Fun Spot America Discussion Thread

[dragonskeep]

This looks great. White Lightning will be a nice addition to Orlando.

[cal1br3tto]

^^Well, I'm not quite expecting a Boulder Dash-caliber ride (would love to be wrong here, and wouldn't be completely surprised), but after reading your comment I did pick up on the similarities. You're right, it's a good sign.

[DBru]

I feel like comparing this small-to-medium sized wooden coaster to Boulder Dash is really over-hyping it. Sure this looks like it'll pack a nice punch for its size and location, but these two coasters are completely different animals.

[Skycoastin Steve]

GCI's answer to Wooden Warrior, I approve.

[chadster]

Very PROWLER like, me likey.

 

I approved this message.

[Jew]

I feel like comparing this small-to-medium sized wooden coaster to Boulder Dash is really over-hyping it. Sure this looks like it'll pack a nice punch for its size and location, but these two coasters are completely different animals.

 

Plus it is a GCI, so you know it won't have too many negative-G's. It'll most likely just be lots of fun with tiny pops of air throughout.

[Cyrbuzz]

Any idea when construction will begin? There sure is a lot to have up and running by 2013 I hope they can get ti done.

[brock_boehm]

From watching the POV, it looks like it will be a really nice woodie! It's not extreme at all, but it looks like a nice, fun, quick-paced ride. It has a nice little layout.

[JJLehto]

Looks like a fun little coaster, and its cool to see GCI breaking out.

First with their really big rides, now a traditional out and back hilly kind?

Awesome

[ProwlerPrey]

YES. Fantastic ride, judging by that video. Too bad I have absolutely no plans to be in Florida anytime soon.

[dragonskeep]

Fun Spot has added some nice clear renderings of the final (possibly) layout for the park. Some of you guys could help out with the id's on the flat rides. Looks like they made some changes with the kart tracks, maybe the one in the back corner will now be the tall one with the green one being less tall but with a new course. No changes with the coaster, thankfully, other than the color scheme of the 2 coasters has switched at some point.

 

Anyone got an idea about the covered area in the waterpark, is that covered eating or maybe a bandshell?

[TXman308]

^Based on the new renderings it appears that the 200ft wind-seeker has been scrapped.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

Here is the render that he is talking about btw...

 

Fun Spot Render

 

 

As for the rides, there looks to be a Pirate Swinging Ship, Carousel, Scrambler, Screamin' Swing, Paratrooper, Tilt-A-Whirl, Music Express (the roof says Rock N' Roll), KMG Fireball, maybe a Chaos over in the corner and the Ferris Wheel. Plus a collection of smaller children's flats includeing a Happy Swing, Train, Teacups, Swings, a 'Giant' Slide and maybe a climbing area.

 

But this is just a render, I wouldn't put much faith in the attractions it shows unless they have actually announced them.

 

 

Comparing them, they are really totally different. Who the hell knows whats going to happen other then the coasters and the sky swing.

[dragonskeep]

It really has changed a lot. I hope the keep the Fireball, thats a really good ride. The one they bring to the Volusia county fair is called a StreetFIghter I think and I actually like that one better. I have never been on a small Screamin Swing but it looks pretty good too.

 

To me, the Vekoma seems like to big of an attraction (cost wise) for that park. 7 million plus for a family coaster seems way to high. You could do a lot of good flats for that amount.

[jedimaster1227]

http://www.baynews9.com/content/news/baynews9/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2012/8/11/theme_park_wars_orla.html

 

The Orlando attraction known for go karts and no admission fee is ready to expand three-times its current size. Fun Spot Action Park is on its way to becoming Fun Spot America.

 

"This is going to be a really good design, we're excited about what we're offering,” says John Arie, Jr., Fun Spot’s Chief Operating Officer.

 

The new offerings include the addition of theming for new rides. America’s love of the automobile, the romantic age of aviation, traveling cross country by railroad and space travel themes will be introduced over the next year at the Fun Spot Action Park located on the north side of International Drive.

 

By Labor Day, Fun Spot expects to break ground on two major roller coasters, a host of new rides and a new entrance building.

 

Orlando’s first wooden roller coaster

 

The crown jewel of the expansion at Fun Spot America will be "White Lightning," Orlando's first wooden roller coaster.

 

"We, this small little park in this BIG amusement industry in Central Florida, we are the first ones,” Arie says with a proud grin.

 

White Lightning in part gets its name partially from Central Florida's designation as the 'Lightning capital of the world.' And like severe weather, Arie says the idea of building the new ride is frightening.

 

"The White Lightning was the biggest, but the scariest contract that we've ever signed in our life,” he said while standing on top of a go kart track, gazing into the grassy field where White Lightning will rise. “It's the biggest ride that we've ever bought and the most expensive,” he adds.

 

The cost for White Lightning has not been made public, yet Fun Spot USA Marketing Director Mark Brisson confirms the expansion’s $20 million price tag.

 

Designed by Great Coasters International, Inc. of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, White Lightening will feature a 75-foot tall lift hill with a 58-degree drop, followed by banked hills built for speed.

 

"You U-turn,” Arie says of the coaster halfway point. “You're going to be 40 feet tall, you're going to turn 90 degrees and come back down to zero and then come all the back around.”

 

The world-class coaster will feature wooden tracks with metal supports.

 

“This is going to be one of the most unique wooden roller coasters in the world,” Arie claims.

 

While construction has yet to start in Orlando, the trains for the ride are currently being built in Pennsylvania. An artist’s rendering posted in the Fun Spot America offices depicts each train sporting a red and yellow color scheme, with the lead car resembling the front of a freight train.

