Rollercoaster Rider Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 ^ Screamin' Squirrels should be kept in their test field. I think S&S Tried to make a ride that was the next Vekoma Boomerang. Especially after Hypersonic/Dodompa mechanical problems they probably wanted more reliable attractions. Which explains their family wooden coaster division, Sky Swat's, Screaming Swings, El Loco, and Free Fly's. The biggest problem with Squirrels is the "Tough to be unique" layout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIMtationX Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit @ Universal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernierocker Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 ^It might have appeared that way with all of the issues at its beginning, but it is actually a great ride now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gisco Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit @ Universal. How is that a mistake from day one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterbill Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 I was wondering the same thing... I really like Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit. It's probably the worst adult coaster at Universal Orlando but it's still a really good ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIMtationX Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 Hollywood Rip, Ride, Rockit @ Universal. How is that a mistake from day one? It's just my opinion....I've never been a big fan of the ride.. I rode it once in 09, and again in 2010, both times i had back pain afterwards. I've skipped it every other time I've gone. Maybe it's gotten better since then. Not a fan of all the brake runs either. I think it was a mistake because it doesn't also seem like it fits in the park as far as the theme goes. It's just there. I'm glad you guys enjoy it though.. to each their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowieP Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 GWAZI!!!! What's sad is that it could've been great with proper care. But it is too rough, even by wooden coaster standards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cmbgo12 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Maximum RPM or Round About or whatever they ended up calling it... It had had problems since day zero and was a logistics nightmare. They tried to combine a Ferris Wheel and a Roller Coaster, and while they succeeded it had a capacity next to none, a very boring layout (Similar to a Vekoma Junior Coaster), and above all it was probably the most unreliable coaster in existence! From what I've heard they've sold it to somewhere in Asia so while I'm glad to see it still in operation, I feel really bad for whichever park has to deal with it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlahBlahson Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I'm shocked that no one mentioned the biggest mistake of all mistakes: Hard Rock Park. The entire thing. No one went there from day 1, which they could have figured out in marketing surveys prior to the green light. In addition, the Premier Ferris wheel coaster was dull and a maintenance dud. Freestyle Music Park was an even bigger mistake as an attraction. Edit: As I live and post. In the same vein, park acquisition plus three major coasters at Six Flags Worlds of Adventure obviously didn't work out financially. Has to be listed as a mistake. I would say almost every attraction built at Fuji-Q, other than Eejanika and Fujiyama, are probably mistakes. They are all extremely low capacity rides in addition to the headscratching policies. At Disney Orlando, Alien Encounter was built in the wrong park, where it was so out of place for families it had to be removed. Its replacement is also one of the lowest ridership rides at the park, probably due to being claustrophobic, painful, boring, and annoying. At Universal, the theme of Dudley-Do-Right was probably a mistake, as no one understands it or knows the characters. It's actually pretty great for a log flume, but no doubt they would have been better off with Yogi Bear, Flintstones, maybe Calvin and Hobbes or even if the original Simpsons talks had been fruitful. Additionally, if Uni could see the future, I'm sure they would be much happier today with a popular Jurassic Park jeep ride rather than the money spent on the failed Triceratops encounter (tears) and the Pteradon Flyers (which would be better with 4 seater setpoint trains...). The final choices for Rip Ride Rockit would probably receive more scrutiny as well, though overall it is well-loved by guests. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonGeorge Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 GWAZI!!!! Gwazi can't be that bad. While I'm sure it was excellent in the early seasons, and it's one of the neatest layouts I've ever seen, the PTCs just weren't right for that twisted layout. Oh, and those were probably the coolest PTC trains ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrSum1_55 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I disagree with the talk of HRRR being a failure. I do think that the music system was a waste, but the overall ride actually fits the park fairly well. The park lacked a big coaster, so they put one in that is thrilling without inversions. However, I do know that it had issues upon opening, and they did overspend on the $45 million price tag. Also, it is probably the least themed attraction in the park. It can be rough, but it is actually one of the most airtime-filled coasters I have ever ridden. I actually got more air on it than on any B&M or Morgan hyper (excluding Phantom) If they had ditched the music system and added some queue theming, HRRR probably would have been a success. I would not call it a "failure from day one" when compared to other coasters that are far worse and had more problems like Stealth, The Bat, Orphan Rocker, SoB, or even to a lesser extent, X. