The_Mad_Hatter Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I was just wondering recently... is there any reason why Disney tends to go with Vekoma to build their rides? Vekoma is notorious for their roughness and overall bad roller coasters, yet Disney, the largest theme park chain, is filled with Vekoma roller coasters, from Rock'n'Roller Coaster, Thunder Mountain, and Expedition Everest. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KDcoasterMAN Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 ^ My guess is that Vekoma builds the best experience for what Disney is looking for. They build the most specialized rides in variation. Not all of their rides are rough duds like their Boomerang and SLC series. Intamin did build California Screamin' So Disney does source to other companies. It's all about what Disney is looking to build. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoopLover Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 ^ I think that is a very good point! Disney is valued for it's experimental and imaginative rides and Vekoma have done a lot other than Disney. I think that Disney have seen that Vekoma are reliable and that they can pretty much build whatever they have to. Take Space Mountain for DLRP for example, it had to meet certain demands - be thrilling, Have an elaborate launch and be compact inside a large dome. I think Disney have made a wise choice with Vekoma. P.S. After Vekoma built one Disney ride Disney obviously saw that they built good rides and thus wanted lots more! Stephen --- That's only my opinion though! --- Hamilton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Older Vekoma rides have hee-uge trains... ...trains that are hee-uge enough to incorporate an audio system without too much modification to the front five or six cars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoopLover Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Ahhhhhh.... Good point. Space Mountain, Rockin Rollercoaster! I never thought of that. I still wonder why they chose Intamin for California Screamin? It is amazing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Ahhhhhh.... Good point. Space Mountain, Rockin Rollercoaster! I never thought of that. I still wonder why they chose Intamin for California Screamin? It is amazing! I'm pretty sure... They chose Intamin for California Screamin' because of the track - it looks like a woodie, doesn't it? If you look from far away, you can't tell a difference between California Screamin' and a woodie because the track blends in so well. The Vekoma track is enormous, and would have stuck out. California Screamin' uses two-tube track for most of its length. Raging Spirits and Temple of Peril are Intamin for the same reason, even though they don't have an onboard audio system. I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoopLover Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 That makes sense. There are a lot of experts around here! My personal secret - I have ridden 72 coasters to date and my all time favourite is Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril!. Stephen --- Indiana Jones Rocks! --- Hamilton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 I think you guys are all looking into this a little too much. Disney chooses based on 1) Money and 2) Level of Control. Vekoma pretty much wins that battle as their cheap and will let Disney do whatever they want and push them around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.J. Posted November 6, 2010 Share Posted November 6, 2010 Good point. I was just guessing, honestly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Mad_Hatter Posted November 6, 2010 Author Share Posted November 6, 2010 The cost factor makes sense.... after all, if not for the cheap factor, why not go with Mack, whose rides are also very capacity friendly, flexible, and much smoother. Funny enough though, Disney Vekoma rides tend to be much better than the normal Vekomas (or so I assume... I've never been on too many bad Vekoma's... just cruddy Boomerangs and decent Mine Trains). I guess after working together for years they have a solid relationship, so why change. Thanks everyone for the helpful responses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsislandfreak Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 All the vekoma rides at Disney are some of the best ones Vekoma ever made. So I do not have a problem with them using Vekoma as they have been reliable to Disney probably the same reason Disney still use's them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 (edited) I think you guys are all looking into this a little too much. Disney chooses based on 1) Money and 2) Level of Control. Vekoma pretty much wins that battle as their cheap and will let Disney do whatever they want and push them around. #1 is a factor for sure, but I've been told many times that #2 is MOST important to Disney. Disney needs to work with someone that will allow them to modify control systems, blocking system, and build a ride around their needs. Vekoma seems to be very accommodating when it comes to this. I've been told that B&M will not work with Disney because Disney has more lawyers than B&M has employees. Disney has also worked with several other companies besides Vekoma - Intamin - California Screamin', RC Racer & Indiana Jones Maurer Söhne - Crush's Coaster Togo - Flounder's Flying Fish Sansei - Raging Spirits AMEC Dynamic Structures - Space Mountain Reverchon - Primeval Whirl Remember that Vekoma has also helped Disney in the past building systems for their other