Splash Party - Vekoma's new coaster?

[AlmereStars]

Heey Everyone

 

I was just surfing the web and then I found this:

 

Vekoma's Splash Party Coaster

 

 

 

The ride is based on a new layout of the Suspended Family Coaster equipped with trains or single 4-passenger coaches with the new seat and restraint design. Each coach is equipped with water bombs, while optional water guns can be installed on the trains, adding additional interactive elements and excitement.

 

The water bombs are filled in the station during unloading and loading. The passengers, are able to release the water of these bombs at particular spots in the ride by means of a button mounted on the vehicle. More water guns, geysers and various other tools can be installed on the ground in order to create an interactive scene between the guests in the train and the queuing line.

 

Because we have designed this ride to have on-board water bombs and guns, the park/client will need less water facilities and pumps, usually required for this type of rides, which means a considerable cost saving from this point of view.

 

I have never heard of that coaster, is it build anywhere or is it a totally new design?? It looks pretty cool for a water park or something.

[alpengeist04]

It looks like a Vekoma version of the Roller Soaker to me.

[Electerik]

It looks like a Vekoma version of the Roller Soaker to me.

 

Serious answer: But with better capacity!

 

Snarky answer: But with headbanging!

[Shavethewhales]

This has actually been out for a good while now, though no one has built one yet.

 

It's an interesting gimmick, but comes with an opportunity cost for those guests who don't want to get wet, plus the issues with the cost of water, additional seasonal downtime, etc.

 

I don't really see it as worth it for most parks.

[Loefet]

Snarky answer: But with headbanging!

Nope non at all, since it will feature the new seats found on the new Family coasters, just lap-bars.

 

Looks like a cool project, and if it will ride like the newer family suspenders then it will be pretty awesome.

[Jew]

I don't really see it as worth it for most parks.

 

I disagree. The industry has been waiting for "the next big thing" in water rides for 20 years! Parks moved away from water rides after everyone and their mother bought some combination of a log ride, chute-the-chute drop ride, and a rapids ride. And now with all those rides getting old and expensive to operate (plus the space they take up), with more and more being removed every year...the timing is perfect for a new wave of water rides.

 

Is this it? Maybe, maybe not. But I really think more parks should be looking into all the different water coaster options out there.

[Crazy4Coasters!]

Sorry to stray a little of subject but that "Stingray" design looks pretty sweet... Ok back to the "Splash Coaster." It seems pretty family friendly and interactive attractions would seem to fit well with the G.P. if one ever gets installed in my IMO.

[Speeddeamon128]

Looks like fun. If one is built hopefully it will be better than Roller Soaker.

[Philrad71]

^ And with better capacity and throughput times!

[Hercules]

Just like with Roller Soaker, I am very skeptical when it comes to combining a roller coaster and water effects, other than the clearly popular B&M splashdowns.

[BeemerBoy]

With Cedar Point's rain policy, I'm gonna assume we can cross them off the list of potential parks to receive one in the future?

[Speeddeamon128]

^Well with one Vekoma & it being Woodstock's Express, I don't think CP is very interested in Vekomas.

[Hercules]

^

[Speeddeamon128]

^CP only has one Vekoma. Woodstock's Express.

[BeemerBoy]

I guess I didn't lay the sarcasm on thick enough.

[Teacups Make Me Sick]

I don't really see it as worth it for most parks.

 

I disagree. The industry has been waiting for "the next big thing" in water rides for 20 years! Parks moved away from water rides after everyone and their mother bought some combination of a log ride, chute-the-chute drop ride, and a rapids ride. And now with all those rides getting old and expensive to operate (plus the space they take up), with more and more being removed every year...the timing is perfect for a new wave of water rides.

 

I hope not...at least the people that I know that don't like roller coasters will go on a log flume, rapids ride. If they take them out and replace them with a combo coaster/water ride, then there wouldn't be much for them to go on.

 

That and I like the feeling of having just the family/group of friends on a log flume/rapids boat. You get to have the feeling of having a ride all to yourself.

[Hercules]

I guess I didn't lay the sarcasm on thick enough.

 

Scott - who knows. Maybe we are the dumb ones here. For all we know, they will build one and call it Laser Snake Horse or something.

[Wood Dragon 1988]

I think this is a good idea.

 

I've ridden both Roller Soakers and liked them a lot.

 

With Vekoma being a bigger company with a more proven track record, I think these things may start popping up a bit more frequently than the Roller Soakers did.

 

And it is a good place for Vekoma to go, because it seems like their more family oriented creations are better than their extreme thrill attempts.

[WFChris]

I've always wondered this with the Roller-Soakers, but if this is a 'financially feasable' option, I wonder how willing a water park would be to purchase one of these. In an area with Water Park markets, I think it could really push one ahead of the other in popularity!

 

Chris.

[YoshiFan]

^ And with better capacity and throughput times!

 

Yes, that is the biggest problem with Roller Soaker. It is a fun ride but not worth the wait it usually has. Based on 3 trains dispatching at once every 2 minutes, that's only 360 riders an hour and that is figuring every seat is filled which is way too low for a park that gets almost 3 million visitors a year.