robbalvey Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 With the decade coming to a close in the next couple of days, let's take a look back at the past ten years. What do you think was the greatest amusement industry achievement between 2001-2010? Was it the invention of the Intamin plug n play woodie? Was it breaking the 400 foot barrier? Was it the attempt by Shapiro's Six Flags group to turn the company around? So many things happened in this industry over the past 10 years...what do you think was most important? --Robb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElToroExtreme Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Intamin Prefab! That has changed the way the wooden coaster will be built forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airtime&Gravity Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 (edited) In no order 1. Breaking the 400ft barrier just 3 years after breaking the 300ft barrier 2. The 4D coaster 3. 90 degree turns on a wooden coaster 4. The hydromagnetic water coasters 5. The Intamin plug n play wooden coasters 6. The rapid construction of theme parks being built in China Don't know what I was thinking when I mentioned breaking the 300ft barrier earlier. Edited December 30, 2010 by Airtime&Gravity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vffreak07 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Two words. Geauga Lake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeparks Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I honestly think the innovation of the hyper coaster. Yes I know Morgan really did that in the last decade but Intamin and B&M just wowing us with the new and improved hyper every year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ginzo Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Hard Rock Park. Oh, wait. Robb said "achievement", not "failure". My bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I agree that Intamin's plug-and-play woodies were an excellent achievement (and we need more of 'em). But for me I think the opening of Tokyo DisneySea in 2001 is the highlight of the decade. It's the perfect example of how immersive a theme-park experience can be, and had the greatest "wow" factor of any park I've ever visited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downunder Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 *I'm indifferent about Harry Potter, but has any new attraction had such a dramatic impact on attendance and revenue? From my own perspective: *Intamin Plug and Plays - I've only been on two, and they both in my top 2 fave coasters. *Breaking the 400 foot barrier - that was the development that made me travel specifically to go to a theme park which was a first. *The continued growth of Halloween events, especially HHN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 From a non-ride standpoint, I would give the nod to Lo-Q and their perfection of the Flash Pass concept. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neers71 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 B&M Hyper "V" shaped seating. Turned B&M hypers from tame to ejector air machines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinTheAttendant Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 I really did not want to conform, but there's no denying it. Intamin Pre-Fab. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCalCoasters Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 -The development of S&S Powers from S&S Sports -Psyclone Being Removed From SFMM -GCI giving us their innovations and we can't forget their crown achivement: Prowler. -The Intamin Cable Still Causing Trouble -Magnetic Brakes becoming commonplace on coasters -Permier Rides giving us three Revenge Of The Mummy Dark Coasters -Vekoma Developing A Restraint That Doesn't: -B&M's Flying Coaster -Theme Park Review (yes I know the site was around before then, but that was the stone age of the Internet) -Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 & 3 -Mack's awesome spinning coaster becomes popular -4th Dimension, Wingwalker etc. Style Coasters -Kuka Coaster Arms -Legoland California rapidly becoming one of the top amusement parks in California -Onboard audio becoming commonplace on coasters. And much more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 A few things that haven't already been mentioned 1. S&S Screamin Swing 2. On ride video 3. PRINCE DESMOND 4. Hydraulic launch coasters 5. lo-q (technically a prototype was in use in 1998, but went live in 2001 according to the company provided information) 6. ProSlide Tornado 7. B&M's Flying Coasters (cuz they don't kill you) 8. Prowler *Edit* In the 10 minutes it took me to think about this, half of what I listed was picked off, you guys are fast! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerrykoala2112 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 -The rise of GCI, TGG, and Intamin wooden coasters -Euro Fighters -Premier still building rides! -Every single launched coaster That's all I can think of! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6flagsbrad Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Looking back toward all my home parks... Magic Mountain received X2, Deja Vu, Scream, Tatsu, Terminator, and Thomas Town. Knott's received Xcelerator, Silver Bullet, Sierra Sidewinder, Pony Express, Riptide, and Revolution. Disneyland received Nemo Submarines, Pixie Hollow, Astro Blasters....winnie the pooh? I believe California Adventure opened this decade, but also got Tower of Terror, Bugs Land, Toy Story Mania, and World of Color. My favorite park to visit this decade has to Magic Mountain, and my favorite new addition of the decade that I experienced has to be Tatsu. Cheers for the new decade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeemerBoy Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 There's seriously only one answer that can't be matched..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tdt5cpzC1HA Really. There's been costumed characters in major amusement parks for over HALF A CENTURY now, and yet we're just now getting fully interactive ones?!? In my book, this wins....hands down...no contest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfan93 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Breaking the 400 ft barrier, A full circuit coaster going over 100 mph, Intamin Prefabs, and Killer Paint!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadster Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 ^^^ I think you may have the winner there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrewoplis Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Well Intamin made a ton of achievements in this Decade such as, The pre-fab wooden coaster The hydrolic launch coaster The Blitz coaster And so much more! Other achievements might be 90 degrees!!!.... on a wooden coaster The 4D coaster Sound track on a wooden coaster GCI And much more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teacups Make Me Sick Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Decade-smeckade....we all know what you mean. Although its not an industry achievement....but...its a personal achievement.....I ..I FINALLY got to go to Disney World!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrewoplis Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 But I also want to put some thing out other that is kind of weird, in the beginning of the decade the roller coaster legend Anton Schwarzkopf pasted away. And at the end of the decade, one of best minds in the amusement park Industry, Will koch past away. Will we be see something like this in the next Decade? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mightbeawannabe Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 ^If anybody would, I hope it's not Stengel. He's what? 75? That's getting a bit old...But with luck, a new company will emerge and offer up some competition with the biggies. Better rides for us! EDIT: He's 74. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 ^^^My kudos was legitimate, I appreciated the research (or the knowledge you already had)! Things are good to know. I definitely agree with the Plug-n-Play, and the rise of newer wooden coaster companies like TGG and GCI. They've all truly changed the wooden coaster, and made it something that can compete with the big boys instead of be known for its old charm and classic style. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveMachine Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 Plug N' Plays were the greatest achievement, IMO. Intamin really changed the wooden coaster landscape with them. They made wooden coasters that use giga-like cable lifts, 75+ degree drops and provide the craziest airtime on the planet. Oh, yeah... AND their glass smooth! The fact that a woodie is being compared to a modern day steel coaster in terms of smoothness is an achievement in itself! I've heard coaster enthusiasts say that El Toro's airtime actually made them sick! The fact that other parks haven't taken one look at El Toro, Balder, T Express or Colossos and called Intamin is truly baffeling. Another honorable mention is Shapiro saving SF is up there because of the long odds of it happening with the debt and everyone writing them off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samisthabomb Posted December 30, 2010 Share Posted December 30, 2010 1) The New Texas Giant 2) The addition of 10 new flats at SFOT 3) Superman Tower of Power at SFOT 4) Mystery Mine at Dollywood 5) SFMM reclaiming the title of the coaster capital of the world The second and third one may not seem "big" to some people, but from my point of view they were, since they affected my home park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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