song remain the same for the entire train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Upsidedown Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 Its the same song, Whole Lotta Love. And it seems that parts of the ride are set to certain parts of the song. Or at least the parts of the song they picked fit the rides flow. Kinda slow as you go up the lift then as you drop the music hits a spot where its a lot of power in the music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nagro5 Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The ride looks great and so does your TR. You're so lucky that you got to be one of the first people to ride! So did you use the tickets to get into the sound check? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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