cfc Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 (edited) Water Country USA has struck with Williamsburg's first new ride for 2011: Vanish Point, a 75-foot tower of "pure liquid adrenaline." The park debuted its new slides for thrillseekers on Saturday, May 21. Here's the official press release. Thrill Slide Opens Saturday at Water Country USA Mid-Atlantic’s Largest Water Park Debuts Vanish Point WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (May 19, 2011) – Water Country USA opens for the 2011 season on May 21 with the debut of this year’s most anticipated water attraction, Vanish Point. The crest of this 75-foot tower challenges guests with two wave paths. They can step into a skybox and take a plunge when the floor drops out beneath their feet, or they can get horizontal on a 300-foot speed slide that drops them straight down as soon as they enter. Either way guests are sure to experience pure liquid adrenaline. “Every step leading to the top of Vanish Point will get your heart racing,” said David Cromwell, vice president of Water Country USA. “That anticipation is another plus of the park’s new thrill slide.” The addition of Vanish Point continues Water Country USA’s commitment of providing thrills and excitement at the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park. Vanish Point joins Water Country USA’s 43 acres of pools, children’s play areas, lazy rivers and water rides that make up the mid-Atlantic’s largest water park. Guests who want to relax can enjoy one of Water Country USA’s 1,500 free lounge chairs or rent one of the park’s 16 private cabanas. Guests can pay the single-day admission of $46.99 and enjoy Vanish Point now through Sept. 5 with a Water Country USA Summer Sizzler pass. Visit http://www.watercountryusa.com for complete details and to purchase a pass. SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment operates 10 parks across the U.S. including SeaWorld parks in Orlando, San Diego and San Antonio; Busch Gardens parks in Tampa, Fla. and Williamsburg; Discovery Cove and Aquatica in Orlando; Sesame Place near Philadelphia, Pa.; and water parks Adventure Island in Tampa and Water Country USA in Williamsburg. The 10 parks play host to 25 million guests each year and employ 26,000 people nationwide. To learn more, visit http://www.SeaWorldParksandEntertainment.com or call toll-free (888) 800-5447. Additionally, SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment created the SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund, a non-profit, private charitable foundation committed to supporting wildlife and habitat conservation, research, education and animal rescue programs worldwide. Learn more at SWBG-ConservationFund.org. Here are a few facts about the slides: Get ready for the slide of your life on Water Country USA’s epic new drop slide: Vanish Point. Inspired by the point on a wave where water and gravity form a perfect partnership, this summit supplies two wicked wet ways to drop out of sight. The crest of this 75-foot tower challenges you with two wave paths. You can step into a skybox where you drop down when the floor drops out. Or get horizontal on the 300 foot speed slide where you drop down as soon as you flop down… straight down. Brace yourself for pure liquid adrenaline. TYPE OF RIDE: Slide Tower 2 free-falls 2 super loops HEIGHT: 75-foot drop SLIDE SPEED: Nearly 40 mph SLIDE LENGTH: Free-falls 285 feet Super loops 390 feet FREE-FALL SLIDE ELEMENT: Drop and roll movement slide SUPER LOOP SLIDE ELEMENT: Launching skybox and break-away floor HEIGHT REQUIREMENT: 48 inches LOCATION: Water Country USA in Williamsburg, Va MANUFACTURER: Proslide Technology – Ottawa Canada Water Country couldn't have asked for a better day to open their latest attraction--highs in the 80s, bit of a breeze, and only a few clouds. This was a pretty low key affair. Z104 DJ "Shaggy" did a bit to warm up the crowd, followed by a brief speech by David Cromwell, Water Country's vice president. Four people were chosen as the "first" official riders, then Shaggy led the public up the tower to experience this "liquid adrenaline" themselves. The slides themselves are a lot of fun--especially the "Super Loop" slide with the trapdoor. The initial drop really catches you off-guard, then it's like Water Country's Jammin' Jukebox slides on crack! The free fall slides offer a completely different experience, and although they aren't as intense as, say, the Summit Plummet at Disney's Blizzard Beach, they're a lot of fun. All those I chatted with that day had nothing but good things to say about Vanish Point--usually involving the words "crazy" or "insane"! Vanish Point is part of the park's Quick Queue "skip-the-line" system, but there is a bit of a glitch here. Both the skybox and the free fall slides share the same queue, but diverge one level below the top of the tower. Many guest were running up the Quick Queue line, which is pretty clearly marked, then climbing over to get to the steps for the free fall slides, thus avoiding the longer, slower-moving line for the skyboxes. The park may have to do a bit more "traffic control" to straighten this out. Here's a look at Vanish Point's debut. [coastertube]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=110521_Vanish_Point_2jhp[/coastertube] Video courtesy of Water Country USA To attend a new ride's media day, one must first find it. Hmm . . . I wonder where Vanish Point could be? I do believe I'm getting close! Eureka! "Me Big Kahuna tiki god. Get to wear bush for hat. Tiki god behind me dumb. He get brained by surf board." Noted. "Dance with me! C'mon dance with me! That's it blonde chick! Shake it!" Yoinks! It's Shaggy the DJ (not the cartoon