 

Great Coasters International built Busch Gardens Tampa’s Gwazi dueling wooden roller coaster in 1999. The Busch Gardens installation first opened with trains built by Philadelphia Toboggan Company. In 2011, Gwazi's original trains were replaced with cars giving a smoother ride from Great Coasters International. The Millennium Flyer brand of rolling stock will be used on White Lightning as well.

 

New Suspended Coaster

 

White Lightning joins a second, suspended roller coaster planned for Fun Spot America from Dutch manufacturer, Vekoma.

 

"We're working on a rocket or space themed for it, especially because we're here in Florida, the space capital,” says Mark Brisson, director of marketing with the Fun Spot.

 

The suspended coaster will appear to families and will feature similarities with “Flying School,” the suspended coaster at Legoland Florida, first operating under the name “Swamp Thing” when the Winter Haven park was Cypress Gardens. The Fun Spot ride will be painted yellow and blue.

 

New Rides

 

Many of the new rides will feature the Fun Spot’s familiar color pallet of red, blue and yellow. Dashes of color will highlight a new entry plaza on the expanded property.

 

"One thing that Fun Spot has done well, is that we have taken the primary colors of red, blue and yellow and we've put them in everything and made them look different,” Brisson says.

 

A new parking lot will lead to an art deco entrance hall will greet guests. The building will set the tone for the attractions in the expanded property.

 

A classic swinging pirate ship ride is planned for space near the entrance of the expanded park.

 

“It's an election year, so at one point we thought of taking a pirate ship and making one side the Right side red, the Left side blue and call it 'Bipartisan-SHIP.' That would certainly go with American politics,” Brisson says with a laugh. "Swing to the right. Swing to the left. And see if you can find center ground in order to get off the ride,” he jokes.

 

Other additions at the International Drive park will be a children’s roller coaster and traditional spinning rides found at classic American amusement parks.

 

Already on site, a 250-foot tall SkyCoaster swing ride, formerly used in Las Vegas. The cable swing ride will stand over a new water lagoon and provide thrills similar to jumping out of an airplane. The world’s tallest SkyCoaster at 300 feet tall is currently open at the Fun Spot USA park on route 192 in Kissimmee.

 

Go kart changes

 

The existing Commander go kart track will receive a makeover. In order to connect the current property to the new expansion, part of the course will be reworked and expanded.

 

“Green track currently is our beginner track. We've decided, 'Alright, let's take it to the next level,’” Arie says. “We're going to make an awesome, awesome road course type track, similar to our one in Kissimmee, but it's going to be more fun, more hills, more thrills, more turns.”

 

The longer green Commander track will allow for a greater number of cars to speed around at the same time, increasing rider capacity and reducing wait times.

 

Water park on hold

 

One attraction the original plans show for the addition will not be constructed. Orlando's 5th waterpark at Fun Spot America is on hold.

 

"Our initial goals were to do both for that initial $20 million expansion,” Brisson confirms. “Sometimes your eyes are bigger than your stomach type of situation. In order to do this right, we need to make sure the dry portion was done and done well, first. Once we have that, we can add the water park, we can add a larger birthday room."

 

The waterpark is part of a phase two expansion slated for two or three years away. Brisson also shared with News 13 that Fun Spot America has looked at building a dinner theater complex on side.”

 

"This is a dream come true for us,” Arie says of the expansion. “This is something my dad has always dreamed of, something I use to dream when I was a kid, being able to take over and run my father's business. This is a dream come true, that we're able to introduce it to Orlando, and this market here. It's the best market in the world,” he concludes.

[SharkTums]

I hope the Vekoma has the new Lap Bars so KT can ride. She loved the junior invert in Germany and hasn't been able to ride any others since then because the OTSR ones have a higher height restriction.

[Electerik]

I love that they're expanding, and I think White Lightning looks great, but I hope they add some trees or something. If they want to break out of the whole Family Fun Center thing, then they need to start thinking about what their guests are doing between rides.

[cfc]

^^I second that. The lapbars are a big improvment over those wretched OTSRs.

[dragonskeep]

Stopped by to find nothing new except I heard they were going to begin expanding the green track on Monday. They did mow again and I did see a pile of dirt but it wasn't near the coaster site. Pretty exciting stuff that you can only get here.

[cal1br3tto]

^^I haven't ridden lapbar trains on one of those yet, but here's hoping they increase in numbers. It's sad how the OTSRs make what could be a reasonable (if mundane) ride into something pretty awful.

 

Enjoyed the article; sounds like the park will have a lot going for it. I hope they do very well, and I'd love to visit soon!

[SharkTums]

^Exactly!

 

With lap bars the ride is a fun equivalent to a roller skater. With the OTSR's it's a Junior SLC!

[disneyfan1313]

Things continue to be very quiet at the site - has anyone heard anything else recently? Any rumors?

[dragonskeep]

You would think there would at least be some site work going on...but still nothing. Maybe they are right on schedule but it seems late to me.

[triggernel]

There appears to be some construction on their FB page. Not sure if this is what you guys are looking for, but it's something.

Posted Sept. 5th

[A.J.]

^^I haven't ridden lapbar trains on one of those yet, but here's hoping they increase in numbers. It's sad how the OTSRs make what could be a reasonable (if mundane) ride into something pretty awful.

 

Enjoyed the article; sounds like the park will have a lot going for it. I hope they do very well, and I'd love to visit soon!

^Exactly!

 

With lap bars the ride is a fun equivalent to a roller skater. With the OTSR's it's a Junior SLC!

 

I personally don't think it's going to be an issue - Steel Lasso at Frontier City has the lap bar trains. I think they started exclusively using the newer train design when they debuted the really small junior suspended layout at Movie Park Germany in 2007.