rides, for example I believe that it's Vekoma track that is under Test Track, Journey to the Center of the Earth, etc. Intamin has also built other rides for Disney such as Grizzly River Run and Kali River Rapids. And don't forget many of the original rides for Disneyland and Magic Kingdom were done by Arrow. I wouldn't say that Disney always works just with Vekoma, I think they work with whatever manufacturers can fit their needs for a specific project. --Robb Edited November 7, 2010 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Absimilliard Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 From what I heard from DLP, they're not pleased with Crush Coaster. Between the terrible capacity and the fact the ride can't take "Disney operations", park management is not very happy and would not work with Maurer again. For the Soarin' rides, as far as I know, Intamin is not involved. WDI did the design and used AMEC to build the massive steel structure that hold the wings. Like the EMV and Spiderman like rides, Intamin did their own version. The Intamin version use an Inverted style car, seating 12 people across. http://www.ridetrade.com/rti/images/stories/products/panoramic/pfsa.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbeawannabe Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 ^^Vekoma was involved with designing Test Track? I kind of thought Disney hired some company to design the system to fit Disney's specs, and Vekoma only produced the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 (edited) For the Soarin' rides, as far as I know, Intamin is not involved. WDI did the design and used AMEC to build the massive steel structure that hold the wings. This wasn't a contest of who has the most theme park dork knowledge. I was simply making my point that Disney uses more manufacturers than just Vekoma. My information possibly being incorrect about one ride doesn't change that point. You may be right about the Intamin and Soarin' thing, and if you are, congratulations. You're a bigger nerd than I am. --Robb Edited November 7, 2010 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 ^He's French Canadian Robb...just leave it at that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 From what I heard from DLP, they're not pleased with Crush Coaster. Between the terrible capacity and the fact the ride can't take "Disney operations", park management is not very happy and would not work with Maurer again. They bought a spinning mouse and are pissed at the manufacturer about its capacity? If true, the management of DLP is inept. That's like getting mad at Mazda because you can't shuttle your 5 kids around in your Miata (MX-5). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CD Posted November 7, 2010 Share Posted November 7, 2010 ^^Vekoma was involved with designing Test Track? I kind of thought Disney hired some company to design the system to fit Disney's specs, and Vekoma only produced the track. Yup, there is another track system (underneath the main track that the cars are on) that provides the electricity to the vehicles. This was indeed made by Vekoma. Disney and Vekoma have had a long lasting relationship so why find another company if you're happy already? Vekoma is cheap and (as Robb and Elissa mentioned) they allow Disney to have more control over the process than other companies are willing to give up. We may never see another Disney/Intamin coaster as Disney changed the blocking system on Clalifornia Screamin' after Intamin passed it over to them, breaking the contract. I'm sure Intamin is not too happy about that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Der Der Dongt Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Now how does it come that Disney is so interested in changing a rollercoasters blocking system/software? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 I thought that arrow did a few coasters for Disney as well. I know they did matterhorn mountain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thelegendarymatthew Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 ^They did that, and I also belive they helped with a few other things in Disney land that arn't coasters, but I'm not sure on this. Someone with a better disney knowlage can probley help you witht hat if your intrested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ebl Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 Arrow also did Space Mountain at WDW if I'm not mistaken. And Vekoma has done at least the U.S. versions of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and most likely the overseas ones. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thelegendarymatthew Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 ^I looked on RCDB, Space Mt and the BMTR in Disneyland have their own builders it looks like. I don't know if they are connected to the bigger companys though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillrider Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 A quick search on rcdb tells you all of the coaster companies... Disneyland... http://rcdb.com/4571.htm Disneyworld(magic kingdom) http://rcdb.com/4597.htm Disney movie studio http://rcdb.com/4735.htm Animal kingdom http://rcdb.com/5109.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matteocrepaldi Posted November 8, 2010 Share Posted November 8, 2010 While reading this I can't stop thinking that at the EAS, when I met one of Disney's safety managers he was at the Vekoma boot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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