Jew Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 They're moving so quick. Can't wait for my next Orlando trip to get the credits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 I realize there was already a small update on the topping off of the Skycoaster, but I was there, too! As a big Skycoaster enthusiast, it was impossible to pass up the opportunity to watch part of the process of building the 2nd tallest one in the world. And while I had to work both Saturday and Sunday, I was still able to get some great shots of the process, as well as some more progress pics of Freedom Flyer! Saturday morning and the first section of the arch is being lifted into place! As expected, it took a lot of workers to get this right. Before lifting each piece into place, tool bags are attached to the ends so the workers don't have to worry about carrying them up with them. Moving it into place..... This guy has a pretty important job. Lining up the bolt holes. Just slide it right in there. And voila! Climbing the structure and getting ready for the next section. Love the white paint! Here goes the base of the other side of the arch..... Without standing in front of it, it's really hard to grasp just how massive these sections are. Going up! And we're vertical. Getting it into place...... This was all they did on Saturday because of high winds, but it's a good start! By about 10 on Sunday morning, they had already gotten this much more done! Any volunteers for this job? I think it would be really hard for me to resist spitting over the edge if I were this guy. Getting ready to lift the last piece into place! And there it goes! Yay America! The wind was still pretty bad this morning, but I guess it was safe enough for them to finish. Almost there..... Time to get this thing bolted into place. See how handy those tool bags are? "So what did you do at work today, honey?" "Oh, nothing. Just straddled the outside of a 250 foot structure." Getting everything lined up. The park rented a helicopter to take aerial photos of the topping off. Now it's interesting to note that the pieces weren't going to line up precisely like a jigsaw puzzle. Pretty much finished tightening down this end of the section. And we still have a sizable gap at the top....... So it's time for this guy to start climbing...... Even though I'm pretty much not scared of heights, climbing this thing would have made me whimper like a little girl. And pee my pants. Nope. Wouldn't do it. Almost there! Made it! Ok, time to get these pieces connected. This process basically included strapping a couple come-alongs to either side of the arch and winching them together. I bet the view was nice....... And that will pretty much do it! At this point I had to leave to get ready for work, but I'm sure they finished up shortly thereafter. Fast forward to Monday morning and it's done!! But there's still work to be done...... Still kinda weirds me out that they're only using one side, but it makes sense. This morning they were attaching the flight cables to the flight bracket. I had a slight to severe geek out watching this happen. Now let's not forget about Freedom Flyer, lots of track has gone up! Some more support work has been done on White Lightning, as well! Look at all that progress! This is what had been done so far when I arrived, but more was to come soon....... See? I told you. Once again, another geek out moment watching a piece of track get bolted into place. I'm no expert, but I think the process behind this was slightly less complicated and terrifying as the Skycoaster topping off. When in doubt, hammer it in. Tightening the bolts up. The end! Looking at their facebook page, it looks like another piece or two of track went in after I left yesterday, so they continue to get lots of work done in a very short amount of time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 We were at Universal today and you could clearly see the Sky Coaster and the Vekoma from parts of the park and clear as day from the parking structure! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmicha Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 This is great! I love seeing smaller parks feature quality expansions. I bet this place will become a nighttime hotspot. Next time I'm in Orlando I'm going to have to go give it a try. I have a thing for tiny wooden coasters and loved the only GCI I've been on (Thunderhead) and expect White Lightning to be a ride that is just pure fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewRnR Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 ^^ That's going to be the best advertising - as people are leaving the garages at Universal they'll have a nice view of all the new attractions! Just snapped this on my way home from the office... Construction Photo taken on Feb 26 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick210 Posted February 26, 2013 Share Posted February 26, 2013 Great photos, thanks for posting these! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swimace Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Freedom Flyier is looking great! Seriously, the Vekoma Jr. Inverts are so much fun with the new trains! I was riving down I4 today and it really took me by surprise to see a new SkyCoaster just plopped down all of a sudden. I guess I will have to get used to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HTF Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 From today, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XYZ Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Looks great! I really like the colors of Freedom Fighter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thrillseeker4552 Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Looks awesome! Fun Spot chose a great selection of rides for their expansion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRHcoasterki Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 ^^ It's Freedom Flyer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cal1br3tto Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 Looks just as nice as any coaster twice its size! I'm liking the bright colors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musketeer Posted February 28, 2013 Share Posted February 28, 2013 I think the white really makes the Sky Coaster pop! Definitely a good choice. I wish all this was going to be open for my visit to Florida in April! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xVicesAndVirtues Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 On my way home today, I snagged a couple of night photos of the completed Skycoaster with it's awesome new lighting package! Sorry for the quality of a few of these, I shot them all with my iPhone 5, and darkness is certainly the weakness to otherwise stellar pictures iPhones are capable of taking. I will say, while I really like the lighting package and the Skycoaster is visible from Millenia Blvd, Vineland Road's turnpike bridge, and is RIGHT in your face from Kirkman Road's bridge over I-4, I think a ground-up package might have looked a little cleaner. Also, it's kind of odd that they don't have lighting on the back tower...hopefully this will be added in the future! The view looking through the Vekoma, plus some White Lightning bents! The view from a little past White Lightning The view from the now-paved parking lot. You can literally drive right into it among all the bents and parts! And last, the overview of the current park progress from just a bit up the road behind one of the strip malls. I can't wait for this park to be complete! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick210 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Thanks for posting these. The lights on the SkyCoaster are the ones that came with it. Same as when it was at MGM. At some point in the future, we'll probably do an LED package on it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 The view from the now-paved parking lot. You can literally drive right into it among all the bents and parts! Yeah, except for those pesky "No Trespassing" signs everywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
COASTER FREAK 11 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Why doesn't every sky coaster have a lighting package like that! That's great looking and will really get people to the park!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougMJr Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 This is great for Fun Park, especially since Robb said you can spot it from Universal. I'm sure Fun Spot will be able to draw visitors at night who come just to do SkyCoaster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rai Fox Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 That skycoaster looks fantastic. I loved Fun Spot when I was there a few years ago, it's incredibly exciting to see what it's turning into now. I'm more interested in getting back there now than I am in Disney or Universal! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screaminkid2005 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Also, it's kind of odd that they don't have lighting on the back tower...hopefully this will be added in the future! I'm almost 100% positive that the Sky Coaster isn't complete yet. By looking at the Arch, it seems like the ride can have two different flights going on once. Also looking at the launch tower it seems to be tilted to the left. Which means there is another launch tower that will be tilted to the right. So the reason behind the Launch Towers not having a light package yet is most likely because that area just isn't finished yet. That is unless they decide just put up one tower and only run one side of it. This should better explain what i'm trying to say. Found this when searching on google. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 ^I'm pretty sure it's been announced and explained here that Fun Spot has chosen to only run one side, therefore only putting up one tower and one set of wires. Therefore, it is pretty much done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
screaminkid2005 Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I must have missed that! My bad. =P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DougMJr Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 Only one side, my OCD is kicking in! I guess it would be easy enough for them to just put up the other tower in the future if the demand justifies it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 ^I feel the same way! It doesn't look right to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted March 4, 2013 Share Posted March 4, 2013 I'm pretty sure that guy said a couple pages back that the expansion to the go kart track is going to be directly over where the other tower would go, not to mention having to build a second extension to the building under the arch in order to have a second site for the launch platform. So basically, there's no way they'll ever have the second side open. Definitely looks awkward, but it makes sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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