character). "Up there is where we must go, my children--toward heaven!" David Cromwell, the park's VP, welcomes the crowd. The new slides are a great addition to the park's lineup, which provides a good balance of family-friendly rides with thrills. The official first riders are ready and rarin' to leap over the edge (or get flushed down a big pipe)! Here they come! What? They haven't "vanished"? "Follow him! Follow Shaggy to Vanish Point--and glory!" "But those who wish to experience 'glory' must abide by these rules. Thank you." "Glory! Glory, I glug-g-g-g-g!" "Aghh! Save me, Shaggy!" There's a human being in there, somewhere. I think. "Help! I've been flushed! But I love it!" You're doing it wrong. Let's take a closer look at the inner workings of Vanish Point, shall we? Vanish Point shares an entrance with Meltdown, the park's three-person toboggan-raft slide. Let's see . . . you go around here . . . . . . and come out here. Or you could come around this-a-way . . . . . . and come out that-a-way. But there is a lot to be said for the direct approach, . . . . . . which takes you straight up the middle. One last look at Vanish Point on the way out. Here's a map to orient yourself a bit, . . . . . . height requirements for Water Country's various attractions, and . . . . . . a peek into the near future for that other park just down the road. Thanks for reading! Edited May 23, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 And if you're curious about Water Country's other offerings, just head over to the TPR Park Index. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rollin_n_coastin Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Never been able to tackle those cliff drop slides. Cool that they took an older style ride and added a few elements. Water Country is still one of the most rounded and fun water parks that I've been to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expoman Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Great Report. I have the best memories going to Water Country as a kid. I would love to tackle the new Vanish Point, but I had a scary experience on the old Peppermint Twist slides which I guess now is Jammin' Jukebox. The speed slides still kinda freak me out, but it will be a great addition to Water Country U.S.A. It seems like they haven't received anything significant since Hubba Hubba Highway back in 2003. In 2008 the Rock N' Roll Island was kind of just a re theme of the old Adventure Island. I still love Malibu Pipeline and Aquazoid. I would really like to see Water Country a water coaster in the future. Something like Wildebeest at Holiday World's Splashin Safari or Master Blaster at Schlitterbahn. Thanks again for the report, I may have to get up to Water Country sometime this summer. It's been a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGrayZone Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Nice, colorful images! I grew up going to WCUSA... actually about this time every year (late May - early June) in the 6-12th grade years. Our family would take a hot day off during the week when most kids were still in school and get in a day at the park while the crowds were non-existent... it was always glorious! Maybe early-childhood TR memories will hit me at some point. Back to the pictures... did you happen to get any shots of the loading/staging areas for the slides from up on top of the tower? ... or photos of the slides while looking down from the tower? I can kinda see the two drop areas for the loop slides in the background of a couple pics... but would love to see some close ups of the actual drop cylinders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted May 26, 2011 Author Share Posted May 26, 2011 (edited) ^The video gives you a better look. The two drop capsules are in the back of the tower on either corner, with the free fall slides up front. Here's a view from the top of the free fall slides from the pics that the park provided that day. No photos of the skyboxes, though. Nitro Racer is in the background. Edited May 26, 2011 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Intimidator305 Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 Nice photo trip report and thanks for posting! I really like how Vanish Point and the area turned out. I must admit, Water Country USA has one of my favorite "atmospheres" for a waterpark just behind Dollywood's Splash Country and the WDW parks. The theming actually kind of reminds me of KD, it just has random themes, but they all are all so unique in a little area of their own that it creates a nice vibe throughout the park (if that makes since). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theGrayZone Posted May 26, 2011 Share Posted May 26, 2011 3 things: 1) Thanks for posting the additional pic. Pointing out Nitro Racer in the background helps me place it (memory-wise, as the park map image obviously shows VP's location in the park). 2) I did go back and watch the vid, which showed a close up of the drop chutes. 3) Nice commentary about the que and routing issues. I don't know how large the platform area is where the four slides depart (and from what I understand based on the provided details they are all on the same level)... but what I'd like to see, in addition to the great images and details given, are perhaps some photos taken on the top level, standing in the front corners looking back (for as much of a distance shot as possible of the chutes)... and then standing at the rear looking forward toward where the guard stands and the free-fall slides start. Thanks again for the great coverage! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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