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFancyPants Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I'm surprised nobody has mentioned Windjammer and Shockwave. Shockwave had lots of issues regarding its wheels. Windjammer broke down too often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Vekoma proved their ability to break you down in the 80s and 90s. Thank god they are getting much better these days. Photos from RCDB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 ^ That butterfly inversion DEFINITELY falls into this category! I'm so glad Vekoma doesn't make them anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrlandoGuy Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 Additionally, if Uni could see the future, I'm sure they would be much happier today with a popular Jurassic Park jeep ride rather than the money spent on the failed Triceratops encounter (tears) and the Pteradon Flyers (which would be better with 4 seater setpoint trains...). The final choices for Rip Ride Rockit would probably receive more scrutiny as well, though overall it is well-loved by guests. It was either the Jeep ride or the River Adventure. Maybe they're kicking themselves for Pteradon's capacity issues, but they wouldn't have rather had a jeep ride there…it was decided it was too similar to the River Adventure. Considering it's got a tiny footprint I don't think they think it's a mistake--it's a nice part of the most well-themed area (Camp Jurassic) in all of Universal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hey...hey Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I look at this post and think of something that should have never been built, or have had problems from day one, for example Drachen Fire. Loved the coaster, just a little bit of poor execution from Arrow, or maybe just a bit out of their league at the time. However, I see a lot of GWAZI references on this page. And if it would have been properly maintained, it could have been better. That to me falls into a new category of attractions that have gone into disrepair, not a mistake from day one...but that is just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasBaby Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 I think it's already been mentioned, but my vote goes for Flashback--that's definitely a ride that never should've been built. It was so bad that Six Flags put it in three different parks before finally scrapping it. I rode it once at SFMM in the early 90's and it knocked my head around worse than any coaster I've ever been on. Besides the head-banging, it didn't go fast and just wasn't a fun ride at all. It's probably the worst thing Intamin has ever built. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminousAphid Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Hey so I never really looked it up, and hardly knew it existed, but just read that Ring Racer (no more ring-a-lingy?) never really opened and cost something to the tune of $13,000,000.00 in the end... I'm guessing this probably isn't the most expensive ride that's turned into a flop, considering how expensive some of these "latest and greatest" rides/coasters can cost. Plus they take the hit on attendance that they were counting on the ride to bring in, I guess. And I'm sure they get plenty guests angry over the delay/closure. Oh what fun! What ride stands out to you as the most ridiculous & frivolous debacle for its owners and the biggest disappointment for guests? Bonus points for long delays or multiple major closures, especially within the ride's first season Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoshiFan Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 The 2 I thought of have similar names, Vertigo at Walibi Belgium and Vertigorama at Parque de la Ciduad. One barely opened at all, the other never opened. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I merged this into an existing thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuminousAphid Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Aww you're no fun, just trying to get people to post more as suggested in your newsletter- I think my topic had a much catchier title! Thanks for finding and merging though, if that's what you wish, I didn't see anything on the topic when I searched but I guess I didn't look hard enough Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Password121 Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 Kingda Ka. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 ^ ? I know it's not the greatest ride ever and it gets quite a bit of downtime but so does TTD and I imagine a lot of people might go to the park because it has the world's tallest roller coaster (among other reasons). So while it is definitely gimmicky I wouldn't call it a mistake. I personally love it (if you ride in the front) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Password121 Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 I love Kingda Ka. Front seat rides on it are breathtaking, and the Golden Kingdom expansion itself was initially really impressive. But the reality is that Six Flags knew what they were getting themselves into after the problems Cedar Point had with Dragtser. They had a sign designated just to play outside the gate saying if Dragster would operate that day. Additionally, while Kingda Ka wasn't as big a gamble, Six Flags had already tried competing with Cedar Point with Worlds of Adventure. After that massive financial failure they wanted to try again? I know it's by no means the same thing but it had the same underlying idea. I brought this figure up maybe a year ago and somebody shot it down, but from GreatAdventureHistory it's been tossed around that the total expanse from Kingda Ka and its maintenance/running costs/construction totaled $50 million after the 2006 season. It's still one of the most expensive rides to run anywhere, so much so that SF considered shipping it overseas in the late 2000's to a new concept SF park (I want to say in Dubai-- SF Dubailand rings a bell). I love the ride but I think if you asked them SF would admit it was a mistake. Dick Kinzel has been quoted as saying that Magnum was his best decision ever, Top Thrill Dragster was the worst mistake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcjp Posted December 9, 2015 Share Posted December 9, 2015 ^You do have a point, I guess. Well, if it was a mistake, I'm glad they made it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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